anything, for disobedience. I wouldn't cry, because I _had_ been
disobedient.

"That evening Don's father came over and told Daddy how I tugged Don in,
and I saw Daddy's eyes looking like two big steady stars, and the
whipping was just nothing, and Mamma-dear cried the same as if Don and I
were drowned dead. And, G. W., what do you think Daddy did? When Don's
father finished, Daddy came and said, 'You deserved the thrashing, Jack,
for not obeying, you know; but let me shake hands with you because you
are a brave fellow,' and I almost choked. I said, 'Don't mention it!'
but I shook his hand like anything. Oh, G. W., if only I could make you
know just how to be a true body-guard to Daddy! If you should go over
that hill he'd punish you for disobeying, sure, but if some time you
just _had_ to do it for a brave reason, he'd shake your hand, G. W."

The boy in the photograph seemed to be listening to Jack, and trying to
understand him, and to be thinking about it, as if he knew that Jack's
very heart was in what he said.

Presently a slow smile lit up the features of the make-believe boy in
blue. "G. W.," he whispered, "I'm not going to worry any more about
Daddy! You'll do the right thing by him, I'll bet! When you come home,
G. W., you shall have half of everything I own. We're going to be
brothers!"

Little Jack Austin ran down to meet his mother when she returned, with a
cheery smile, because he had in his heart a sure trust that G. W. would
save the day, no matter what the danger that threatened Daddy!

VI.

"WAR, G. W.!"

G. W.'s wanderings from camp became less and less frequent. He thought
no longer of going anywhere but to the hill-top; and that detested limit
became more hated as oftener and oftener the Colonel passed beyond the
faithful little guardian's gaze.

"I'd jes' like to know whar de Colonel goes _all_ de time!" sighed G. W.

Colonel Austin was not unmindful of the boy, but evidently he was deep
in business and anxiety. An occasional pat upon the little woolly head,
or a word of cheer, was all the devoted comrade received; yet, with only
that to feed upon, the childish devotion continually grew.

He took to talking aloud to the Boy and his Mother, in the long silent
hours of evening. They became as alive and intimate to him as he, all
unknown to himself, had become to Jack. He made solemn promises
regarding the Colonel which, had Jack heard, would have set to rest any
doubt as to G. W.