or you wouldn't have chosen him."

"Oh! don't you abuse him," said Frank, with his face brightening; and
his eyes shone with the mirth which had suddenly taken the place of his
anger.

"What! do you dare to mock me?" cried Andrew.

"No; only it seemed so comic. You know, I've only had one friend since
I've been here. How could I ask you?"

For a _few_ moments Andrew stood gazing at him, as if hardly knowing how
to parry this verbal thrust, and then the look which had accompanied it
did its work.

"I say," he said, in an altered tone, "this is very absurd."

"Yes, isn't it?" said Frank. "I never thought we two were going to have
such a row."

"But you called me a fool."

"Didn't! But you did call me a coward. Ha--ha! and yourself too. But,
I say, Drew, you don't think I'm a coward, do you?"

Andrew made no reply.

"Because I don't think I am," continued Frank. "I always hated to have
to fight down yonder. And as soon as we began I always felt afraid of
hurting the boy I fought with; but directly he hit out and hurt me I
forgot everything, and I used to go on hammering away till I dropped,
and had to give in because he was too much for me, and I hadn't strength
to go on hammering any more. But somehow," he added thoughtfully, and
with simple sincerity in his tones, "I never even then felt as if I was
beaten, though of course I was."

"But you used to beat sometimes?" said Andrew quietly.

"Oh yes, often; I generally used to win. I've got such a hard head and
such bony knuckles. But, I say, you don't think I should be afraid to
fight, do you?"

"I'm sure you wouldn't be," cried Andrew, with animation, "and--and,
there I beg your pardon for treating you as I have and for calling you a
coward. It was a lie, Frank, and--will you shake hands?"

There was a rapid movement, and this time the boy's fist flew out, but
opened as it went and grasped the thin white hand extended toward him.

"I say, don't please; you hurt," said Andrew, screwing up his face.

"Oh, I beg your pardon," cried the boy. "I didn't mean to grip so hard.
I say, though, is it as the officers say to the soldiers?"

"What do you mean?" said Andrew wonderingly.

"As you were?"

"Of course. I'm sure our fathers never quarrelled and fought, and I
swear we never will."

"That's right," cried Frank.

"And I never felt as if I liked you half so much as I do now. Why,
Frank, old fellow, you seem as if you had suddenly grown a