and he sought always to keep it bright and sharp like a polished sword
blade.

"Whatever you wish, Captain McGee. But it will take us all to repel
the enemy. Kenton here, who saw them well, says they have a fine,
disciplined force."

The men now dismounted and led their horses to a little grove just in the
rear of the warehouse, where they were tethered under the guard of the
villagers, all red-hot partisans of the South. Then the four hundred men,
armed with rifles and carbines, disposed themselves about the warehouse,
the bulk of them watching the road along which the attacking force was
almost sure to come.

Harry took his place with Sherburne, and once more he was compelled
to admire the young captain's tact and charm of manner. He directed
everything by example and suggestion, but all the while he made the heavy
Captain McGee think that he himself was doing it.

Sherburne and Harry walked down the road a little distance.

"Aren't you glad to be here, Kenton?" asked the captain in a somewhat
whimsical tone.

"I'm glad to help, of course."

"Yes, but there's more. When I came to war I came to fight. And if we
save the stores look how we'll stand in Old Jack's mind. Lord, Kenton,
but he's a queer man! You'd never take any notice of him, if you didn't
know who he was, but I'd rather have one flash of approval from those