Therewasanofficerattheirhead，encouraginghismen，——acourageous，handsome，gallantofficeroffive—and—thirty，whomDoubledicksawhurriedly，almostmomentarily，butsawwell。Heparticularlynoticedthisofficerwavinghissword，andrallyinghismenwithaneagerandexcitedcry，whentheyfiredinobediencetohisgesture，andMajorTauntondropped。
Itwasoverintenminutesmore，andDoubledickreturnedtothespotwherehehadlaidthebestfriendmaneverhadonacoatspreaduponthewetclay。MajorTaunton’suniformwasopenedatthebreast，andonhisshirtwerethreelittlespotsofblood。
\"DearDoubledick，\"saidhe，\"Iamdying。\"
\"FortheloveofHeaven，no！\"exclaimedtheother，kneelingdownbesidehim，andpassinghisarmroundhisnecktoraisehishead。
\"Taunton！Mypreserver，myguardianangel，mywitness！Dearest，truest，kindestofhumanbeings！Taunton！ForGod’ssake！\"