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"Take the fellow next to him there, Harris! behind that stump!" "Let him put up his head a little higher!" said Harris, taking aim. He fired. The rebel dropped, not behind the stump, but beside it. "You've saved him!" shouted Tucket. "That'll pay for Ellis and Jack Winch!" The fire of the enemy in the woods was soon concentrated on Captain Edney's company, which happened to be most exposed.
The mud was deep, and savage the entanglement of bushes on every side. But the troops, breaking through, had made the way comparatively easy to follow, and Frank soon overtook the regiment. Great was Captain Edney's surprise at sight of him, with a gun in his hand and with the glow of youthful heroism in his face. "What are you here for?" "To beg permission to take Winch's place in the ranks."
Frank started, almost like a guilty person, and gave the military salute rather awkwardly as he got upon his feet. He had been secretly dreading Captain Edney's displeasure, and now he thought he was to be called to an account.
You may be sure the boy wrote to his mother all about the interview, and told her how sorry he was that he had not enlisted in Captain Edney's company; not only because he liked his new friend's kindness and affable manners so well, but also because there existed in the ranks of the Jackson Blues a strong prejudice against their own officers.
"I am going, Frank. It is all wrong I know now but it is too late. Tell mother " His words became inaudible, and he sank, swooning, in Captain Edney's arms. "What, George? what shall I tell mother?" pleaded Frank, in an agony. "And father too," said the dying lips, in a moment of reviving recollection. "And my sisters " But the message was never uttered. "George! O, George! I am here!
Bushes and fallen logs impeded their progress; the mud and water were in places leg-deep; and the men were permitted to pick their way as best they could. Suddenly out of a thicket a bullet came whizzing. Another and another followed. One tore the bark from a tree close by Captain Edney's head. "Keep cool, boys!" he said; "and aim low."
At this time the boys' fathers came down together to visit them. John had written home a pitiful letter, and Mr. Winch went to see about getting him off. But Jack was no sooner out of the service than he wished to be in again. Frank, Atwater, and several others, had joined Captain Edney's company, and he determined to follow their example. "O John!" groaned Mr.
Soon after, in order to get rid of so incompetent an officer, and at the same time punish the insubordination of the men, it was resolved to disband the company. Thus was afforded to Frank the opportunity, which seemed to him almost providential, of joining Captain Edney's company, and to John Winch the desired chance to quit the service, of which he had so soon grown weary.
He had been perched in the thick top of a tall pine to pick off our men during the skirmish. It was he who had taken the bark from the tree near Captain Edney's head. It was he who had basely thought to assassinate those who were carrying away the wounded.
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