"That is a foolish question. It isn't likely that I would tear half my ear off, just for the fun of the thing, is it?"
Further conversation was interrupted by an order from the gun captain to resume dotter practice. For the next hour the attention of the boys was wholly taken up by this fascinating work.
After mess Dan asked for his letter. Sam got out his ditty box and handed the letter back rather sheepishly; after which he busied himself with pawing over the articles in his box.
"Am I to read what you have written?" questioned Dan with a smile.
"You may read it, if you want to," answered Sam, growing very red. "I didn't figure on your doing so, though."
"Well, you insisted on knowing what I had written to mother, so I guess you will have to take the same medicine," retorted Dan with a laugh, as he opened the sheet on which his companion had written his message to Mrs. Davis.
Dan's face sobered as he read, but he made no comment until he had gone through the letter. He glanced up with swimming eyes. Sam was not looking at him. The red-headed boy was deeply absorbed in his ditty box at that moment.
"Sam Hickey, look at me," commanded Dan.
"I'm looking at you."
"Do you mean that you want to give your two hundred dollars to mother?"