from us if we behave like men."

"But, don't you see, I can't behave like a man when I'm only a boy? Oh,
there they go again!" half-whispered the poor fellow, who seemed
thoroughly unnerved. "Come along, there's a good chap."

"No," said Pen firmly. "You can't behave like a man, but you can behave
like a brave boy, and that's what you are going to do. If we ever get
back to our company you wouldn't like me to tell the lads that you were
so frightened by the howling of the wolves that you let me go on alone
to face them, and--"

"Here, I say," cried Punch excitedly, "you don't mean to say that you
would go on alone!"

"I mean to say I would," said Pen firmly; "but I shall not have to,
because you are coming on along with me."

"No, I ain't," said the boy stubbornly.

"Yes, you are."

"You don't know," continued the boy, through his set teeth. "Hanged if
I do--so there!"

Pen laughed bitterly.

"Well, you are a queer fellow, Punch," he said. "You stood by me
yesterday and faced dozens of those French chasseurs, and fought till we
had fired off our last cartridge, and then set-to to keep them off with
the butt of your musket, though you were quite sure they would come on
again and again."

"Perhaps I did," said the boy huskily, "because I felt I ought to as a
soldier, and it was dooty; but 'tain't a soldier's dooty to get torn to
pieces by wolves. Ugh! It's horrid, and I can't bear it."

"Come on, Punch. I am going."

"No, don't! I say, pray don't, comrade!" cried the boy passionately;
and he caught at Pen's arm and clung to it with all his might. "I tell
you I'd shoulder arms, keep touch with you, and keep step and march
straight up to a regiment of the French, with the bullets flying all
about our ears. I wouldn't show the white once till I dropped. You
know I'd be game if it was obeying orders, and all our fellows coming on
behind. I tell you I would, as true as true!"

"What!" said Pen, turning upon him firmly, "you would do that if you
were ordered?"

"That I would, and I wouldn't flinch a bit. You know I never did,"
cried the boy passionately. "Didn't I always double beside my
company-leader, and give the calls whenever I was told?"

"Yes; and now I am going to be your company-leader to-night. Now then,
my lad, forward!"

Pen jerked his arm free and stepped off at once, while his comrade
staggered with the violence of the thrust he had received. Then,
recovering himself, he sto