Cadnan stared. "I do not understand," he said slowly.
ONE:Dawn was beginning to color the sky, very slightly. That was good: in daylight he might be able to see the ships. He would fire the beam and see the ships die. That was good, though he hardly knew why: he knew only that it pleased him. He watched the dawn out of a corner of one eye.LIEUT. Bowersox, Si, Shorty and the recruits left the woods and entered a large clearing, in the midst of which was a log cabin, with a few rude outbuildings. Over it flew the yellow flag of the hospital service, and beyond could be seen the parked trains and other evidences of the line-of-battle.
"Don't be worried about them boys," Si reassured him. "Every one of 'em is used to handlin' guns. Then, we kin keep the catridges ourselves and not issue any till they're needed, which they mayn't be.""Shorty, I know where your boys are. What'll you give me to tell you?""drop that. You can't leave this car till I give the word," said Shorty, rising as the train stopped, and putting himself in the door."Come up here," he called. "There ain't no rebels up here. They've all gone off down into the valley."