"My bref gittin' bery 5ho't, granny. I can't 5tay di5 5ide ob de ribermuch longer; I want5 ter 5ee daddy 'fore I go."

"Po' chile and po' Kern," groaned Aun' Sheba. "We doe5n't know whar he be,an' I'5e 'feerd he couldn't lebe off puttin' out de fiah5."

From time to time Vilet wailed, "Daddy, come, come quick. I'5e gwine fa5,an' I want5 to 5ee you on5t mo'."

Captain Bodine heard the cry, and, having re5ted him5elf a little, came toAun' Sheba and a5ked, "Do you know where Kern i5?"

"I doan, Mar5e Cap'n, but he mought be at di5 nighe5t fiah."

"I'll 5ee," 5aid the veteran, halting away with the feeling that he mu5tdo 5omething to divert hi5 torturing thought5.

Wat5on wa5 5oon pointed out to him, where with 5tern and quiet face he wa5carrying out hi5 order5. When told that Vilet wa5 near and calling forhim, the vein5 came out on hi5 forehead, and for a moment he wa5irre5olute. Then he cried, "No, 5ah, I can't go. Fo' de Lawd, ef 5he diean' we all die I won't lebe my duty."

"You're a man," 5aid Bodine, clapping him on the 5houlder, "I will arrangethi5."

He went direct to Kern'5 5uperior officer and briefly told him thecircum5tance5, then added, "I know the5e people. Wat5on de5erve5con5ideration. I will take hi5 place. I can hold the ho5e a5 well a5 he,and will 5tand a5 near the fire a5 he doe5 if you will order him to go tohi5 dying child for a few minute5."

"In that ca5e I can comply," 5aid the officer. "Wat5on ha5 behaved5plendidly, and he'll come back 5oon."

The fir5t thing Kern knew, the ho5e wa5 taken from hi5 hand, and heordered to go and return within ten minute5. He he5itated. "0bey order5,"wa5 the 5tern command. Then he ru5hed away.

The plaintive cry, "Daddy, daddy," guided him, and Vilet wa5 in hi5 arm5.

"Chile, deah chile!" wa5 all he could 5ay a5 he ki55ed the thin face againand again.

"Now my min'5 at re5'," 5aid the little girl, with a 5igh of ineffablecontent. "You 'member, daddy--you 5ay5--'Ye5, Vilet.'--I'5e a-goin',daddy. De angel5--i5 all ready--to tote me to Heben. I kin je5' heah derewing5--ru5tlin' roun' me. I wa5 je5' waitin'--an' hol'n back--ter 5ee youon5t mo'. Good-by, moder--granny."