Dick saw that Colonel Winchester himself was excited.  The pupils of his eyes were dilated, and a red spot glowed in either cheek.  Like all the other officers he was stung by the surprise and defeat, and he could barely wait for the morning and revenge.

Colonel Winchester walked away to a council that had been called, and Dick turned to Pennington and Warner, who were not hurt, save for slight wounds.  Warner had recovered his poise, and was soon as calm and dry as ever.

“Dick,” he said, “we’re some distance from where we started this morning.  There’s nothing like being shoved along when you don’t want to go.  The next time they tell me there’s nothing in a thicket I expect to search it and find a rebel army at least a hundred thousand strong right in the middle of it.”

“How large do you suppose the Southern army was?” asked Pennington.

“I had a number of looks at it,” replied Warner, “and I should say from the way it acted that it numbered at least three million men.  I know that at times not less than ten thousand were aiming their rifles at my own poor and unworthy person.  What a waste of energy for so many men to shoot at me all at once.  I wish the Johnnies would go away and let us alone!”

The last words were high-pitched and excited.  His habitual self-control broke down for a moment, and the tremendous excitement and nervous tension of the day found vent in his voice.  But in a few seconds he recovered himself and looked rather ashamed.

“Boys,” he said, “I apologize.”

“You needn’t,” said Pennington.  “There have been times today when I felt brave as a lion, and lots of other times I was scared most to death.  It would have helped me a lot then, if I could have opened my mouth and yelled at the top of my voice.”

Sergeant Daniel Whitley was leaning against a stump, and while he was calmly lighting a pipe he regarded the three boys with a benevolent gaze.

“None of you need be ashamed of bein’ scared,” he said.  “I’ve been in a lot of fights myself, though all of them were mere skirmishes when put alongside of this, an’ I’ve been scared a heap today.  I’ve been scared for myself, an’ I’ve been scared for the regiment, an’ I’ve been scared for the whole army, an’ I’ve been scared on general principles, but here we are, alive an’ kickin’, an’ we ought to feel powerful thankful for that.”

“We are,” said Dick.  Then he rubbed his head as if some sudden thought had occurred to him.

“What is it, Dick?” asked Warner.

“I’ve realized all at once that I’m tremendously hungry.  The Confederates broke up our breakfast.  We never had time to think of dinner, and now its nothing to eat.”

“Me, too,” said Pennington.  “If you were to hit me in the stomach I’d give back a hollow sound like a drum.  Why don’t somebody ring the supper bell?”