ADDRESSES 167 



seen, however distant, we dropped to cover and watched 

 him out of sight before we dared move. For the first mile 

 our progress was very slow — now wading through water, 

 now sinking in the mud, floundering about as best we could, 

 while the mosquitoes and gnats settled down on us in 

 swarms, uttering a triumphant buzzing as though they 

 recognized the fact that they had fresher blood to feed on 

 than that offered by the fever-stricken victims of the 

 South, and were determined to make the most of their oppor- 

 tunity. But the open country once reached, we lengthened 

 out our steps and struck into a six-mile gait. Soon my com- 

 panion began to falter and fall behind. But I could not af- 

 ford to wait. Telling him that I presumed he was all right, 

 but I could not run any risks, I stood him up by a tree, and 

 taking his gun, marched off a couple of hundred yards, then 

 laying it down, I shouted to him to come on, and, setting 

 off at the top of my speed, saw him no more. Whether he 

 ever reached his destination, or whether — wandering 

 helplessly along — he was swooped down upon by some 

 guerilla and led away to starve and die in a Southern 

 prison, I did not learn for many years. But at the last re- 

 union I attended, having been called on to respond to the 

 toast, "The postal service of the regiment and what you 

 know about it," at the conclusion of my remarks, a stout, 

 grizzled veteran grasped my hand and said: "Loot, I'm 

 glad to see you. I thought it pretty cruel of you to leave 

 me alone in Dixie, but you had warned me beforehand, 

 and I guess you were right." 



Avoiding the houses and striking across the fields, I made 

 the last part of the way at full run, and drew up panting and 

 exhausted at Berwick Bay shortly after six. Not a moment 



