The
sharpshooter's bullet passed so close to his head that Dick felt as if
he had received a complete hair cut, all in a flash.
He fairly sprang back to the cover of his rock. What a fine rock that
was! How big and thick! And it was so protective! In a spirit of
defiance he fired at the top of the other stone and saw the gray dust
shoot up from it. Quick came the answering shot, and a little piece of
his coat flew with it. That was certainly a great sharpshooter across
the valley! Dick gave him full credit for his skill.
Then he heard the rolling of drums and the mellow call of trumpets in
front of the pass. Taking care to keep well under cover he looked back.
The Union army was advancing in great force now, its front tipped with a
long line of bayonets and the mouths of fifty cannon turned to the pass.
In front of them swarmed the skirmishers, eager, active fellows leaping
from rock to rock and from tree to tree.
Dick foresaw that the second charge would not fail. Its numbers were so
great that it would at least enter the pass and hold the mouth of it.
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