Colonel Winchester suppressed a groan. Dick noticed that his face was
pallid in the uncertain shadows, and he understood the agony of spirit
that the brave man must suffer when he saw that they had been outflanked
by their enemy.
Sergeant Whitley, moving forward a little, touched the colonel on the arm.
"All the clouds that we saw a little further back," he said, "have
gathered together, an' the storm is about to bust. See, sir, how fast
the Johnnies are spreadin' their tents an' runnin' to shelter."
"It's so, sergeant," said Colonel Winchester. "I was so much absorbed in
watching those men that I thank you for reminding me. We've seen enough
anyway and we'd better get back as fast as we can."
They hurried through the trees and bushes toward their horses, taking no
particular pains now to deaden their footsteps, since the Southerners
themselves were making a good deal of noise as they took refuge.
But the storm was upon them before they could reach their horses.
The last star was gone and the somber clouds covered the whole heavens.
The wind ceased to moan and the air was heavy with apprehension.
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