And while we sat and talked the long day wore on to evening and a storm
came on, as we could determine, though no otherwise than by the muffled
rolling of the thunder which, since we could not see the lightning nor
hear the rain, we took at first for the booming of distant cannon.
I can not tell you all we spoke of in that day-long immurement. There
was some talk of the great struggle for independence, now, though we
knew it not, drawing near to its close; and there was much of
reminiscence, harking back to the exciting and tragic scenes in which we
two had had our entrances and our exits. Also, there was a tribute paid
to the memory of our true old friend and trusted comrade in arms,
Ephraim Yeates, so lately gone to his own place. 'Twas at this time I
learned what of the old man's gifts and peculiarities I have
hereinbefore set down; for Richard had known him long and well.
From speaking of old Ephraim and his sudden taking-off we came to things
more nearly present; and at length Dick would lay a finger gently upon
the mystery in which he was as yet walking as one blindfolded.
"'Tis not a shameful thing; don't tell me it is that, Jack," he would
say; and I gave him speedy assurance upon that head.
"No,'tis never shameful; so much I may lay an oath to."
"Yet you said once--in that black night when I went mad and would have
killed you--that your life lay between Madge and me."
"So it did--and does. And God will bear me witness, dear lad, that I
have worn that life upon my sleeve.
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