And no braver deed ever was done.
Poor Captain Dawson! For a time he believed he was dreaming. Then, when he grasped the meaning 318 of it all, his Winchester dropped from his nerveless grasp and he staggered and would have fallen, had not Lieutenant Russell leaped forward and caught him in his arms. He helped him to the boulder from which Nellie had risen and then he collapsed utterly. The soldier who had faced unmoved the hell blast of battle had fainted for the first time in his life.
Nellie ran to the brook a few paces away, and catching some of the water in the hollow of her hand darted back and flung it into his face.
“There, dear father; it is all right; rouse yourself; O, Mr. Brush, suppose he is dead!” she exclaimed, turning terrifiedly toward him.
“He is as likely to die as you are, and you don’t look just now as if you mean to put on wings and fly away.”
In a few minutes the veteran revived and looked confusedly around him. He seemed unable to comprehend what it all meant and his gaze wandered in a dazed way from one countenance to another without speaking. Nellie was still caressing him, while Lieutenant Russell stood back a couple of steps, looking pityingly into the face of the man who had suffered so much.
Felix Brush was the hero of the occasion. Turning to the group, he said:
“Leftenant, you and Nellie and Ruggles and Vose move off for a short distance and leave him with me for a little while.”
Understanding his purpose the three withdrew, and the two men were left alone. The captain instantly roused himself.