mpany's books, when they
made him Orderly on the Waccamaw picquet. For Gill, in the first place,
couldn't write, and, in the next place, if he could'a done that, he
never larnt to read, so you may suppose what a beautiful puzzleification
he had of it to keep the guard roster straight."

"Sergeant, look if yonder boat is loose; I shall want it presently,"
said Butler, still giving no ear to his comrade's gossip.

"It is tied by an easy knot to the root of the tree," said Robinson, as
he returned from the examination.

"Thank you," added Butler with more than usual abstractedness.

"Something, major, seems to press upon your spirits to-night," said the
sergeant, in the kindest tones of inquiry. "If I could lend a hand to
put any thing, that mought happen to have got crooked, into its right
place again, you know, Major Butler, I wouldn't be slow to do it, when
you say the word."

"I would trust my life to you, Galbraith, sooner than to any man
living," replied the other, with an affectionate emphasis:--"But you
mistake me, I am not heavy at heart, though a little anxious, sergeant,
at what has brought me here, comrade," he added as he approached the
sergeant, upon whose broad shoulder he familiarly laid his hand, with a
smile; "you will keep a fellow soldier's counsel?"

"As I keep my heart in my body," interrupted Galbraith.

"I am sure of it; even as you keep your faith to your country my true
and worthy brother," added Butler with animation, "and that is with no
less honesty than a good man serves his God. Then, Galbraith, bear it
in mind, I have come here for the sake of a short meeting with one that
I love, as you would have a good soldier love the lady of his soul. You
will hereafter speak of nothing that may fall within your notice. It
concerns me deeply that this meeting should be secret."

"Major, I will have neither eyes nor ears, if it consarns you to keep
any thing that mought chance to come to my knowledge, private."

"It is not for myself, sergeant, I bespeak this caution; I have nothing
to conceal from you; but there is a lady who is much interested in our
circumspection. I have given you a long and solitary ride on her
account, and may hereafter ask other service from you. You shall not
find it more irksome, Galbraith, to stand by a comrade in love, than you
have ever found it in war, and that, I know, you think not much."

"The war comes naturally enough to my hand," replied Galbraith, "but as
f