ew days before
the battle, as he saluted his officer.

"Can't stand what?"

"The fact on't is, lieutenant, I'm sick. I haven't felt well for two or
three days. I come out here to fight for my country, and I want to do
some good. I might help take them prisoners back, if you say so."

"Sick, are you? What's the matter?"

"I've got a bad pain in the bowels," replied Phineas, as he placed
himself on the right side of a tree, and glanced uneasily in the
direction of the rebel skirmish line. "I'm subject to sich turns, but
allus git over 'em if I have a chance to lay down for a few hours."

"Oh, well, you can lie down here!" added Somers, who understood the case
pretty well.

"What! down here in the mud and water? Wal, that would be rather steep
for a sick man," said Phineas, with a ghastly smile, as he glanced again
towards the enemy.

"I will get some medicine for you. Here, uncle, let me have one of your
powders," continued the lieutenant, addressing old Hapgood.

"Sartin; they've done me heaps of good, and I'm sure they're just the
thing for that man."

Somers took one of the powders, and opened the paper.

"Now, my man, open your mouth, and let me give you this medicine," he
added.

"What kind of medicine is it?"

"It'll make you kinder sick to the stomach; but it'll cure you in less'n
half an hour."

"Well, lieutenant, I don't know as I want to take any medicine," answered
poor Phineas, who was not prepared for this active treatment; though he
would have taken it quick enough if he could be sent to the rear. "I
guess I don't keer about takin' on it."

"You needn't, if you don't want to get well."

"I only want to go back to camp, and lay down for a spell."

"We can't spare you just yet, Phineas; but, if you don't stir yourself,
you will lie down here somewhere, and never get up again," added Somers,
as a shower of bullets passed over their heads. "Forward, boys!"

The captain detailed a couple of men to conduct the prisoners to the
rear, and the company pressed forward. The rebel sharpshooters were
dislodged from the trees; a few prisoners were captured; but the heavy
fighting and the heavy losses fell upon other portions of the line. The
rebels had been forced back, and the movement seemed to be a success.
Half the regiment moved out of the woods, while the rest remained under
the trees; when a halt was ordered. Somers found himself near an old
house, behind which a number of rebel sharpshooters