Chapter 3

When another night came, the columns, changed to purple streaks, filed across two pontoon bridges. A glaring fire wine-tinted the waters of the river. Its rays, shining upon the moving masses of troops, brought forth here and there sudden gleams of silver or gold. Upon the other shore a dark and mysterious range of hills was curved against the sky. The insect voices of the night sang solemnly.

When night came again, the columns looked like purple streaks as they marched across two pontoon bridges. A blazing fire colored the river water like wine. Its light fell on the moving masses of troops, bringing out sudden gleams of silver or gold here and there. On the far shore, a dark and mysterious range of hills curved against the sky. The insects of the night sang solemnly.

After this crossing the youth assured himself that at any moment they might be suddenly and fearfully assaulted from the caves of the lowering woods. He kept his eyes watchfully upon the darkness.

After the crossing, the young man convinced himself that they might suddenly be attacked from the gloomy woods at any moment. He watched the darkness closely.

But his regiment went unmolested to a camping place, and its soldiers slept the brave sleep of wearied men. In the morning they were routed out with early energy, and hustled along a narrow road that led deep into the forest.

But his regiment reached a campsite without being disturbed. The soldiers slept the brave sleep of exhausted men. In the morning, they were roused early and hurried along a narrow road that led deep into the forest.

It was during this rapid march that the regiment lost many of the marks of a new command.

During this rapid march, the regiment lost many of the signs of being a new unit.

The men had begun to count the miles upon their fingers, and they grew tired. “Sore feet an’ damned short rations, that’s all,” said the loud soldier. There was perspiration and grumblings. After a time they began to shed their knapsacks. Some tossed them unconcernedly down; others hid them carefully, asserting their plans to return for them at some convenient time. Men extricated themselves from thick shirts. Presently few carried anything but their necessary clothing, blankets, haversacks, canteens, and arms and ammunition. “You can now eat and shoot,” said the tall soldier to the youth. “That’s all you want to do.”

The men had begun counting the miles on their fingers, and they grew tired. “Sore feet and damned short rations, that’s all,” said the loud soldier. The men sweated and grumbled. After a while, they began to get rid of their knapsacks. Some tossed them down without a care. Others hid them carefully, saying they planned to come back for them when they had a chance. Men pulled off their thick shirts. Soon, few carried anything but essential clothing, blankets, haversacks, canteens, weapons, and ammunition. “You can now eat and shoot,” the tall soldier said to the youth. “That’s all you want to do.”

There was sudden change from the ponderous infantry of theory to the light and speedy infantry of practice. The regiment, relieved of a burden, received a new impetus. But there was much loss of valuable knapsacks, and, on the whole, very good shirts.

The infantry suddenly went from being heavy and slow in theory to light and speedy in practice. Freed of its burden, the regiment gained new momentum. But many valuable knapsacks and, on the whole, very good shirts were lost.

But the regiment was not yet veteranlike in appearance. Veteran regiments in the army were likely to be very small aggregations of men. Once, when the command had first come to the field, some perambulating veterans, noting the length of their column, had accosted them thus: “Hey, fellers, what brigade is that?” And when the men had replied that they formed a regiment and not a brigade, the older soldiers had laughed, and said, “O Gawd!”

But the regiment did not yet look like a veteran unit. Veteran regiments in the army were usually very small groups of men. When the regiment first arrived in the field, some veterans walking by noticed the length of its column. They called out, “Hey, fellas, what brigade is that?” The men replied that they were a regiment, not a brigade. The older soldiers laughed and said, “Oh God!”

Also, there was too great a similarity in the hats. The hats of a regiment should properly represent the history of headgear for a period of years. And, moreover, there were no letters of faded gold speaking from the colors. They were new and beautiful, and the color bearer habitually oiled the pole.

Also, the hats were too much alike. A regiment’s hats should properly reflect years of changing styles in headgear. And there were no faded gold letters on the regimental flags. The flags were new and beautiful, and the color bearer regularly oiled the pole.

Presently the army again sat down to think. The odor of the peaceful pines was in the men’s nostrils. The sound of monotonous axe blows rang through the forest, and the insects, nodding upon their perches, crooned like old women. The youth returned to his theory of a blue demonstration.

Soon the army sat down to think again. The men smelled the peaceful pines. The steady sound of axes echoed through the forest. Insects nodded on their perches and crooned like old women. The youth returned to his theory about a blue demonstration.

One gray dawn, however, he was kicked in the leg by the tall soldier, and then, before he was entirely awake, he found himself running down a wood road in the midst of men who were panting from the first effects of speed. His canteen banged rythmically upon his thigh, and his haversack bobbed softly. His musket bounced a trifle from his shoulder at each stride and made his cap feel uncertain upon his head.

One gray dawn, however, the tall soldier kicked him in the leg. Before he was fully awake, he found himself running down a road through the woods. Men ran all around him, already panting from the effort. His canteen banged rhythmically against his thigh, and his haversack bobbed softly. His musket bounced slightly on his shoulder with each stride, making his cap feel unsteady on his head.

He could hear the men whisper jerky sentences: “Say—what’s all this—about?” “What th’ thunder—we—skedaddlin’ this way fer?” “Billie—keep off m’ feet. Yeh run—like a cow.” And the loud soldier’s shrill voice could be heard: “What th’ devil they in sich a hurry for?”

He could hear the men whispering in short, broken sentences: “Hey, what’s all this about?” “What the hell are we running this way for?” “Billie, keep off my feet. You run like a cow.” The loud soldier’s shrill voice could also be heard: “What the devil are they in such a hurry for?”

The youth thought the damp fog of early morning moved from the rush of a great body of troops. From the distance came a sudden spatter of firing.

The young man thought the damp morning fog stirred as a large force of troops rushed past. Suddenly, a burst of gunfire came from the distance.

He was bewildered. As he ran with his comrades he strenuously tried to think, but all he knew was that if he fell down those coming behind would tread upon him. All his faculties seemed to be needed to guide him over and past obstructions. He felt carried along by a mob.

He was confused. As he ran with his comrades, he tried hard to think. But all he knew was that if he fell, those behind him would trample him. He seemed to need all his attention to get over and around obstacles. He felt swept along by a crowd.

The sun spread disclosing rays, and, one by one, regiments burst into view like armed men just born of the earth. The youth perceived that the time had come. He was about to be measured. For a moment he felt in the face of his great trial like a babe, and the flesh over his heart seemed very thin. He seized time to look about him calculatingly.

The sun’s rays revealed regiments one by one, as if armed men had just sprung from the earth. The youth realized the time had come. He was about to be tested. For a moment, facing his great trial, he felt like a baby. The flesh over his heart seemed very thin. He took a moment to look around him carefully.

But he instantly saw that it would be impossible for him to escape from the regiment. It inclosed him. And there were iron laws of tradition and law on four sides. He was in a moving box.

But he immediately saw that he could not escape from the regiment. It surrounded him. And the iron laws of tradition and the law hemmed him in on all sides. He was in a moving box.

As he perceived this fact it occurred to him that he had never wished to come to the war. He had not enlisted of his free will. He had been dragged by the merciless government. And now they were taking him out to be slaughtered.

As he realized this, he remembered that he had never wanted to go to war. He had not enlisted of his own free will. The merciless government had dragged him into it. And now they were taking him out to be slaughtered.

The regiment slid down a bank and wallowed across a little stream. The mournful current moved slowly on, and from the water, shaded black, some white bubble eyes looked at the men.

The regiment slid down a bank and waded through a small stream. The mournful current moved slowly on. In the dark water, some white bubbles looked like eyes watching the men.

As they climbed the hill on the farther side artillery began to boom. Here the youth forgot many things as he felt a sudden impulse of curiosity. He scrambled up the bank with a speed that could not be exceeded by a bloodthirsty man.

As they climbed the hill on the other side, artillery began to boom. The young man forgot many things as he felt a sudden burst of curiosity. He scrambled up the bank as fast as any bloodthirsty man could have.

He expected a battle scene.

He expected to see a battle.

There were some little fields girted and squeezed by a forest. Spread over the grass and in among the tree trunks, he could see knots and waving lines of skirmishers who were running hither and thither and firing at the landscape. A dark battle line lay upon a sunstruck clearing that gleamed orange color. A flag fluttered.

A forest surrounded and crowded in on some small fields. Across the grass and among the tree trunks, he could see clusters and wavering lines of skirmishers. They ran back and forth, firing at the landscape. A dark battle line lay in a sunlit clearing that glowed orange. A flag fluttered.

Other regiments floundered up the bank. The brigade was formed in line of battle, and after a pause started slowly through the woods in the rear of the receding skirmishers, who were continually melting into the scene to appear again farther on. They were always busy as bees, deeply absorbed in their little combats.

Other regiments struggled up the bank. The brigade formed a battle line and paused. Then it moved slowly through the woods behind the retreating skirmishers. The skirmishers kept disappearing into the landscape, only to appear again farther ahead. They were always busy as bees, deeply absorbed in their small fights.

The youth tried to observe everything. He did not use care to avoid trees and branches, and his forgotten feet were constantly knocking against stones or getting entangled in briers. He was aware that these battalions with their commotions were woven red and startling into the gentle fabric of softened greens and browns. It looked to be a wrong place for a battle field.

The young man tried to take in everything around him. He paid no attention to the trees and branches in his path. Forgetting his feet, he kept knocking them against stones or getting them tangled in briars. He noticed how the battalions and their commotion stood out in red against the gentle, muted greens and browns. It seemed like the wrong place for a battlefield.

The skirmishers in advance fascinated him. Their shots into thickets and at distant and prominent trees spoke to him of tragedies—hidden, mysterious, solemn.

The skirmishers ahead fascinated him. Their shots into thickets and at distant, noticeable trees suggested tragedies to him. These tragedies were hidden, mysterious, and solemn.

Once the line encountered the body of a dead soldier. He lay upon his back staring at the sky. He was dressed in an awkward suit of yellowish brown. The youth could see that the soles of his shoes had been worn to the thinness of writing paper, and from a great rent in one the dead foot projected piteously. And it was as if fate had betrayed the soldier. In death it exposed to his enemies that poverty which in life he had perhaps concealed from his friends.

Once, the line came upon the body of a dead soldier. He lay on his back, staring at the sky. He wore an ill-fitting yellowish-brown uniform. The youth could see that the soles of his shoes had worn as thin as writing paper. Through a large tear in one shoe, his dead foot stuck out piteously. It was as if fate had betrayed the soldier. In death, fate exposed to his enemies the poverty he may have hidden from his friends in life.

The ranks opened covertly to avoid the corpse. The invulnerable dead man forced a way for himself. The youth looked keenly at the ashen face. The wind raised the tawny beard. It moved as if a hand were stroking it. He vaguely desired to walk around and around the body and stare; the impulse of the living to try to read in dead eyes the answer to the Question.

The ranks quietly parted to avoid the corpse. The dead man, beyond harm, forced a path for himself. The youth looked closely at the ashen face. The wind lifted the reddish-brown beard. The beard moved as if a hand were stroking it. He vaguely wanted to walk around the body again and again, staring. It was the impulse of the living to seek the answer to the Question in dead eyes.

During the march the ardor which the youth had acquired when out of view of the field rapidly faded to nothing. His curiosity was quite easily satisfied. If an intense scene had caught him with its wild swing as he came to the top of the bank, he might have gone roaring on. This advance upon Nature was too calm. He had opportunity to reflect. He had time in which to wonder about himself and to attempt to probe his sensations.

During the march, the young man’s enthusiasm quickly faded. He had felt it when the battlefield was out of sight, but now it vanished. His curiosity was easily satisfied. If a fierce scene had swept him up as he reached the top of the bank, he might have charged on, roaring. But the advance toward Nature was too calm. He had a chance to think. He had time to wonder about himself and try to examine his feelings.

Absurd ideas took hold upon him. He thought that he did not relish the landscape. It threatened him. A coldness swept over his back, and it is true that his trousers felt to him that they were no fit for his legs at all.

Absurd ideas took hold of him. He thought he didn't like the landscape. It seemed to threaten him. A chill swept down his back. And his trousers really did feel as though they didn't fit his legs at all.

A house standing placidly in distant fields had to him an ominous look. The shadows of the woods were formidable. He was certain that in this vista there lurked fierce-eyed hosts. The swift thought came to him that the generals did not know what they were about. It was all a trap. Suddenly those close forests would bristle with rifle barrels. Ironlike brigades would appear in the rear. They were all going to be sacrificed. The generals were stupids. The enemy would presently swallow the whole command. He glared about him, expecting to see the stealthy approach of his death.

A house stood peacefully in distant fields, but to him it looked ominous. The shadows of the woods seemed threatening. He was sure fierce-eyed armies were hiding in the landscape. The thought flashed through his mind that the generals did not know what they were doing. The whole thing was a trap. Suddenly, rifle barrels would bristle from the nearby forests. Brigades as hard as iron would appear behind them. They were all going to be sacrificed. The generals were idiots. The enemy would soon swallow the entire force. He glared around him, expecting to see death creeping toward him.

He thought that he must break from the ranks and harangue his comrades. They must not all be killed like pigs; and he was sure it would come to pass unless they were informed of these dangers. The generals were idiots to send them marching into a regular pen. There was but one pair of eyes in the corps. He would step forth and make a speech. Shrill and passionate words came to his lips.

He thought he had to leave the ranks and speak out to his comrades. They must not all be killed like pigs. He was sure they would be unless someone warned them of the dangers. The generals were idiots to send them marching into a pen. He was the only one in the whole corps who could see. He would step forward and make a speech. Shrill, passionate words rose to his lips.

The line, broken into moving fragments by the ground, went calmly on through fields and woods. The youth looked at the men nearest him, and saw, for the most part, expressions of deep interest, as if they were investigating something that had fascinated them. One or two stepped with overvaliant airs as if they were already plunged into war. Others walked as upon thin ice. The greater part of the untested men appeared quiet and absorbed. They were going to look at war, the red animal—war, the blood-swollen god. And they were deeply engrossed in this march.

The line of men broke into moving fragments as it crossed the uneven ground. It went calmly on through fields and woods. The youth looked at the men nearest him. Most wore expressions of deep interest, as if they were investigating something that fascinated them. One or two marched with exaggerated bravery, as if they were already in the middle of war. Others walked as if on thin ice. Most of the men who had not yet been tested seemed quiet and absorbed. They were going to see war, the red animal, the god swollen with blood. And they were deeply absorbed in the march.

As he looked the youth gripped his outcry at his throat. He saw that even if the men were tottering with fear they would laugh at his warning. They would jeer him, and, if practicable, pelt him with missiles. Admitting that he might be wrong, a frenzied declamation of the kind would turn him into a worm.

As he looked, the young man choked back his cry. He saw that even if the men were shaking with fear, they would laugh at his warning. They would jeer at him and, if they could, throw things at him. He admitted that he might be wrong. If he made such a frantic speech, he would become a worm.

He assumed, then, the demeanor of one who knows that he is doomed alone to unwritten responsibilities. He lagged, with tragic glances at the sky.

Then he acted like a man who knew he was doomed to bear unspoken responsibilities alone. He fell behind, casting tragic glances at the sky.

He was surprised presently by the young lieutenant of his company, who began heartily to beat him with a sword, calling out in a loud and insolent voice: “Come, young man, get up into ranks there. No skulking ’ll do here.” He mended his pace with suitable haste. And he hated the lieutenant, who had no appreciation of fine minds. He was a mere brute.

Soon, the young lieutenant of his company surprised him by beating him hard with a sword. The lieutenant shouted rudely, “Come on, young man, get back in the ranks. No hiding out here.” He hurried to pick up his pace. And he hated the lieutenant, who had no appreciation for fine minds. He was just a brute.

After a time the brigade was halted in the cathedral light of a forest. The busy skirmishers were still popping. Through the aisles of the wood could be seen the floating smoke from their rifles. Sometimes it went up in little balls, white and compact.

After a while, the brigade stopped in the cathedral-like light of a forest. The skirmishers were still firing. Smoke from their rifles drifted through the aisles of trees. Sometimes the smoke rose in small, compact white balls.

During this halt many men in the regiment began erecting tiny hills in front of them. They used stones, sticks, earth, and anything they thought might turn a bullet. Some built comparatively large ones, while others seemed content with little ones.

During the stop, many men in the regiment began building tiny mounds in front of them. They used stones, sticks, earth, and anything else they thought might deflect a bullet. Some built fairly large mounds, while others seemed content with small ones.

This procedure caused a discussion among the men. Some wished to fight like duelists, believing it to be correct to stand erect and be, from their feet to their foreheads, a mark. They said they scorned the devices of the cautious. But the others scoffed in reply, and pointed to the veterans on the flanks who were digging at the ground like terriers. In a short time there was quite a barricade along the regimental fronts. Directly, however, they were ordered to withdraw from that place.

This procedure sparked a discussion among the men. Some wanted to fight like duelists. They believed the proper way was to stand upright, exposed from head to foot. They said they scorned the tricks of cautious men. But the others scoffed and pointed to the veterans on the flanks, who were digging like terriers. Soon a substantial barricade ran along the front of the regiment. Shortly afterward, however, the men were ordered to withdraw from that place.

This astounded the youth. He forgot his stewing over the advance movement. “Well, then, what did they march us out here for?” he demanded of the tall soldier. The latter with calm faith began a heavy explanation, although he had been compelled to leave a little protection of stones and dirt to which he had devoted much care and skill.

This amazed the young soldier. He forgot about his worries over the advance. “Well, then, why did they march us out here?” he demanded of the tall soldier. With calm confidence, the tall soldier began a lengthy explanation. He did this even though he had been forced to leave a small shelter of stones and dirt that he had built with great care and skill.

When the regiment was aligned in another position each man’s regard for his safety caused another line of small intrenchments. They ate their noon meal behind a third one. They were moved from this one also. They were marched from place to place with apparent aimlessness.

When the regiment lined up in another position, each man feared for his safety, so they dug another line of small trenches. They ate their midday meal behind a third line of trenches. They were moved from there too. They were marched from place to place with no apparent purpose.

The youth had been taught that a man became another thing in battle. He saw his salvation in such a change. Hence this waiting was an ordeal to him. He was in a fever of impatience. He considered that there was denoted a lack of purpose on the part of the generals. He began to complain to the tall soldier. “I can’t stand this much longer,” he cried. “I don’t see what good it does to make us wear out our legs for nothin’.” He wished to return to camp, knowing that this affair was a blue demonstration; or else to go into a battle and discover that he had been a fool in his doubts, and was, in truth, a man of traditional courage. The strain of present circumstances he felt to be intolerable.

The young man had been taught that battle turned a man into something different. He saw that change as his salvation. So the waiting was an ordeal for him. He was feverishly impatient. He thought the generals’ waiting showed a lack of purpose. He began to complain to the tall soldier. “I can’t stand this much longer,” he cried. “I don’t see any good in wearing out our legs for nothing.” He wanted to return to camp, knowing the whole affair was a blue demonstration. Or he wanted to go into battle and discover that his doubts had been foolish. He wanted to find that he was, in fact, a man of traditional courage. He felt he could no longer bear the strain of waiting.

The philosophical tall soldier measured a sandwich of cracker and pork and swallowed it in a nonchalant manner. “Oh, I suppose we must go reconnoitering around the country jest to keep ’em from getting too close, or to develop ’em, or something.”

The thoughtful tall soldier sized up a cracker and pork sandwich and casually swallowed it. “Oh, I suppose we have to scout around the countryside just to keep them from getting too close, or to find out what they’re up to, or something.”

“Huh!” said the loud soldier.

“Huh!” said the loud soldier.

“Well,” cried the youth, still fidgeting, “I’d rather do anything ’most than go tramping ’round the country all day doing no good to nobody and jest tiring ourselves out.”

“Well,” the young man cried, still fidgeting, “I’d rather do almost anything than march around the country all day. We’re not doing anyone any good. We’re just tiring ourselves out.”

“So would I,” said the loud soldier. “It ain’t right. I tell you if anybody with any sense was a-runnin’ this army it—”

“So would I,” said the loud soldier. “It’s not right. I’m telling you, if someone with any sense were running this army, it...”

“Oh, shut up!” roared the tall private. “You little fool. You little damn’ cuss. You ain’t had that there coat and them pants on for six months, and yet you talk as if—”

“Oh, shut up!” roared the tall private. “You little fool. You little damn idiot. You haven’t even worn that coat and those pants for six months, and yet you talk as if...”

“Well, I wanta do some fighting anyway,” interrupted the other. “I didn’t come here to walk. I could ’ave walked to home—’round an’ ’round the barn, if I jest wanted to walk.”

“Well, I want to do some fighting anyway,” the other interrupted. “I didn’t come here to walk. If I just wanted to walk, I could have walked around and around the barn at home.”

The tall one, red-faced, swallowed another sandwich as if taking poison in despair.

The tall man, his face red, swallowed another sandwich as if he were taking poison in despair.

But gradually, as he chewed, his face became again quiet and contented. He could not rage in fierce argument in the presence of such sandwiches. During his meals he always wore an air of blissful contemplation of the food he had swallowed. His spirit seemed then to be communing with the viands.

But gradually, as he chewed, his face grew calm and contented again. He could not argue fiercely with such sandwiches in front of him. During meals, he always looked as if he were blissfully contemplating the food he had swallowed. His spirit seemed to be communing with the food.

He accepted new environment and circumstance with great coolness, eating from his haversack at every opportunity. On the march he went along with the stride of a hunter, objecting to neither gait nor distance. And he had not raised his voice when he had been ordered away from three little protective piles of earth and stone, each of which had been an engineering feat worthy of being made sacred to the name of his grandmother.

He calmly accepted his new surroundings and circumstances, eating from his haversack whenever he had the chance. On the march, he walked with a hunter's stride, never complaining about the pace or distance. He did not raise his voice when ordered away from three small protective piles of earth and stone. Each pile had been an engineering achievement worthy of being made sacred to his grandmother's name.

In the afternoon, the regiment went out over the same ground it had taken in the morning. The landscape then ceased to threaten the youth. He had been close to it and become familiar with it.

In the afternoon, the regiment crossed the same ground it had covered that morning. The landscape no longer threatened the young man. He had been close to it and had become familiar with it.

When, however, they began to pass into a new region, his old fears of stupidity and incompetence reassailed him, but this time he doggedly let them babble. He was occupied with his problem, and in his desperation he concluded that the stupidity did not greatly matter.

But as they began to enter a new region, his old fears of stupidity and incompetence returned. This time, he stubbornly let the fears chatter. He was occupied with his problem, and in his desperation he decided that the stupidity did not matter much.

Once he thought he had concluded that it would be better to get killed directly and end his troubles. Regarding death thus out of the corner of his eye, he conceived it to be nothing but rest, and he was filled with a momentary astonishment that he should have made an extraordinary commotion over the mere matter of getting killed. He would die; he would go to some place where he would be understood. It was useless to expect appreciation of his profound and fine sense from such men as the lieutenant. He must look to the grave for comprehension.

Once, he thought he had decided it would be better to be killed at once and end his troubles. Looking at death this way, out of the corner of his eye, he imagined it was nothing but rest. For a moment, he was amazed that he had made such a fuss over the mere matter of being killed. He would die. He would go somewhere he would be understood. There was no use expecting men like the lieutenant to appreciate his deep and refined understanding. He would have to look to the grave for understanding.

The skirmish fire increased to a long clattering sound. With it was mingled far-away cheering. A battery spoke.

The scattered gunfire grew into a steady clatter. Distant cheering mingled with it. A battery of guns fired.

Directly the youth could see the skirmishers running. They were pursued by the sound of musketry fire. After a time the hot, dangerous flashes of the rifles were visible. Smoke clouds went slowly and insolently across the fields like observant phantoms. The din became crescendo, like the roar of an oncoming train.

Soon the young man could see the skirmishers running, with the sound of musket fire chasing them. After a while, he could see the hot, dangerous flashes of the rifles. Clouds of smoke drifted slowly and boldly across the fields like watchful ghosts. The noise grew louder, like the roar of an approaching train.

A brigade ahead of them and on the right went into action with a rending roar. It was as if it had exploded. And thereafter it lay stretched in the distance behind a long gray wall, that one was obliged to look twice at to make sure that it was smoke.

A brigade ahead of them and to the right went into battle with a tearing roar. It was as if the brigade had exploded. Afterward, the brigade lay stretched out in the distance behind a long gray wall. You had to look twice to be sure the wall was smoke.

The youth, forgetting his neat plan of getting killed, gazed spell bound. His eyes grew wide and busy with the action of the scene. His mouth was a little ways open.

The young man forgot his neat plan to get himself killed and stared, spellbound. His eyes widened as he eagerly watched the action. His mouth was slightly open.

Of a sudden he felt a heavy and sad hand laid upon his shoulder. Awakening from his trance of observation he turned and beheld the loud soldier.

Suddenly, he felt a heavy, sad hand on his shoulder. He came out of his trance and turned to see the loud soldier.

“It’s my first and last battle, old boy,” said the latter, with intense gloom. He was quite pale and his girlish lip was trembling.

“It’s my first and last battle, old boy,” the latter said, deeply gloomy. He was very pale, and his girlish lip trembled.

“Eh?” murmured the youth in great astonishment.

“What?” the young man murmured, greatly astonished.

“It’s my first and last battle, old boy,” continued the loud soldier. “Something tells me—”

“This is my first and last battle, buddy,” the loud soldier went on. “Something tells me...”

“What?”

“What?”

“I’m a gone coon this first time and—and I w-want you to take these here things—to—my—folks.” He ended in a quavering sob of pity for himself. He handed the youth a little packet done up in a yellow envelope.

“I’m going to die this first time, and, and I w-want you to take these things to my family.” He ended with a trembling sob of self-pity. He handed the young man a small packet wrapped in a yellow envelope.

“Why, what the devil—” began the youth again.

“What the devil...” the young man began again.

But the other gave him a glance as from the depths of a tomb, and raised his limp hand in a prophetic manner and turned away.

But the other man glanced at him as if from the depths of a tomb. He raised his limp hand like a prophet and turned away.