ruled by themselves in a second rate manner than by the
foreigner in a first rate manner. Now, the government of our states is
attacked by Northern critics, but such as it is, it is ours and it's our
first choice. Do we bore you, Harry?"

"Not at all, sir. I never listen to either you or Colonel Talbot without
learning something."

The two colonels bowed politely.

"I have wished for some time to speak to you about a certain matter,
Hector," said Colonel Talbot.

"What is it, Leonidas?"

"During the height of that tremendous artillery fire from Little Round
Top I was at a spot where I could see the artillerymen very well whenever
the smoke lifted. Several times, I noticed an officer directing the
fire of the guns, and I don't think I could have been mistaken in his
identity."

"No, Leonidas, you were not. I too observed him, and we could not
possibly be mistaken. It was John Carrington, of course."

"Dear old John Carrington, who was with us at West Point, the greatest
artilleryman in the world. And he was facing us, when the fortunes of
the South were turning on a hair. If any other man had been there,
directing those guns, we might have taken Cemetery Hill."

"That's true, Leonidas, but it was not possible for any other man to be
in such a place at such a time. Granting that such a crisis should arise
and that it should arise at Gettysburg you and I would have known long
before that John would be there with the guns to stop us. Why, we saw
that quality in him all the years we were with him at West Point.
The world has never seen and never will see another such artilleryman as
John Carrington."

"Good old John. I hope he wasn't killed."

"And I hope so too, from the bottom of my heart. But we'll know before
many days."

"How will you find out?" asked Harry curiously.

Both colonels laughed genially.

"Because he will send us signs, unmistakable signs," replied Colonel
Talbot.

"I don't understand, sir."

"His signs will be shells, shrapnel and solid shot. We may not have a
battle this week or next week, but a big one is bound to come some time
or other and then if any section of the Northern artillery shows uncommon
deadliness and precision we'll know that Carrington is there. Why,
we can recognize his presence as readily as the deer scents the hunter.
We'll have many notes to compare with him when the war is over."

Harry sincerely hoped that the three would meet in friendship around