“Hi, kid,” he said. “Did I have you worried?”
“You sure did,” returned his brother with fervor. “How do you feel, Jim?”
“Okay now,” nodded Jim. “I was just stunned, that is all. Terry was just a witness to a touching scene.”
“What was that?” asked Don curiously.
“Why,” explained the artillery cadet, grinning, “Mr. Vench swore eternal loyalty to Jim!”
“Did Vench make friends with you?” asked Don eagerly.
“Yes,” answered Jim. “They took him back to school, because he has a gash in his head, but before he went he apologized and told me that he could never be sufficiently grateful to me. I was glad that Terry was here to save me from total embarrassment.”
“Just the same,” said Don. “You did a very brave thing, Jim, and I’m proud of you. You could easily have waited until the bombardment was over and then have gone up.” He looked around and lowered his voice. “I certainly wouldn’t want to be the major, because he is the one to blame. If he is sensible he won’t say a word.”
10. Rebellion
When the cadets returned to school and routine life was resumed the young soldiers were loud in their praises of Don and Jim. They admired the fortitude with which Don had kept quiet and calm when he had learned of Jim’s plight, and they admired Jim’s plucky action. And most of them were surprised at the changed attitude of Cadet Vench.