Anyway, we can get big reinforcements."
Pennington clasped his arms over his knees and sang:
"The race is not to him that's got
The longest legs to run,
Nor the battle to those people
That shoot the biggest gun."
"Where did you get that song?" asked Dick. "I'll allow, under the
circumstances, that there seems to be some sense in it."
"A Texan that we captured last night sang it to us. He was a funny
kind of fellow. Didn't seem to be worried a bit because he was taken.
Said if his own people didn't retake him that he'd escape in a week,
anyhow. Likely enough he will, too. But he was good company, and he
sang us that song. Impudent, wasn't he?"
"But true so far, at least in the east. I fancy from what you say, Frank,
that we'll be here a day longer anyhow. I hope so, I want to rest."
"So do I. I won't fight to-day, unless I'm ordered to do it. But I'm
thinking with you, Dick, that we'll retreat. We were outmaneuvered by
Lee and Jackson. That circuit of Jackson's through Thoroughfare Gap and
the attack from the rear undid us.
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