The Littlest Rebel Page #5

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may recognize me.

I don't want to use the pass

until we get out of this neighborhood.

This isn't a good neighborhood anyway.

No. Come on.

- Halt!

- Whoa!

- Where are you going, sir?

- I'm taking this child to her

father just beyond our lines.

Colonel Morrison sent me.

Here's a pass.

Have you got a little girl, mister?

No, I've got a boy.

- Where'd you come from?

- Cary's plantation. Left there at noon.

- Why aren't you using the main road?

- Full of artillery.

How old is your little boy?

- Five.

- Oh, I'm six.

- My boy's bigger than you.

- He is?

Yes. This looks all right,

but I don't know.

We've got special orders to be on the watch

for Captain Cary, a rebel scout.

Didn't you hear?

They caught him this morning.

- They did?

- Yeah, Morrison's men, at his own plantation.

- What's your regiment?

- 72nd Vermont.

It's all right then. You'll find them camped

just a mile below here. Go ahead.

Thanks.

Oh, Daddy, you told a fib.

Well, this is war, honey.

Why isn't it a sin to tell a fib in war?

I don't know why it isn't a sin

to do any of the things we do in war.

What's the 72nd Vermont?

Well, that's a regiment of soldiers

I have no intention of meeting.

Halt!

Colonel Morrison asked me to

take this child to Greensburg.

- Here's his pass.

- Colonel Morrison?

- Yes.

- Where was he?

Cary plantation,

about 1 8 miles south ofhere.

- When did you leave there?

- Why-

- We left there at 1 2:00.

- Why, you know all the answers too, huh?

Yes, sir. I'm six years old.

Well, I guess you're all right.

Go ahead.

Wait a minute!

I wanna see that kid!

- Whose child is this?

- Friend of Colonel Morrison's.

- Ever see me before?

- No.

Ya didn't, eh?

Don't you remember the shoe polish?

- No!

- Well, I do.

Her old man's the most dangerous

scout in the rebel army.

This looks mighty funny to me.

Go get 'em! Hurry up!

Head 'em off!

Take the lower road!

Get under the seat quick, honey.

Halt!

Keep your hands up.

Are you armed?

- No.

- Let's see.

All right, we'll go back.

Follow us.

- Captain?

- Yes.

- I'm afraid I've got to give you some bad news.

- The appeal was denied, huh?

Every finding of the court-martial

was upheld.

- That means-

- Yes.

When does the... party take place?

The morning of the 27 th... at dawn.

Well, I still have six days.

Any messages you want sent?

I'll be glad to do anything I can, Captain.

You've been very kind...

especially so in getting Uncle Billy here

to look after my little girl.

- I appreciate that.

- I wish there was something

I could really do, Captain.

That child has literally captured us all.

- Colonel-

- Yes, I know.

I heard you.

No chance at all, eh?

No.

And is my little party set

for the morning of the 27 th too?

I'm sorry, Colonel.

He's innocent, Major.

All he did was try to help a child.

The evidence we couldn't overcome,

Colonel...

was the fact that you not only gave him a pass

but that he was wearing your uniform.

- I stole that uniform.

- We couldn't make them believe that.

I had hoped we could.

I'll be about, Colonel,

if there's anything you want done.

Thank you, Major.

Well, it was a gamble, and we lost.

I have no regrets.

When I think of my own little baby,

I'd do the same thing over again.

Why is a shoe called a shoe?

What?

I says, why is a shoe called a shoe?

What do you mean, why

is a shoe called a shoe?

Well, the world is full of names.

They could have picked out

any other name.

- Who could?

- Whoever did.

- I don't know who it was.

- Man, what are you talkin' about?

Why is a shoe called a shoe?

Massa Cary says that shows you got brains

when you're thinkin' 'bout things.

I spent all day yesterday thinkin',

why is a horse called a horse?

Aw, shut your mouth, will you?

What time is it now, Uncle Billy?

I heard the town clock strike 3:00

a while back, Miss Virgie.

Oh, we'll have to hurry.

Daddy always expects me at 3:30.

He says it makes

his afternoon seem shorter.

There. That's done.

Shall I brush your clothes now,

honey child?

Yes, please.

Do you think they'll keep Daddy

locked up in that place long, Uncle Billy?

No, ma'am.

I'm afraid they won't, honey.

You're afraid?

You don't want my daddy-

Oh, no, no, child.

I expects they take him out pretty soon now.

Last night when I said my prayers...

I asked God

to let Daddy out of there...

and- and I asked him

for a new dress too.

Then I thought maybe

that was too much to ask...

so I told God he didn't have

to bother about the dress.

- Was that right, Uncle Billy?

- Yes, that was right, honey.

But if you want that dress...

I'll kinda slip a little

hint in my prayers tonight.

Now, Uncle Billy, if you

look sad when we get there...

like you did yesterday,

I'll never take you again.

No, ma'am, I won't.

We've got to smile,

so Daddy will think we're happy.

I will, honey. You'll see.

You ready now?

Yes, all ready.

James Henry, you wait here

until we get back.

Yes, sir.

Did you like it, Daddy?

You have charge of Captain Cary's little girl,

haven't you?

Yes, sir.

I is one of his slaves, sir.

- I want to speak to you a moment.

- Yes, sir.

That was lovely, darling.

Come on now, and tell me what you've been doing.

Oh, I sewed up a hole in my dress.

Mrs. Robin let me sweep the stoop.

- Why, you're becoming a regular, little housewife.

- Daddy?

- Hmm?

- When are they gonna let you out?

No, no. Come on now.

Tell me what you've been doing.

Well, there's a little girl

lives across the street...

and she has a pony,

and she let me ride on it.

- That's grand.

- And she gave me some candy, and she's a Yank.

And she said she didn't care

whether I was a rebel or not...

and I said I didn't care

whether she was a Yank.

Even if there is a war,

she was awfully nice to me.

- Daddy?

- Yes.

When she was so nice,

and Colonel Morrison's so nice, and Mrs. Robin...

why do the rest of the people

have to kill each other?

I don't know, honey.

We grown-ups haven't as much

sense as you children.

This isn't money enough,

but it's all I can spare.

I'll give you a letter to him.

He may help you. I don't know.

Thank you, sir. Thank you.

You've got four days to try it in.

It's worth taking the chance.

God bless you.

I'll start right now, sir.

- Daddy?

- Yes, dear.

- I don't want to leave.

- Perhaps you'd better.

Tomorrow you can come again.

You're not leaving without

saying good-bye to me, are you?

Oh, no.

I was gonna kiss you good-bye.

Then tomorrow when I come,

I'll do all the talking with you.

Oh, you switch around, eh?

Well, Daddy said you tried to help us,

so I make you my second daddy.

Nothing so nice ever happened to me.

We gotta hurry, missy.

Good-bye, Yankee.

Good-bye, rebel darling.

Good-bye, Daddy.

- God love you, honey.

- I'll come tomorrow.

- All right, sweetheart.

- Good-bye, Massa Cary.

- Good-bye, Billy.

- Good-bye, Colonel Morrison, sir.

- Bye.

- Good-bye, darling.

- Good-bye.

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