little
body-guard never could think of it without his heart aching with
happiness.

It was the most glorious experience a boy ever had. The Colonel wondered
how G. W. had escaped being utterly ruined, for people had lost their
heads over him, and even stern army men had shown a soft side toward the
dusky little fellow. However, G. W. was a real hero, and such you simply
cannot ruin.

Now the scene was changed. The Colonel and G. W. were in the library of
the home "up North;" they wore citizen's clothes and looked well and
hearty.

"G. W., do you remember what you once told me a hero was?"

"Yes, sah."

"Well, you proved yourself one, on a certain occasion, and I reckon you
and I will never forget it."

"No, sah!"

"But, G. W., there are many kinds of heroes, as I have often told you. A
fellow that can be a hero under _all_ circumstances is a chap worth
knowing."

"Yes, sah!" All this sounded ominous, and G. W. pulled himself together.

"Well, my boy, you've got to go into a conflict again, another sort of a
conflict, and I wish to heaven I could prepare you; but you'll have to
battle it out, according to what is in you, as you did before, on the
hill-top in Cuba. I'm going to send you to school, my boy, with Jack.
It's a military school and the head master knows all about you, and
_wants_ you there. The others don't know."

"Yes, sah!" The low voice had a tone that always unnerved the Colonel--a
tone of complete obedience, of complete understanding, and complete
resignation.

"You see, G. W., I want to fit you for life," the Colonel went on. "I'm
going to give you your chance. It's going to be a hard pull. The odds
will be against you. It isn't just that it should be so, but it is so.
Your color, comrade, often will go against you, though your heart is the
pure heart of a brave, honest child."

"Yes, sah."

"Of course," the deep voice went on, "I could buy favor for you at the
school, by telling the story of your bravery--a sort of honor for you;
but, G. W., I want you to win your own position there, just as you
always have, so far. It will be a tussle, but I think you'd like to make
the try?"

"Yes, sah."

"Because you'll have to tussle and try through life, you know, comrade."

"Yes, sah!"

The firm white hand took the little brown one in a warm hold. "And I
shan't bind you with any promises this time, G. W.," the Colonel said.

A warm color stole over G. W.'s dusky cheeks. He looked up and s