"Why, sartin. Just the same as you would, or--or I hope I would,
if I was young and--and," with a wistful smile, "different, and
likely to be any good to Uncle Sam. Yes, Leander's been anxious to
go to war, but his dad was so set against it all and kept hollerin'
so about the boy's bein' needed in the store, that Leander didn't
hardly know what to do. But then when he was drawn on the draft
list he came in here and he and I had a long talk. 'Twas
yesterday, after you'd told me about bein' put on the Board, you
know. I could see the trouble there'd be between you and Phineas
and--and--well, you see, Sam, I just kind of wanted that boy to
volunteer. I--I don't know why, but--" He looked up from his work
and stared dreamily out of the window. "I guess maybe 'twas
because I've been wishin' so that I could go myself--or--do
SOMETHIN' that was some good. So Leander and I talked and finally
he said, 'Well, by George, I WILL go.' And--and--well, I guess
that's all; he went, you see."

The captain drew a long breath.

"He went," he repeated. "And you knew he'd gone?"

"No, I didn't know, but I kind of guessed."

"You guessed, and yet all the time I've been here you haven't said
a word about it till this minute."

"Well, I didn't think 'twas much use sayin' until I knew."

"Well, my gracious king, Jed Winslow, you beat all my goin' to sea!
But you've helped Uncle Sam to a good soldier and you've helped me