kneel and open fire, being held hitherto in reserve. Dick snatched up a
rifle from a soldier who had fallen almost beside him, and he saw that
Warner and Pennington had equipped themselves in like fashion.

A strong gust of wind lifted the smoke before them a little. Dick saw
many splashes of water on the surface of the creek where bullets struck,
and there were many tiny spurts of dust in the road, where other bullets
fell. Then he saw beyond the dark masses of the Southern infantry.
It seemed to him that they were strangely close. He believed that he
could see their tanned faces, one by one, and their vengeful eyes,
but it was only fancy.

The next instant the signal was given, and the regiment fired as one.
There was a long flash of fire, a tremendous roaring in Dick's ears,
then for an instant or two a vast cloud of smoke hid the advancing gray
mass. When it was lifted a moment later the men in gray were advancing
no longer. Their ranks were shattered and broken, the ground was covered
with the fallen and the others were reeling back.

"We win! We win!" shouted Pennington, wild with enthusiasm.

"For the present, at least," said Warner, a deep flush blazing in either
cheek.

There was no return fire just then from that point, and the smoke lifted
a little more. Above the crash of the battle which raged fiercely on
either flank, they heard the notes of a trumpet rising, loud, clear,
and distinct from all other sounds. Dick knew that it was a rallying
call, and then he heard Pennington utter a wild shout.