“Why, Grinnell,” said Shellman, “didn’t you see that officer fall when I fired?”
“I saw an officer fall,” replied Grinnell, “but I tell you your gun didn’t go off. And I will tell you what’s more, you didn’t fire a shot during the fight, but you did a devil of a sight of loading.”
“An’ be me soul, Liftinent Shellman, an’ I belave Grinnell is right,” put in Atkins, “for divil the wonst did I see the thing go off, an’ I’ll prove it by the crather itself, I will.”
The Enfield was produced, and to the “Liftinent’s” chagrin the barrel was found to contain at least half a dozen cartridges.
“An’ it’s a pretty command I have, to be sure. What would Gineral Lee think if I told him one of my ‘brigade’ put his cartridges in his gun upside down? An’ thin the sarious consequinces that might ensue. Faith, an’ it might cost the Confideracy its independence.”
“I don’t think you have much the advantage of me, Mr. Atkins, for you did nothing but run after loose horses,” retorted Shellman.
“Did you ever hear the like o’ that? To spake in that way to his commander. An’ thin he called me Misther Atkins, too; bad luck to yez.”
I put an end to the controversy by announcing the contents of the dead soldier’s haversack.
“Fourteen crackers, a pound of salt horse, a well-filled bag of coffee, and several little articles that I will examine to-morrow.”
A fire was soon kindled, and we proceeded to boil the coffee. As I untied the string around the little bag, I could not but think of the hand, now cold and stiff in death, that had so carefully tied it that morning; and during the repast, at every mouthful, “My wife, my child,” was ringing in my ears.