I met McCarthy in the office of the shop, and when our work was finished we went to Pearl's room. It was 7.30, and I paced up and down, feeling the slowness of the clock-hands, while the gentleman sat by the bedside talking with our friend. Suddenly there came a loud rap at the door. McCarthy opened it, and in stepped the Colonel, erect as a statue, with his goldheaded cane in one hand and his shiny silk hat in the other. He was magnificent in a frock suit and silken waistcoat. He bowed and stepped lightly to the middle of the floor, and stopped as he saw Pearl lying on the bed. He gave me his hat and cane, and put his arms around the shoulders of the sick man. “Old friend, I love you--I love you!” he said. The Colonel turned with streaming eyes, and in a moment said to us: “My God, gentlemen, here is old Pearl Brown, the bravest man since Julius Caesar! There is not one of us that's good enough to black his boots. I saw him lead a charge at Bull Run when the bullets were trimming him and cutting his coat to rags; but he didn't mind. He went right on--the bloodiest thing that ever stood on foot. Went right over the works of the enemy, and hit a gunner on the head with his flag-staff. “When we picked him up his clothes were red, and one arm was dangling. “'Boys,' he whispered, 'they shot my head off back there in the field somewhere. I saw it fall on the ground, an' I picked it up an' ran like the devil with it under my arm until I got here. It's right here beside me, an' I wish you'd bring it along--might need it some day.' “When he lay sick in the hospital, Lincoln went to see him, and pinned a medal on his breast.” The Colonel paused. My dear old friend lay calmly holding the hand of Colonel Busby. “I'm not to blame for it,” he said, presently. “I didn't know what I was doin' after that piece o' shell hit me. I thought I saw my head on the ground, an' that I picked it up and ran as hard as I could, for I heard you fellows comin' an' thought you'd get it away. I forgot the enemy, an' was just runnin' to save my head. I struck that gunner because I thought he would take it away from me. Here is a braver man than I am.” He took my hand and drew me near him, and added: “Look at the scars on his face; they're a better badge than I have. Took that blow to save me. Do you remember him, Colonel? You used to know him as Cricket Heron.” “To be sure,” said the Colonel; “but I would not have known him, he's grown so big and tall. If he is your friend, he is mine. Excuse me, I'm going to get Jo; she's over at the inn. Perhaps you'll have the kindness to go and fetch her,” he added, turning to McCarthy.