`` Tell about Major , '' cried the boys , impatient for the catastrophe . `` I poured the water over his poor pantin ' tongue , and ef ever a dumb critter looked grateful , he did then . But it war n't of much use , for the dreadful waound kep on tormentin ' him , till I could n't bear it any longer . It was hard , but I done it in mercy , and I know he forgive me . '' `` What did you do ? '' asked Emil , as Silas stopped abruptly with a loud `` hem , '' and a look in his rough face that made Daisy go and stand by him with her little hand on his knee . `` I shot him . '' Quite a thrill went through the listeners as Silas said that , for Major seemed a hero in their eyes , and his tragic end roused all their sympathy . `` 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 XXXXX to me and say , ` Thanky , comrade ! '
boys catastrophe chance fellers hand horse knee lovin misery sympathy