“Oh, captain, I'm sure I'll die, I'm in such misery. I'm all doubled {129}up, and can't sleep. I'm in perfect agony. There--there goes that twinge again. I must try and find my regiment, and hunt up the doctor right away.” Ralph looked incredulous at the man's apparent suffering. He felt sure it was a pretense. “It's strange that he's so far away from his command, and going in an exactly opposite direction. Can it be that he's going to skip?” This was a painful thought, and brought an angry flush to his brow, for he held nothing in such scorn, amounting to abhorrence, as he did cowardice or dishonesty. “Are you going in the right direction to join your company? If you keep on the way you are faced, you'll be more than likely to find some friendly boy in gray to snap you up.” The officer looked steadily at him a moment, while his face turned scarlet. “Your advice is not required, sir. I shall remember your incivility at a more fitting time.” And he stalked away, quite oblivious of the anguish that had racked him so short a time before. “That fellow must be a mind-reader,” laughed the captain. “He plainly knew what you thought about him. But seriously, your opinion was rather harsh; he's probably shamming to get excused from duty. For the honor of our cause I should hope no officer would be guilty of such dastardly conduct. Nor a private, either,” he added, a moment after, “for the boys who carry the muskets have true grit, and don't run, only after the enemy.” “I know that's so, but when I saw him making such haste to get away, the suspicion would come into my mind. To me it seems a shame for a man with a spark of cowardice to wear a uniform.” CHAPTER XII. MORE FIGHTING. [Illustration: 9138] ALPH arose {130}from the heap of leaves and brush which had served him for a bed the night through, with his bones aching and sore. The army was already stirring, for although the Passes were won, there was promise of another engagement at once. Word was passed along the line that General Lee had withdrawn his forces and crossed the Antietam, where he took up his position on a high bluff near Sharpsburg, and was thus able to command a view of the whole country. But he had met with great losses, from the dead in battle, and from stragglers. He realized the injury the latter had done him; indeed, he complained openly and bitterly, saying that his army was “ruined by straggling.” But the best men of his army were still left with him--picked men, of splendid courage and vast endurance. He was determined that the coming battle should decide the campaign, and he waited calmly its issue.