A young boy had caught a glimpse of silver through some bushes, and he knew that it was made by the swift current of a brook.

In an instant the regiment broke into a run for the water.
Colonel Winchester could not have stopped them if he had tried, and he did not try.

He knew how great was their need.
"We're off!" cried Pennington.
"I see it! The water!" shouted Dick.
"I do, too!" exclaimed Warner, "and it's the most beautiful water that ever flowed!" But they stopped in their rush and dropped down in the thickets.
Sergeant Whitley had given the warning shout, and fortunately most of a volley from a point about a hundred yards beyond the stream swept over their heads.

A few men were wounded, and they not badly.
Dick crawled to the head of the column.

The sergeant was already there, whispering to Colonel Winchester.
"They've taken to cover, too, sir," said the sergeant.
"How many do you suppose they are ?" asked the colonel.
"Not more than we are, sir." "They run a great risk when they attack us in this manner." "Maybe, sir," said Dick, "they, too, were coming for the water." Colonel Winchester looked at Sergeant Whitley.
"I'm of the opinion, sir," said the sergeant, "that Mr.Mason is right." "I think so, too," said Colonel Winchester.