"No doubt, since I know you and Darcy can shoot pretty straight. You ought to ask St. John to join the command."
"Not much, Marion! Don't you know that St. John is a coward at heart, even if he is a man?"
"Yes, I know it. One of the colored help on his plantation told Old Ben that the cannon-firing so close at hand made him so uneasy he couldn't eat or sleep."
"Is it possible! Now the cannon-firing simply makes me crazy to be at the front, to see what is going on, and to take part."
"Then you must be a born soldier, Jack." Marion heaved a sigh. "Oh, I wish this war was over! Why must the men of the South and the North kill each other?"
"The world has always had wars and always will, I reckon. Do you want to come to town and see us drill?"
"Will it be safe?"
"I think so, Marion. I don't believe the enemy are coming here very soon."
Soon after this Jack and Marion were on their way to Oldville, a sleepy town containing two general stores, a tavern, and a blacksmith shop.
In front of the tavern was a large green, and here a number of boys were playing various games.