“I missed him only a little while ago,” said Colonel Winchester, “and I've been looking for him. But I'm sure he is not dead. He can't be!”
“No, he can't be! I can't think it!” she said, and she looked at the colonel appealingly.
“If you please, sir,” said Pennington, “Lieutenant Warner is missing also. I think we'll find them together. You remember what happened at the Second Manassas.”
“Yes, Frank, I do remember it, and your supposition may be right.”
He asked a lantern from one of the men, and whispered to Pennington to come. But Mrs. Mason and Juliana had been standing at strained attention, and Mrs. Mason inferred at once what was about to be done.
“You mean to look for him on the field,” she said. “We will go with you.”
Colonel Winchester opened his lips to protest, but shut them again in silence.
“It is right that you should come,” he said a moment later, “but you will see terrible things.”
“I am ready.”
She seemed all the more admirable and wonderful to Colonel Winchester, because she did not weep or faint. The deathly pallor on her face remained, but she held herself firmly erect beside the gigantic colored woman.