"Ah!" said the major, with a sad smile. "You recognized the beauty of the poem?"
"Not exactly," said Jimmieboy. "But you said you were in the fire when I knew you were in the ice-box, and so of course——"
"Of course," said the major, with a frown. "You remembered that when I say one thing I mean another. Well, I'm glad to see you again, but why did you desert me so cruelly?"
CHAPTER XIII.
THE RESCUE.
FOR a moment Jimmieboy could say nothing, so surprised was he at the major's question. Then he simply repeated it, his amazement very evident in the tone of his voice.
"Why did we desert you so cruelly?"
"Yes," returned the major. "I'd like to know. When two of my companions in arms leave me, the way you and old Spriteyboy did, I think you ought to make some explanation. It was mean and cruel."
"But we didn't desert you," said Jimmieboy. "No such idea ever entered our minds. It was you who deserted us."
"I?" roared the major fiercely.