Read The Little Regiment, and Other Episodes of the American Civil War Page 8
VIII.
The immovable Dan again sat unaddressed in the midst of comrades, whodid not joke aloud. The dampness of the usual morning fog seemed to makethe little camp-fires furious.
Suddenly a cry arose in the streets, a shout of amazement and delight.The men making breakfast at the fire looked up quickly. They broke forthin clamorous exclamation: "Well! Of all things! Dan! Dan! Look who'scoming! Oh, Dan!"
Dan the silent raised his eyes and saw a man, with a bandage of the sizeof a helmet about his head, receiving a furious demonstration from thecompany. He was shaking hands, and explaining, and haranguing to a highdegree.
Dan started. His face of bronze flushed to his temples. He seemed aboutto leap from the ground, but then suddenly he sank back, and resumed hisimpassive gazing.
The men were in a flurry. They looked from one to the other. "Dan! Look!See who's coming!" some cried again. "Dan! Look!"
He scowled at last, and moved his shoulders sullenly. "Well, don't Iknow it?"
But they could not be convinced that his eyes were in service. "Dan! Whycan't you look? See who's coming!"
He made a gesture then of irritation and rage. "Curse it! Don't I knowit?"
The man with a bandage of the size of a helmet moved forward, alwaysshaking hands and explaining. At times his glance wandered to Dan, whosaw with his eyes riveted.
After a series of shiftings, it occurred naturally that the man with thebandage was very near to the man who saw the flames. He paused, andthere was a little silence. Finally he said: "Hello, Dan."