Corporal Si Klegg and his "pard". How they lived and talked, and what they did and suffered, while fighting for the flag

Front matter

DQDQll'^SDbE

(lass

E(^c llook

CHAPTER II. The Commotion at the Farm-House Caused by Si's Appearance

in Uniform— The Conflict Between Mars and Venus 13

CHAPTER HI.

In which & IS Provided with a Bountiful Outfit, Makes Satisfactory Progress with Annabel, and Starts for the War.. 28

Chapter XLV

In which Si and Shorty Experience many Vicissitudes, but their Pluck Brings them Through ,. 62?

CHAPTER XLVL

Si aND Shorty Take Sweet Revenge Upon the Enemy — Corporal Klegg AIeets with a Sore Bereavement 64*.

CHAPTER XLVn.

The End Comes at Last, and Si Puts Off the Army Blue 66'.

CHAPTER XLVHL

Si Finds it Much Easier to Get Married than to (jET a Pension 676

LIST OP ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

1 — The Recruiting Officer 2

'^— Si Klegg 5

»-; — Stimulating Village Patriotism 9

4 — An Average Army " Fit." 12

5— Si and his Mother 16

6 — Calamitous Effect of the News upon " Sister Marier." 20

7— At the Neighbor's 27

8— A Model Outfit 30

3— A Delusion of the War 33

I 0— A Satisfactory' State of Affairs 37

LI— Off to the War 40

'.2— The Army Overcoat 46

13— Si Finds his Match 48

14— Shorty 49

15 — Useful Career of the Canteen 56

16 — Si's First Encounter v^itli the Veterans 64

:'7— A Baptism 68

13- Hospitality 71

19— Stealing a Bed 80

20 — In Panoply of War 88

21— What Si Expected to do with his Bayonet 89

'J2— The Actual Uses he Found for It...... 92

23— The "Sweat-box." 96

24— A Literal Interpretation lOO'

25 — The Drum-major 102

"6 — Si's First Penance 109

27 — Veterans on a Frolic ll.'<}

28 — Si Forgets Himself 117

29— A Rude Awakening 118

30—" Load in Nine Times— Load ! " 123

32— "Right Shoulder Shift— Arms! " 125

33~" Fix— Bayonet ! " 126

36—" Company— Right Wheel! " , 131

XVI ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

37— The Long Roll ^35

38— The Tug of War 14i

39— Ready for the March 151

40 — A Serious Miscalculation 157

•41 — The Shrinkage Begins 162

42— The Rush for Water 166

43— After a Day's Tramp 168

44 — Fleecing the Lambs 176

45 — A Prima Facie Case 184

46— "Don't Stab Me." 191

47 — Hydropathic Treatment 191

48 — Si Defies a Regiment of Veterans 194

49— A Test of Jaw-Power 19?

50— The Last Resort 198

51— The Effect of " Getting Used to It.". 199

52— The Flesh of Swine 204

53— A Simple Process 205

54—" All Right, Boss, Dat's a Go." 206

55—" Mail When You Get to Camp, Boys! " 216

56 — Epistolary Work in the Trenches 217

57— Si's First Letter 219

58— Another Case of Discipline 221

59— "Sit Still, Please." 223

60— An Army Team 226

61— A Close Shave ■. 229

62—" A Man Overboard." 230

63— Total Depravity 232

64— In the Slough 233

65— Nearly a Panic 237

66— Si's First Shot 238

67— A Good Beginning 240

68— Corporal Si Klegg '. 242

•69 — A Lesson in Natural History' 246

70 — Practical Instruction 251

71— "Skirmishing." 252

72— The Pcdiculus , 253

73 — One of Life's Pleasures 255

74 — A Few Old Acquaintances 258

75— Corporal Klegg Gets Caught 266

76_"Not 'Less Ye Say 'Biniker Hill!'" 268

77 — Si and the Contraband 270

78— A Dead Shot 271

79 — "Policing" Camp 273

80—" A Little More Cider, too." 277

81— The Army Laundry 279

ILLUSTRATIONS. XVU

PAGBr

82— A Scamper in Dishabille 281

83— The Btisy Bee 291

84— The 200th Indiana Takes to the Water 293

85— A Prematin-e Harvest 294.

86— A "Bully Boy's" Burden 295

87— Laying in Supplies 297

88— A Red-Letter Day 298

89— A Clear Case of Colic 299

91— Si Interviews the Doctor 300

92 -The Captain at Early Roll-Cah 305

93— "Sir, the Guard is Formed." 306

94— Shorty's Cold Day 309

95 — Calling to Repentance 311

96 — The Way of the Transgressor 314

97— " Sir, I am a Corporil ! " 323

98— "Now, All Together! " 325

99 — "Looting" the Colonel's Mess-chest 327

100— A Nocturnal Picnic 329

102— A Cyclone in Camp 333

103-Going for the " Top-Rail.".. 335

104 — Supper under Difficulties 336

105— "No Slouch of a Shanty." 338

106— Lubricating Oil Needed 338

107— A Polar Experience 342

109— His Autograph 353

110 — " 'Leven Dollars 'n' Fort^^-three Cents ! " 355

111— Chuck-a-luck , 358

112— The Sutler's Harvest 360

113— A Southern "Mossback." 366

114 — Confiscation 369

115— Robbing the Calf...; 371

116— The Tables Turned 374

117— The Value of Good Legs 375

118— Christmas Morning 380

119— The Fate of Si's Box 388

120— A Cheerful Legend 384

121— Ready for Business 388

122— They Stop for Nothing 388

123— Behind the Rails -. 391

124— A Hasty Evacuation 393 i26— Into the Battle 102

XYlll ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

129— The Charge of the 200th Indiana 413

130 — A Comrade in Distress 414

131— "For God's Sake,- Help!" 420

132— "We Carved Not a Line, We Raised Not a Stone." 426

133— The Call to Breakfast 430

134— Talking it Over 433

135— Camp Ablutions 436

136— An Unexpected Guest 439

137 — "Riding on a Rail" in the Army 444

138- Loading Up 447

139— A Brush with Guerrillas 450

140— Cheers for the General 454

141— Condolence 457

142— Reinforcements 462

143— The Rush for Rations 463

144— "Hello, Johnny! "—"Hello, Yank!" 466

145— A Misdeal 473

146— Breakfast Before the Fight 477

147— Hugging the Ground 480

14&— Yielding to the Inevitable 482

149— The Charge up the Ridge 484

150— In the Surgeon's Care 488

151— The Field Hospital 490

152— Under the Knife 492

153— The Two " Pards " 495

154— Death of Poor Tom 502

155— The Ambulance Train 506

156— The War Correspondent 509

157— Si Finds Himself Famous 513

158— News for Farmer Klegg 516

159— " My Boy is Not Dead ! " 525

160 — Farmer Klegg's Drive 527

163— Si's Barnj^ard Welcome 535

164— Si at the Corner Grocery 548

165— A Letter from the Governor 550

166— A Momentous Question 555

167— Si Starts the Veteran Roll 563

168— On the Way to "God's Country." 571

169— The Shrinkage of the Tent 577

170— The " Pup " Tent 580

171— Si as a Veteran 584

ILLUSTRATIONS. xix

PAGE

172— Not to be Caught Napping 594<

173— On the Skirmish Line 599

174 — Laying a Pontoon Bridge Under Fire 602

176— Fort Klegg , 606'

177— Compelled to Surrender 609

178— A Fruitless Dash 615

179— A One-sided Bargain 621

181— Another Break 636

182— In the Prison-pen 642

183— In the Swamp 644

184— Return of the Vagabonds 646

185 — Destro3'ing a Railroad 649

186— Under a Truce 653

187 — " He was my pard." 663

188— Around the Camp-fire 667

189— Leading the Jamboree 673

190— After a Visit to the Tailor 674

191— The New Crop of Infantrj' 678

192— The Corps Badges 698-700

lS3~The Bugle CaUs , 700-704

<5orporal Si \[\e(^(^.

Chapter I

In Which Si Klegg, Carried Away by His Tumultuous Emotions. Enlists in Company Q, of the Two Hundredth Indiana.

LATE in the summer of 1862, a smart-looking young man made his appearance in a httle village in the hoop-pole region of Indiana. On his shoulders were the straps of a second lieutenant. His brand-new uniform, faultless in cut and make, fitted him "like the paper on the wall." His step was brisk, and he cultivated a military air with untiring assiduity. His padded coat bulged out over his patriotic bosom like the niainsail of a ship scudding before a spanking breeze ; and this was made the more conspicuous by his extreme eredtness of carriage as he strutted among the quiet village folk. He was proud of his new clothes, with their shining brass buttons, and ])roud of himself. His face \vore a fierce and sanguinary look, as if he chafed under the restraint which kept him beneath peaceful northern skies. His eyes seemed longing to gaze upon the lurid flames of war. Everybody imagined that he was consuming with a desire to rush to the front, that he might plunge into scenes of carnage.

Ke was a recruiting officer.

As he w\\\ soon disappear from the narrative, it may be remarked here that he did not want to wade in blood half as badly as people thought he did, nor, quite possibly, as he thought himself. He had no occasion to invest in rubber boots to wear on the battlefield. He did not get

THE VILLAGE WONDER.

SO much as a sniff of powder in a state of violent combustion. Before the regiment was organized his health suddenly gave way and he resigned.

But at this time he appeared the very embodiment of martial ardor — an ideal soldier. The simple-hearted graybeards of the village put on their spe6lacles to look at him; the lasses blushed at their own admiring glances as he passed in his majestic splendor; the young men, in jeans and homespun, gazed with envy upon his symmetry of shape and gorgeous apparel, and wished the}' migh t be like him ; the small boys looked upon him with unutterable awe, and trailed after him through ,,^y,(W^jj' the streets as though he were the drum -major of a Lrass band.

Such was the advent of the recruiting officer into this quiet hamlet. A few of its readj sons had gone to the war in '61, moved by the mighty feeling that so profoundly stirred the north after the fall of Sumter; but this was the first effort there to raise a company, under the great call for volunteers in 1862, which seemed to say to every one, "Thou art the man !"

The officer procured a room over the village postoffice.

THE RECRUITING OFFICER.

PREPARING TO GATHER THEM IN. 3

and hiing out of the window a big flag that brushed the heads of the passers-by. Buildings and fences far and near were decorated . with flaming posters, which set forth in starthng t3^pe the unequaled advantages guaranteed to those who should enlist in Company O of the 200th Indiana regiment. After reading the placard the connding 3'outh would imagine that the patriots of that company would always have carriages to ride in and leather beds to sleep, on ; they would be clad in purple and tine linen and fare sumptuously every da}^, with cream in their cofiee and "soft bread " all the year round. None of them would get hurt, as many of the less fortunate soldieis did; they would while away the time in guarding prisoners or on provost or headquarters duty. In short, Company Q would have for three ^^ears little else than a protracted picnic.

This was the alluring idea conveyed by the posters and the advertisement conspicuously displayed in the village paper. The worthy editor, who believed that the pen was mightier than the sword, wrote a notice highly commen 1- ing the fexnart young oflicer, and calling attention to the rare privileges that would be enjoyed bj^ all who joined his company. Of course, he knew all about it because the smart young officer told him. The oracular words of the editor were not without effect in stimulating the spirit of enlistment in the village and the region round about. The grand impulse of '61 had spent its force in this community as elsewhere, and a little urging was often found to be necessary. The recruiting officer who could hold out the most sedudtive inducements w^as likely to reap the most abundant harvest. At least such was the theory that governed recruitment after the first spontaneous rush to arms.

Having thus adroitl}^ scattered the seed, the oflScer hired a fifer and drummer to stand on the sidewalk at the foot of the stairs and play "Yankee Doodle" and other inspiri SI KLEGG, THE FARMER S BOY.

ing tunes, and then sat down in his office to gather in the crop. As soon as a recruit was enlisted he was arrayed in baggy blue clothes and sent forth as a- missionary to bring in others. Under all these favorable conditions the roll of Company Q lengthened rapidly.

One day while this was going on Si Klegg drove into the village with a lot of butter, eggs and other farm truck, which his mother had commissioned him to exchange for jjundry groceries needed to replenish the larder of the Klegg household. He was a red-cheeked, chubby-faced boy who had some distance yet to go before getting out of his teens. He had worked hard ever since he was large enough to make himself useful. The demand for his services upon the farm, increasing as he grew^ older, had confined within narrow limits his opportvinities for education. These had not gone beyond a few Avinters at the "distri6l school." He had seen nothing of the great w^orld that lay be^^ond the bounds of his immediate neighborhood.

Si had a frenzied attack of war fever in '61, when the drums beat in response to the President's first call. His parents were not willing that he shoidd go on account of his 3'outh. He was a good lad — his father's pride and his mother's joy. He pleaded that the war w^ould only last a few^ weeks and that his whole future life would be embittered by the thought that he had no hand in it. But the parental heart was for the time inexorable, and Si obediently yielded, secretly indulging the hope, however, that the rebels would not be whipped until he should be old enough to go.

As the weeks sped away none w^ere more eager than he to hear the news. When he read of a little skirmish that had resulted favorably to the Unior troops he swung his hat and shouted wnth the rest ; but there was a sinking of his heart, because he thought the war w^as about over and lie w^as going to "get left." Then v^'hen he heard of

A MALIGNANT CASE OF WAR FEVER.

another brush— people called them all battles then — in •which half a dozen Union pickets had been captttred, he lamented the success of the foes o^ his country, but his spirits rose as he thought that possibly, after all he might yet be a soldier and with the soldiers stand ; a knapsack on his back and a musket in his hand.

Then when the President called for three hundred thousand men for three j^ears, Si's heart gave a, great leap. Three j-ears in the army would just suit him; and surely his parents would not refuse now that the demand was so urgent. Here-opened the debate with great enthusiasm ; but father and mother were stili inflexible, and again he submitted. He did this the more willirgly because of his growing belief that the affair would not blow over in a few days and he would patiently bide his

time to get in. si klegg.

Si's patriotic emotions, animated b\^ th'^ fie/y ardor of youth, bubbled with constantly increasing fury in his swelling breast, and at the time the brass buttons of the b A TERRIBLE TEMPTATION.

recruiting officer twinkled in the village he was almost at thf point of bursting. In his fervid zeal he

" Scorned the lowing cattle ; He burned to wear a uniform, Hear drums and see a battle."

Such w^as Si's mental condition W'hen he drove into town that day. It became still more inflamed when he read one of the recruiting officer's big posters; and his passionate eagerness almost overcame him v/hen two or three of his friends sauntered up in full uniform. He felt that he could not endure the pressure much longer.

"Hello, Si," said one of the militar}^ fledgelings, "what d'ye stan' there gawpin' at that han'bill ler? Why don't ye come down to the 'cruitin' office an' 'list, 'long with the rest o' the boys?"

Si had never in his life wanted half so badly to do anything as he did to walk straight to where the flag was flying and the fife and drum playing, sign his name to the roll of Company Q, and get inside of a blouse and sky-blue trousers. He had more than half a mind to carry ouc his ardent impulse at once and take the chances on his action being ratified by the home authorities.

"I want ter jine yer comp'ny mighty bad but — "

Si had not the heart to finish the sentence. His thoughts might have been easily read in his eyes as he gazed longingly at the bright brass buttons on the clothes of his friends and the nodding plumes that decorated their enormous hats.

'"Fore I'd be tied to my mammy's apurn string!" was the derisive reply. "Why don't ye be a man! All the boys is goin', an' 3^6 don't want ter stay behind fer the gals to p'int their fingers at and say ye w^as 'fraid ter go. Come 'long, an' never mind yer dad an' the old woman!"

EARLY EVIDENCE OF "GRIT." 7

■'Look a-liere, Bill," and Si began to show symptoms of a furious eruption, "you 'n' me has alius bin good friends; but if you say 'nother word agin me er my father 'n' mother ye won't have ter wait t'll ye git down among the seceshers — if ye ever do git thar — to have the biggest kind of afight. One er t'other on us '11 git the all-firedest lickin' ye ever heern tell of P'r'aps ye'U find out that ef I ain't a very big pertater I'm kind o' hard to peel. I ain't no cow^ard. I'm goin' ter try 'n' git inter this comp'ny. I don't b'lieve in braggin', but ef I do go with ye, ye'll never git court-martialed fer hangin' back er runnin' the wrong way ef ye jest keep right up 'longside o' Si Klegg!"

It may be fairly said that the circumstances justified the w^armth and earnestness of Si's manner. Involuntarily his fat fists clenched, and he assumed an attitude of hostility that alarmed his comrade. The latter prudently retired out of range.

"Ye don't need ter git spunky 'bout it. Si," he said from a safe distance. "Ye know I didn't mean nothin'. Ye'd make a bully soljer, an' the boys 'd like fust rate to have ye 'long. Comp'ny Q 's goin' ter have a soft thing, 'cause the ofiicer says he's got it all fixed. She's a-fillin' up purty fast, an' we're goin' ter leave in a few days, so ye'll have ter hustle 'round !"

"I don't know ner care nothin' 'bout the easy time ye say ye're goin ' ter have. Ef I knowed Comp'n}^ 0 wouldn't never do nothin' but sta^^ back in the rear I'd jine some other rijiment. Ef I'm goin' ter be a soljer I want ter he one 'n' do suthin' more'n strut 'round in a uniform. But I reckon as how Comp'ny Q '11 have ter take its chances 'long with the rest."

Si wanted to go down to the headquarters but he scarcely dared trust himself to do so. He feared that the temptation to "jine" would be stronger than his power of resistance. Just at that critical moment the fife and

8 SI IS SWEPT OFF HIS FEET,

drum struck up a lively air and that settled it. His friends were already on the way to the recruiting office.

"Hold up," shouted Si, "I'm goin' that way," and he started after them at a brisk pace.

"I thought ye'd come to it," said one of them, as they stopped for him to join them.

"I sha'n't 'list to-day," rephed Si, "I jest thought I'd look in thar 'n' see what's goin' on."

The truth is that, notwithstanding this positive declaration, he "felt it in his bones " that he would go home that afternoon wearing blue clothes. He was badly broken up when he thought of the consternation that he was sure his appearance at the old farm in the garb of a soldier \vould prodtice. He did not want to enlist without parental consent, as he had promised, and he kept trying to make himself believe that he was not going to. His conscience told him that he ought to turn around and go to his wagon and drive straight home, but the magnet that was drawing him along in spite of himself was irresistible He couldn't help it ; he had to go. His feet caught the step of the drumtaps and he marched to what he felt would be his fate, borne along by a tide of emotions as resistless as the flood of a raging river.

The discordant sound of the squeak}^ fife and rattling drum was the sweetest music that had ever greeted the ears of Si Klegg. He mingled in the crowd of old and young that stood around the musicians talking about the war — the one subject that was first upon every tongue. They all knew Si, and again and again he was asked if he \vas going to enlist. He could not say no and lie dared not say yes, although he felt away down in his heart that there ^vere nineteen chances out of twenty that within the next thirty minutes there would be another *'K" added to the roll of Company Q, and he would be trying on his regimentals.

AND CARRIED OVER THE DAM.

The only tiling tliat prevented Si from rushing at once into the presence of the recruiting officer was the ever haunting- thousfht of father and mother. He tried to aro^ue himself into the belief that his dutv to his country was first, and that in responding to her call in the time of her extremity he was doing no violence to the fifth commandment. Aided by the persuasive influences that surrounded him, he so far succeeded in quieting his

STIMULATING VILLAGE PATRIOTISM.

conscience that when one of his companions, who was in a similar state of mind, said to him, "I'll 'list if you will," Si replied, "Come on," and started at once up the stairs. The flood had carried him completely over the dam.

A moment later Si stood, with his hat under his arm, in the presence of the recruiting officer. Dazzled by the splendor of his appearance. Si shrank bac : abashed for a moment. The officer \vas busily engaged in superintend-

10 HE SIGNS THE ROLL OF COMPANY Q.

ing the efforts of two or three recruits to fit themselves out of an assortment of army clothing that lay scattered about the room. Si had a chance to recover and brace himself for the trying ordeal.

"Ah, my man," said the lieutenant, extending his hand to Si, "you've come to join my company, haven't you? You do not need to answer, for I know it by your looks. You'll make a splendid soldier, too— just the sort of brave fellows we want. Walk right up to the table and sign your name. We're going to have the finest companjr that ever left the state."

"Sa}^, mister, I jest wants ter ax ye ef a feller kin git out agin ef he has ter arter he's jined."

At the last moment a sense of his filial obligations prompted Si to provide, if possible, for keeping open a line of retreat. Fearful lest his motive might be misconstrued, however, he hastily added :

"'Tain't 'cause I wants ter back out, fer I don't; but ye see I'm 'feard pap '11 kick. He made me promise I wouldn't 'list 'less he was willin', 'n' I know he aint."

"Oh, that '11 be all right, " said the officer. "We'll fetch the old man around easy enough. You put your name right down and get your uniform on. When he sees how" fine you look he'll pat you on the head and tell you to go right along like a man and fight for your bleeding country."

"Gimme the pen 'n' I'll chance it."

Si sat down to the table and with much effort succeeded in producing his autograph on the roll of Company Q. His heart thumped violently as he looked at his name and began to realize that he was going to be a soldier. It is true that the chickens he w^as counting were not yet fully hatched, for he could not rid himself of the vague fear that there would be trouMe at the farm-house. But he persuaded himself that ii would end as he so fervently desired ; and

"prior soundness." H

when he arose he felt that he was taller by a foot than when he entered the room.

"Now, Mr. Klegg," said the lieutenant, "just step into that room and let the doctor examine you."

"What's that fer?" asked Si.

" To see if you are sound and able to discharge the duties of a soldier."

"The doctor '11 onl}' be wastin' his time 'zaminin' me," replied Si. "I'm sound 's a hicker'-nut."

"No doubt of it; but the army regulations require it, and we have to ohej them, you know."

Si had a foggy idea that obedience was one of the cardinal virtues of a good soldier, and ^vithout further objection he passed into the apartment, w^here the village dodtor, duly invested with the proper authority, was inspecfling the physical condition and "prior soundness" of those who were about to enter the military service.

"Now, young man, strip yourself," said the do6lor, in a business-like wa^', when Si's turn came.

It seemed to Si that there was a good deal of foolishness about such a performance. The dodtor evidently shared this opinion as he looked upon the robust form and wellturned limbs of the farmer-boy. A single glance told hisexperienced e^^e that Si would fill the bill. He passed his hands over the limbs of the recruit, looked at his feet, drummed on his chest and ribs, and then pressed his ear against his breast.

" Your heart beats a little hard and rapidly," said the do6lor, "but I guess it's only because you're a bit excited. I think you'll do, my lad, and I'm greatly mistaken if you do not make a good, brave soldier. Just one thingmore, let me see your teeth."

Si thought it w^as very much as if he w^as a colt and somebody wanted to buy him. But he was pleased with the doctor's verdict, and only said with a laugh :

"I don't see what teeth 's got ter do 'th bein' a solier '"

SI PUTS ON A UNIFORM.

"You will be wiser after a time, my young friend," said the do(5lor with a 'smile. "You will find good teeth very useful in biting cartridges and chewing hardtack."

"What's hardtack?" said Si, his face not less than his words betokening his curiosity.

"Oh, that's what the soldiers call the bread they get in the army. But you hadn't better ask any more questions; you'll know all about it in a little while."

"Nice boy !" the dodlor said to the lieutenant. "A little too much flesh just now, but a few weeks of active campaigning will bring him down to good marching weight. I'd like to be colonel of a regiment of such fellows."

"You can put these on if 3'ou like, Mr. Klegg," said the officer, handing him a pair of pants and a blouse. "I guess they are about j^our size."

No five-year-old boy was ever prouder when he laid aside his pinafore and donned his first pair of breeches than was Si w^hen he arrayed himself in the habiliments of a soldier. It mattered little that the trousers were several inches too long, and the blouse so small that it embraced him like a corset. As his eyes feasted upon the blue garments and the burnished brass buttons, his fears all gave way before the confident belief that his appearance would sweep aside all the objections of his father and mother and sister Maria and pretty Annabel, the neighbor's daughter.

AN AVERAGE ARMY " FIT.

Chapter II

The Commotion at the Farm-House, Caused by Si's Appearance in Uniform— The Conflict Between Mars and Venus.

WHEN Si Klegg left the recruiting office and tripped gayly down the stairs with his farm clothes in a bundle under his arm, he was greeted with loud cheers by the crowd on the sidewalk. He was a favorite in the village, where he had been known from a child. The people thronged about him and took him by the hand, all uniting in the cordially expressed hope that he would "come out £ill right." No one had any fear that he would make other thpn an honorable record.

Ey this time the day w^as well spent, and Si began to think about getting home. A cloud of seriousness crept over his face as he wondered what his "folks " would say and do. His first impulse was to go into somebody's bam rnd change his clothes, to relieve the surprise of its suddenness. He thought it might be better to go home in his accustomed garments and then, by clever diplomacy, let the cat out of the bag little by little. The effect would be less startling than if she jumped out all at once. Then came the thought that this would be cowardly, and he at once resolved to go right ahead and face the music like a man. He believed he was not afraid to meet rebels with guns in their hands, and surely he must not quail before his father and mother and sister Maria.