The National tribune., 1901-11-28

duty gone, / also sonk back aad SUM
bered through troubled night, and when
[ fully awoke it was in the morning
and we were crossing Long Bridge in the
midst OF a driving rain. There were two
seats in the ambulance. besides q double
deck, that is 10 say, two floors for wound
ed to lie upon. / scrambled to The rear
seat.
We were making but slow progress.
The briege ahead Of US was crowded.
Thpre were frequent stoppages. Many
civilians, on horseback or in carriages,
wete before and behind Us. Soldiers sin
gle and in groups swelled the procession.
some of them with their arms in sings;
how they had achieved the long night
march | cannot yet comprehend.
Willis wes yet lying on the mattress;
his eyes were not open, but he was
awake, l thought, for his motions were
restless.
Reed appeared to be exhausted: he said
nothing and nodded sieepiiy, although
holding the lines. The Doctor, on
the contrary, looked fresh ana vigorous;
indeed, as l closely studied his face, [
could almost have believed that he had
become younger than he had been when 1
parted with him in Charleston, more than
three years before. He knew that was
observing him, for he said. without turn
ing his face toward me, "You have not
slept well, Jones; but you did not know
when we stopped at Fairfax we rested
the horses there for an hour"
yes" I said, 81 feel stupid, and my
spirits are wofullY down."
why so?" he asked, with a smile.
"Oh, the bitter disappointment l
cried; what will become OF the conn
try 2"
"What do you mean by the country?"
asked the Doctor.
] did not reply at once
'.Do you mean" he repeated, sthe ma
terial soil? Do you mean the people of
the United States. including those Of the
seeded Statesi Do you mean the idea
symbolized by everything that constitutes
American civilization? However, let rs
not speak OF these difficult matters now.
We must get your friend Willis to the
hospital and then arrange for your COM
FORT
81 thank you, Doctor; hut first be so
good as to relieve my devoU.i1g curiosity;
tell me by what marvellous chance you
were on the battlefield"
mo chance at all, Jones; you know that
| have always told you there is no such
thing as chance. went to the field de
liberately, as an agent of the United
States Sanitary Commission"
81 thought that you were far from this
country, and that you felt no interest in
us" said /. MY father and | were in
Charleston in '5S, and were told that you
were in Europe. And then, too, how
could you know that | was on such
part of the battlefield, and that Willis was
hurt and that ! was with himf
''All that is very simple" said he; "as
to being in Europe and afterward getting
to America, that is not more strange
than being in America and afterward get
ting to Europe; however, let us defer all
talk of Europe and America. AS to know
ing that you were with Serg't Willis, and
that he was wounded, that is simple;
some men of your regiment gave me that
information"
l did not reply to the Doctor, but sat
looking at the miscellaneous file of per-
sons, carriages. ambulances, and all else
At length 1 said: Il cannot under
stand how you could so easily find the
place where / left Serg't Willis. 1t was
more than a mile from the spot where |
met you the night was dark, and | am
certain that l could not have found the
place"
"Qf course you could not" he replied;
but it was comparatively easy for me;
| had passed and repassed the place, for
l worked all day to help the disabled
and Reed was employed for the reason
that he knows every nook and corner of
that part of the country"
After crossing the bridge. Reed drove
quickly to the Columbian College Hos
Fital, where we left Serg't Willis, but not
before learning that his wound was not
difficult.
Now" said the Doctor, "you are my
guest for few days. l will see to it
that you are excused from duty for
week. 1t may take that time to set you
right, especially as l can see that you
have some traces of nervous fever. I am
going to take steps to prevent your becom-
ing ill.''
How can you explain my absence.
Doctor?'
WELL said he. 'in the first place there
is as yet nobody authorized to receive an
explanation. Today our time IS our own;
by tomorrow all the routed troops will be |
in or near Washington; then shall sim |
ply write note, il you insist upon it, to
the commanding officer of your company,