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 



