The line had for some minutes, but during its pause the struggle in the forest became magnified until the trees seemed to quiver from the firing and the ground to shake from the rushing of men. The voices of the were in a long and interminable row. It seemed difficult to live in such an atmosphere. The chests of the men strained for a bit of freshness, and their throats water.  
There was one shot through the body, who raised a cry of bitter when came this . Perhaps he had been calling out during the fighting also, but at that time no one had heard him. But now the men turned at the woeful complaints of him upon the ground.
 
"Who is it? Who is it?"
 
"Its Jimmie Rogers. Jimmie Rogers."
 
When their eyes first encountered him there was a sudden halt, as if they feared to go near. He was thrashing about in the grass, twisting his body into many strange . He was screaming loudly. This instant's seemed to fill him with a tremendous, fantastic contempt, and he damned them in sentences.
 
The youth's friend had a illusion concerning a stream, and he obtained permission to go for some water. Immediately canteens were showered upon him. "Fill mine, will yeh?" "Bring me some, too." "And me, too." He departed, ladened. The youth went with his friend, feeling a desire to throw his heated body into the stream and, soaking there, drink quarts.
 
They made a hurried search for the supposed stream, but did not find it. "No water here," said the youth. They turned without delay and began to their steps.
 
From their position as they again faced toward the place of the fighting, they could comprehend a greater amount of the battle than when their visions had been by the smoke of the line. They could see dark stretches along the land, and on one cleared space there was a row of guns making gray clouds, which were filled with large flashes of orange-colored flame. Over some they could see the roof of a house. One window, glowing a deep murder red, shone squarely through the leaves. From the a tall leaning tower of smoke went far into the sky.
 
Looking over their own troops, they saw mixed masses slowly getting into regular form. The sunlight made twinkling points of the bright steel. To the rear there was a glimpse of a distant roadway as it curved over a slope. It was crowded with retreating . From all the interwoven forest arose the smoke and of the battle. The air was always occupied by a blaring.
 
Near where they stood shells were flip-flapping and . Occasional bullets buzzed in the air and spanged into tree trunks. Wounded men and other stragglers were slinking through the woods.
 
Looking down an of the , the youth and his companion saw a jangling general and his staff almost ride upon a wounded man, who was crawling on his hands and knees. The general strongly at his charger's opened and mouth and guided it with horsemanship past the man. The latter in wild and torturing haste. His strength evidently failed him as he reached a place of safety. One of his arms suddenly weakened, and he fell, sliding over upon his back. He lay stretched out, breathing gently.
 
A moment later the small, creaking was directly in front of the two soldiers. Another officer, riding with the skillful abandon of a cowboy, his horse to a position directly before the general. The two unnoticed foot soldiers made a little show of going on, but they lingered near in the desire to overhear the conversation. Perhaps, they thought, some great inner historical things would be said.
 
The general, whom the boys knew as the commander of their division, looked at the other officer and coolly, as if he were criticising his clothes. "Th' enemy's formin' over there for another charge," he said. "It'll be directed against Whiterside, an' I fear they'll break through unless we work like thunder t' stop them."
 
The other swore at his horse, and then cleared his throat. He made a gesture toward his cap. "It'll be hell t' pay stoppin' them," he said shortly.
 
"I presume so," remarked the general. Then he began to talk rapidly and in a lower tone. He frequently his words with a pointing finger. The two infantrymen could h............