Major was the bravest of the two , and he would n't go , not a peg ; he jest rared up , and danced , and snorted , and acted as ef the smell of powder and the noise had drove him half wild . I done my best , but he would n't give in , so I did ; and what do you think that plucky brute done ? He wheeled slap round , and galloped back like a hurricane , right into the thickest of the scrimmage ! '' `` Good for him ! '' cried Dan excitedly , while the other boys forgot apples and nuts in their interest . `` I wish I may die ef I war n't ashamed of myself , '' continued Silas , warming up at the recollection of that day . `` I was mad as a hornet , and I forgot my waound , and jest pitched in , rampagin ' raound like fury till there come a shell into the midst of us , and in bustin ' knocked a lot of us flat . I did n't know nothin ' for a spell , and when I come-to , the fight was over just there , and I found myself layin ' by a wall of poor Major long-side wuss wounded than I was . My leg was broke , and I had a ball in my shoulder , but he , poor old feller ! was all tore in the side with a piece of that blasted shell . '' `` O Silas ! what did you do ? '' cried Nan , pressing close to him with a face full of eager sympathy and interest . `` I dragged myself nigher , and tried to stop the bleedin ' with sech rags as I could tear off of me with one hand . But it war n't no use , and he lay moanin ' with horrid pain , and lookin ' at me with them lovin ' eyes of his , till I thought I could n't bear it . I give him all the help I could , and when the sun got hotter and hotter , and he began to lap out his tongue , I tried to get to a brook that was a good piece away , but I could n't do it , being stiff and faint , so I give it up and fanned him with my hat . Now you listen to this , and when you hear folks comin ' down on the rebs , you jest remember what one on 'em did , and give him credit of it . I poor feller in gray laid not fur off , shot through the lungs and dyin ' fast . I 'd offered him my handkerchief to keep the sun off his face , and he 'd thanked me kindly , for in sech times as that men do n't stop to think on which side they belong , but jest buckle-to and help one another . When he see me mournin ' over Major and tryin ' to ease his pain , he looked up with his face all damp and white with sufferin ' , and sez he , ` There 's water in my canteen ; take it , for it ca n't help me , ' and he flung it to me .
I could n't have took it XXXXX I had n't had a little brandy in a pocket flask , and I made him drink it .
Dan Nan Silas day dyin ef mournin rampagin right wuss