"And I hope I won't meet 'em on this field. What about your aunt?"

"She's well, and in a safe place."

"I'm glad of that. Now, tell me, Victor, how did you happen to be with
Slade on that raid? Of course it's no business of mine, but I was
surprised."

"I don't mind answering. I suppose it was a taste for adventure, and a
desire to serve our cause. After I got up the bank and climbed into the
bushes, I looked back, and I think, Mason, that you may have saved me
from a bullet. I don't know, but I think so."

Dick said nothing, but despite the dusk Woodville read the truth in his
eyes.

"I shan't forget," said the young Mississippian as he moved away.

Dick turned back to his own group. They had noticed him talking to the
lad in gray, but they paid no attention, nor thought it anything unusual.
It was common enough in the great battles of the American civil war,
most of which lasted more than one day, for the opposing soldiers to
become friendly in the nights between.

"I think, sir," said Sergeant Whitley, "that we won't be able to get any
more of our wounded to-night. Now, pardon me for saying it, Lieutenant,
but we ought to have some rest, because when day comes there's going
to be the most awful attack you ever saw. Some of our spies say that
Longstreet and the last of the Virginians did not come until night or