at increased pace. It was growing warm now,
and the dust and heat of the long ride began to affect them. The blue
line of the mountains, as they came close, turned to green and Dick,
Warner and Pennington looked enviously at the deep shade.

"Not so bad," said Warner. "Makes me think a little of the Green
Mountains of Vermont, though not as high and perhaps not as green."

"Of course," said Dick. "Nothing outside of Vermont is as good as
anything inside of it."

"I'm glad you acknowledge it so readily, Dick. I have found some people
who would not admit it at first, and I was compelled to talk and persuade
them of the fact, a labor that ought to be unnecessary. The truth should
always speak for itself. Vermont isn't the most fertile state in the
Union and it's not the largest, but it's the best producer of men,
or I should say the producer of the best men."

"What will Massachusetts say to that? I've read Daniel Webster's speech
in reply to Hayne."

"Oh, Massachusetts, of course, has more people, I'm merely speaking of
the average."

"Nebraska hasn't been settled long," said Pennington, "but you just wait.
When we get a population we'll make both Vermont and Massachusetts take a
back seat."

"And that population, or at least the best part of it," rejoined the
undaunted Warner, "will come from Vermont and Massachusetts and other New
England states."

"Sunset and the gap together are close at hand," said Dick, "and however
the mountains of Virginia may compare with those of Vermont, it's quite
certain that the sun setting over the two states is the same."

"I concede that," said Warner; "but it looks more brilliant from the
Vermont hills."

Nevertheless, the sun set in Virginia in a vast and intense glow of color,
and as the twilight came they entered the gap.

CHAPTER V

AN OLD ENEMY

Despite the brilliant sunset the night came on very dark and heavy with
damp. The road through the gap was none too good and the lofty slopes
clothed in forest looked menacing. Many sharpshooters might lurk there,
and the three colonels were anxious to reach Sheridan with their force
intact, at least without further loss after the battle with Colonel
Talbot's command.

The column was halted and it was decided to send out another scouting
party to see if the way was clear. Twenty men, of whom the best for
such work were Shepard and Whitley, were chosen, and Dick, owing to his
experience, was put in nomin