Those clover-leaves on your caps. A minute ago they were all blue—back through the woods. Now they are all white.

The boy grinned, a wistful grin in spite of the stony eyes. “Oh, that was the Third Division. Hays’. This is the Second. The first is different too—red. I don’t know what you want here, but have you got any tobacco?”

“Yes,” Dan said, and gave him the Winnebago-beaded pouch which he had brought from the West. Where is Gibbon’s Division? Now the boy knew that he talked like a madman. This is it—Seventy-first Pennsylvania … They lay at ease along the wall, and again they were munching crackers.

I want Webb’s brigade. Yah, this is it. I want the Seventy-second Pennsylvania. And then the soldier had had all he could endure. He went toward a slight man with a dirty white havelock hanging to his shoulders, who stood gazing at the Bliss barn through his glass.

“Captain Ballou, sir—”

The man snapped, “It can wait, Private!” He went on looking through the glass for centuries. At last his hand dropped, and his eyes skewered the youth beside him, and went past him to look at Dan. The officer’s goatee helped a chin which was frail and childish, but there was a kind of poison in his eyes.

“Well, Grimes?”

“He wants the Fire Zouaves, sir.”

Bale said, “I’ve been through a lot to find them. It is most imperative that I communicate with Captain Tyler Fanning. I am a civilian and have come through the lines for that purpose.”

“Who larruped you on the pate?”

“I was caught in a fight, last night.”

Mm, said the officer. “You know Fanning?”

“Yes.”

“How are his children?”

“He has none.”

“And his father’s legal practice. What of it?”

It’s a shoe factory, Dan said. He felt his teeth baring; what was this? .. The captain’s shallow face relaxed. I wondered whether you knew him, that’s all. I am well acquainted with Captain Fanning. But I am sorry to say that the Seventy-second has been detached from this position at the moment. They may be up presently.

I’ll go. Where—

Oh, no. You shan’t stir … Captain Ballou laughed tinnily … I marvel that you got this far. They’d gather you up and hustle you to the rear so fast it would make your head swim. Excuse me, but you are a walking corpse—with that bruise, and all. Lie down here behind the stones out of harm’s way, and wait your chance. I will aid you insofar as possible, but I ought to report you to brigade headquarters. However, you may not have to wait long. Your message would appear to be most urgent. I trust—his family—

They’re well, Dan said. It—it is something.