There was a halt made soon, and then Noel ran swiftly to the place where he had seen the man, at whom he had fired, fall.
When the young soldier arrived at the crevice, he saw the wounded soldier sitting erect, and somehow a feeling of gratitude swept over Noel's heart that the man was not dead.
"Are you wounded?" he inquired hastily, as he stopped a moment.
Without speaking the man mournfully nodded his head in reply. Noel saw that there was a wound in the neck of the soldier and also one in his arm.
"Same bullet," said the Confederate briefly. "I was just ramming a bullet home and had my arm reaching out this way." As he spoke, he rose to his feet and Noel was delighted to find that he was able to walk.
"You understand," said Noel, "that you are a prisoner?"
"I reckon I do," said the Confederate.
"I'll find some one to take charge of you and take you to the rear, where you will be out of danger and where the surgeon can attend to you."
"That's good of you. I reckon you don't know who I am."
The man's face was discolored by smoke and powder, but as he spoke Noel instantly recognized him as the husband of Sairy Ann's sister.