"Well, you proved yourself one, on a certain occasion, and I reckon you and I will never forget it."
"No, sah!"
"But, G. W., there are many kinds of heroes, as I have often told you. A fellow that can be a hero under all circumstances is a chap worth knowing."
"Yes, sah!" All this sounded ominous, and G. W. pulled himself together.
"Well, my boy, you've got to go into a conflict again, another sort of a conflict, and I wish to heaven I could prepare you; but you'll have to battle it out, according to what is in you, as you did before, on the hill-top in Cuba. I'm going to send you to school, my boy, with Jack. It's a military school and the head master knows all about you, and wants you there. The others don't know."
"Yes, sah!" The low voice had a tone that always unnerved the Colonel—a tone of complete obedience, of complete understanding, and complete resignation.
"You see, G. W., I want to fit you for life," the Colonel went on. "I'm going to give you your chance. It's going to be a hard pull. The odds will be against you. It isn't just that it should be so, but it is so. Your color, comrade, often will go against you, though your heart is the pure heart of a brave, honest child."
"Yes, sah."
"Of course," the deep voice went on, "I could buy favor for you at the school, by telling the story of your bravery—a sort of honor for you; but, G. W., I want you to win your own position there, just as you always have, so far. It will be a tussle, but I think you'd like to make the try?"
"Yes, sah."