Theeyesdidnotunclose,butthelipsopenedslowly,andsaidwithapainfuleffort:
\"F—i—r—s—tR—a—t—e！\"
Thisscenewasrepeatedeverymorningforoveraweek。EverydaytheRebelSurgeonwouldinsistthatthemanshouldbetakenout,andeverymorningBickfordwouldgaspoutwithtroublesomeexertionthathefelt:
\"F—i—r—s—tR—a—t—e！\"
Itendedonemorningbyhisinability,tomakehisusualanswer,andthenhewascarriedouttojointhetwoscoreothersbeingloadedintothewagon。