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by the explosion of the grenade； was found in the ruins of the
cottage when the detachment of the enemy captured it。 He was
conscious and able to speak； so instead of being bayonetted was
carried to the rear where he might be questioned concerning the
American forces。 The questioning was most unsatisfactory to the
Prussian officers who conducted it。 Albert fainted； recovered
consciousness and fainted again。 So at last the Yankee swine was
left to die or get well and his Prussian interrogators went about
other business； the business of escaping capture themselves。 But
when they retreated the few prisoners； mostly wounded men； were
taken with them。
Albert's recollections of the next few days were hazy and very
doubtful。 Pain； pain and more pain。 Hours and hoursthey seemed
like yearsof jolting over rough roads。 Pawing…over by a fat；
bearded surgeon； who may not have been intentionally brutal； but
quite as likely may。 A great desire to die； punctuated by
occasional feeble spurts of wishing to live。 Then more surgical
man…handling； more joltingin freight cars this timea slow；
miserable recovery； nurses who hated their patients and treated
them as if they did； then； a prison camp； a German prison camp。
Then horrors and starvation and brutality lasting many months。
Then fever。
He was wandering in that misty land between this world and the next
when； the armistice having been signed； an American Red Cross
representative found him。 In the interval between fits of delirium
he told this man his name and regiment and； later； the name of his
grandparents。 When it seemed sure that he was to recover the Red
Cross representative cabled the facts to this country。 And； still
later； those facts； or the all…important fact that Sergeant Albert
M。 C。 Speranza was not dead but alive； came by telegraph to Captain
Zelotes Snow of South Harniss。 And； two months after that； Captain
Zelotes himself； standing on the wharf in Boston and peering up at
a crowded deck above him； saw the face of his grandson； that face
which he had never expected to see again； looking eagerly down upon
him。
A few more weeks and it was over。 The brief interval of camp life
and the mustering out were things of the past。 Captain Lote and
Albert； seated in the train； were on their way down the Cape； bound
home。 Home！ The word had a significance now which it never had
before。 Home！
Albert drew a long breath。 〃By George！〃 he exclaimed。 〃By George；
Grandfather； this looks good to me！〃
It might not have looked as good to another person。 It was
raining； the long stretches of salt marsh were windswept and brown
and bleak。 In the distance Cape Cod Bay showed gray and white
against a leaden sky。 The drops ran down the dingy car windows。
Captain Zelotes understood； however。 He nodded。
〃It used to look good to me when I was bound home after a v'yage；〃
he observed。 〃Well； son； I cal'late your grandma and Rachel are up
to the depot by this time waitin' for you。 We ain't due for pretty
nigh an hour yet； but I'd be willin' to bet they're there。〃
Albert smiled。 〃My； I do want to see them！〃 he said。
〃Shouldn't wonder a mite if they wanted to see you； boy。 Well； I'm
kind of glad I shooed that reception committee out of the way。 I
presumed likely you'd rather have your first day home to yourself
and us。〃
〃I should say so！ Newspaper reporters are a lot of mighty good
fellows； but I hope I never see another one。 。 。 。 That's rather
ungrateful； I know；〃 he added； with a smile； 〃but I mean itjust
now。〃
He had some excuse for meaning it。 The death of Albert Speranza；
poet and warrior； had made a newspaper sensation。 His resurrection
and return furnished material for another。 Captain Zelotes was not
the only person to meet the transport at the pier； a delegation of
reporters was there also。 Photographs of Sergeant Speranza
appeared once more in print。 This time； however； they were
snapshots showing him in uniform； likenesses of a still handsome；
but less boyish young man； thinner； a scar upon his right cheek；
and the look in his eyes more serious； and infinitely older； the
look of one who had borne much and seen more。 The reporters found
it difficult to get a story from the returned hero。 He seemed to
shun the limelight and to be almost unduly modest and retiring；
which was of itself； had they but known it； a transformation
sufficiently marvelous to have warranted a special 〃Sunday
special。〃
〃Will not talk about himself；〃 so one writer headed his article。
Gertie Kendrick； with a brand…new ring upon her engagement finger；
sniffed as she read that headline to Sam Thatcher； who had
purchased the ring。 〃Al Speranza won't talk about himself！〃
exclaimed Gertie。 〃Well； it's the FIRST time； then。 No wonder
they put it in the paper。〃
But Albert would not talk； claiming that he had done nothing worth
talking about； except to get himself taken prisoner in almost his
first engagement。 〃Go and ask some of the other fellows aboard
here；〃 he urged。 〃They have been all through it。〃 As he would not
talk the newspaper men were obliged to talk for him； which they did
by describing his appearance and his manner； and by rehashing the
story of the fight in the French village。 Also； of course； they
republished some of his verses。 The Lances of Dawn appeared in a
special edition in honor of its author's reappearance on this
earth。
〃Yes sir；〃 continued Captain Zelotes； 〃the reception committee was
consider'ble disappointed。 They'd have met you with the Orham band
if they'd had their way。 I told 'em you'd heard all the band music
you wanted in camp； I guessed likely； and you'd rather come home
quiet。 There was goin' to be some speeches； too； but I had them
put off。〃
〃Thanks； Grandfather。〃
〃Um…hm。 I had a notion you wouldn't hanker for speeches。 If you
do Issy'll make one for you 'most any time。 Ever since you got
into the papers Issy's been swellin' up like a hot pop…over with
pride because you and he was what he calls chummies。 All last
summer Issachar spent his evenin's hangin' around the hotel waitin'
for the next boarder to mention your name。 Sure as one did Is was
ready for him。 'Know him？' he'd sing out。 'Did I know Al
Speranza？ ME？ Well； now say！' And so on； long as the feller
would listen。 I asked him once if he ever told any of 'em how you
ducked him with the bucket of water。 He didn't think I knew about
that and it kind of surprised him； I judged。〃
Albert smiled。 〃Laban told you about it； I suppose；〃 he said。
〃What a kid trick that was； wasn't it？〃
The captain turned his head and regarded him for an instant。 The
old twinkle was in his eye when he spoke。
〃Wouldn't do a thing like that now； Al； I presume likely？〃 he said。
〃Feel a good deal older now； eh？〃
Albert's answer was seriously given。
〃Sometimes I feel at least a hundred and fifty；〃 he replied。
〃Humph！ 。 。 。 Well； I wouldn't feel like that。 If you're a
hundred and fifty I must be a little older than Methuselah was in
his last years。 I'm feelin' younger to…day； younger than I have
for quite a spell。 Yes； for quite a spell。〃
His grandson pu