Harry saw overhead a slice of dusky sky, lit by only a few stars, but it was pitchy black where he sat on his horse, and listened to his contented gurglings as he drank.
He could merely make out the outlines of his comrades, but he knew that Sherburne was on one side of him and Lankford on the other.

He could not hear the slightest sound of pursuit, and he was convinced that the Union cavalry had lost their trail.

So was Sherburne.
"We owe you a big debt, Mr.Lankford," said the captain.
"I've tried to serve my side," said Lankford, "though, as I told you, I'm not goin' on the firin' line.

It's not worth while for all of us to get killed.

Later on this country will need some people who are not dead." "You're right about that, Mr.Lankford," said Sherburne, with a little laugh, "and you, for one, although you haven't gone on the firing lines, have earned the right to live.