nd the shrouding mass of wild
buckwheat, terror took him. The minies were singing like so many birds.
A line of blue musketrymen, posted behind cover, somewhat higher than
the grey, were firing alike at gunners, horses, and the men passing to
and fro behind the fighting line. Steve saw a soldier hobbling to the
barn throw up his arms, and pitch forward. Two carrying a third between
them were both struck. The three tried to drag themselves further, but
only the one who had been borne by the others succeeded. A shell pierced
the roof of the barn, burst and set the whole on fire. Steve turned like
a lizard and went back to the lock of the fence and the tattered
buckwheat. He could hear the men talking around the gun just beyond.
They spoke very loud, because the air was shaken like an ocean in storm.
They were all powder-grimed, clad only in trousers and shirt, the shirt
open over the breast, and sleeves rolled up. They stood straight, or
bent, or crept about the guns, all their movements swift and rhythmic.
Sometimes they were seen clearly; sometimes the smoke swallowed them.
When seen they looked larger than life, when only heard their voices
came as though earth and air were speaking. "Sponge out.--All right.
Fire! Hot while it lasts, but it won't last long. I have every
confidence in Old Jack and Old Dick. Drat that primer! All right!--Three
seconds! Jerusalem! that created a sensation. The Louisianians are
coming up that cleft between the hills. All the Stonewall regiments in
the centre. Ewell to flank their left. Did you ever hear Ewell swear?
Look out! wheel's cut through. Lanyard's shot away. Take handkerchiefs.
Haven't got any--tear somebody's shirt. Number 1! Number 2! Look out!
look out--Give them hell. Good Heaven! here's Old Jack. General, we hope
you'll go away from here! We'll stay it out--give you our word. Let
them enfilade ahead!--but you'd better go back, sir."

"Thank you, captain, but I wish to see--"

A minie ball imbedded itself in a rail beside Steve's cheek. Before he
could recover from this experience a shell burst immediately in front of
his panel. He was covered with earth, a fragment of shell sheared away
the protecting buckwheat and a piece of rail struck him in the back with
force. He yelled, threw down his musket and ran.

He passed John Agnor lying dead by the gateway, and he reached somehow
the foot of the hill and the wide fields between the embattled ridges
and the Valley pike, the woo