" said
Pennington.

"But he isn't going to do it," said Warner. "How do I know? No, I'm not
a prophet nor the son of a prophet. There's nothing mysterious about
it. This man Grant who leads us knows the value of time. He makes up his
mind fast and he acts fast. The Confederate commander doesn't do either.
So Grant is bound to win. Let z equal resolution and y equal speed and
we have z plus y which equals resolution and speed, that is victory."

"I hope it will work out that way," said Dick, "but war isn't altogether
mathematics."

"Not altogether, but that beautiful study plays a great part in every
campaign. People are apt to abuse mathematics, when they don't know what
they're talking about. The science of mathematics is the very basis of
music, divine melody, heaven's harmony."

"You needn't tell me," said Pennington, "that a plus b and z minus y
lie at the basis of 'Home, Sweet Home' and the 'Star Spangled Banner.'
I accept a lot of your tales because you come from an old state like
Vermont, but there's a limit, George."

Warner looked at him pityingly.

"Frank," he said, "I'm not arguing with you. I'm telling you. Haven't
you known me long enough to accept whatever I say as a fact, and to
accept it at once and without question? Not to do so is an insult to me
and to the truth. Now say over slowly with me: 'The basis of music is
mathematics.'"

They said slowly together:

"The basis of music is mathematics."

"Now I accept your apologies," said Warner loftily.

Pennington laughed.

"You're a queer fellow, George," he said. "When this war is over and I
receive my general's uniform I'm coming up into the Vermont mountains
and look your people over. Will it be safe?"

"Of course, if you learn to read and write by then, and don't come
wearing your buffalo robe. We're strong on education and manners."

"Why, George," said Pennington in the same light tone, "I could
read when I was two years old, and, as for writing, I wrote a lot of
text-books for the Vermont schools before I came to the war."

"Shut up, you two," said Dick. "Don't you know that this is a war and
not a talking match?"

"It's not a war just now, or at least there are a few moments between
battles," retorted Warner, "and the best way I can use them is in
instructing our ignorant young friend from Nebraska."

Their conversation was interrupted by Colonel Winchester, who ordered
the regiment to move to a new point. General Grant had deci