"Now, Harding, you have some knowledge upon this subject; a secret to tell."
"Yes, sir."
"Out with it."
"You will keep it in confidence, between us two?"
"Certainly."
"You know that the sergeant was my friend, that he had saved my life twice in battle, and I loved him as I did a brother?"
"I remember."
"No man knew him better than I did in the fort, for we were boon comrades for over a year, and I knew his features perfectly, as well as other marks of identification."
"Yes."
"The sergeant had one mark that he was sensitive about, and kept hidden from all, though I saw it several times."