head to enable him to glance along the line. All the faces seemed drawn
and clayish.

"They don't want to fight! They're just here because they're ordered
here and haven't the character to defy authority," he thought. "The
leaven is working! My time is coming!"

But Grandfather Fragini's cheeks had a hectic flush; his heart was
beating with the exhilaration of an old war-horse. Looking over Tom's
shoulder, he squinted into the distance, his underlip quivering against
his toothless gums.

"My eyesight's kind of uncertain," he said. "Can you see 'em?"

"There by the white posts--those lying figures!" said Tom. "They're
almost the color of the stubble."

"So I do, the land-sharks! Down on their bellies, too! No flag, either!
But that ain't no reason why we shouldn't have a flag. It ought to be
waving at 'em in defiance right over our heads!"

"Flags draw fire. They let the enemy know where you are,' Tom explained.

"The Hussars didn't bother about that. We let out a yell and went after
'em!" growled grandfather. "Appears to me the fighting these days is
grovelling in the dirt and taking care nobody don't get hurt!"

"Oh, there'll be enough hurt--don't you worry about that!" said a voice
from the line.

"Good thing an old fellow who's been under fire is along to stiffen you
rookies!" replied grandfather tartly. "You'll be all right once you get
going. You'll settle down to be real soldiers yet. And I'd like to hear
a little more cussing. How the Hussars used to cuss! Too much reading
and writing nowadays. It makes men too ladylike."

By this time he had once more attracted the captain's attention.

"Grandfather Fragini, you must drop back--you must! If you don't, I'll
have you carried back!" called Dellarme, sparing the old man only a
glance from his concentrated observation on the front.

When he looked again at the enemy any thought of carrying out his threat
vanished, for the minute had come when all his training was to be put to
a test. The figures on the other side of the white posts were rising. He
was to prove by the way he directed a company of infantry in action
whether or not he was worthy of his captain's rank. He breathed one of
those unspoken prayers that are made to the god of one's own efficient,
conscientious responsibility to duty. The words of it were: "May I keep
my head as if I were at drill!" Then he smiled cheerily. In order that
he might watch how each man used his rifle, he drew back o