brave?"

[Illustration: GENERAL MORGAN.]

"We seldom hear of a man admitting that he was ever afraid," observed
Hand. "But the man who never knew fear must be possessed of a small
degree of intelligence and no sense of responsibility; neither of which
are creditable. Great generals, and soldiers, in all ages, have boasted
of their freedom from dread under all circumstances. But it is a mere
boast. Fear is natural and useful, and I have ever observed that the man
of most fear is the man of most prudence and forecast."

"Do you mean to say that the coward is the wisest man?" enquired
Kinnison, in astonishment.

"Oh, no. A coward is one who will not grapple with danger when he meets
it, but shrinks and flies. A man who is conscious of dangers to be met,
and feels a distrust of his own power to meet them, is a different sort
of person," replied Hand.

"Well, that's a very nice distinction," remarked one of the young men.

"There's truth in what he says, however," said Ranson. "I have felt a
fear of consequences many a time, yet I know that I am not a coward;
for my conduct in the time of battle, and when death was hailing around
me, proves it."

"I can't see any distinction between a coward and a man of many fears,"
remarked Davenport; "though, of course, I don't know enough of words to
argue the point."