and farmhouse,
straight through a number of miles of crystal afternoon. Out of
Williamsport conversation began. "When you want a purchaser for that
horse, I'm your man," said the aide. "By any chance, _do_ you want to
sell?"

McNeill laughed. "Not to-day, captain!" He stroked the brown shoulder.
"Not to-day, Dun--Dandy!"

"What's his name? Dundandy?"

"No," replied the lieutenant. "Just Dandy. I'm rather fond of him. I
think we'll see it out together."

"Yes, they aren't bad comrades," said the other amicably. "In '53, when
I was with Lopez in Cuba, I had a little black mare that was just as
well worth dying for as a woman or a man or most causes, but, damn me!
she died for me--carried me past a murderous ambuscade, got a bullet for
her pains, and never dropped until she reached our camp!" He coughed.
"What pleasant weather! Was it difficult getting through Jackson's
lines?"

"Yes, rather."

They rode for a time in silence between fields of dead aster and
goldenrod. "When I was in Italy with Garibaldi," said Captain Marchmont
thoughtfully, "I saw something of kinsmen divided in war. It looked a
very unnatural thing. You're a Virginian, now?"

"Yes, I am a Virginian."

"And you are fighting against Virginia. Curious!"

The other smiled. "To be where you are you must believe in the
inviolability of the Union."

"Oh, I?" answered Marchmont coolly. "I believe in it, of course. I am
fighting for it. It chanced, you see, that I was in France--and out of
service and damnably out at elbows, too!--when Europe heard of Bull Run.
I took passage at once in a merchant ship from Havre. It was my
understanding that she was bound for New Orleans, but instead she put
into Boston Harbour. I had no marked preference, fighting being fighting
under whatever banner it occurs, so the next day I offered my sword to
the Governor of Massachusetts. North and South, they're none of mine.
But were I in England--where I haven't been of late years--and a row
turned up, I should fight with England."

"No doubt," answered the other. "Your mind travels along the broad and
simple lines of the matter. But with us there are many subtle and
intricate considerations."

Passing now through woods they started a covey of partridges. The small
brown and white shapes vanished in a skurry of dead leaves. "No doubt,
no doubt!" said the soldier of fortune. "At any rate, I have rubbed off
particularity in such matters. Live and let live--and each man