"Leave these carrion where they are," said Calhoun in response to a question from Fred as to what disposition they should make of the dead. "That live companion of theirs will be back when we are gone."
They rode along in silence for a while, and then Calhoun suddenly said: "Fred, how I wish I could always fight by your side. It's a pity we have to fight on different sides."
"Just what I was thinking of, Cal," answered Fred; "but we have the satisfaction of knowing we have fought one battle together."
"And won it, too," shouted Calhoun.
They reached Danville in due time and without further adventure. To say that Judge Pennington was surprised to see them riding up together would be to express it mildly; he was astounded. Then he had his arms around his boy, and was sobbing, "My son! my son!"
"And Fred, too," said the judge, at last turning from welcoming his son. "I am truly glad to see you, my boy. But how in the world did you two happen to come together?"
And so the whole story had to be told, and the judge listened and wondered and mourned over the defeat of the Confederates at Mill Springs.
"My boy," said the judge, with tears glistening in his eyes, "at least I am glad to know that you did your duty."
"Aye! he did that, uncle," exclaimed Fred. "If all the Confederates had been like Calhoun, we might not have won the victory."