"See here," said Andy, in a kindly tone, placing a friendly hand on poor Peleg's arm, "you cheer up. You're a mighty good fellow, and everybody knows it. We're glad to see you any time, no matter what you forget. Come ahead, you shall have some breakfast with our mess, such as it is, and we'll show you all the sights of the camp." "Will you, now?" spoke Peleg, brightening up. "Maybe I'll remember it all, if I give this poor head of mine a rest." Andy and his friends certainly gave Peleg a happy hour. He was so interested in the drill maneuvers, a sight of the big cannons, and the buglers and the drummers, that, when something unexpected started his thoughts in a new direction, he aroused like one from a dream, jumped a foot in the air with a yell, and amazed Andy and his companions with the words: "I remember, now!" "Do you?" spoke Andy, hopefully. "Yes--look, see." Peleg pointed animatedly to an orderly, carrying a sealed letter in his hand from headquarters to some other part of the camp. "Yes," proceeded Peleg excitedly, "old Silas sent a message--a letter." "Where is it?" inquired Andy eagerly. "It's--I've forgotten again." Andy fairly groaned. "No, I haven't!" shouted Peleg instantly. "Off with my coat!" Andy helped him to remove the garment. "Off with my shirt!" The crowd was intensely interested, though laughing merrily. "Off she comes!" reported Andy, helping. "On my back." "It looks like a porous plaster." "'Tis." "Hey?" "In an oilskin--strip it off," exclaimed Peleg. "I ain't forgot, this time. Remember perfectly. Silas said 'we'll hide it under the porous plaster in an oilskin covering-message-letter.'" "Bully for you," shouted Andy, fairly overcome, as he sure enough found just what Peleg had described, and gave the erratic messenger a sharp, friendly slap on his bare shoulder. "Ouch!" roared Peleg. "Hooray, I mean! My memory is coming back." "Good for you!" piped a mischievous member of Andy's company, repeating Andy's slap. "Who told you to hit me?" demanded Peleg. "Now, I'll just butt you for taking that liberty." Half in fun, half in earnest, Peleg made a bolt for the offender. He turned the laugh quickly. Peleg was an expert at butting. The Musket Boys held their sides laughing till the tears ran down their cheeks, as Peleg butted the other this way, that way, head over heels into a puddle, and bang! into a tent, carrying the canvas to the ground in a wreck. Good nature was soon restored all around, and the kind-hearted fellows, even the one who had been butted so vigorously, made Peleg feel comfortable and happy by showing him all kinds of attentions. Meantime, Andy had opened and read the note which the porous plaster had concealed. Phil, watching him, noticed Andy's face draw down sober and serious. It increased in these expressions as Andy carefully read again the little note. He looked up thoughtfully. Then he beckoned to Phil and Ralph.