Thegirlsunderstoodthispantomimeatonce，andbegantopulloftheirthimblesbeforeMrs。JocoulddecidewhetherTommywasgoingintoconvulsionsorwasbrewingsomeunusualpieceofmischief。Demiexplainedwithelaboration，permissionwasreadilygranted，andtheboysdepartedwiththeirprize。
“Don’tyouspeaktoJack，“whisperedTommy，asheandNanpromenadeddownthehalltogetaforktopricktheapples。
“Whynot？“
“Helaughsatme，soIdon’twishyoutohaveanythingtodowithhim。“
“Shall，ifIlike，“saidNan，promptlyresentingthisprematureassumptionofauthorityonthepartofherlord。
“ThenIwon’thaveyouformysweetheart。“
“Idon’tcare。“
“Why，Nan，Ithoughtyouwerefondofme!“andTommy’svoicewasfulloftenderreproach。
“IfyoumindJack’slaughingIdon’tcareforyouonebit。“
“Thenyoumaytakebackyouroldring；Iwon’twearitanylonger；“
andTommypluckedoffahorsehairpledgeofaffectionwhichNanhadgivenhiminreturnforonemadeofalobster’sfeeler。
“IshallgiveittoNed，“washercruelreply；forNedlikedMrs。Giddy-gaddy，andhadturnedherclothespins，boxes，andspoolsenoughtosetuphousekeepingwith。
Tommysaid，“Thunderturtles!“astheonlyventequaltothepent-upanguishofthemoment，and，droppingNan’sarm，retiredinhighdudgeon，leavinghertofollowwiththefork，­；aneglectwhichnaughtyNanpunishedbyproceedingtoprickhisheartwithjealousyasifitwereanothersortofapple。
Thehearthwasswept，andtherosyBaldwinsputdowntoroast。Ashovelwasheated，andthechestnutsdancedmerrilyuponit，whilethecornpoppedwildlyinitswireprison。Dancrackedhisbestwalnuts，andeveryonechatteredandlaughed，whiletherainbeatonthewindow-paneandthewindhowledroundthehouse。
“WhyisBillylikethisnut？“askedEmil，whowasfrequentlyinspiredwithbadconundrums。
“Becauseheiscracked，“answeredNed。
“That’snotfair；youmustn’tmakefunofBilly，becausehecan’thitbackagain。It’smean，“criedDan，smashinganutwrathfully。
“TowhatfamilyofinsectsdoesBlakebelong？“askedpeacemakerFranz，seeingthatEmillookedashamedandDanlowering。
“Gnats，“answeredJack。
“WhyisDaisylikeabee？“criedNat，whohadbeenwraptinthoughtforseveralminutes。
“Becausesheisqueenofthehive，“saidDan。
“No。“
“Becausesheissweet。“
“Beesarenotsweet。“
“Giveitup。“
“Becauseshemakessweetthings，isalwaysbusy，andlikesflowers，“
saidNat，pilinguphisboyishcomplimentstillDaisyblushedlikearosyclover。
“WhyisNanlikeahornet？“demandedTommy，gloweringather，andadding，withoutgivinganyonetimetoanswer，“Becausesheisn’tsweet，makesagreatbuzzingaboutnothing，andstingslikefury。“
“Tommy’smad，andI’mglad，“criedNed，asNantossedherheadandansweredquickly­；
“Whatthinginthechina-closetisTomlike？“
“Apepperpot，“answeredNed，givingNananutmeatwithatantalizinglaughthatmadeTommyfeelasifhewouldliketobounceuplikeahotchestnutandhitsomebody。
Seeingthatill-humorwasgettingthebetterofthesmallsupplyofwitinthecompany，Franzcasthimselfintothebreachagain。
“Let’smakealawthatthefirstpersonwhocomesintotheroomshalltellusastory。Nomatterwhoitis，hemustdoit，anditwillbefuntoseewhocomesfirst。“
Theothersagreed，anddidnothavetowaitlong，foraheavystepsooncameclumpingthroughthehall，andSilasappeared，bearinganarmfulofwood。Hewasgreetedbyageneralshout，andstoodstaringabouthimwithabewilderedgrinonhisbigredface，tillFranzexplainedthejoke。
“Sho!Ican’ttellastory，“hesaid，puttingdownhisloadandpreparingtoleavetheroom。Buttheboysfelluponhim，forcedhimintoaseat，andheldhimthere，laughing，andclamoringfortheirstory，tillthegood-naturedgiantwasoverpowered。
“Idon’tknowbutjestonestory，andthat’saboutahorse，“hesaid，muchflatteredbythereceptionhereceived。
“Tellit!tellit!“criedtheboys。
“Wal，“beganSilas，tippinghischairbackagainstthewall，andputtinghisthumbsinthearm-holesofhiswaistcoat，“Ijinedacavalryregimentdurin’thewar，andseeaconsid’ableamountoffightin’。Myhorse，Major，wasafust-rateanimal，andIwasasfondonhimasefhe’dbenahumancritter。Hewarn’tharnsome，buthewasthebest-tempered，stiddyest，lovenestbruteIeversee。Ifustbattlewewentinto，hegavemealessonthatIdidn’tforgitinahurry，andI’lltellyouhowitwas。Itain’tnousetryin’topicterthenoiseandhurry，andgeneralhorridnessofabattletoyouyoungfellers，forIain’tnowordstodoitin；butI’mfreetoconfessthatIgotsosortofconfusedandupsetatthefustonit，thatIdidn’tknowwhatIwasabout。Wewasorderedtocharge，andwentaheadlikegoodones，neverstoppin’topickupthemthatwentdowninthescrimmage。
Igotashotinthearm，andwaspitchedoutofthesaddle­；don’tknowhow，butthereIwasleftbehindwithtwoorthreeothers，deadandwounded，fortherestwenton，asIsay。Wal，IpickedmyselfupandlookedroundforMajor，feelingasefI’dhadaboutenoughforthatspell。Ididn’tseehimnowhere，andwaskinderwalkingbacktocamp，whenIheardawhinnythatsoundednateral。Ilookedround，andtherewasMajorstoppingformealongwayoff，andlookin’asefhedidn’tunderstandwhyIwasloiterin’
behind。Iwhistled，andhetrotteduptomeasI’dtrainedhimtodo。I
mountedaswellasIcouldwithmyleftarmbleedin’andwasforgoingontocamp，forIdeclareIfeltassickandwimblyasawoman；folksoftendointheirfustbattle。But，nosir!Majorwasthebravestofthetwo，andhewouldn’tgo，notapeg；hejestraredup，anddanced，andsnorted，andactedasefthesmellofpowderandthenoisehaddrovehimhalfwild。
Idonemybest，buthewouldn’tgivein，soIdid；andwhatdoyouthinkthatpluckybrutedone？Hewheeledslapround，andgallopedbacklikeahurricane，rightintothethickestofthescrimmage!“
“Goodforhim!“criedDanexcitedly，whiletheotherboysforgotapplesandnutsintheirinterest。
“IwishImaydieefIwarn’tashamedofmyself，“continuedSilas，warmingupattherecollectionofthatday。“Iwasmadasahornet，andIforgotmywaound，andjestpitchedin，rampagin’raoundlikefurytilltherecomeashellintothemidstofus，andinbustin’knockedalotofusflat。
Ididn’tknownothin’foraspell，andwhenIcome-to，thefightwasoverjustthere，andIfoundmyselflayin’byawallofpoorMajorlong-sidewusswoundedthanIwas。Mylegwasbroke，andIhadaballinmyshoulder，buthe，pooroldfeller!wasalltoreinthesidewithapieceofthatblastedshell。“
“OSilas!whatdidyoudo？“criedNan，pressingclosetohimwithafacefullofeagersympathyandinterest。
“Idraggedmyselfnigher，andtriedtostopthebleedin’withsechragsasIcouldtearoffofmewithonehand。Butitwarn’tnouse，andhelaymoanin’withhorridpain，andlookin’atmewiththemlovin’eyesofhis，tillIthoughtIcouldn’tbearit。IgivehimallthehelpIcould，andwhenthesungothotterandhotter，andhebegantolapouthistongue，Itriedtogettoabrookthatwasagoodpieceaway，butIcouldn’tdoit，beingstiffandfaint，soIgiveitupandfannedhimwithmyhat。
Nowyoulistentothis，andwhenyouhearfolkscomin’downontherebs，youjestrememberwhatoneon’emdid，andgivehimcreditofit。Ipoorfelleringraylaidnotfuroff，shotthroughthelungsanddyin’fast。
I’dofferedhimmyhandkerchieftokeepthesunoffhisface，andhe’dthankedmekindly，forinsechtimesasthatmendon’tstoptothinkonwhichsidetheybelong，butjestbuckle-toandhelponeanother。Whenheseememournin’overMajorandtryin’toeasehispain，helookedupwithhisfacealldampandwhitewithsufferin’，andsezhe，’There’swaterinmycanteen；takeit，foritcan’thelpme，’andheflungittome。I
couldn’thavetookitefIhadn’thadalittlebrandyinapocketflask，andImadehimdrinkit。Itdonehimgood，andIfeltasmuchsetupasifI’ddrunkitmyself。It’ssurprisin’thegoodsechlittlethingsdofolkssometime；“andSilaspausedasifhefeltagainthecomfortofthatmomentwhenheandhisenemyforgottheirfeud，andhelpedoneanotherlikebrothers。
“TellaboutMajor，“criedtheboys，impatientforthecatastrophe。
“Ipouredthewateroverhispoorpantin’tongue，andefeveradumbcritterlookedgrateful，hedidthen。Butitwarn’tofmuchuse，forthedreadfulwaoundkepontormentin’him，tillIcouldn’tbearitanylonger。
Itwashard，butIdoneitinmercy，andIknowheforgiveme。“
“Whatdidyoudo？“askedEmil，asSilasstoppedabruptlywithaloud“hem，“andalookinhisroughfacethatmadeDaisygoandstandbyhimwithherlittlehandonhisknee。
“Ishothim。“
QuiteathrillwentthroughthelistenersasSilassaidthat，forMajorseemedaherointheireyes，andhistragicendrousedalltheirsympathy。
“Yes，Ishothim，andputhimoutofhismisery。Ipattedhimfust，andsaid，’Good-by；’thenIlaidhisheadeasyonthegrass，givealastlookintohislovin’eyes，andsentabulletthroughhishead。Hehardlystirred，Iaimedsotrue，andwhenIseenhimquitestill，withnomoremoanin’andpain，Iwasglad，andyet­；wal，Idon’tknowasIneedbyashamedon’t­；Ijestputmyarmsraoundhisneckandboo-hooedlikeagreatbaby。Sho!Ididn’tknowIwassechafool；“andSilasdrewhissleeveacrosshiseyes，asmuchtouchedbyDaisy’ssob，asbythememoryoffaithfulMajor。
Noonespokeforaminute，becausetheboyswereasquicktofeelthepathosofthelittlestoryastender-heartedDaisy，thoughtheydidnotshowitbycrying。
“I’dlikeahorselikethat，“saidDan，half-aloud。
“Didtherebelmandie，too？“askedNan，anxiously。
“Notthen。Welaidthereallday，andatnightsomeofourfellerscametolookafterthemissingones。Theynat’rallywantedtotakemefust，butIknewIcouldwait，andtherebelhadbutonechance，maybe，soI
madethemcarryhimoffrightaway。Hehadjeststrengthenoughtoholdouthishandtomeandsay，’Thanky，comrade!’andthemwasthelastwordshespoke，forhediedanhourafterhegottothehospital-tent。“
“Howgladyoumusthavebeenthatyouwerekindtohim!“saidDemi，whowasdeeplyimpressedbythisstory。
“Wal，Ididtakecomfortthinkin’ofit，asIlaidtherealoneforanumberofhourswithmyheadonMajor’sneck，andseethemooncomeup。
I’dliketohaveburiedthepoorbeastdecent，butitwarn’tpossible；
soIcutoffabitofhismane，andI’vekepiteversence。Wanttoseeit，sissy？“
“Oh，yes，please，“answeredDaisy，wipingawayhertearstolook。
Silastookoutanold“wallet“ashecalledhispocket-book，andproducedfromaninnerfoldabitofbrownpaper，inwhichwasaroughlockofwhitehorse-hair。Thechildrenlookedatitsilently，asitlayinthebroadpalm，andnoonefoundanythingtoridiculeintheloveSilasborehisgoodhorseMajor。
“Thatisasweetstory，andIlikeit，thoughitdidmakemecry。Thankyouverymuch，Si，“andDaisyhelpedhimfoldandputawayhislittlerelic；
whileNanstuffedahandfulofpop-cornintohispocket，andtheboysloudlyexpressedtheirflatteringopinionsofhisstory，feelingthattherehadbeentwoheroesinit。
Hedeparted，quiteovercomebyhishonors，andthelittleconspiratorstalkedthetaleover，whiletheywaitedfortheirnextvictim。ItwasMrs。
Jo，whocameintomeasureNanforsomenewpinaforesshewasmakingforher。Theylethergetwellin，andthenpounceduponher，tellingherthelaw，anddemandingthestory。Mrs。Jowasverymuchamusedatthenewtrap，andconsentedatonce，forthesoundofhappyvoiceshadbeencomingacrossthehallsopleasantlythatshequitelongedtojointhem，andforgetherownanxiousthoughtsofSisterMeg。