land. As the poet says:

"'I have been there, and still would go;
'Tis like a little heaven below.'

Talbot!"

Brooke's voice changed.

"Well, Brooke."

"Can you be sure of yourself this day? Can you stand it?"

"Yes, Brooke."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Brooke."

"Oh, Talbot, Talbot! don't shrink! Oh, Talbot, don't falter! For my
sake, don't let me see you falter, Talbot, or I shall break down.
Alone I could let myself be tortured to death by Comanches, and I'd
sing my death-song as bravely as Mullins Bryan; but mark this,
Talbot: if you break down, if you even falter, I'm a lost, ruined,
and dishonored man. Will you remember that, Talbot?"

As he spoke these words, Brooke's voice had a thrill in it that
Talbot had never heard before.

"Brooke," said she, "I will be firm. Rather than show any weakness, I
will die."

"That's very good," said Brooke. "Your hand on it, Talbot."

She held out her hand. He pressed it with a convulsive grasp.

"You will not forget?" he asked, eagerly.

"I cannot forget," she answered, simply.

"Good lad!" said Brooke. He dropped her hand, and at once resumed his
careless manner. "And now," said he, "we can continue our music:

"'For there the historic blacksmith stands--'

Gretna Green, you know--

"'And hammers away at the marriage bands.'

Only he don't do so now, you know, for he's dead and gone, and
they've got new marriage laws."

Not long after this a man came up with a flask of wine and some
rolls. Brooke took them from him and brought them over.

"Talbot," said he, "you don't want to eat--in fact, at this moment
you hate food. But while I am with you I'm your master, and I now
command you to eat. Moreover, let me add that it is necessary to eat,
or else you may grow faint; and then, when there comes a chance of
escape, you won't be able to walk, and I shall have to carry you,
don't you see? And now won't you eat, just for the sake of saving me
from unnecessary fatigue?"

"I will eat if you will," said Talbot.

"Eat!" exclaimed Brooke. "What! I eat? Oh, well, I don't mind. For
that matter, I'd just as soon eat a pair of boots as not."

He broke off a fragment of bread and ate it. Talbot did the same, and
thus both forced themselves to eat, and each did this for the sake of
the other.

They said nothing while thus forcing themselves to eat. The thought
that was present to each was enough to occupy the mind, and it was
one which cou