Their hands rose in a simultaneous salute of respect.
"Sir," said Colonel Winchester, "I'm happy to have met you in this manner." "Sir," said the Southern colonel ornately, "we are happy to have drunk from the same stream with such brave foes, and now, sir, I propose as we retire that neither regiment shall fire a shot within the next five minutes." "Agreed," said Colonel Winchester, and then as the colonels gave the signals the two regiments withdrew beyond their respective thickets.
The truce of the water was over, but these foes did not meet again that night.
The regiment had left a great proportion of its numbers dead upon the field.

Half the others were wounded more or less, but the slightly wounded marched on with the unhurt.

Many of them were now barely conscious.

They were either asleep upon their feet or in a daze.
Nevertheless they soon rejoined the main command.
Dick, having his pride as an officer, sought to keep himself active and alert.

He passed among the lads of his own age, and encouraged them.