"And why not, Wyman? Did n't you know they employed music at both

functions nowadays? Besides, it is not every man who is permitted to

assist at his own obsequies--the very uniqueness of such a situation

rather appeals to my sense of humor. Pretty tune, that one I was

whistling, don't you think? Picked it up on 'The Pike' in Cincinnati

fifteen years ago. Sorry I don't recall the words, or I'd sing them

for you."

The sergeant, his teeth clinched tightly to repress the pain racking

him, stifled his resentment with an evident effort. "You may be less

light-hearted when you learn that the last of our ammunition is already

in the guns," he remarked, stiffly.

"I suspected as much." And the speaker lifted himself on one elbow to

peer down the line of recumbent figures. "To be perfectly frank with

you, sergeant, the stuff has held out considerably longer than I

believed it would, judging from the way those 'dough boys' of yours

kept popping at every shadow in front of them. It 's a marvel to me,

the mutton-heads they take into the army. Oh, now, you need n't scowl

at me like that, Wyman; I 've worn the blue, and seen some service

where a fellow needed to be a man to sport the uniform. Besides, I 'm

not indifferent, old chap, and just so long as there remained any work

worth attending to in this skirmishing affair, I did it, did n't I?

But I tell you, man, there is mighty little good trying to buck against

Fate, and when Luck once finally lets go of a victim, he's bound to

drop straight to the bottom before he stops. That's the sum and

substance of all my philosophy, old fellow, consequently I never kick

simply because things happen to go wrong. What's the use? They 'll go

wrong just the same. Then again, my life has never been so sweet as to

cause any excessive grief over the prospect of losing it. Possibly I

might prefer to pass out from this world in some other manner, but

that's merely a matter of individual taste, and just now there does n't

seem to be very much choice left me. Consequently, upheld by my

acquired philosophy, and encouraged by the rectitude of my past

conduct, I 'm merely holding back one shot for myself, as a sort of

grand finale to this fandango, and another for that little girl out

yonder."

These words were uttered slowly, the least touch of a lazy drawl

apparent in the low voice, yet there was an earnest simplicity

pervading the speech which somehow gave it impressiveness. The man

meant exactly what he said, beyond the possibility of a doubt. The old

soldier, accustomed to every form of border eccentricity, gazed at him

with disapproval.




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