t unpleasant whizz of bullets was gone.

He pulled himself out of the mire and ran along the edge of the creek
toward the roar of the battle. He knew now that he had passed around the
flank of the Southern army and could approach the flank of his own. He
ran fast, and then began to hear bullets again. But now they were coming
from the Southern army. He threw away the cloak and presently he emerged
into a mass of men, who, under the continual urging of their officers,
were making a desperate defense, firing, drawing back, reloading and
firing again. In front, the woods swarmed with the Southern troops who
drove incessantly upon them.

Dick snatched up a rifle--plenty were lying upon the ground, where the
owners had fallen with them--and fired into the attacking ranks. Then he
reloaded swiftly, and pressed on toward the Union center.

"What troops are these?" he asked of an officer who was knotting a
handkerchief about a bleeding wrist.

"From Illinois. Who are you?"

"I'm Lieutenant Richard Mason of Colonel Arthur Winchester's Kentucky
regiment. I was taken prisoner by the enemy last night, but I escaped
this morning. Do you know where my regiment is?"

"Keep straight on, and you'll strike it or what's left of it, if
anything at all is left. It's a black day."

Dick scarcely caught his last words, as he dashed on through bullets,
shell and solid shot over slain men and horses, over dismantled guns
and gun carriages, and into the very heart of the flame and smoke.
The thunder of the battle was at its height now, because he was in
the center of it. The roar of the great guns was continuous, but the
unbroken crash of rifles by the scores of thousands was fiercer and more
deadly.

The officer had pointed toward the Kentucky regiment with his sword, and
following the line Dick ran directly into it. The very first face he saw
was that of Colonel Winchester.

"Dick, my lad," shouted the Colonel, "where have you come from?"

"From the Southern army. I was taken prisoner last night almost within
sight of our own, but when they charged this morning they forgot me and
here I am."

Colonel Winchester suddenly seized him by the shoulders and pushed
him down. The regiment was behind a small ridge which afforded some
protection, and all were lying down except the senior officers.

"Welcome, Dick, to our hot little camp! The chances are about a hundred
per cent out of a hundred per cent that this is the hottest place on th