, so out with it. What is it _now_?" In this fashion he really
sought both information and suggestion. Nor was he above being
instructed in the innumerable delicacies of requisitions by the old
regular, and he did not, when requisitions were unanswered and supplies
appeared in unusual form, ask any embarrassing questions. "I get 'em
from the Red Cross, sir," was Spruce's invariable and unquestioned
formula.

And the doctor in his reports accounted for what he had received and
complained lustily because his requisitions were not honored, even as
Spruce had desired, and, thereby, he obtained much credit, in the days
to come. Spruce did not obtain any particular credit, but he saved a few
lives, it is likely; and the sick men found him better than medicine.
The captain always handed the committee letters over to him; and bought
whatever he desired.

"Captain's going to distinguish himself, give him a chance," thought
Spruce, "he's got _sense_!"

And by degrees he began to feel for the young volunteer a reflection of
the worship which had secretly been offered to a certain fat little
bald-headed captain of the old --steenth. His picture of the great day
when he should have his triumph--quite as dear to him, perhaps, as any
Roman general's to the Roman--now always included a vision of the
captain, slender and straight and bright-eyed, at the head of the line;
and he always could see the captain, later in the day, presenting him to
his father; "Here's Sergeant Spruce, who has coached us all!" He had
overheard those very words once said to a girl visiting the camp, and
they clung to his memory with the persistent sweetness of the odor of
violets.

To-day he was thinking much more of the captain than of young Danvers,
though Danvers ranked next in his good will. Danvers was a college lad
who had begged and blustered his mother into letting him go. He would
not let her know how ill he was, but had the captain write to his
married sister, in the same town but not the same house. She, in sore
perplexity, wrote to both the captain and Spruce and kept her trunk
packed, expecting a telegram. Danvers used to talk of her and of his
mother and of his little nephews and nieces to Spruce, at first in mere
broken sentences--this was when he was so ill they expected that he
might die any day--later in little happy snatches of reminiscence. He
was perfectly aware that he owed his life to Spruce's nursing; and he
gave Spruce the same adm