Then the boys showed the sword broken from the side of the brave Captain.
“Tad must have done that!” said Dick’s mother. “He was up here while his mother and I were talking downstairs. Oh, I am so sorry! But I will have your Soldier mended, Arnold.”
“Do you think you can?” he asked.
“Oh, yes,” was the answer. “Patrick, our gardener, is very good at soldering things. Once he soldered a hole in my dishpan. I will get him to fasten on the sword which is broken from your Tin Captain.”
Patrick was called in. The gardener, who did many things around the big house besides watering the lawn and looking after the flowers, took the Bold Tin Soldier and the broken sword up in his hands.
“Can he be mended?” asked Dick’s mother.
“Oh, yes, I think so,” answered Patrick.
“And may we watch you mend him?” asked Arnold.
“May we, Patrick?” echoed Dick.