It
was a lovely oasis in a wilderness of undergrowth, and the men enjoyed
it to the utmost.
About three in the afternoon the sound of firing was heard in the
distance. First there was one shot, then another, and several more at
rapid intervals. Archie was one of the first to jump to his feet, but
in a second every man was at attention, with his musket in his hands.
The colonel listened closely for two minutes, and then the firing
began once more, and this time it seemed nearer. He hesitated no
longer, but gave the order to march ahead. "They've evidently found
the cowards at last," he muttered to Archie. "You stay here, where you
will be out of danger." But Archie was determined to do nothing of the
kind. He felt his pistol safe in his hip pocket, and when the
companies swung out of the forest and into the road he was marching in
his old place at the head of the column. Again the colonel ordered him
to remain behind, but Archie insisted that he would not, "Then go to
the rear," cried the colonel, angry for the moment. "I will not have
you shot down by a rebel sharpshooter the very first one." And Archie
knew that he would have to obey.
The column went ahead at double-quick, and finally broke into a steady
run. Every minute the noise of rifle-shots sounded nearer, and it
seemed probable that the two companies were retreating before the
insurgents.
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