"And I fear that my case is just such a one," I said. "There is fear and fear," said he; "how would you like for me to test you now?" "To test me?" "Yes; I can make you a proposition that will test your courage." His voice had become stern. I hesitated. What was he going to do? I could not imagine. But I felt that to reject his offer would be to accept fully the position into which my fears were working to thrust me. "Do it, Captain," said I; "make it. I want to be relieved of this suspense." "No matter what danger you run? Is danger better than suspense concerning danger?" I reflected again. At last I brought up all my nerve and replied, "Yes, Captain, danger is better than fear." "Why did you hesitate? Was it through fear?" "Yes," said I; "but not entirely through fear; I doubted that I had the right to incur danger uselessly." "And how did you settle that?" "I settle that by trusting to you, Captain." He laughed; then he said: "The test that I shall give you may depress you, but I am sure that you are going to be as good a soldier as Company H can boast of having. Lieutenant Rhett, only yesterday, remarked that you were the best-drilled man in the company, and showed astonishment that a raw recruit, in less than two weeks, should gain such a standing. I thought it advisable to say to him that your education had included some military training, and he was satisfied." The Captain had dropped his official manner. "It is clear to me, Jones, that you are more nearly a veteran than any of us. I know that you have been in danger and have been wounded, and your uniform, which you were wearing then, showed signs of the very hardest service. I have little doubt, sir, that you have already seen battle more than once." "But, Captain, all that may be true and yet do me no good at all. I am a different man." "Since you allow me to enter into your confidence,--which I appreciate,--I beg to say that your fears are not unnatural; I think every man in the company has them. And I dare say, as a friend, that you feel fear more sensitively because you live in the subjective; you feel thrown back on yourself. Confess that you are exclusive." "I am forced to be so, Captain." "The men would welcome your companionship, sir." "Yes, sir; but it is as you say: I feel thrown back on myself."