.

THE MOURNFUL FOREST.
As the night settled down, heavy and dark, and the sounds of firing died away along the great line, Dick again sank to the ground exhausted.
Although the battle itself had ceased, it seemed to him that the drums of his ears still reproduced its thunder and roar, or at least the echo of it was left upon the brain.
He lay upon the dry grass, and although the night was again hot and breathless, surcharged with smoke and dust and fire, he felt a chill that went to the bone, and he trembled all over.

Then a cold perspiration broke out upon him.

It was the collapse after two days of tremendous exertion, excitement and anxiety.

He did not move for eight or ten minutes, blind to everything that was going on about him, and then through the darkness he saw Colonel Winchester standing by and looking down at him.
"Are you all right, Dick, my boy ?" the colonel asked.
"Yes, sir," replied Dick, as his pride made him drag himself to his feet.