ory,
after all, though he was not very sanguine on this point.

He was ultimately conducted to the headquarters of the regiment to which
his captors belonged, and then turned into a lot with about twenty others,
who were strongly guarded. Tom joined his companions in misery, most of
whom, worn out by the fatigues of the day, were sleeping soundly upon the
ground. Only two or three of them were awake; but these were strangers to
him, and he was unable to obtain any information from them concerning any
of his friends in the regiment.

It began to rain shortly after Tom joined his fellow-prisoners; but there
was no shelter for them. They had neither blankets nor great coats, yet
this did not seem to disturb them. Our soldier boy threw himself upon the
ground, but the nap he had taken under the side of the log set his eyes
wide open for a time. He could only think of home, his mother and sisters,
and John, by this time snugly coiled away in the bed where he had been
wont to dream of the glories of war. He had cast his fears to the winds
when he found that his captors did not intend to butcher him, and he could
not help thinking that his situation might have been worse.

Those with whom he had spoken told him they had eaten nothing since
morning; and in this respect he was far better off than his companions
were. The only thing that troubled him was the thought of the anguish
which his mother must suffer, when she heard of the battle. When the
regiment should be gathered together again, he would be reported as
"missing," and this would be a terrible word to her, for it meant killed,
wounded, or a prisoner. If he could only assure her that he still lived
and was uninjured, he would have been happy--happy in spite of the
drenching rain--happy in spite of the prospective dungeon, and the
hardships to which he might be subjected. He felt that he had faithfully
performed his duty. When he began to be drowsy, he settled himself in the
most comfortable place he could find on the ground, and thanked God that
he had been spared his life through the perils of that awful day, and more
fervently that he had been enabled to do his duty like a good soldier; and
then, with the Giver of all Good, the Fountain of all Mercy, in his heart,
he fell asleep.

He slept several hours, and waked up to find himself as thoroughly soaked
as though he had just come out of the river. There was no help for it, and
it was no use to grumble. After walkin