"Now, I'm not going to commend you for the courage you displayed," went on B Company's captain. "It is a soldier's business to be brave, and he should never be commended for anything less than the most distinguished bravery. But what I am going to commend both of you for is in the way of qualities that not all soldiers show as successfully. The first is prompt obedience, and the second is good judgment under conditions of great danger and requiring the swiftest action. I do not know, men, that I can make my commendation duly emphatic in any other way than by telling you that I am fully satisfied with both of you as soldiers of real merit, and that Lieutenant Prescott's report strengthens my conviction. That is all. You may go." Again Hal and Noll saluted, then wheeled and stepped from the tent. "That's a good deal better than a speech, isn't it?" murmured Noll when the bunkies were some distance from the officers' tent. "Why, as coming from a captain, in praise of his men, that was really a speech, wasn't it?" asked Hal. As neither of the young bunkies told the story in camp, it got out only through the partial accounts of the wagon drivers, who were able to give only garbled and not at all accurate descriptions of the exciting business of the morning. "I hear you kids have been in the hero business," grinned Private Hyman, coming over to the chums. "You're a friend of ours, Hyman, aren't you?" asked Private Overton, flushing. "I surely consider myself one," replied Hyman. "Will you do us a great favor?" "You know I will, if I can." "Then drop the hero business and forget all about it," begged Hal. "I reckon I like you better for that," nodded Hyman. "Lovely weather we're having, isn't it?" "Lovely air this afternoon," laughed Noll, sniffing. "Just smell the odors coming from the Army stoves." "Now you're talking about your own exploits," teased Hyman. "You were on the detail that went in after the fresh grub that's going to make two hundred men, more or less, extremely happy to-night." "Attention, B Company!" called out Lieutenant Prescott, stepping in among the groups of resting soldiers. "I am directed by Captain Cortland to state that, immediately after supper to-night, twenty men of B Company may have leave to visit Mason City. But they will be required to be back here punctually at ten o'clock to-morrow morning. Men who wish to avail themselves of the proffered leave will see Sergeant Gray without delay." "Going in, Hyman?" asked Hal, as that soldier turned to walk away. "If I'm fortunate enough to get leave," nodded Hyman. "There are several things I want to do in town." The supper that night was as perfect and as hearty as the resources of camp permitted. Some of the soldiers ate so heartily that they were presently content to lie about camp for the evening, and were glad they had not applied for town leave. Captain Freeman had allowed the same number of his men town leave.