together could hold this continent against the world,
and, now that we have quit killing one another, America is safe in their
hands. Harry, do you think I've eaten too much? I wouldn't go beyond
the exploits of a gentleman, but this food has a wonderful savor, and I
can't say that I have dined before in months."

"Not at all, sir, you have just fairly begun. As Lieutenant Colonel
St. Hilaire pointed out, General Grant would be displeased if we didn't
fully appreciate his hospitality and prove it by our deeds. Here are
some sardines, sir. You haven't tasted 'em yet, but you'll find 'em
wonderfully fine."

Colonel Leonidas Talbot took the sardines, and then he and Lieutenant
Colonel St. Hilaire rose suddenly and simultaneously to their feet,
a look of wonder and joy spreading over their faces.

"Is it really he?" exclaimed Colonel Talbot.

"It's he and none other," said Lieutenant Colonel St. Hilaire.

A tall, powerfully built, gray-haired man was coming toward them, his
hands extended. Colonel Talbot and Lieutenant Colonel St. Hilaire
stepped forward, and each grasped a hand.

"Good old John!"

"Why, John, it's worth a victory to shake your hand again!"

"Leonidas, I've been inquiring, an hour or two, for you and Hector."

"John Carrington, you've fulfilled your promise and more. We always said
at West Point that you'd become the greatest artilleryman in the world,
and in this war you've proved it on fifty battle fields. We've often
watched your work from the other side, and we've always admired the
accuracy with which you sent the shells flying about us. It was
wonderful, John, wonderful, and it did more than anything else to save
the North from complete defeat!"

A smile passed over John Carrington's strong face, and he patted his old
comrade on the shoulder.

"It's good to know, Leonidas, that neither you nor Hector has been
killed," he said, "and that we can dine together again."

"Truly, truly, John! Sit down! It's the hospitality of your own general
that you share when you join us. General Lee would never make terms with
men like McClellan, Burnside and Hooker. No, sir, he preferred to defeat
them, much as it cost our Union in blood and treasure, but with a man
of genius like General Grant he could agree. Really great souls always
recognize one another. Is it not so, John?"

"Beyond a doubt, Leonidas. We fully admit the greatness and lofty
character of General Lee, as you admit the