Somehow everybody instinctively stopped cheering, and an awed hush followed.
"All of Co. Q step this way," called out the Orderly-Sergeant. All of the usual "rasp" had left the strong, rough voice. There was a mournful tremor in it. "Fall in, Co. Q, over there by this pile of picks and shovels."
Scarcely 20 of the 80 stalwart youths who had lined up at the foot of the rugged palisades of Rocky Face two evenings before grouped themselves together in response to the Orderly's call.
Capt. McGillicuddy, the Orderly, Si, and Shorty strained their eyes to see more of the company disengaging themselves from the throng around the Colonel.
The Orderlies of the other companies called to their men to fall in at different places.
The Colonel looked at the muster with sad eyes.
"Didn't nobody see nothin' o' little Skidmore?" savagely repeated Shorty, walking back to the works and scanning the country round. "Was you all so blamed anxious lookin' out for yourselves that you didn't pay no attention to that little boy? Nice gang, you are."
"Orderly, take the company back into the abatis, and look for the boys," ordered Capt. McGillicuddy.
"'Tention, company!" commanded the Orderly. "Stack arms! Right face—Break ranks—March!"
"Hello, boys," said Monty Scruggs's voice, weak but unmistakably his, as the company recrossed the works.