On Robert's face was a look of intense anguish, as he bent pityingly over his friend.
"O, this is dreadful! How did it happen ?" cried Robert.
Captain Sybil, pressing anxiously forward, repeated Robert's question.
"Captain," said one of the young soldiers, advancing and saluting his superior officer, "we were all in the boat when it struck against a mud bank, and there was not strength enough among us to shove her back into the water.

Just then the Rebels opened fire upon us.

For awhile we lay down in the boat, but still they kept firing.

Tom took in the whole situation, and said: 'Someone must die to get us out of this.

I mought's well be him as any.