"Why, it's Corporal Rufus Smith." "You've come on it at last," said the other, chuckling to himself.

"I was wondering how long it would be before you knew me.

And, first of all, just unlock this gate, will you?
It's hard to talk through a grating.

It's too much like ten minutes with a visitor in the cells." The general, whose face still bore evidences of his agitation, undid the bolts with nervous, trembling fingers.

The recognition of Corporal Rufus Smith had, I fancied, been a relief to him, and yet he plainly showed by his manner that he regarded his presence as by no means an unmixed blessing.
"Why, Corporal," he said, as the gate swung open, "I have often wondered whether you were dead or alive, but I never expected to see you again.
How have you been all these long years ?" "How have I been ?" the corporal answered gruffly.