\"AsthoughIcaredforyournewhonors。IwantYOU，YOU，YOU——onlyYOU。\"
WhenSantiagosurrenderedandtheinvadingarmysettleddowntoarrangetermsofpeace，andimbibefever，andGeneralMilesmovedtoPortoRico，Chestertonmovedwithhim。
Inthatprettylittleislandacommandofregularsunderageneraloftheregulararmyhad，inanightattack，drivenbacktheSpaniardsfromAdhuntas。Thenextafternoonasthecolumnwasinlineofmarch，andthemenwereshakingthemselvesintotheiraccoutrements，adusty，sweatingvolunteerstaffofficerrodedownthemainstreetofAdhuntas，andwiththeauthorityofafieldmarshal，helduphishand。
\"GeneralMiles\'scompliments，sir，\"hepanted，\"andpeaceisdeclared！\"
Differentmenreceivedthenewseachinadifferentfashion。Somewhirledtheirhatsintheairandcheered。Thosewhosawpromotionandthenewinsigniaontheirstrapsvanish，sworedeeply。
Chestertonfelluponhissaddle-bagsandbegantodistributehispossessionsamongtheenlistedmen。Afterhehadremobilized，hiseffectsconsistedofachangeofclothes，hiscamera，water-bottle，andhismedicinecase。Inhispresentstateofhealthandspiritshecouldnotbelievehestoodinneedofthemedicinecase，butitwasagiftfromMissArmitage，andcarriedwithitapromisefromhimthathealwayswouldcarryit。Hehad\"packed\"itthroughoutthecampaign，andforothersithadprovedofvalue。
\"Itakeityouareleavingus，\"saidanofficerenviously。
\"Iamleavingyousoquick，\"criedChestertonlaughing，\"thatyouwon\'tevenseethedust。There\'satransportstartsfromMayaguezatsixto-morrowmorning，and，ifIdon\'tcatchit，thisponywilldieonthewharf。\"
\"TheroadtoMayaguezisnothealthyforAmericans，\"saidthegeneralincommand。\"Idon\'tthinkIoughttoletyougo。Theenemydoesnotknowpeaceisonyet，andtherearealotofguerillas——\"
Chestertonshookhisheadinpityingwonder。
\"Notletmego！\"heexclaimed。\"Why，General，youhaven\'tenoughmeninyourcommandtostopme，andasfortheSpaniardsandguerillas——！I\'mhomesick，\"criedtheyoungman。\"I\'msodamnedhomesickthatIamliabletodieofitbeforethetransportgetsmetoSandyHook。\"
\"Ifyouareshotupbyanoutpost，\"growledthegeneral，\"youwillbeworseoffthanhomesick。It\'sfortymilestoMayaguez。Betterwaittilldaylight。Where\'sthesenseofdying，afterthefighting\'sover？\"
\"IfIdon\'tcatchthattransportIsureWILLdie，\"laughedChesterton。Hisheadwasbentandhewastuggingathissaddlegirths。Apparentlytheeffortbroughtadeepershadowtohistan，\"butnothingelsecankillme！Ihaveacharm，General，\"heexclaimed。
\"Wehadn\'tnoticedit，\"saidthegeneral。
Thestaffofficers，accordingtoregulations，laughed。
\"It\'snotthatkindofacharm，\"saidChesterton。\"Good-by，General。\"
Theroadwashardlymorethanatrail，butthemoonmadeitaslightasday，andcastacrossitblacktracingsoftheswingingvinesandcreepers；whilehighintheairitturnedthepolishedsurfaceofthepalmsintoglitteringsilver。AsheplungedintothecooldepthsoftheforestChestertonthrewuphisarmsandthankedGodthathewasmovingtowardher。Theluckthathadaccompaniedhimthroughoutthecampaignhadhelduntiltheend。
Hadhebeenforcedtowaitforatransport，eachhourwouldhavemeantamonthoftorment，anarid，wastedplaceinhislife。Asitwas，witheacheagerstrideofElCapitan，hislittlePortoRicanpony，hewasbroughtclosertoher。Hewassohappythatashegallopedthroughthedarkshadowsofthejungleoroutintothebrilliantmoonlightheshoutedaloudandsang；andagainasheurgedElCapitantogreaterburstsofspeed，heexplainedinjoyous，breathlessphraseswhyitwasthatheurgedhimon。
\"Forsheiswonderfulandmostbeautiful，\"hecried，\"themostgloriousgirlinalltheworld！And，ifIkeptherwaiting，evenforamoment，ElCapitan，Iwouldbeunworthy——andImightloseher！Soyouseewerideforagreatprize！\"
TheSpanishcolumnthat，thenightbefore，hadbeendrivenfromAdhuntas，nowinignoranceofpeace，occupiedbothsidesofthevalleythroughwhichrantheroadtoMayaguez，andinambushbytheroaditselfhadplacedanoutpostoftwomen。Onewasasharp-
shooterofthepickedcorpsoftheGuardiaCivile，andoneasergeantoftheregimentthatlayhiddenintheheights。IftheAmericansadvancedtowardMayaguez，thesemenweretowaituntiltheheadofthecolumndrewabreastofthem，whentheyweretofire。ThereportoftheirrifleswouldbethesignalforthoseinthehillabovetowipeoutthememoryofAdhuntas。
Chestertonhadbeenridingatagallop，but，ashereachedtheplacewherethemenlayinambush，hepulledElCapitantoawalk，andtookadvantageofhisfirstbreathingspelltolighthispipe。
Hehadalreadyfilledit，andwasnowfumblinginhispocketforhismatch-box。Thematch-boxwasofwoodsuchasonecanbuy，filledtothebrimwithmatches，foronepenny。Butitwasamostpreciouspossession。IntheearlydaysofhisinterestinMissArmitage，astheywereoncesettingforthuponamotortrip，shehadhandedittohim。
\"Why，\"heasked。
\"Youalwaysforgettobringany，\"shesaidsimply，\"andhavetoborrowsome。\"
Theothermeninthecar，knowingthistobeajustreproof，laughedsardonically，andatthelaughthegirlhadlookedupinsurprise。Chesterton，seeingthelook，understoodthatheract，triflingasitwas，hadbeensincere，hadbeeninspiredsimplybythoughtofhiscomfort。AndheaskedhimselfwhyyoungMissArmitageshouldconsiderhiscomfort，andwhythefactthatshedidconsideritshouldmakehimsoextremelyhappy。Andhedecideditmustbebecauseshelovedhimandhelovedher。
Havingarrivedatthatconclusion，hehadaskedhertomarryhim，anduponthematch-boxhadmarkedthedateandthehour。Sincethenshehadgivenhimmanyprettypresents，markedwithherinitials，markedwithhiscrest，withstrangecabalisticmottoesthatmeantnothingtoanyonesavethemselves。Butthewoodenmatchboxwasstillthemostvaluedofhispossessions。
Asherodeintothevalleytheraysofthemoonfellfullyuponhim，andexposedhimtotheoutpostaspitilesslyasthoughhehadbeenheldinthecircleofasearch-light。
ThebronzedMauserspushedcautiouslythroughthescreenofvines。
