It proved that Tobe had told the truth about his skill in taking care of horses. Captain Leigh's horse had never looked so well as now, and the captain was delighted. Tobe turned out, moreover, to be a very good boy. But the army is not a very good place for boys. So one day Captain Leigh said:—
"Tobe, how would you like to go North?"
"Whar's it at, Mass Cap'n?"
"I mean my home at the North."
"When is yer gwine, Mass Cap'n?"
"I am not going at all now."
"Does yer mean ter sen' me away from yer, Mass Cap'n?"
Captain Leigh was touched, and answered him very gently,—
"Yes, I want to send you away from me now, because it will be better for you. But, when the war is over, I shall go home, and then you can stay with me always if you are a good boy."