Meanwhile,
what was occurring to others, in other scenes and among other
surroundings?
CHAPTER XV
"_There are some deeds so grand
That their mighty doers stand
Ennobled, in a moment, more than kings._"
BOKER
It was towards the evening of a blazing July day on Morris Island. The
mail had just come in and been distributed. Jim, with some papers and a
precious missive from Sallie in one hand, his supper in the other,
betook himself to a cool spot by the river,--if, indeed, any spot could
be called cool in that fiery sand,--and proceeded to devour the letter
with wonderful avidity while the "grub," properly enough, stood
unnoticed and uncared for. Presently he stopped, rubbed his eyes, and
re-read a paragraph in the epistle before him, then re-rubbed, and read
it again; and then, laying it down, gave utterance to a long whistle,
expressive of unbounded astonishment, if not incredulity.
The whistle was answered by its counterpart, and Jim, looking up,
beheld his captain,--Coolidge by name,--a fast, bright New York boy,
standing at a little distance, and staring with amazed eyes at a paper
he held in his hands. Glancing from this to Jim, encountering his look,
he burst out laughing and came towards him.
"Helloa, Given!" he called: Jim was a favorite with him, as indeed with
pretty much every one with whom he came in contact, officers and
men,--"you, too, seem put out.
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