“They played every inch of the way to meet their death!”

“Regular little heroes, weren’t they?” said Miss Bertram.

“Rather,” came from Roy’s lips, and then without another word he ran out of the room.

“Do you like it, David?” Miss Bertram asked, touching Dudley lightly on the shoulder.

“No—­I—­don’t—­it makes a fellow in a blue funk.”  And two fists were hastily brushed across the eyes.

“Shall I sing you something more cheerful?”

“No, thanks, not to-night, I think I’ll go to Roy.”

And Dudley, too, made his exit, leaving his aunt touched and amused at the effect of the song.

An hour after the rain had ceased, and the sun was shining out.  Down the village street walked the two boys enjoying their freedom more soberly than was their wont.

“We must, we must, we must be heroes, Dudley!”

“Yes, if we get a chance.”

“But why shouldn’t we have it as well as those two boys.  I wonder sometimes what God meant us to do when He made us!  And I’m not going to be in the dumps because I’m not very strong.  For look at Nelson:  old Selby told us he was always very seedy and shaky, always ill; and not being big in body doesn’t matter, for Nelson was a little man and so was Napoleon, and lots of the great men have been short and stumpy and hideous!  I mean to do something before I die, if only an opportunity will come!  Do you remember the story of the little chap in Holland, who put his hand in the hole in the sand bank, and kept the whole ocean from coming in and washing away hundreds of towns and villages?  If I could only do a thing like that, something that would do good to millions of people; something that would be worth living for!  If I could save somebody’s life from fire, or drowning, or some kind of danger!  Don’t you long for something of that sort, eh?”

“I don’t know that I do,” was the slow response; “but I should like you to get a chance of it if you want it so much.”

“Oh, wasn’t it splendid of those two little chaps—­a whole regiment!  And only those two who didn’t run away!  I think I could stand fire like that, couldn’t you?”

“I would with you.”

“But I don’t expect I’ll ever go into the army.”  This in sorrowful tones.

“Why not?”

“Oh, they’d never have me.  I’m too thin round the chest; nurse says I’m like a bag of bones, and I wouldn’t make a smart soldier.  Now you’d be a splendid one, no one could be ashamed of you.”

“Well, I won’t go without you.”

“But I’ll do something worth living for,” repeated Roy, tossing up his head and giving a stamp as he spoke; “and I’ll seize the first opportunity that comes.”

Dudley was silent.  They had now reached the low stone bridge over the river, a favorite resort amongst all the village boys for fishing; and quite a little group of them were collected there.  Roy and Dudley were welcomed eagerly as though perhaps at times they were inclined to assume patronizing and masterful airs; yet their extreme generosity and love for all country sport made them general favorites with the villagers.