"That will I, colonel," answered Thoms, with a keen smile.
"You have been a good friend to me, and Heaven knows I have need of friends," said St. Udo, gratefully.
The glittering eyes watched him as intently as if the old man were learning a lesson.
"If there's anything I could do for you, Thoms, to mark my gratitude, I would like to hear of it," said St. Udo.
"Nothing, colonel, except to let me stay by you."
"You may get shot in battle, my man."
"So may you, colonel, and more likely."
"Well, we won't dispute about that," said St. Udo, sunnily. "But wouldn't you rather go North, out of the scrape?"
"I'll never leave you!"
St. Udo, glancing up gratefully, saw that in his eye, which chilled as with the finger of death, the warm words crowding to his lips; a thrill of mortal dread, a sure premonition of evil seized his soul, and he waited, with the words frozen, regarding the man with stony stare until he turned on his heel and shuffled out of sight.