`` Yes , I shot him , and put him out of his misery . I patted him fust , and said , ` Good-by ; ' then I laid his head easy on the grass , give a last look into his lovin ' eyes , and sent a bullet through his head . He hardly stirred , I aimed so true , and when I seen him quite still , with no more moanin ' and pain , I was glad , and yet wal , I do n't know as I need by ashamed o n't I jest put my arms raound his neck and boo-hooed like a great baby . Sho ! I did n't know I was sech a fool ; '' and Silas drew his sleeve across his eyes , as much touched by Daisy 's sob , as by the memory of faithful Major . No one spoke for a minute , because the boys were as quick to feel the pathos of the little story as tender-hearted Daisy , though they did not show it by crying . `` I 'd like a horse like that , '' said Dan , half-aloud . `` Did the rebel man die , too ? '' asked Nan , anxiously . `` Not then . We laid there all day , and at night some of our fellers came to look after the missing ones . They nat ` rally wanted to take me fust , but I knew I could wait , and the rebel had but one chance , maybe , so I made them carry him off right away . He had jest strength enough to hold out his hand to me and say , ` Thanky , comrade ! ' and them was the last words he spoke , for he died an hour after he got to the hospital-tent . '' `` How glad you must have been that you were kind to him ! '' said Demi , who was deeply impressed by this story . `` Wal , I did take comfort thinkin ' of it , as I laid there alone for a number of hours with my head on Major 's neck , and see the moon come up . I 'd like to have buried the poor beast decent , but it war n't possible ; so I cut off a bit of his mane , and I 've kep it ever sence . Want to see it , sissy ? '' `` Oh , yes , please , '' answered Daisy , wiping away her tears to look .
XXXXX took out an old `` wallet '' as he called his pocket-book , and produced from an inner fold a bit of brown paper , in which was a rough lock of white horse-hair .
Daisy Nan Sho Silas Wal boo-hooed hour minute sech sence