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Show • 136 ROEBUUK . "Sir, you are a private. I :un an officer." "I knew that, or I could not have answered you with \VorJs." "Do you threaten 111e, sir?" ".As you talk :tbout your rank, I can say no more; hut I \Vill say again, you arc no gentle1nan." "I'll have you punished, sir; I 'll have you punished for your insolence." ' Then you rnust expose yourself," said ~lark 1liarlin as he 'valked away. Pahner had fallen into this foo1ish altercation, because he had conceived the absurd ilea that, an1ong soldiers, he n1ust support a reputation for soldierly bearing by blustering rudeness, and feared he 1night sink in the esti1nation of his co1npanion if he 1n:tde any concession to lVIark 1\larlin, after proclaiming his opinion of ~lark's father. Later in the evening Palmer 'vas in the tent of Baxter, the conltuissary. That functionary 'vas present, acting as host, and his guests, besides Palmer, 'vere Dr. !frank, a surgeon, a young lieutenant, Potter, and two or three other officers. They all sat on stools or the host'::; bunk. On a rough box, 'vhich served for a table, stood a bottle, two tin cups and a tallo,v candle stuck in a block of ,vood. Baxter was entertaining the others 'vith noi y hilarity that smacked of the bottle. Dr. Frauk was silent, sober and surly. Ile \\'as a bachelor of fifty, ·with heavy, grey mustache and shaggy bro,vs. l-Ie had served long in the 11..,ecleral navy, and ·was reputed to be very skilful in his profession. lie was as gentle as a woman with the sick, but crusty ·with 1nen ·who presumed to enjoy good health. lie ·was a sworn ene1ny of all soldiers who attempted to shlrk from duty HOEBUCK. 137 by feigning ·ickness. lie h:vl a habit 'vhich maclo his scanty cou\·cr .. ation con. i~t n1~1inJy of on.Lhs. "Drink, gentlernen," snicl Baxter, cUing an exan1- plc, ~' drink. I can rcconun en<1In y con11n issn.ry stores. This Co federate 'vhi ·k y i. an excellent sutnrne~ drink. I t would cool a fever. I t i~ uet.ter than sherbet for this 'v:1nn 'vent her. J)oetor Frank, you shall take sotne of my 1nedicinal 'vnter." The doctor growled out a refusal with an oath. "Don't swear, doctor, don't," said Baxter·. "That reminds me, gentlen1en, yon have been talking of the preaching cooper. Now I'll tell yon nn anecdote of a preacher and J)octor Frank. The doctor, yon know, swears n1ore oaths than the Yankees prcscri be to tho rebel s-if that's po8siblc. vV c11, a few dnys ngo, being scarce of tent.", I suppose, they bi11etLec1 a chaplain on onr swearing friend, and t.he two have hn. l to sleep unc1er the S<:llllC cnnynss. It is the surgeon's hnbit to stand at the door of hi~ tent. at an carl y honr every n1orn in o-, to hear the applications of t:>oldiers for certificates of ill health to cxcn:'c thmn from £ttigue duty for the day. IIe thinks 1nost of thmn arc shh·king, and he cur. es those fello·ws high and Io,v, in order, as he says, to n1aintain <.liscipline. Two or three mornings .·incc, I ,vas pn.s. ing nn<1 saw the doctor at l1is levee. lie had been up a1l night 'vith a poo1· }d .e vil who threatened to slir) throno-h his fingm·;', and ~ us nerves, no doubt, ,vcrc n1orc irritable than usnal. lie believed that the entire bevy of applicants 'vere shirkers. IIe looked at thcn1 with brows like a jagged thunder-cloud. lie c01npre8. cd his lips as if he 'vas holding in a young earthquake. Snddculy he turned nnd looked in at the bunk ,vhcrc the chaplain b.y. Then he turned to scowl on the shirkers. Agaiu he |