me to see him so jolly
when I was feeling so sore.

From that moment, whenever I felt as if it was impossible to take
another step, I looked at Darius, and forced myself to forget
weariness or hunger.

It was nearly sunset when we were come to Long Old Fields, where a
portion of General Winder's army had encamped the day previous, and
here we were met by another messenger from the commodore.

This last man had as large a store of fresh provisions as could be
hauled by one mule, and within five minutes after coming up with him
we were getting supper, giving no heed to anything save the fact that
we had food in plenty for at least one meal.

Later, Darius told me that the second messenger repeated orders for us
to press forward without unnecessary delay; but when our hunger was
appeased the lieutenant gave the word that we would be allowed to
remain in camp a full two hours, and this was no sooner made known
than the majority of us stretched our tired bodies on the ground for a
time of sleep.

Jerry and I lay side by side, and when we were first in the proper
position for sleeping I spoke to my comrade, but he made no reply. The
dear lad had actually fallen into slumber at the very instant his head
touched the ground.

Perhaps I remained awake while one might have counted twenty; but I am
confident it was no longer than that, and then I closed my eyes, not
to open them again until conscious of a heavy blow on the soles of my
feet.

CHAPTER XIV.

AT WASHINGTON.

The first thought in my mind, on being aroused from deep slumber by a
heavy blow on my feet, was that the enemy had come upon us, and a
battle had been begun while I remained unconscious.

Springing up quickly, my eyes hardly half-open, I made ready to defend
myself with no other weapons than those provided by nature, but
nothing more formidable confronted me than Darius Thorpe, whose mouth
was stretched wide in a grin, as if he saw something exceeding comical
in thus disturbing a fellow's slumbers.

"This is no time for horse-play!" I cried indignantly. "Having but two
hours for rest, it would seem that such jokes might be dispensed
with."

"I don't allow that I'm jokin'," the old man replied gravely, the
smile disappearing from his face as he understood that I was
thoroughly angry. "You have used up your allowance of time in
sleepin', an' now it's a case of gettin' into line."

"I haven't had a five-minutes nap!" I cried, firmly believi