Youth and the open air would have their way and the three colonels did not object.

They preferred men who sang to men who groaned.
"Do you know just where we're going, and where we expect to find this Little Phil of yours ?" asked Warner.
"I've heard that we're to report to him at Halltown, a place south of the Potomac, and about four miles from Harper's Ferry," replied Dick.
"As that's a long distance, we'll have a long ride to reach it," said Warner, "and I'm glad of it.

I'm enjoying this great trail, and I hope we won't meet again those fire-eating friends of yours, Dick, who gave us so much trouble last night." "I hope so too," said Dick, "for their sake as well as ours.

I don't like fighting with such close kin.

They must be well along on the southwestern road now to join Early." "There's no further danger of meeting them, at least before this campaign opens," said Warner.