struck him at the same time an'
he had a headache nigh until sundown. Besides havin' natural thickness
of the skull Sam trained his head by buttin' with the black boys when he
was young."

Dick saw that the man really felt deep emotion and was chattering,
partly to hide it. He was glad that they had found his brother, and
he helped them to lift him. Then they rubbed Sam's wrists and poured a
stimulant down his throat. In a few minutes he stood alone on his feet,
yawned mightily, and by the light of the dim lantern gazed at them in a
sort of stupid wonder.

"What's happened?" he asked.

"What's happened?" replied his brother. "You was always late with the
news, Sam. Of course you've been takin' a nap, but a lot has happened.
We met the Yankees an' we've been fightin' 'em for two days. Tremenjous
big battle, an' we've whipped 'em. 'Scuse me, Yank, I forgot you was
with us. Well, nigh onto a million have been killed, which ought to be
enough for anybody. I love my country, but I don't care to love another
at such a price. But resumin' 'bout you pussonally, Sam, you stopped
so many shells an' solid shot with that thick head of yourn that the
concussion at last put you to sleep, an' we've found you so we kin take
you in out of the wet an' let you sleep in a dry place. Kin you walk?"

Sam made an effort, but staggered badly.

"Jim, you an' Dave take him by each shoulder an' walk him back to camp,"
said the lantern bearer. "You jest keep straight ahead an' you'll butt
into Marse Bob or old Stonewall, one or the other."

"You lead the way with the lantern."

"Never you mind about me or the lantern."

"What you goin' to do?"

"Me? I'm goin' to keep this lantern an' help Yank here find his friend.
Ain't he done stuck with us till we found Sam, an' I reckon I'll stick
with him till he gits the boy he's lookin for, dead or alive. Now, you
keep Sam straight, and walk him back to camp. He ain't hurt. Why, that
bullet didn't dent his skull. It said to itself when it came smack up
against the bone: 'This is too tough for me, I guess I'll go 'roun'.'
An' it did go 'roun'. You can see whar it come out of the flesh on
the other side. Why, by the time Sam was fourteen years old we quit
splittin' old boards with an axe or a hatchet. We jest let Sam set on a
log an' we split 'em over his head. Everybody was suited. Sam could make
himself pow'ful useful without havin' to work."

Nevertheless, the lantern bearer gave his brother th