"I be--oh, blank it! This is going to be the death of me, boys. The
Rebs gave me hell with this wound. But for God's sake don't let her
know. Just let her think I'm civil like the rest of you. Wouldn't
she open them blue eyes if she knew a man was dyin', just holdin' in
cussin' on her account. Ha, ha, ha! She'd think I was a sort of a
Yankee devil, worse than the Injins she expected. Don't let her
know. I'll be quiet enough before long. Then like enough she'd look
at me and say, 'Poor fellow! he won't make any more trouble.'"

Whately had a busy day and felt that he had a reputation to regain.
He therefore bravely endured much physical pain in his arm and gave
very close attention to duty. Captain Maynard, on the contrary, had
nothing to do, and his wound was only severe enough to make him
restless. The young girl whom he had met at breakfast at once became
by far the most interesting subject for thought and object of
observation. He was a young fellow of the ordinary romantic type,
hasty, susceptible, as ready to fight as to eat, and possessed of
the idea that the way to win a girl was to appear her smitten,
abject slave. The passing hours were ages to him in contrast to his
previous activity, and as he watched Miss Lou going about on her
errands of mercy he quickly passed from one stage to another of
admiration and idealization. Remembering the look that Whately had
given him in the morning, he maintained a distant attitude at first,
thinking his brother officer had claims which he must respect. As he
wandered uneasily around, however, he discovered virtually how
matters stood, and learned of the attempt which Whately had made to
marry his cousin, nolens volens. This fact piqued his interest
deeply and satisfied him that the way was clear for a suit on his
part were he so inclined. Fair rivalry would give only additional
zest, and he promptly yielded to his inclination to become at least