It was right at dusk when Sergeant Yuma found the two friends. Their previous encounter had not been forgotten, and Jess was sure he heard some lingering anger in the order, "Harper, Yates, it's time to get going." Both boys came out of their tents. After giving them a look that said clearly that he would take no nonsense, he turned and led the way to where the horses were picketed.

"I've got an idea," Jess muttered under his breath to Rowdy. "That sergeant won't know what hit him. Keep your eyes open." Rowdy nodded with a grin as they hurried to catch up with Yuma. Once all three had saddled their horses, they mounted quickly and prepared to ride east. However, Sergeant Yuma pulled his horse's rein and made him prance in a circle while he said in a low voice,

"I'm in charge of this detail, understand? I give the orders, and they better be obeyed. If you don't, it just might be the last thing you ever do. Now move, stay close to me, and stay quiet." Jess and Rowdy nodded sullenly, but even in the dark Jess could see the wink that Rowdy sent him. All three galloped into the night.

They rode nearly a mile away from the encampment before the sergeant reined up. Jess and Rowdy followed suit, and when Yuma dismounted they quickly did the same.

"Follow me," hissed the sergeant. All three crept through the tall grass, pausing behind any tree or bush that might give them some cover. Finally they arrived at a line of trees, and Sergeant Yuma ordered them to halt.

"You two stay here and I'll go on up a little further." In the back of his mind Jess knew this was not the right time or the right place, but his anger at Yuma would not be held back, and he said,

"Hold it, Sergeant," just as Yuma was turning away. The sergeant turned back around, ready to reprimand the impertinent private, but instead he received the full brunt of Jess's unloosed fury. Jess was accustomed to taking care of himself since his parents' early death, and it was evident from the beginning that he would come out on top. If Yuma had been prepared he might have been a match for Jess, but having been caught off guard there was no recovering. By the time Jess realized that Rowdy was pulling him off, the sergeant lay on the ground, writhing in pain.

"That's enough, Jess!" cried Rowdy. Only then did Jess come to himself, and a sudden pang of fear ran through him as he realized he had attacked one of his senior officers. He looked down at Yuma on the ground. He made an involuntary movement to help, but then stopped himself and instead grabbed Rowdy's arm, saying,

"Let's get out of here." Rowdy looked down at the sergeant uncertainly, then regretfully followed after Jess.

The two boys were not experienced enough to keep an eye out for Union pickets. They hurried through the brush, not bothering to make as little noise as possible. All they could think about was getting back to their own lines. Suddenly, a shot rang out in the night, and with a cry Jess pitched forward to the ground.

"Jess!" Rowdy called in a panicked voice and ran back to check on his wounded friend. However, before he could reach the spot where Jess had fallen, a soldier in blue materialized out of the darkness.

"Hold it right there!" His rifle leveled at Rowdy left no argument. Desperately wondering how Jess was, Rowdy tried to see past the imposing Union soldier, but he only saw a dark bundle on the ground, nothing more.

"If you're going to shoot me, get it over with," said Rowdy roughly, trying to sound braver than he felt. The soldier in blue lowered his rifle by a fraction, and answered after a short pause,

"I'm not going to shoot you, Reb. I'm taking you prisoner." Rowdy glared at the officer, unable to feel relief in the midst of his concern for his friend. Just then Jess let out a moan. Rowdy made a move towards him, then remembered the Union soldier in front of him. However, there was a softer look in the soldier's eye, and he said quietly to Rowdy, "Check on your friend, but make it quick. You're both coming back to our camp." Gratefully Rowdy brushed by the man to check on Jess.

"Jess, you okay?" he asked as he knelt down. Jess tried to sit up, but the movement sent a pain through his whole body. Hissing, he answered,

"It's just my shoulder." The darkness kept Rowdy from seeing clearly. He tried to ascertain the wound with his hand, but when Jess let out a cry he quickly stopped.

"Get him up," the officer commanded, still with some compassion around the edges of his words. Rowdy glared up at the officer, but did as he was told. Once Jess was able to put his good arm around Rowdy's shoulders, he allowed himself to be lifted up, but not without many expressions of pain.

"Now move," the Yankee soldier said, waving his gun in the direction of the Union lines. "It's not a far walk. Your friend can make it without too much trouble." As Jess clung to Rowdy for support, he found his head becoming light. Each step jostled his wounded shoulder, and he felt that any distance was too far. Knowing that the destination was an enemy camp didn't help matters one bit.

In the midst of his pain Jess thought he heard a slight rustle, but he brushed it away as an imagination of his overwrought brain. He was to be proven wrong. A dull thud reached the boys' ears, and then a quick rustle and a deeper thud that sounded like a body hitting the ground. Both boys turned around to see what had happened, and there stood Sergeant Yuma over the body of the Union soldier. Even as they watched, he grimaced and put a hand to his head, then shuffled over to them.

"Is Harper hurt?" he asked gruffly. Rowdy only nodded, and Jess found that even through his pain he felt burning shame. "Let's get him back to our lines now that we know where the enemy encampment is." He walked back several yards, then re-emerged leading their three horses. No words were said as he handed the reins to the boys and helped Jess onto his horse. Stiffly mounting his own horse, he led the way back to friendly territory in silence.