Tom had been waiting outside, while Bert and the Captain were
talking. He had recognized several men from Cleveland in the company and
had tried to carry on a conversation with them. But conversation was
impossible. His mind was too full of hopes and plans to recall the news
from home. Now, as he walked up the company street, he wondered what the
Captain was thinking. Would he be allowed to take Bert's place? He hazarded
a glance at the Captain's face, but he could find no answering expression
there--always the same stern mask, from which black eyes flashed. Tom could
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.
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