"'Oh! say, does that star spangled banner yet wave, O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!'" "Chuck that!" growled one of the men. "Stow it, or it will be the worst for you," called another. "You asked me to sing," said the girl undauntedly. "And I will choose my own song." "She is right," and Colonel Peyton pushed his way to her side. "You asked her, boys, and she can sing what she chooses. Take your medicine like men." Sullenly the soldiers settled back into their places while Jeanne courageously finished her song. "It wasn't right," said Bob angrily as Jeanne joined her. "You didn't treat the boys right. If dad hadn't been there they wouldn't have stood it." "If they don't want to hear such things they must not ask me to sing," cried Jeanne, her eyes blazing. "I am compelled to hear treason every day." "You don't need to stay here," flashed Bob. "I am sure that I don't want to," answered Jeanne. "I want to go to my own people and I will go to-morrow if your father will let me. I don't stay because I want to." "Well, you needn't be so glad to be rid of us," and the tears welled up into Bob's eyes. "I am sure that we are good to you." "Yes; you are," and Jeanne went to her quickly. "I shall be sorry to leave you, Bob, but I do want to see my father and my mother. It has been so long, so long." She turned away to hide her tears. "Yes, it has;" and Bob put her arm within Jeanne's affectionately. "I am sure that I don't blame you for wanting to see them. I don't know why I say such mean things, Jeanne. I wish we didn't quarrel." "Maybe we can't help it," answered Jeanne, pressing her arm. "No; I suppose you can't help being a Yankee," said Bob, so dolefully that Jeanne laughed. "I don't want to," she said. "I am not sorry that you are a Southerner, but I wish you were for the Union." "Well, I don't, and so there we are! I suppose that there is just one thing to do," and Bob nodded her head sagely, "and that is not to quarrel any more than we can help. When we do we'll make up, won't we?" "Yes," answered Jeanne. "We will." Once more the two were friends, and thus the days passed. October waned and soon rested with the other months of the dying year, and chill November reigned supreme. Still the order to move did not come. There was an uneasiness in the Colonel's manner as his scouts brought in news each day that the country surrounding Jackson was filling up with Federals. One morning a number of the companies of the regiment left the camp, and Bob confided to Jeanne the news that they expected to be in an engagement before they returned. Jeanne, thrilled by the intelligence that she was so near to her own people, sat thoughtfully in front of the tent devoted to the use of the girls.