closed, but he reached forth a hand and his fingers clasped Colonel
Anderson's hand.

"Tell the folks at home--" he said feebly, then became still.

Quickly Colonel Anderson placed a hand over the other's heart. Then he
looked at Hal.

"Dead!" he said simply.

For long minutes all stood there silently, their hats off. How long they
would have remained, it is hard to tell, but the sound of a shot close at
hand awakened them to their own danger.

"We can do no good here," said Colonel Anderson quietly. "We may
as well go."

"First," said Hal, "we shall move his body to a little hole in the ground
I saw back here. We'll cover him up and then we'll go."

Under the very revolvers of the enemy this was done; and the four
returned to their horses.

"Mount!" ordered Colonel Anderson.

The order was obeyed. Colonel Anderson gazed lingeringly toward the spot
where lay the body of Colonel Edwards, and there were tears in his eyes
as he did so. He drew a hand sharply across his eyes, shook himself a bit
and commanded: