"Keep me in mind for the first chance, Captain."
"I'll promise you that."
"Thank you, sir," said Bert. "Do you know who will take my place?"
"Not yet," replied Captain Moffat. "I'll have to select a man."
He left the tent, his heavy sword clanking as he walked. Tom resumed his seat beside Bert.
"What is this scheme of yours, Bert?" he asked. "Can't you tell me? Is it a secret?"
Bert considered the matter for nearly a minute, while Tom watched him intently. "Yes, it's a secret," replied Bert; then he added, "But I'll tell you."
"If it's a military secret, perhaps you'd better not. Of course I wouldn't tell anyone, but…."
"No, it's all right for me to tell you." Bert put his hand into his knapsack which lay beside his bed and pulled forth a map. "Look here." Tom moved up beside him and they spread the map out on their knees. "There's a town called Corinth." Tom pointed with a brown forefinger. "Beauregard is there. And here is Atlanta, which is Beauregard's base of supplies. Here is Murfreesboro where we're camped. If Beauregard's supplies were cut off between Atlanta and Chattanooga, what would happen to Beauregard?"
"He'd been in for trouble," answered Tom.