“How so?”
“Why, don't you see, Captain? Let me drive the ambulance. I can do it just as well as anybody else.”
The officer shook his head with an emphasis that indicated the proposal to be something quite out of the ordinary run of things, and not to be entertained. But Jack was not to be put off thus.
“I ask it as a great favor, Captain,” said he, “and I 'll be sure to return it with interest one of these days. Let me drive the ambulance, and when it gets to our lines we 'll have one of your men drive it back, and it will bring some wounded officer along, if there's one to bring. It will be in your charge and protected by the flag of truce, and you 'll save having one of your drivers go up to our camp and back again.”
Viewed in this light, the proposal did not seem so very far out of the way, and as it met the wishes of Colonel Herron, who was highly popular among the rebel officers with whom he had been brought in contact by reason of his amiability and courtesy of manner, the matter was speedily arranged. The ambulance started at the time appointed, and Jack handled the reins as though he had been bred to the business and intended to be at the head of it before very long. The fact is, no great handling was necessary, as the horses were not at all fiery in their natures, and had been very much reduced in flesh by the experiences of the campaign.
There were no adventures of consequence on the journey, the presence of the captain and the white flag that fluttered in front of the vehicle being sufficient to protect it from any kind of molestation. The colonel suffered considerably with the jolting of the ambulance, and more than once he half wished he had remained in captivity long enough to allow the wound to heal. But, on the other hand, he was elated at the prospect of soon being among his own friends, and you can be sure he was received with open arms by his fellow-officers.
As for Jack, he was a person of great consequence when he returned to camp and told the story of his adventures among the rebels. His first thought was for Harry, whom he hunted up with the least possible delay. In fact, the two youths were hunting for each other, as Harry had heard of Jack's return with Colonel Herron from a soldier who had seen the flag of truce on its way to the headquarters of General Curtis and recognized Jack as the driver of the vehicle.
Leave of absence was granted to Colonel Herron, and he returned to St. Louis and thence to his home in Iowa, where he remained until he was restored to health. As soon as he could do so he went into active service again, and long before the end of the war his uniform was adorned with the double stars of a major-general. But he never forgot his experiences in captivity after Pea Ridge, nor the devotion of Jack through all those days of suffering.
Jack offered to go with him as far as Rolla, or even to Iowa, if he desired; but as the colonel had his own servant with him, and was to be accompanied by one of the newspaper correspondents, who was returning to St. Louis, he declined the offer, as he readily divined that the youth had no desire to go home just then. In spite of their numerous experiences, both Harry and Jack thirsted for more, their appetites having been sharpened rather than dulled by what they had gone through.
“Wonder what we 'll do now?” said Harry one morning as they were strolling about the camp.