"That's right, youngster, hold up for your own people," said one of the soldiers approvingly. "The boy's all right, Coggins," to the ill-natured soldier. "You had no business talking as you did." "Bah!" sneered Coggins. "I meant what I said, but as the young fellow is not yet out of his teens, I'll pay no attention to his words. It wouldn't look well for me to thrash a boy." "You might find that you had your hands full if you tried it," said Dick, coldly. He had taken a dislike to the boastful redcoat, and as he was a brave youth, and also had always found himself a match for any man he had ever engaged in a physical struggle with, he had no fear of this fellow. "There's good nerve, for you!" remarked a soldier, admiringly. "How do you like it, Coggins?" It was evident that this particular soldier, Coggins, was not very well liked by his comrades. "Do you think I'm a fool, to get myself laughed at for engaging in a fight with a green country boy?" growled Coggins. "I'll do no such thing." Rising, he walked away with a swagger, but he gave Dick a look of hatred as he did so. A number of the soldiers grinned, and two or three chuckled aloud, and unless Coggins was deaf, he must have heard them. "Would you really have fought him?" queried a soldier, looking at Dick keenly, when Coggins was gone. "If he attacked me, I should have protected myself," was the reply. "But you couldn't have done much against him. You're only a boy." "I don't know about that. I am pretty strong and am also rather active, and I have wrestled with a number of grown men, and never found one yet that I couldn't down." "Well, you might have held your own with Coggins, but I doubt it a little." "Better be a bit careful how you ruffle him, young man," said another soldier. "He's a vicious chap when his anger is aroused, and he would not hesitate to do you serious injury. He gave you a look I noticed that was not exactly friendly, as he left." "I noticed that, too," smiled Dick. "But I do not fear him. I shall not try to anger him, but if he annoys me, I will take my own part, that is certain. I won't let him run over me." "That's right, of course," approvingly. "But don't get into trouble with him if you can avoid it without discredit to yourself." "I won't, sir, and thank you for your friendly words." "You're welcome. I don't like Coggins myself, and I don't care who knows it. He knows it, all right, I guess," with a short laugh. The fact was, though of course Dick knew nothing of it, that this soldier, whose name was Ferguson, and the other, Coggins, were enemies, having had an encounter once, in which Ferguson had gotten rather the best of it, though the fight did not go to a finish, it having been stopped by order of the colonel. Soon the soldiers stretching themselves on blankets and going to sleep. Dick was given a blanket, and he also lay down, being quite tired by this time, and was soon asleep.