"
"We'll hope for the best," said Warner, "I wonder whose time this will
be to get wounded. It was mine at Antietam, yours, Dick, at Perryville,
and only you are left Pennington, so it's bound to be you."
"No, it won't be me," said Pennington stoutly. "I've been wounded in two
or three battles already, not bad wounds, just scratches and bruises,
but as there were so many of 'em you can lump 'em together, and make one
big wound. That lets me out."
The Winchester regiment lay in the very thickest of the forest and in
order not to indicate to the enemy their precise position no fires were
lighted. The earth was still soaked deep with the heavy rains and their
feet sank at every step. But they did not make many steps. They had
learned enough to lie quiet, seek what rest and sleep they could find,
and await the dawn.
CHAPTER XV
STONE RIVER
Dick awoke at sunrise of the last day of the year, and Warner and
Pennington were up a moment later. There was no fog. The sun hung a low,
red ball in the steel blue sky of winter. No fires had been lighted,
cold food being served.
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