An' you feel them things more in war
than you do at any other time."
"I suppose you do," said Dick. "The spring is coming out now in
Kentucky where I live, and I'd like to see the new grass rippling before
the wind, and the young leaves on the trees rustling softly together."
"Stop sentimentalizing," said Warner. "If you don't it won't be a
minute before Pennington will begin to talk about his Nebraska plains,
and how he'd like to see the buffalo herds ten million strong, rocking
the earth as they go galloping by."
Pennington smiled.
"I won't see the buffalo herds," he said, "but look at the wild fowl
going north."
They left the window as the rain had ceased, and went outside. All this
region was still primitive and thinly settled, and now they saw flocks
of wild ducks and wild geese winging northward. The next day the
heavens themselves were darkened by an immense flight of wild pigeons.
The country cut up by so many rivers, creeks and brooks swarmed with
wild fowl, and more than once the soldiers roused up deer from the
thickets.
The second day after the talk of the four in the little church Dick,
who was now regarded as a most efficient and trusty young staff officer,
was sent with a dispatch to General Buell requesting him to press
forward with as much speed as he could to the junction with General
Grant. Several other aides were sent by different routes, in order to
make sure that at least one would arrive, but Dick, through his former
ride with Colonel Winchester to Nashville, had the most knowledge of the
country, and hence was likely to reach Buell first.
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