“But we don’t know which two.”
“That’s true. Nevertheless it’s certain that those two, whoever they may be, are here on borrowed time. What do your wounds amount to, Dick?”
“Nothing, I had forgotten ’em. I’ve lost a little blood, but what does it amount to on a day like this, when blood is shed in rivers?”
“That’s true. My own skin has been broken, but just barely, four times by bullets. I’ve a notion that those bullets were coming straight for some vital part of me, but seeing who it was, and knowing that such a noble character ought not to be slain, they turned aside as quickly as possible, but not so quickly that they could avoid grazing my skin.”
Dick and Pennington laughed. Warner’s fooling amused them and relieved the painful tension of their minds.
“But, George,” said Pennington, “suppose one of the bullets failed to turn aside and killed you. What could we say then for you?”
“That it was a silly, ignorant bullet not knowing whence it came, or where it was going. Ah, there’s light in the darkness! Look across the hill and see that shining flame!”
Dick rose and then the three walked to the brow of the hill, where Colonel Winchester stood, using his glasses as well as he could in the dusk.
“It’s the pine forest on fire in places,” he said. “The shells did it, and it’s been burning for some time, spreading until it has now come into our own sight.”
But they were detached fires, and they did not fuse into a general mass at any time. Clumps of trees burnt steadily like vast torches and sent up high flames. Bands of men from either side worked silently, removing as many of the wounded as they could. It was a spontaneous movement, as happened so often in this war, and Dick and his comrades took a part in it.
North and South met in friendliness in the darkness or by the light of the burning pines, and talked freely as they lifted up their wounded. Dick asked often about Colonel Kenton, meeting at last some Kentuckians, who told him that the colonel had gone through the day without a wound, and was with Buckner. Then Dick asked if any Mississippians were along the line.
“What do you want with ’em?” asked a long, lank man with a bilious yellow face.
“I’ve got a friend among ’em. Woodville is his name, and he’s about my own age.”
“I’ve heard of the Woodvilles. Big an’ rich family in Missip. ‘Roun’ Vicksburg and Jackson mostly. I’m from the Yazoo valley myself, an’ if I hear of the young fellow I’ll send him down this way. But I can’t stay out long, ’cause it’ll soon be time for me to have my chill. Comes every other night reg’lar. But I’ll be all right for battle to-morrow, when we lick you Yankees out of the other boot, having licked you out of one to-day.”
“All right, old Yazoo,” laughed Dick. “Go on and have your chill, but if you see Woodville tell him Mason is waiting down here by the wood.”
“I’ll shorely do it, if the chill don’t git me fust,” said the yellow Mississippian as he strolled away, and Dick knew that he would keep his word.
The lad lingered at the spot where he had met the man, hoping that by some lucky chance Woodville might come, and fortune gave him his wish. A slender figure emerged from the dark, and a voice called softly:
“Is that you, Mason?”
“Nobody else,” replied Dick gladly, stepping forward and offering his hand, which young Woodville shook warmly. “I was hoping that I might meet you, and I see, too, that you can’t be hurt much, if at all.”
“I haven’t been touched. It’s my lucky day, I suppose.”
“Where’s your uncle? I hope he’s in some safe place, recovering from his wound.”
Victor Woodville laughed softly.
“Uncle Charles is recovering from his wound perhaps faster than you hope,” he said, “but he’s not in a safe place. Far from it.”
“I don’t understand.”
“His wound is so much better that he can walk, though with a hop, and he’s right here in the thick of this battle, leading his own Mississippi regiment. His horse was killed under him early this morning, and he’s fought all day on foot, swearing in the strange and melodious fashion that you know. It’s hop! swear! hop! swear! in beautiful alternation!”