Everyone except, perhaps, the child herself realized the vital importance of her answer and now that it had been given the crisis had passed.

The Littlest Rebel had put an end to questioning.

An audible sigh went up from everyone except the man behind the desk.
This one turned his head slowly towards the Confederate prisoner.
"Captain Cary, is this true ?" "Yes, General," came the straightforward answer.

"I went to your nearest post with a flag of truce and asked permission to go to my dead wife.

I was refused.