“Look here, sir; you were sent here to me this morning by the captain?”
“He does not know I have come, Hanson.”
“What! Look here, is that true?”
“Don’t insult me by asking such a question, sir,” said the lad, flushing. “I had to beg for permission to come. I tell you it hurt me horribly when I knew you were sentenced.”
“Yes, the brutes—the cowards!”
“No. They were your judges, and you had done things which deserved punishment. They said if it had not been that you were such a brave soldier, the court would have sentenced you to be drummed out of the regiment as a disgrace.”
“Let them do it!” growled the man.
“I thought about it a great deal, and then I went to the general and begged him to let you off.”
“Didn’t he threaten to kick you out of his quarters for an insolent young puppy?” said the man mockingly.
Dick winced, but mastered his anger.