The bullets of half a dozen Southern skirmishers, standing
under the boughs of a beech tree less than two hundred yards away,
hissed angrily by them.
"A close call," said the colonel. "There, they've been scattered by our
own riflemen and one of them remains to pay the toll."
The reply of the Northern skirmishers had been quick, and the gray figure
lying prone by the trunk of the tree told Dick that the colonel had been
right. He was shaken by a momentary shudder, but he could not long
remember one among so many. They rode on, leaving the prone figure out
of sight, and the Southern cavalry and skirmishers pressed forward afresh.
Many of the Union men had food in their saddle bags, and supplies were
sent back for those who did not have it. Colonel Winchester who was now
thoroughly cool, advised his officers to eat, even if they felt no hunger.
"I'm hungry enough," said Pennington to Dick. "Out on the plains,
where the air is so fresh and so full of life I was always hungry,
and I suppose I brought my appetite here with me. Dick, I've opened a
can of cove oysters, and that's a great deal for a fellow on horseback to
do.
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