“Oh, splendidly! He will be able to use it in a few days. They are taking off the splints to-morrow.”
“That is good news indeed. Now it will be only a short time before we can start once again on our journey home.”
“Our journey home!” exclaimed Button. “Who said Stubby and I were going with you?”
“I did. Or rather I planned taking you both along with me. You don’t suppose I am going without you now I have found you again, do you? Not by a long way!”
“But what if we refuse to go? You can’t carry us, one on each horn, can you?”
“Yes, I could, but I don’t want you to go that way, or against your will. I want you to want to go. And I know perfectly well that I can offer enough inducements to coax you both to go with me.”
“But how about deserting our regiments?”
“You have already deserted yours in following Stubby here,” answered Billy.
“But I had to follow a wounded friend! Besides, they would be delighted to see me back.”
“That is all well enough! But you fellows are coming back home with me just as soon as Stubby is able to travel. And I will tell you why. In the first place you both have had about enough of war to last you all your lives. Again the war will soon be over now the United States army is in the thick of the fight. And again you both have come to the conclusion that there is no country you would care to live in but America, and the United States of America part of it at that.”