Slade's bullet had merely cut under the hair a little, and the bandage stopped the flow of blood.

The sting, too, left, or in his triumph he did not notice it.

His elation, in truth, was great, as he had succeeded in carrying out the hardest part of a difficult and delicate operation.
As he led his men back toward the valley, their prisoners driven before them, he felt no weariness from his great exertions, and both his head and his feet were light.

At the rim of the valley Colonel Winchester met him, shook his hand with great heartiness, and congratulated him on his success, and Warner and Pennington, who were wholly without envy, added their own praise.
"I think it will be Captain Mason before long," said Warner.

"Lots of boys under twenty are captains and some are colonels.