[Frank on a Gun-Boat by Harry Castlemon]@TWC D-Link bookFrank on a Gun-Boat CHAPTER XVII 8/12
When the general entered, George had risen with the rest and saluted him, after which he had resumed his seat, and the deep blush of excitement that arose to his cheek had quickly given place to the same careless look that Frank had before noticed.
George was also aware that the whispering that was going on related to himself, and it was evident that his relatives had some suspicions of who he was; but, if it caused him any uneasiness, he was very careful to conceal it. At length, one of his brothers drew his chair to his side, and said: "Excuse me, sir; but I believe I've seen you before." "I shouldn't be surprised if you had, sir," answered George, steadily meeting the rebel's gaze.
"I _know_ I've seen you before." His brother started back in his chair, and a gleam of triumph shot across his face as he exclaimed: "George, I know you." "And you will have cause to know me better before this war is over," answered George, forgetting, in his excitement, all the precautions he had before adopted to escape being recognized. Had a thunderbolt fallen into the room, the astonishment of the general and his wife could not have been greater.
They sat in their chairs as motionless as if they had been suddenly turned into stone, gazing at their son as though they could scarcely believe their eyes, while the fugitives sat with their hands on their weapons, wondering what would be the result of George's imprudence.
At length the general, who was the first to recover from his astonishment, vociferated: "You here, you rascal--you young traitor! I thought you were safe in the prison at Tyler again by this time." "No doubt you did," answered George, bitterly.
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