If he now breaks his neck horse-riding, his death will not be at my door; I can now eat my dinner in peace." After dinner the three young ones, Sam, Alice, and Jim, gathered round the fire, leaving Halbert with the Major and the Captain talking military, and the Doctor looking over an abstruse mathematical calculation, with which Captain Brentwood was not altogether satisfied.
Alice and Sam sat in chairs side by side, like Christians, but Jim lay on the floor, between the two, like a blackfellow; they talked in a low voice about the stranger.
"I say," said Jim, "ain't he a handsome chap, and can't he ride?
I dare say, he's a devil to fight too,--hear him tell how they pounded away at those Indians in that battle.

I expect they'd have made a general of him before now, only he's too young.

Dad says he's a very distinguished young officer.

Alice, my dear, you should see the wound he's got, a great seam all down his side.

I saw it when he was changing his shirt in my room before dinner." "Poor fellow!" said Alice; "I like him very much.