d "decided
right" that these precious stores were not at the bottom of the ocean.

And the captain's mess boy, whose uncle had fought at Gettysburg, and
whose brother was a traitor, could not see the things which were going
to help win the war because he was locked up in a little dim room on
board, called the guardhouse. He was sitting on the leather settee, his
fingers intertwined nervously, gulping painfully now and then, but for
the most part, quiet and brave. He did not try to talk with his brother
now. He wished he could know the worst right away--what they were going
to do with him. Then he would not care so much.

Outside, upon the deck and quay, he could hear much, and he listened
with a dull interest. He knew that old Uncle Sam was out there with his
sleeves rolled up, making himself mightily at home, chucking wheat and
wool and cotton and sugar and stuff out of the hold, slewing it,
hoisting it, and letting it down plunk onto France! The boys in khaki
were on trains already. He could hear the silly, piping screech of the
French locomotives. His mind was half numbed, but he hoped that all this
would encourage those French people and remind them that before Uncle
Sam rolled down his sleeves again, he intended to bat out a home run.

Sometimes he became frightened, but he tried not to think of what lay
before him. He believed that his brother would drag him down to his own
shameful punishment, but he told himself that he didn't care.

"Anyway, I did my bit. I wish--I kinder wish I could have seen Frenchy
again. But I ain't scared. I just as soon--stand--up--and be---- 'Cause
I ain't much, anyway----. And it ain't--it ain't for me to decide how I
ought to die."

CHAPTER XVII

HE AWAITS THE WORST AND RECEIVES A SURPRISE

After a while the monotony was broken by two soldiers coming to take his
brother away. Tom did not know where they were taking him; it might be
to court martial and death. He knew nothing about court martial, whether
it was a matter of minutes or hours or days, only he knew that
everything in military administration was quick, severe and thorough. He
wanted to speak to his brother, but he did not dare, and after the grim
little procession was gone he listened to the steady, ominous footfalls,
as they receded along the deck.

Soon they would come for _him_, and he made up his mind that he would be
master of himself and at the last minute he would hold his head up and
look straight a