e too haughty because he remembers you," said Warner
reprovingly. "Bear in mind that trifles sometimes stick longer in our
minds than more important things."

"It's just jealousy on your part," said Dick. "You New Englanders are
able people, but you can't bear for anybody else to achieve distinction."

"We don't have to feel that jealousy often," said Warner calmly.

"Merit like charity begins with you at home."

"And modesty can't keep us from admitting it, but you Kentuckians do
fight well--under our direction."

"Don't talk with him, Dick," said Pennington. "Against his wall of
mountainous conceit wisdom breaks in vain."

"I'm glad to see you expressing yourself so poetically, Frank," said
Warner. "The New England seed planted in Nebraska will flower into bloom
some day."

Sergeant Whitley came at that moment and asked them to go and see the new
horses provided for them, and the three went with him, friends bound to
one another by hooks of steel. The horses given to them by special favor
of Sheridan in place of their worn-out mounts, were splendid animals,
and Sergeant Whitley himself had prepared them for their first appearance
before their new masters.

"They'll do! They'll do!" said Dick with enthusiasm. "Grand fellows!
They ought to carry us anywhere!"

"Upon this point I must confess myself somewhat your inferior," said
Warner in his precise manner. "The mountainous character of our state
keeps us from making horses a specialty. You, I believe, in Kentucky,
pay great attention to their breeding, and so I ask you, young Mr. Mason,
if the horse chosen for me is all that he should be."

"He asks it as a matter of condescension, Dick, and not as a favor,"
said Pennington.

"It's all right any way you take it," laughed Dick. "Yes, George,
your horse has no defect. You can always lead the charge on him against
Early."

"If I'm not at the very front I expect to be somewhere near it," said
Warner. "But don't you like the looks of this camp, boys? It shows
order, method and precision. Everything has been done according to the
best algebraic formulae. I call it mathematics, charged with fire.
Our Little Phil is a great commander. One can feel his spirit in the
air all about us."

Dick himself had noticed the military workmanship and that, too, of a
high order, and he understood thoroughly that Sheridan had gathered a
most formidable army. It was not much short of thirty thousand men,
vete