“I hope you’re still making money,” said Dick, smiling.

“I am.  That’s part of a merchant’s duty.  If he doesn’t make money he oughtn’t to be a merchant.  Oh, I know that a lot of you soldiers look down upon us traders and contractors.”

“I don’t and I never did, Mr. Watson.”

“I know it, Captain Mason, because you’re a lad of intelligence.  The first time I saw you I noticed that the reasoning quality was strong in you, and that was why I made you an offer to enter my employ after the war.  That offer is still open and will remain open at all times.”

“I thank you very much, Mr. Watson, but I can’t accept it, as I have other ambitions.”

“I was sure you wouldn’t take it, but I like to feel it’s always waiting for you.  It’s well to look ahead.  This war, vast and terrible as it has been, will be over before the year is.  Two or three million men who have done nothing but fighting for four years will be out of employment.  Vast numbers of them will not know which way to turn.  They will be wholly unfit, until they have trained themselves anew, for the pursuits of peace.  Captains, majors, colonels and, yes, generals, will be besieging me for jobs, as zealously as they’re now besieging Lee’s army in the trenches before Petersburg, and with as much cause.  When the war is over the soldier will not be of so much value, and the man of peace will regain his own.  I hope you’ve thought of these things, Captain Mason.”

“I’ve thought of them many times, Mr. Watson, and I’ve thought of them oftener than ever this winter.  My comrades and I have agreed that as soon as the last battle is fought we’ll plunge at once into the task of rebuilding our country.  We amount to little, of course, in such a multitude, but one can do only what one can.”

“That’s so, but if a million feel like you and push all together, they can roll mountains away.”

“You’re not a man to come to Winchester for nothing.  You’ve been doing business with the army?”

“I’ve been shoeing, clothing and bedding you.  I deliver within two weeks thirty thousand pairs of shoes, thirty thousand uniforms, and sixty thousand blankets.  They are all honest goods and the price is not too high, although I make the solid and substantial profit to which I am entitled.  You soldiers on the battle line don’t win a war alone.  We who feed and clothe you achieve at least half.  I regret again, Captain Mason, that you can’t join me later.  Mine’s a noble calling.  It’s a great thing to be a merchant prince, and it’s we, as much as any other class of people, who spread civilization over the earth.”

“I know it,” said Dick earnestly.  “I’m not blind to the great arts of peace.  Now, here come my closest friends, Captain Warner and Captain Pennington, who have understanding.  I want you to meet them.”

Dick’s hearty introduction was enough to recommend the contractor to his comrades, but Warner already knew him well by reputation.