‘I know,’ said Shields discontentedly. ‘Oh, hang him! I wish I were well rid of him. He is reported missing since last night, and it may be that some obliging rebel has done what I have not the power to do—relieved him of his command by a timely and well-aimed bullet.’ ‘Not while there was a tree between him and Johnny Reb,’ chuckled the brigadier. ‘I am afraid you must not look forward to any such easy solution of your difficulties with him.’ ‘Pah!’ ejaculated General Shields in deep disgust. ‘I’—— The sentence was never finished, for at that moment the door was flung open, and Orderly-sergeant Cox, advancing into the hut and saluting, announced: ‘Colonel Spriggs!’ Closely following on the orderly’s heels came the subject of the above instructive conversation, and it was with something like a thrill of dismay that the watchers in the loft recognised in him the red-faced tyrant from whose clutches they had so recently escaped. Ephraim gave Luce’s arm a warning squeeze, and if they had been quiet before, they lay doubly still now. General Shields returned the colonel’s salute with exceeding stiffness and the scantiest courtesy. ‘You were reported missing, sir,’ he observed drily. ‘I congratulate you on your reappearance after the fight.’ At which the brigadier put up his hand to his mouth to conceal a smile. Colonel Spriggs, however, did not appear to perceive the sarcasm. ‘Yes, general,’ he replied, ‘it was pretty warm work while it lasted. The Rebs got us in a tight place, and I fear that a considerable number of my poor lads have stayed behind on the field. But no matter, sir. The “Trailing Terrors,” with Josiah B. Spriggs ahead, will go on till the last man is annihilated.’ ‘I wish you might be annihilated to start with,’ thought General Shields within himself. Aloud he said: ‘Your reconnaissance was a complete failure, colonel.’ ‘It was, sir,’ acknowledged the colonel. ‘I admit it. But it was not my fault. I made the most superhuman efforts to induce the men to advance in the face of the most withering musketry fire it has ever been my lot to stand up to. But they refused.’ ‘I thought you said they would follow you anywhere,’ remarked General Shields caustically. ‘Oh! Ah! yes, certainly; so I did,’ answered Spriggs, a little flustered. ‘But the circumstances were exceptional. All that men could do they did. I myself’—— ‘I see,’ interrupted the general. ‘How many men do you suppose you lost?’ ‘Company D was pretty well cut to pieces, and of the rest—but really at present I cannot give you accurate information. In leading a charge through the woods I was struck by a spent ball, which yet had sufficient force to stun me. My men passed over me as I lay, and when I came to myself I was alone. What came of that charge I cannot tell you; but, doubtless, the men, deprived of their leader, and convinced already of the desperate nature of the enterprise, would naturally fall back.’