MISS BILLIE REAPPEARS I was leaning against the side wall, aware I had been wounded yet scarcely feeling the pain of it, an empty revolver in each hand, blue smoke curling from the muzzles.

For the moment I could not comprehend what had actually occurred--that, for the second time, we had driven them; that we still held the house, now fairly encircled by dead bodies.
Then the truth dawned, and I gazed almost blindly about on the ruck, and into the faces of the men nearest me.

I hardly recognized them, blackened by powder, with here and there a blood stain showing ghastly.
The door was crushed in, splintered by the heavy log, the end of which still projected through, and beneath it three men lay motionless.

I saw others between where I stood and the stairs, one leaning against the wall, his blood dyeing the carpet, another outstretched upon the steps.
All this came to me in a glance, my head reeling; I felt no power to move, no ability to think.

Then Miles' voice at my very ear aroused me.
"Are you hurt, Lieutenant?
Here, let me see." I stared at him, and seemed to come back to life again with a start.
"No, nothing serious, Sergeant.