t be me," said Pennington stoutly. "I've been wounded in two
or three battles already, not bad wounds, just scratches and bruises,
but as there were so many of 'em you can lump 'em together, and make one
big wound. That lets me out."

The Winchester regiment lay in the very thickest of the forest and in
order not to indicate to the enemy their precise position no fires were
lighted. The earth was still soaked deep with the heavy rains and their
feet sank at every step. But they did not make many steps. They had
learned enough to lie quiet, seek what rest and sleep they could find,
and await the dawn.

CHAPTER XV. STONE RIVER

Dick awoke at sunrise of the last day of the year, and Warner and
Pennington were up a moment later. There was no fog. The sun hung a low,
red ball in the steel blue sky of winter. No fires had been lighted,
cold food being served.

He heard far off to right a steady tattoo like the rapid beat of many
small drums. A quiver ran through the lads who were now gathering in the
wood and at its edge. But Dick knew that the fire was distant. The other
wing had opened the battle, and it might be a long time before their own
division was drawn into the conflict.

He stood there as the sound grew louder, a continuous crash of rifles,
accompanied by the heavy boom of cannon, and far off he saw a great
cloud of smoke gathering over the forest. But no shouting reached his
ears, nor could he see the men in combat. Colonel Winchester, who was
standing beside him, shrugged his shoulders.

"They're engaged heavily, or they will be very soon," he said.

"And it looks as if we'd have to wait," said Dick.

"Things point that way. The general thinks so, too. It seems that Bragg
has moved his forces in the night, and that the portion of the enemy in
front of us is some distance off."

Dick soon confided this news to Warner and Pennington, who looked
discontented.

"If we've got to fight, I'd rather do it now and get it over," said
Pennington. "If I'm going to be killed the difference between morning
and afternoon won't matter, but if I'm not going to be killed it'll be
worth a lot to get this weight off my mind."

"And if we're far away from the enemy it's easy enough for us to go up
close to him," said Warner. "I take it that we're not here to keep out
of his way, and, if our brethren are pounding now, oughtn't we to go in
and help them pound? Remember how we divided our strength at Antietam."

D