"It'll be hell t' pay stoppin' them," he said shortly.
"I presume so," remarked the general.

Then he began to talk rapidly and in a lower tone.

He frequently illustrated his words with a pointing finger.

The two infantrymen could hear nothing until finally he asked: "What troops can you spare ?" The officer who rode like a cowboy reflected for an instant.

"Well," he said, "I had to order in th' 12th to help th' 76th, an' I haven't really got any.