Bromley took it, while Philip ran eagerly forward and looked tremblingly over his comrade's shoulder.
The seven words of the message read:
"General Sherman was killed yesterday before Atlanta."
CHAPTER VII
IN WHICH THE THREE SOLDIERS MAKE
A REMARKABLE RESOLUTION
Lieutenant Coleman, although stunned by the news conveyed by the seven words of the message, as soon as he could reopen communication with the other mountain, telegraphed back to Lieutenant Swann, in command of the tenth station:
"Is there no mistake in flagging General Sherman's death?"
It was late in the afternoon when the return message came, which read as follows:
"None. I have taken the same precaution to telegraph back to the station at Chattanooga.
"LIEUTENANT JAMES SWANN, U.S.A."