"License? Why, a license," explained Si, "is something you git from the County Clerk. It's leave to git married, and published in the County paper." "Don't have t' have no leave from nobody down here t' git married. Hit's nobody's business but the man's an' the gal's, an' they'uns's famblies. Some times other folkses tries t' stick their noses in, but they'uns git sot down upon." "What'd he pay the preacher?" asked Shorty. "Why, mam gin his wife a hank o' fine stockin' yarn, an' dad gin him a couple sides o' bacon." "At present prices o' pork in Injianny," remarked Si, after a little mental figuring, "that wasn't such a bad fee." "If you speak to the Captain," suggested Si, "he'll let you go back home to your wife. I don't believe there's goin' to be anything special to-night. The cavalry don't seem to be stirrin' up nothin out there." "I don't keer t'," said Nate, in his sweet, girlish drawl. "Ruther stay with yo'all. Mout somethin' happen. Biff Perkins an' his gang o' gorillers is out thar somewhar, not fur off, huntin' a chance fur deviltry. I'd like mouty t' git a whack at they'uns. Nance'll keep. She's mine now, fast an' good, for ever, an'll wait fur me. Afore we wuz spliced I wuz afeered Zach Barnstable mout work some contrivance t' git her, but now she belongs t' me." The boys took him to their hearts more than ever. At the coming of the early dawn the regiment was aroused and marched back to camp, there to meet orders to move forward at once, as soon as breakfast was prepared and eaten. Away it marched for the Tennessee River, behind which Bragg was supposed to be gathering his forces for the defense of Chattanooga. As Co. Q went by the cabin, Grandfather Onslow was seated in a rocking-chair on the porch, smoking a cob pipe, while Mrs. Nancy Onslow Hartburn, with her finger bashfully in her mouth, peeped around the corner. Co. Q gave her a cheer, at which she turned and fled out of sight, as if it was some raillery on her newly-married state, and Nate hung down his head, as if he, too, felt the boys were poking fun at him. "Good-by, boys. Lick the life outen Ole Bragg," quavered Grandfather Onslow, waving his hand after them. "That's what we're goin' to do," shouted the boys in reply. "Well," said Si, "I bet if ever I'm married I'll kiss my wife before I go away." "Me, too," echoed Shorty, very soulfully.