one o'clock before
The man with his strength seizes the gun , snatches it from his bleeding thigh and swings it over his head to brain his new antagonist , when the first boy , with a savage laugh , plunges his bayonet through the strong man 's heart and he falls with a dull crash , breaking the steel from the musket 's muzzle and lies quivering , with the blood-spouting point protruding from his side . He understood now -- these were not soldiers obeying orders -- they were fathers and brothers and playmates , killing and maiming and tearing each other to pieces . Lord God of Love and Mercy , the pity and horror of it all ! It was one o'clock before Julius , searching the field with a lantern , came on him huddled against the tree with Ned 's body still in his arms , staring into the dead face . Again Betty Winter found in her work relief from despair . She had hoped for peace in the beauty and tenderness of Ned 's chivalrous devotion . Yet his one letter reporting the meeting had revealed her mistake .