"Yes," Magnus answered, with a thrill of pain that somehow got into his voice. "Or suppose," Mr. Wayne went on, laying a tender hand on the young man's shoulder, "suppose you had been praying for those other men whose ways you knew; working with them, persuading them into the service of Christ?" "Oh, that could not be," Mr. Kindred said decidedly. "At least, I might pray for them, of course, but I could not say much." "Why not?" "Against cadet code, sir. We let each other pretty well alone." "Cadet code!" Mr. Wayne repeated. "You tease each other now and then, I fancy?" "Always!" "And laugh at each other?" "Without stint." "Perhaps introduce each other occasionally?" "Why, of course, sir!" Magnus answered. "And probably the cadet code would permit you to pull a man out of the river, or tell him the barracks were ablaze? It is framed only against the important things, hey?" "Don't you call it important to pull a man out of the river?" Magnus asked, with a laugh. "Rather. Nothing like pulling him into the kingdom." The clouds sailed silently by, river and hill darkening and brightening as the shadows fell and passed; the leaves rustled softly among the oak branches and stirred with a different music among the pines. Then from far down below sounded a drum--Magnus started up. "Thank you, Mr. Wayne!" he said earnestly. "Come to the guard-house before call to quarters. I must go." "I will walk down with you," said his friend. "But I must run!" And away he went, springing down the hill through every short cut that could be found; the grey and white showing, and hiding, and coming out again further on. Mr. Wayne watched him with great interest, taking his own pace the while down the hill; and now, as he went, from every other quarter came just such flying figures. From the woods, from Flirtation, from the river; from lingering last words on doorsteps, and girls and bonbons in the houses. Hastening along with the graceful ease of long practice, hurrying to lose themselves behind the grim grey walls of barracks. And Mr. Wayne watched and laughed; but then his eyes grew grave. Will they make such haste at every call of duty, these gay youngsters? on hand and "ready" at each noble muster? Alas, no! Even now some are getting an "absence," and some a "late," and of others the guns are not cleaned and the bell buttons will be tarnished. Ready! it is a short word; but it means a man's whole ceaseless purpose, self-denial, and care. How little those speeding figures on the green guessed that anybody on the old hillside was praying for them; but I believe the very skill and swiftness with which they darted along, gave stringency to the prayer; such power for good, such forces for evil; such ease in doing the right thing, such recklessness, sometimes, whether it was done or not. Through his glass, Mr. Wayne could study it all out.