"And I am quite of your opinion, my dear," said Violet. "I am very proud
of my husband's son--the dear, good, brave fellow."

But the captain's eyes were again upon the letter, his face expressing
both interest and amusement.

"What is it, Levis?" she asked; "something more that you can share with
the rest of us?"

"Yes," he returned; then read aloud:

"That was Friday night, and this is Saturday evening. This afternoon
Hunt and I were allowed to go into the city. We were walking along one
of the side streets, and came upon a man who was beating his horse most
unmercifully.

"The poor thing was just a bag of bones, that seemed to have nothing but
skin over them, and was hitched to a cart heavily loaded with earth and
stones; its head was down, and it looked ready to drop, while the savage
wretch (not worthy to be called a man) was beating it furiously, and
cursing and swearing in a towering passion; men and boys gathering
around, and some calling him to stop.

"But he didn't pay the smallest attention, till the poor beast spoke--at
least the voice seemed to come from its mouth--'Aren't you ashamed to be
beating me so, and swearing at me, too, when you've starved me till I
haven't strength to drag even myself another step?'

"At that the man stopped both his beating and swearing, and stood