All of them, as
Tom, were waiting for orders to be given without knowing when the orders
would come, nor what they would be. Tom spent hours, when his cousin's
tentmates were away, studying the map, memorizing minute details of it.
Orders came on his third day at camp. He was clearing away the tin plates
and cups from which they had been eating dinner, when the Captain's orderly
appeared at the door of the tent. "Cap'n wants to see you immediately."
Tom and Bert exchanged a glance; then Tom followed the messenger to the
Captain's tent.
When the messenger had been stationed to keep intruders away, the Captain
said: "You will leave tonight. Take the Wartrace road out of Shelbyville
and walk about a mile and a quarter. When you come to a fork in the road go
into the trees and wait until you're picked up. You should be there at
eight o'clock. You understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"Repeat my instructions."
Tom repeated them without fault.
"Good! Wait here for a moment." The Captain left the tent. He returned
presently with the Major of the battalion and another Captain. From the box
where the documents of Company B were kept, he produced enlistment papers.
For several minutes, while Tom stood tense and erect, the Captain wrote.
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