o have caught you at last." The faraway thunder of the siege
mortars was heard as he spoke. "Nice Christmas carol that! Have you been
to-day in the graveyards you call trenches?"

"No, I was not on duty. I meant to ride over to your hospital to have a
home-talk and exchange grumbles, but just as I mounted Colonel Swift
stopped with a smartly dressed aide-de-camp. I saluted. He said, 'I was
looking for an engineer off duty. Have the kindness to ride with me.'"

"By George! Tom, he was so polite that I felt sure we were on some
unpleasant errand. I was as civil, and said, 'With pleasure.' A nice
Christmas celebration! Well, I have been in the saddle all day. It rained
and froze to sleet on the snow, and the horses slipped and slid most
unpleasantly. About noon we passed our pickets. I was half frozen. When
we got a bit further, the old colonel pulled up on a hillside and began
to ask me questions, how far was that bridge, and could I see their
pickets, and where did that cross-road go to. The aide was apparently
ornamental and did not do anything but guess. I answered with sublime
confidence, as my mind got thawed a little and the colonel made notes."

"I know," laughed Tom. "Must never admit in the army that you don't know.
You can always write 'respectfully referred' on a document. When General
Grant visits our hospital and asks questions ten to the minute, I fire
back replies after quick consultation with my imagination. It works. He
assured the surgeon-in-charge that I was a remarkably well-informed
officer. So was he!"

"Come in," said Penhallow. "I am cold and cross. I expect a brevet at
least--nothing less; but if Comstock or Duane reads the colonel's notes,
I may get something else."

"Have you had a fall, John? You are pretty dirty, and that horse with the
queer name is dead lame. How did you come to grief?"

"I had an adventure."

"Really! What was it?"

"Tell you another time--it was a queer one. Here's Mr. Rivers." He was
followed by a contraband black with a basket.

"Happy Christmas, boys. I bring you a Christmas turkey and a plum-pudding
from your aunt, John."

He was made heartily welcome and was in unusually good spirits, as Josiah
took possession of these unexpected rations and John got into dry
clothes.

They fell to familiar talk of Westways. "I fear," said Rivers, "that the
colonel is worse. I am always sure of that when Mrs. Penhallow writes of
him as cheerful."

"My father," said Tom,