"It must be my company, or the squadron to which it belongs," replied Deck rather indifferently. "How many companies have you, Deck?" asked Orly. "Only two yet, hardly enough for a battalion." "Where are they going now?" "Probably they are out for drill; and I must fall in as soon as the companies come up," said Deck, as he mounted his horse and straightened himself up in the saddle, as though he wished to present a proper appearance before his cousins. But the battalion or squadron was still at a considerable distance from him, and the young cavalryman could not help looking at the pinched faces of his cousins; for though they had ostensibly embraced the cause of Secession, he was full of sympathy for them. They looked as though they had been poorly fed, if not half-starved; and when the time had come for them to have new suits of clothes, they had not obtained them. But if Captain Titus's family was without money, it could be only a temporary matter, for he could hardly have exhausted his twenty thousand dollars in stocks and cash, though it was well known that he had contributed five thousand dollars for the purchase of arms and ammunition to be used by his company of Home Guards, which had now moved south to join the Confederate army. "As I said before, your father had plenty of money," continued Deck, though he was not disposed to be over-inquisitive. "He had at one time," Sandy admitted; and it was plain from his manner that he was not willing to tell all he knew about his father's financial affairs. "I don't understand how your mother should be so short of money, Sandy; but it is none of my business, and I won't ask any more questions," added the cavalryman, as he whirled his restive horse about. "I thought you and Orly went with the company to Bowling Green, Sandy." "We did; but we came back again," replied the elder brother. But there appeared to be something to conceal in regard to their return. "There wasn't any fun in soldiering without any pay, and without even half enough to eat, with nothing to wear," added the plain-spoken younger brother. "You needn't tell all you know, Orly," interposed Sandy, with a frown at his brother. "You needn't snap at me, Sandy; for I told you before I had had enough of this thing, and I shall never join the company again," returned Orly earnestly. "Do you suppose I can enlist in one of your companies, Deck?" "Shut up, Orly!" exclaimed Sandy very sternly. "You don't know what you are talking about." "I'll bet I know what I'm talking about, and my stomach knows too," retorted Orly. "Don't make a fool of yourself! You don't mean to turn traitor to your father and the cause, Orly?" pleaded Sandy; but he appeared to be trying to keep up appearances. "Hang the cause!" exclaimed Orly, as though he meant all he said. "My father got me into the scrape, and he will get enough of it before he is many months older." "Use your reason and common-sense," counselled the elder brother.