"How did it happen? Our defeat, I mean," asked Dick. "I thought almost
to the very last moment that we had the victory won."
"Their reserves came an' ours didn't. But the boys did well. Lots
worse than this will happen to us, an' we'll live to overcome it.
I've been through a heap of hardships in my life, Dick, but I always
remember that somebody else has been through worse. Let's go down the
hill. The boys have found a branch an' are washin' up."
By "branch" he meant a brook, and Dick went with him gladly. They
found a fine, clear stream, several feet broad and a foot deep, flowing
swiftly between the slopes, and probably emptying miles further on into
Bull Run. Already it was lined by hundreds of soldiers, mostly boys,
who were bathing freely in its cool waters. Dick and the sergeant
joined them and with the sparkle of the current fresh life and vigor
flowed into their veins.
An officer took command, and when they had bathed their faces, necks,
and arms abundantly they were allowed to take off their shoes and socks
and put their bruised and aching feet in the stream.
"It seems to me, sergeant, that this is pretty near to Heaven," said
Dick as he sat on the bank and let the water swish around his ankles.
"It's mighty good. There's no denyin' it, but we'll move still a step
nearer to Heaven, when we get our share of that beef an' coffee, which I
now smell most appetizin'. Hard work gives a fellow a ragin' appetite,
an' I reckon fightin' is the hardest of all work.
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