"You ought to be off in the swamps, on picket duty, then," says Harris. "Let them sleep that have a chance. For my part, I'm going to take the captain's advice. There's no knowing what sounds will wake us up, or how early." "The sounds of muskets, I hope; and the earlier the better," says the valiant Jack. "Dang that shoe! I believe I've roasted it! Bah! look at Abe there, diving into his Testament, sure's you live." And Winch, perceiving that Atwater paid no attention to the sneer, flung his shoe at him. The soldier was reading by the light of the flames, when the missile came, striking the book from his hands. "Shame, shame!" cried Frank, indignantly. "Jack Winch, that is too mean." "O, you go to"----France,--only Jack used a worse word,--"with that red rag on your arm! I don't have any thing to say to non-combatants." Frank might not have been able to stifle his indignation but for the grave example of Atwater, who gave no more heed to Jack's shoe than he had given to his base taunt, but, silently gathering up his book again, brushed the sand from it, found his place, and resumed his reading, as composedly as if nothing had happened. Neither did Frank say any thing. But Ellis, near whom the shoe had fallen, tossed it back with a threat to consign it to the fire if it came that way again. "Wonder if my pocket-book got wet any," said Harris, taking out his money and examining it. "O, you feel mighty proud of your winnings!" said Jack, who seemed bent on picking a quarrel with some one. "Yes, I do," said Harris. "I'm just so proud of it as this,"--reaching something towards the drummer boy. "Here, Frank, is all the money, I believe, that I've won off you. We're going into a fight to-morrow, and nobody knows how we shall come out of it. I want to stand right with every body, if I can." Frank was too much astonished to accept the money. He seemed to think there was some joke in it. "I'm in earnest," insisted Harris. "The truth is, I've been ashamed of winning your money, ever since. You didn't mean it, but you've acted in a way to _make_ me ashamed." "I have! How?" Frank was more amazed than ever. "Because you gave over play, though you had a chance to try again, and acted as if you had got above such foolish things. It's time we all got above them. You're a good-hearted fellow, Frank,--you've shown that,--and nobody shall say I've robbed you." Frank took the money with a heart too full for thanks. He thought Harris a fellow of unexampled generosity, never considering how much his own example had had to do with bringing about this most gratifying result. Atwater stopped reading, and looked over his book at Harris with a smile of pleasure and approval clear as daybreak. But the silent man did not speak. "Well! the idea of a battle makes some folks awful pious all at once!" was Winch's comment.