nor and give you a chance to show
your patriotism. You will be saving the reputation and character of
the army."

"Oh, thank you!" exclaimed Sam. "Are you sure that it's always done in
just this way?"

"Always. It's an ordinary matter of business arrangement, as I've
already told you."

"Then it must be all right, I suppose," said Sam.

"But it's not only that. It's a noble act to protect the character of a
brother officer."

"So it is, so it is," said Sam. "I'll do it. I'll call and see him
about it to-morrow afternoon."

"Hello!" shouted another officer, coming into the room. "Have you seen
the orders? There's to be a conference of brigade and regimental
commanders here to-night, and all staff officers are invited to attend.
That means business."

Sam was overjoyed at the news, and the three men hastened to the
headquarters' room to discuss it with their fellow officers.

Sam was present at the conference as a matter of course, and he watched
the proceedings with the greatest interest. A map was stretched out on
a magnificent gilt table in the middle of the room in which Sam had
first seen the general, and most of the officers bent over it studying
it. The general sat back in his arm-chair with his fan and asked
everybody's advice, and no one appeared to have any advice to give.

"The fact is this, gentlemen," he said at last, "we've got to do
something, and the question is, what to do. Burton," said he to his
assistant adjutant-general, "show them the plan that we've worked
out."

Burton was one of the officers who were poring over the map, and he
began to explain a general advance in the direction of the enemy. He
pointed out the position which they were now supposed to occupy, some
ten miles away.

"We ought to move out our lines to-morrow," he explained, "within, say,
three or four miles of theirs. The regiments will keep the same order
that they're in here at Havilla. We can't make the final arrangements
until we get there. We may stay there a day or two to entrench
ourselves, and then move on them at daybreak some day within a week."

"That's the plan, gentlemen," said the general. "What do you think of
it?" and he began to question all the general and field officers
present beginning with the youngest, and none of them had any
suggestion to offer.

"Then it's understood that we start for this line here to-morrow
morning at seven," said Burton.

They