"The colonel told me to give him the name of the most deserving man in my company." "Give it to Tom," said Hapgood, promptly.

"He led off in this matter, and ef't hadn't been for him, we should all have been on t'other side of the river, and p'raps on t'other side of Jordan, afore this time.

And then, to think that the poor fellow stood by, and handled the boat like a commodore, when the life-blood was runnin' out of him all the time! It belongs to Tom." "Give it to Tom," added Fred, who lay near the patient.
"No, Captain Benson," interposed Tom, faintly.

"Hapgood is an old soldier, and deserves it more than I do.

Give it to him, and I shall be better satisfied than if you give it to me." "Tom Somers!" exclaimed old Hapgood, a flood of tears sliding down his furrowed cheeks, "I won't stand nothin' of the sort! I'd jump into the river and drownd myself before I'd take it, after what you've done." "You are both worthy of it," added Captain Benson.
"Please give it to Hapgood," pleaded Tom.