pty.
Fill up some place else, and tomorrow or next day, when you'd give a
farm for a nip, this'll come in mighty handy."

The Hospital Steward approached, and said:

"Captain, the Surgeon presents his compliments and requests that you
send four men to convey your First Lieutenant Alspaugh to comfortable
quarters which have been prepared for him in the hospital barracks.
His rheumatic trouble has suddenly assumed an acute form--brought on
doubtless by the change in the weather--and he is suffering greatly.
Please instruct the men to be very careful carrying him, so as to avoid
all unnecessary pain, and also all exposure to the rain. He will have
a good room in the hospital, with a fire in it, and every attention, so
that you need have no fears concerning him."

"I never had," said Kent, loud enough to be heard all over the right
wing of the company.

"I have," said Abe. "There's every danger in the world that he'll get
well."

Away the regiment marched, through the dismal rain, going as fast as
the heavily laden men could be spurred onward by the knowledge of their
comrades' imminent need.

It was fearful hard work even so long as the pike lasted, and they had
a firm, even foundation for their feet to tread upon. But the pike ended
at Crab Orchard, and then they plunged into the worst roads that the
South at any time offered to resist the progress of the Union armies.
Narrow, tortuous, unworked substitutes for highways wound around and
over steep, rocky hills, through miry creek bottoms, and over bridgeless
streams, now so swollen as to be absolutely unfordable by less
determined men, starting on a less urgent errand.

For three weary, discouraging days they pressed onward through the
dispiriting rain and over all the exhausting obstacles. On the morning
of the fourth they reached the foot of the range in which Wildcat Gap
is situated. They were marching slowly up the steep mountain side, their
soaked garments clinging about their weary limbs and clogging their
footsteps. Suddenly a sullen boom rolled out of the mist that hung over
the distant mountain tops.

Every one stopped, held their breaths, and tried to check the beating of
their hearts, that they might hear more.

They needed not. There was no difficulty about hearing the succeeding
reports, which became every instant more distinct.

"By God, that's cannon!" said the Colonel. "They're attacking our boys.
Throw off everything, boys, and hurry forward!