He stood trying to rally his faltering intellect so that he might recollect the moment when he had loaded, but he could not.
A hatless general pulled his dripping horse to a stand near the colonel of the 304th.

He shook his fist in the other's face.

"You've got to hold 'em back!" he shouted, savagely; "you've got to hold 'em back!" In his agitation the colonel began to stammer.

"A-all r-right, General, all right, by Gawd! We-we 'll do our--we-we 'll d-d-do-do our best, General." The general made a passionate gesture and galloped away.

The colonel, perchance to relieve his feelings, began to scold like a wet parrot.