of course, in view of the fact that he was so much older than they and
vastly their superior in military knowledge.

"Dick," continued the sergeant, "what was it you was sayin' about a
cousin of yours from the same town in Kentucky bein' out there in the
Southern army?"

"He's certainly there," replied Dick, "if he wasn't killed in the battle,
which I feel couldn't have happened to a fellow like Harry. We're from
the same little town in Kentucky, Pendleton. He's descended straight
from one of the greatest Indian fighters, borderers and heroes the
country down there ever knew, Henry Ware, who afterwards became one of
the early governors of the State. And I'm descended from Henry Ware's
famous friend, Paul Cotter, who, in his time, was the greatest scholar
in all the West. Henry Ware and Paul Cotter were like the old Greek
friends, Damon and Pythias. Harry and I are proud to have their blood
in our veins. Besides being cousins, there are other things to make
Harry and me think a lot of each other. Oh, he's a grand fellow,
even if he is on the wrong side!"

Dick's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as he spoke of the cousin and
comrade of his childhood.

"The chances of war bring about strange situations, or at least I have
heard so," said Warner. "Now, Dick, if you were to meet your cousin
face to face on the battlefield with a loaded gun in your hand what
would you do?"

"I'd raise that gun, take deliberate aim at a square foot of air about
thirty feet over his head and pull the trigger."