—“Ah! a gallant charge, Wing! a glorious charge! It was fine to fall in such a charge as that!”
“Yes, my Colonel. But I have come to help you now. How can I do so? Where are you hurt?” said Wing, groping about, and feeling man and horse under his hands.
“I do not know where I am hurt, Wing. But the horse has fallen on me, partly,” groaned the colonel.
“Stay! if I can find a musket or a carbine—and there must be many scattered over this field—I can use it as a lever and raise the weight from you, my Colonel,” said Wing, moving about in search of the instruments required.
In his motions he touched with his feet what he supposed to be the dead body of a soldier. And he elicited a deep prolonged groan.
“Ah! I am so sorry! did I hurt you?” tenderly inquired Wing, stooping to address this new claimant of his sympathy.
“Oh, no—only roused me,” moaned the wounded boy.
“Can I do anything for you?” asked Wing.
“Water! water!”
Wing had a canteen filled with water, and he took the stopper off and put it to the mouth of the boy, who drank greedily.