me to argue points
of conscience."

"You seem to take no notice of this here bottle of peach brandy major,"
said Robinson. "It's a bird that came out of the same nest. To my
thinking it's a sort of a file leader to an eatable, if it ar'n't an
eatable itself."

"Peace, Galbraith! it is the vice of the army to set too much store by
this devil brandy."

The sergeant was outwardly moved by an inward laugh that shook his head
and shoulders.

"Do you suppose, major, that Troy town was taken without brandy? It's
drilling and countermarching and charging with the bagnet, all three,
sir. But before we begin, I will just strip our horses. A flurry of cool
air on the saddle spot is the best thing in nature for a tired horse."

Robinson now performed this office for their jaded cattle; and having
given them a mouthful of water at the brook, returned to his post, and
soon began to despatch, with a laudable alacrity, the heaps of provision
before him. Butler partook with a keen appetite of this sylvan repast,
and was greatly amused to see with what relish his companion caused
slice after slice to vanish, until nothing was left of this large supply
but a few fragments.

"You have lost neither stomach nor strength by the troubles, sergeant;
the short commons of Charleston would have gone something against the
grain with you, if you had stayed for that course of diet."

"It is a little over two months," said Robinson, "since I got away from
them devils; and if it hadn't been for these here wings of mine
(pointing to his legs), I might have been a caged bird to-day."

"You have never told me the story of your escape," said Butler.

"You were always too busy, or too full of your own thoughts, major, for
me to take up your time with such talk," replied the other. "But, if you
would like me to tell you all about it, while you are resting yourself
here on the ground, and have got nothing better to think about, why,
I'll start like old Jack Carter of our mess, by beginning, as he used to
say when he had a tough story ahead, right at the beginning."

"Do so, sergeant, and do it discreetly; but first, swallow that
mouthful, for you don't speak very clear."

"I'll wash down the gutter, major, according to camp fashion and then
my throat will be as clear as the morning gun after sun rise."

And saying this, the tall soldier helped himself to a hearty draught of
cool water mingled in fair proportion with a part of the contents of his