— Well, let it go� . But I could cut my tongue out that I ever spoke to her. God! How lightly steps a man into a trap of his own contriving!� And here I lie tonight, caring not whether I live or die in tomorrow’s battle already dawning on the Chemung. And yonder, south of us, in the black starlight, drift the batteaux, dropping down to Easton under the very sky that shines above us here� . If Lana be asleep at this moment I do not know� . She tells me I have broke her heart — but yet will have none of me� . Tells me my duty lies elsewhere; that I shall make amends. How can a man make amends when his heart lies not in the deed?� Am I then to be fettered to a passing whim for all eternity? Does an instant’s idle folly entail endless responsibility? Do I merit punishment everlasting for a silly amourette that lasted no longer than the