haps, you would be afraid of taking their place yourself?'

It was Douglas who was addressed, and he hung his head in shame.

'But he was just getting out of the window to follow her, when nurse
came up,' said Molly, in defence of her favourite brother.

'I didn't know boys were in the habit of following girls,' remarked
Captain Stuart drily. 'I think doughty Douglas must have another name.
Listen, my boy, and remember this to the end of your life. There were
two young fellows came out to join our battalion in Egypt. We were
ordered out one morning on a reconnaissance, and both these youngsters
came with us. They were strong, fresh-faced young fellows, one
especially; he was the heir to a big property at home, and had left his
widow mother to come and earn a name for himself. I can see him now,
with his sparkling eyes and merry laugh, as he rode on just in front of
me with his chum. I won't give you children details, but we had a
sharp bit of fighting that morning, and bullets were flying pretty
freely. At the finish, when returning, having dispersed our enemy, we
came across another party of them entrenched on a height. Orders were
given to fire lying down, as they were skilled marksmen and had the
advantage of the position. "Now then," whispered one of these young
fellows to the other, "make your name; scale the hillside and storm
their fort."

'"I would if I had my orders to," was the quick retort.

'"We're like rabbits in the underwood," the youngster went on. "Do
those skulking fellows think we're afraid of showing ourselves? A good
British cheer and a sight of our rifles would soon send them to the
right-about. The poor old major is dead beat and wants a nap, or he
wouldn't give such an order. Show yourself, Castleton; let them have a
sight of your six foot six. What? _afraid_!"

'In an instant Johnny Castleton stood up in the full strength of his
manhood, and the next moment his brains were scattered by a bullet, his
dead body falling into the arms of the friend who was the cause of his
death. Do you think he died the death of a hero, Betty? How do you
think his friend felt, Douglas, when he had to write home and tell the
widowed mother her boy would never come back to her? Do you know, the
folly of his act so weighed upon his mind that he left the army, and
when I last heard of him his friends were afraid that his reason was
giving way. There now! I've made your faces solemn enough to sa