“And who is this here?”
At this, Tom half raised himself, and then fell back again.
“May I tell you?” asked Ned.
“Certainly,” said Jackson; “what is it?”
“He is in a high fever, which has been coming on for some time,” said Ned; “and one of these men struck him with the butt of his rifle.”
“After he had surrendered?” asked Jackson.
“After he was taken prisoner,” said Ned.
“He shall be taken to camp and attended to,” said Stonewall Jackson. But, when they touched Tom, he uttered a sharp cry of pain; and the men drew back.
“We will let him remain here, then,” said Jackson, after a word or two more with his companions. “Lieutenant, you will keep watch here, and down the river’s bank, until daybreak, and then report at head-quarters to me with the prisoners. As for you, sir,” he continued, addressing Ned, “you can remain here through the night with your friend,—under parole, of course, not to break your bonds. Do you accept?”