Recollect that you're only a raw recruit, and I'm your officer." "Certainly," I said, smiling.

"I thought we were both volunteers." "So we are, old fellow, off duty; but it must be officer and private on duty.

I say, tell me, though, about the boys and the Sergeant.

Did they sneer ?" "Sneer ?" I cried indignantly.

"You're insulting the brave fellows.
They carried you down splendidly, and I believe there wasn't a man here who wouldn't have died for you." "But--but," he said huskily, "they must have thought me very weak and girlish." "I must have thought so too--eh ?" "Of course," he said, in a peculiar way.
"Then, of course, I didn't," I cried warmly; "I thought you the bravest, pluckiest fellow I had ever seen." "Lay it on thick, old fellow," he said huskily; "butter away.