defeat, and he could
barely wait for the morning and revenge.

Colonel Winchester walked away to a council that had been called, and
Dick turned to Pennington and Warner, who were not hurt, save for slight
wounds. Warner had recovered his poise, and was soon as calm and dry as
ever.

"Dick," he said, "we're some distance from where we started this
morning. There's nothing like being shoved along when you don't want to
go. The next time they tell me there's nothing in a thicket I expect to
search it and find a rebel army at least a hundred thousand strong right
in the middle of it."

"How large do you suppose the Southern army was?" asked Pennington.

"I had a number of looks at it," replied Warner, "and I should say from
the way it acted that it numbered at least three million men. I know
that at times not less than ten thousand were aiming their rifles at my
own poor and unworthy person. What a waste of energy for so many men to
shoot at me all at once. I wish the Johnnies would go away and let us
alone!"

The last words were high-pitched and excited. His habitual self-control
broke down for a moment, and the tremendous excitement and nervous
tension of the day found vent in his voice. But in a few seconds he
recovered himself and looked rather ashamed.

"Boys," he said, "I apologize."

"You needn't," said Pennington. "There have been times today when I felt
brave as a lion, and lots of other times I was scared most to death.
It would have helped me a lot then, if I could have opened my mouth and
yelled at the top of my voice."

Sergeant Daniel Whitley was leaning against a stump, and while he was
calmly lighting a pipe he regarded the three boys with a benevolent
gaze.

"None of you need be ashamed of bein' scared," he said. "I've been in a
lot of fights myself, though all of them were mere skirmishes when put
alongside of this, an' I've been scared a heap today. I've been scared
for myself, an' I've been scared for the regiment, an' I've been scared
for the whole army, an' I've been scared on general principles, but here
we are, alive an' kickin', an' we ought to feel powerful thankful for
that."

"We are," said Dick. Then he rubbed his head as if some sudden thought
had occurred to him.

"What is it, Dick?" asked Warner.

"I've realized all at once that I'm tremendously hungry. The
Confederates broke up our breakfast. We never had time to think of
dinner, and now its nothing to eat."

"Me, too,"