He seemed to think this must certainly end our troubles.
We were now between the Jacksonville Railroad and the St.John's River.
We kept about four miles from the railroad, for fear of running into the Rebel outposts.

We had traveled but a few miles when Hommat said he could go no farther, as his feet and legs were so swelled and numb that he could not tell when he set them upon the ground.

I had some matches that a negro had given me, and gathering together a few pine knots we made a fire--the first that we had lighted on the trip--and laid down with it between us.

We had slept but a few minutes when I awoke and found Hommat's clothes on fire.

Rousing him we put out the flames before he was badly burned, but the thing had excited him so as to give him new life, and be proposed to start on again.
By sunrise we were within eight miles of our lines, and concluding that it would be safe to travel in the daytime, we went ahead, walking along the railroad.