feel his heart pounding as they entered the Captain's tent.

"Sit down," said Captain Moffet, pointing to a box. He called his
messenger. "I don't want to be disturbed for a few minutes."

"Very good, sir," answered the messenger. He stationed himself a few yards
in front.

"It strikes me," the Captain said, as he sat in a folding chair directly
before Tom, "that you are entirely too young to be sent out on such an
expedition as this. But I like to know that you volunteer for it. It gives
me a comfortable feeling to have men in my company who are always ready for
anything that comes up, who are perpetual volunteers for the dangerous
jobs."

Tom felt his heart sink. Then he wasn't to be allowed to go! This was
simply a nice way of telling him that he couldn't!

"But, Captain," he said explosively, "I'd rather do this than anything else
on earth. I am young--I'll admit that--but that'll make me all the more
valuable. If it comes to carrying messages, I can run for miles without
stopping. Why, I can move faster and fight harder just because I am young!
Please give me the chance!"

The Captain looked at him narrowly. "You really want to go, don't you?"

"Yes!" Tom almost shouted.

"All right," said the Captain, rising from his chair. "You _are_ going."
Tom wanted to thank him, but he was speechless. "You will hold yourself in