He was "almost human," as
Nat whispered to Dorothy.
"Here, guard!" called the major. "Fetch that coffee. Help yourself." This
to the captain. "We eat according to rank this time."
Captain Mayberry seemed to smile. He took the cup of coffee--then the
others raised their cups to drink a toast.
"To the Guards!" proposed the major. "Long life and happiness to the last
of them!"
It was a strange sight--the cracked and broken cups that Tom had secured
in the captain's quarters raised to drink the honored toast!
"And a merry Christmas to Captain Mayberry!" called out Dorothy.
Old Abe dropped his cup--spilled his coffee. He looked down ruefully at
the puddle on the floor.
"Any mo'?" he asked. It was the first word he had spoken since he entered
the house.
Tom refilled the cup.
"Take care of that," he cautioned Abe. "It's about all."
"What time?" asked the major, addressing Nat.
"Four! Would you believe it? It will be daylight soon."
"Glad of it," replied the major. "We can't leave here any too quickly. It
has cleared, you say?"
"Beautifully," answered Nat; "and the sun to-morrow will be a 'ringer' for
the moon to-night. I'll bet it will be one of those dazzling days--"
"Likely," agreed the major. "We must take Mayberry back with us," he said
in a low voice. "Poor old chap! To think that I should find him--and in
such a pitiable condition!"
CHAPTER XXV
YOUTH AND OLD AGE
When the first streak of dawn threw its shadow upon the fleecy blanket
that surrounded the old Mayberry Castle, there stood before the door the
Fire Bird and the wagon old Abe called his "carry-all.
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