"
"It was the power of contrast," said Warner sagely. "The real comfort
from the fire was fifty per cent and the howling of the icy gale, in
which you might have frozen to death, but didn't, was fifty per cent
more. That's why I'm feeling so good now, although I'd say that those
red cedars and their dark background are none too cheerful."
"I've got two good blankets," said Pennington, who was returning from a
trip further down the line, "and I'm going to sleep. Haven't you fellows
learned that all your foolish talking before a battle never changes the
result? I can tell you this. Our three divisions that are marching
toward Murfreesborough are in touch. We've put out swarms of scouts and
they all tell us so. They know exactly where the enemy is, too, and he's
too far away to surprise us to-night. So it's sleep, my boys, sleep.
Sleep will recover for you so much strength that it will be much harder
for you to get killed on the morrow."
Dick had dried himself very thoroughly before one of the fires, and
wrapping himself in his two blankets he slept soundly and heavily.
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