Then they rode with a small group, headed by two elderly but very upright men, whom he knew to be Colonel Leonidas Talbot and Lieutenant Colonel Hector St.Hilaire.
He felt genuine gladness, and, shouting at the top of his voice, he waved his hand.

They recognized him, and all waved a welcome in return.
He saw the two colonels studying him through their glasses, but he knew that no attack would be made upon him and the little party with which he rode.

It was one of those increasing intervals of peace and friendship between battles.

The longer the war and the greater the losses the less men troubled themselves to shoot one another save when real battle was joined.
They were about four hundred yards apart and Dick used his glasses also, enabling him to see that the young Southern officers were unwounded-- Langdon's slight hurt had healed long since--and were strong and hearty.
He thought it likely that they, as well as he, had found the brief period of rest and freedom from war a genuine luxury.
He waved his hand once more, and they waved back as before.

Then the course of the two little troops took them away from each other, and the Southerners were hid from his view by a belt of forest.