They had spoken freely, for they regarded him as good as
dead, and some of the information he had gained from the talk of
these miscreants was regarded as of great value by the lieutenant,
whose pen fairly flew over the paper at some points in Tom's
narrative.
At last Tom had told the lieutenant all he knew, and after
thanking him the officer dismissed him.
He was witness to some touching sights as he made his way back to
his companions. There were mothers embracing their sons, wives
weeping with joy in the arms of their husbands who had been Tom's
companions in the grim march that morning to the rear wall where
they were to face death. But there were no fresh stains on that
wall this morning, and the graves remained undug, though here and
there were seen the first marks of spades where the wretched
victims had begun to dig. It had been a close call, and Tom
involuntarily shuddered. The cool air that he drew into his lungs
had never seemed so sweet to him as now.
He found the Army Boys looking with great interest at a spade
which they held out to him as they approached.
"Here's a souvenir, old boy," grinned Billy.
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