Petty had
received a reward thrust upon him by Colonel Newcomb, but Dick knew
that the mountaineer's chief recompense was the success achieved in the
perilous task chosen for him.
"Good-bye, Mr. Mason," said Red Blaze, "I'm proud to have knowed you an'
the sergeant, an' to have been your comrade in a work for the Union."
"Without you we should have failed."
"It jest happened that I knowed the way. It seems to me that there's
a heap, a tremenjeous heap, in knowin' the way. It gives you an awful
advantage. Now you an' your regiment are goin' down thar in them
Kentucky mountains. They're mighty wild, winter's here an' the marchin'
will be about as bad as it could be. Them's mostly Pennsylvania men
with you, an' they don't know a thing 'bout that thar region. Like as
not you'll be walkin' right straight into an ambush, an' that'll be the
end of you an' them Pennsylvanians."
"You're a cheerful prophet, Red Blaze."
"I meant if you didn't take care of yourselves an' keep a good lookout,
which I know, of course, that you're goin' to do. I was jest statin'
the other side of the proposition, tellin' what would happen to keerless
people, but Colonel Newcomb an' Major Hertford ain't keerless people.
Good-bye, Mr. Mason. Mebbe I'll see you ag'in before this war is over."
"Good-bye, Red Blaze. I truly hope so."
The train was moving now and with a last powerful grasp of a friendly
hand Dick went into the coach.
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