"I should like to hear it," Captain Colvin answered.
"Well, sir. It was one day, just after a terrible battle; I was making my way over the bloody field to see whether I could find any of my comrades, when I heard a low moan, coming from a tent. I went in and found a poor fellow with his arm shot off. Some injury he had received on his head had made him quite delirious. I tried to bathe the wound, but a little puppy lying close to his side would not let me touch him."
"To make a long story short, the brave boy died a few days later; but not until he had sent messages by me to his widowed mother and sister at home, and had given me his only treasure, his faithful friend Tony."
"I took her to my tent, and she has been true to me ever since. In all the battles in which I afterwards engaged, Tony was in my pocket. When I was wounded, she moaned until she grew sick."
"We understand each other very well, don't we, Tony?" he asked, turning to the dog.
"Bow! Wow!" barked Tony, in a joyful tone.
"She knows I have been talking about her. See how intently she watches my every movement. Here, Tony, stand up and shake hands with me."
The creature instantly raised herself on her hind feet, and held out her right paw.
"Is that the hand you offer to a gentleman? Give me the other," said the colonel.
But Tony knew she was right; and she continued holding out her paw, till he said, laughing,—