He knew that it was his duty to awake them at once and send them upon a perilous errand, but they were so young, and they had already been through so much that he hesitated.
He put his hand upon Dick's shoulder and shook him.

But it took more than one shake to awaken the lad, and it was fully a minute before he opened his eyes and sat up.

Dick conscious but partly and rubbing his sleepy eyes, asked: "What is it?
Are we to go into battle again?
Yes, sir! Yes, sir! I'm ready!" "Not that, Dick, but I've orders for you." Dick now awoke completely and saw that it was Colonel Winchester.

He sprang to his feet and saluted.
"We'll wake up Warner and Pennington next," said the colonel, "because they go also on the kind of duty to which you're assigned." "I'm glad of that," said Dick warmly.
Warner and Pennington were aroused with difficulty, but, as soon as they realized that Colonel Winchester was before them and that they were selected for a grave duty, they became at once keen and alert.
"Lads," said the colonel briefly, "you've all felt that we're now led by a great commander.

But energy and daring on the part of a leader demand energy and daring on the part of his men.