Seems to me it is n't the sensational exploits that show the hero best , but some great sacrifice quietly made by a common sort of man who is noble without knowing it . I saw a good many such during the war , and often wish I could write them down , for it is surprising how much courage , goodness and real piety is stowed away in common folks ready to show when the right time comes . '' `` Tell us one of them , and I 'll bless you for a hint . No one knows the anguish of an author 's spirit when he ca n't ring down the curtain on an effective tableau , '' said Randal , with a glance at his friends to ask their aid in eliciting an anecdote or reminiscence . `` Tell about the splendid fellow who held the bridge , like Horatius , till help came up . That was a thrilling story , I assure you , '' answered Sophie , with an inviting smile . But Saul would not be his own hero , and said briefly : `` Any man can be brave when the battle-fever is on him , and it only takes a little physical courage to dash ahead . '' He paused a moment , with his eyes on the snowy landscape without , where twilight was deepening ; then , as if constrained by the memory that winter scene evoked , he slowly continued , -- `` One of the bravest things I ever knew was done by a poor fellow who has been a hero to me ever since , though I only met him that night . It was after one of the big battles of that last winter , and I was knocked over with a broken leg and two or three bullets here and there . Night was coming on , snow falling , and a sharp wind blew over the field where a lot of us lay , dead and alive , waiting for the ambulance to come and pick us up . There was skirmishing going on not far off , and our prospects were rather poor between frost and fire . I was calculating how I 'd manage , when I found two poor chaps close by who were worse off , so I braced up and did what I could for them . One had an arm blown away , and kept up a dreadful groaning . The other was shot bad , and bleeding to death for want of help , but never complained . He was nearest , and I liked his pluck , for he spoke cheerful and made me ashamed to growl . Such times make dreadful brutes of men if they have n't something to hold on to , and all three of us were most wild with pain and cold and hunger , for we 'd fought all day fasting , when we heard a rumble in the road below , and saw lanterns bobbing round . That meant life to us , and we all tried to holler ; two of us were pretty faint , but I managed a good yell , and they heard it . '' ` Room for one more . Hard luck , old boys , but we are full and must save the worst wounded first . Take a drink , and hold on till we come back , ' says one of them with the stretcher . ''
` Here 's the one to go , ' I XXXXX , pointin ' out my man , for I saw by the light that he was hard hit . ''
Tell answered assure blew brave continued hold inviting paused says