d at Ball's Bluff."

"I think not; but were you at Bull Run?"

"Certainly I was. I was on General Fremont's staff."

"Were you, indeed? Whew!"

"What may be the precise meaning of that whistle? Do you think I was not
there?"

"Well, I don't remember to have seen you there?"

"Very likely you did not; but you will call to mind the fact, that things
were rather mixed up in that action. But never mind that: we will talk
those things over when we get down upon the Peninsula, and have nothing
else to think about. Do you really mean to say, my dear fellow, that you
never drink at all?"

"I do not."

"Well, I have heard of a man climbing up to the moon on a greased
rainbow; but I never heard of an officer before that didn't drink."

"I'm afraid you haven't been very careful in the choice of your
companions. I know a great many that never taste liquor under any
circumstances."

"It may be so; and I am willing to confess that I have found one. I
wouldn't have believed it before if I had read it in the Constitution of
the United States. I owe you an apology, then, for letting on in that
saloon. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, my dear fellow; but I
thought you were joking."

"I hope you will not repeat the experiment, then; though I shall consider
myself fair game if I ever enter another rum-shop," replied Somers.

They proceeded to the place designated for the lecture; and Captain de
Banyan betrayed his interest in that memorable battle, where he had
served on the staff of General Fremont, by going to sleep before the
eloquent "participant" had got half-way through the exordium. Lieutenant
Somers listened attentively until he was satisfied that Colonel
Staggerback either was not in the battle, or that he had escorted "Bull
Run Russell" off the field.

When the lecture was finished, Somers awakened his edified companion, and
they returned to the hotel; though the captain hinted several times on
the way that the "elephant" could be seen to better advantage in New York
than in any other city in the Union. The young lieutenant had an utter
disgust for the elephant, and took no hints. Before he retired that
night, he thanked God, more earnestly and devoutly than usual, that he
had been enabled to pass unscathed through the fires of temptation. He
was still in condition to look his mother in the face.

CHAPTER V

ON THE SKIRMISH LINE

In the morning our travelers resumed their journey, more refreshed a