"That's all. They were all stripped—no means of identifying them. The sun was very hot; the rain next day made the bodies rot, and the men had to just shovel them in—" "Oh, oh! don't, pray don't!" Olympia cried, as her mother tottered against the ambulance.
"I ask your pardon, ladies; I forgot that these are not things for ladies to hear." He spoke in sincere contrition.
To relieve him Olympia smiled sadly, saying, "Won't you take us back, please?"
The ambulance drove on into the Warrenton pike, and, if Olympia had known it, within a stone's-throw of Jack's last effort, where the cavalry picket came upon him. It was noon when they reached the station. The orderly returned the ambulance to the hospital, brought down the luggage, and the three women made a luncheon of fruit and dry bread, declining the orderly's invitation to eat at the hospital. The train came on three hours late. It was filled with military men, most of them officers; but so soon as the orderly entered the rear coach, ushering in his charges, two or three young men with official insignia on their collars arose with alacrity and begged the ladies to take the vacant places. At Bristow Station many of the officers got out and a number of civilians entered from the coach ahead and took their places. Mrs. Sprague, worn out by the fatigue of the journey and the strain upon her mind, quite broke down in the hot, ill-ventilated car. There was no water to be had, and Olympia turned inquiringly to the person opposite her, asking:
"Could we possibly get any water—my mother is very much overcome?"
"Certainly, madam. There must be plenty of canteens on the train. I will bring you some in a moment."
An officer who had been sharing the seat with Merry arose on hearing this and said, kindly:
"Madam, if you will make use of your seat as a couch, perhaps your mother will feel more comfortable reclining. I will get a seat elsewhere."
Olympia was too much distressed to think of acknowledging this courteous action, but Merry spoke up timidly:
"We are most grateful to you, sir."