uch depths of perfidy.

In this dilemma I sought to steer a middle course, saying that I must
beg exemption because my long hard ride had re-opened my old sword
wound--as indeed it had. So the major generously let me be, thus heaping
coals of fire upon my head; and I kept out of his way, consorting with
Tybee, who, like myself, must be an onlooker in the coming fray.

As for the lieutenant, he was all agog to learn more than I dared tell
him, and it irked him most nettlesomely to have a fight in prospect in
the which he was in honor bound not to take a hand. Time and again he
begged me to release him from his parole; and when I would not, he was
for fighting me a duel with his freedom for a stake.

"Consider of it, Captain Ireton," he pleaded. "For God's sake, put
yourself in my place. Here am I, in the camp of my friends, gagged and
bound by my word to you whilst your infernal plot, whatever it may be,
works out to the _coup de grace_. Ye gods! it would have been far more
merciful had you run me through in our wrestling match last night!"

"Mayhap," said I, curtly. "'Twas but the choice between two evils.
Nevertheless, in time to come I hope you may conclude that this is the
lesser of the two."

"No, I'm damned if I shall!" he retorted, fuming like a disappointed
boy, and minding me most forcibly of my hot-headed Richard Jennifer. And
then he would repeat: "I thought you were my friend."

"So I am, as man to man. But this matter concerns the welfare of a cause
to which I have sworn fealty. Take your own words back, my lad, and put
yourself in my place. Can I do less than hold you to your pledge?"

"No, I suppose not," he would say, grumpily. "Yet 'tis hard; most
devilish hard!"

"'Tis the fortune of war. Another day the shoe may be upon the other
foot."

The baggage wagons had been massed across the broad end of the hill to
eke out the stone breastwork, and the last of these arguing colloquies
took place beneath one of the wagons whither we had crept for shelter
from the rain, which was now pouring again. In the midst of our talk,
Major Ferguson dived to share our shelter, dripping like a water
spaniel.

"Ha! ye're carpet soldiers, both of ye!" he snorted, and then he began
to swear piteously at the rain.

"'Twill be worse for the enemy than for us," said Tybee. "We can at
least keep our powder dry."

"Damn the enemy!" quoth the major, cheerfully. "So the weather does not
put the creeks up and hold Tarle