sir. It--it hurts like the mischief," answered Virgie in a small
voice. "It keeps jumping up and down."

"Little woman, that's too bad," he said with a consoling pat on the head
which seemed to take most of the pain away. "But after we bathe it and
tie it up it will feel better."

Kneeling beside the spring he took off his campaign hat of felt and
dipped it full of clear, cold water.

"Wow!" cried Virgie suddenly in the interval and she slapped her leg
with a resounding whack. "There are 'skeeters roun' this place. One of
'em bit me--an old _he_ one. Jiminy!"

"Did he?" asked her father, smiling as he came back with the hat. "Well,
honey, there are much worse things in this world than those little
fellows and if you don't complain any more than that you're going to be
a very happy lady when you grow up."

"Like Mamma?" asked the little tot, with a thoughtful face.

"Just like Mamma," the man repeated. "The loveliest--the bravest--and
the _best_." He wavered a little on his feet and the hat threatened to
slip through his fingers, but his daughter's great, dark eyes were
steady on his and, curiously enough, he seemed to draw strength to pull
himself together.

"And now, let's see. We'll have to get the grime off first. Just dip the
little wounded soldier in."

"What! My foot in your hat!" protested Virgie with a little scream. "Oh,
you poor daddy!"

"Why, that's all right, honey," he laughed, pleased at her daintiness.
"That hat's an old veteran. He don't mind anything. So--souse her in.

"There--easy now--_easy_" as she threatened to capsize this curious
basin. "Big toe first.

"Yes, I know it's cold," he laughed as the water stung the broken skin
and made her twitch involuntarily, "but bathing will do it good. I just
know it feels better already--doesn't it?"

"Yes, sir," answered Virgie meekly, "only--it jumps up and down harder
than ever. But of course I know it must be getting better."

"Good! What did I tell you? Now let Daddy look."

He lifted her foot up tenderly and examined it with care. "My, my!" he
murmured. "You poor little soldier. If I hadn't looked around that time
I expect you'd been willing to walk all the way to Richmond on a foot
that would make a whole regiment straggle. Just see where you've cut
it--right under the second little piggie. We'll have to tie it right up
and keep the bothersome old dust from getting in. By morning you'll
hardly feel it."

With a soldier's readiness he o