“But we are going to join the army.”
“We are going just where our captain takes us, boy. He’s doing his work splendidly, and so are we.”
“What, keeping on with these little petty skirmishes?”
“Of course, boy. Don’t you see how we are keeping the enemy from closing in about the army’s rear, and saving them from destroying and burning every homestead and village whose supplies are wanted for our men?”
“Oh, I don’t quite understand,” cried Marcus, impatiently.
“Leave it to your leader, then, boy. That’s what a good soldier ought to do. But what’s the matter with you? Cold?”
“Yes, horribly. Why, it was as hot as could be in the valley this morning.”
“Well, no wonder,” said Serge, with a grim smile. “We were all amongst the trees and pleasant grass down there, and now on each side and straight before you—”
“Yes,” said Marcus, as he glanced around him. “It looks all very bleak and bare down here.”
“Up here, boy. We have been steadily rising all the day. Look at the ice and snow up yonder and straight before us. This time to-morrow we shall be shivering amongst the snow.”