To say that for the moment those two soldiers were demoralized would be drawing it very mildly. They showed symptoms of a panic. It seemed as though they would be hopelessly stampeded. Their tongues were paralyzed, and they could only look silently into each other's white faces.
Si was the first to recover himself, although it could hardly be expected that he could get over his scare all at once.
"D-d-did it hit ye, Sh-Shorty?" he said.
"N-no, I guess not; b-b-but ain't it aw-awful. Si? You look so bad I th-thought you was k-k-killed!"
"Who's afeard?" said Si. "I was only skeered of you. Shorty. Brace up, now same's I do!"
"Skirmishers—Forward!" was heard along the line. "Come on, Shorty!" said Si, and they plunged bravely ahead.
Emerging suddenly from a thick wood, they came upon the rebel skirmishers in full view, posted on the opposite side of the field.
Crack! Crack!—Zip! Zip!
"Guess there's a bee-tree somewhere around here, from the way the bees are buzzin'," said Si.