rd, "but I'll ask instead what you've brought. These young
men are Lieutenant Mason, Lieutenant Warner and Lieutenant Pennington.
As I've indicated already, Lieutenant Mason leads us."

"I bring information," she replied, "information that you will be glad to
carry to General Sheridan. As a woman I could go where men could not,
and you remember, Brother William, that I know the country."

"Almost as well as I do," said Shepard. "As a girl you rode like a man
and were afraid of nothing. Nor do you fear anything today."

"Tell General Sheridan," she said, turning to Dick, "that the Confederate
numbers are even less than he thinks, that a large area at the base of
Little North Mountain is wholly unoccupied."

"And if we get there," exclaimed Dick, eagerly, "we can crash in on the
flank of Early."

"I'm not a soldier," she said, "but that plan was in my mind. A large
division could be hidden in the heavy timber along Cedar Creek, and then,
if the proper secrecy were observed, reach the Confederate flank tomorrow
night, unseen."

"And that's on the other side of the valley," said Dick.

"But at this point it's only four or five miles across."

"I wasn't making difficulties, I was merely locating the places as you
tell them."

"I've drawn a map of the Confederate position. It's in pencil, but it
ought to help."

"It will be beyond price!" exclaimed Dick. "You will give it to me?"

"Of course! But you must wait a minute! Until I heard my brother's
whistle I didn't know whether it was North or South that I was going to
meet on the mountain."

She disappeared in the bushes, and Dick heard a light rustling, but in
a few moments she returned and held out a broad sheet of heavy paper,
upon which a map had been drawn with care and skill. He had divined
already its great value, and now his opinion was confirmed.

"I can't thank you," he said, as he took it, "but General Sheridan and
General Grant can. And I've no doubt they'll do it when the time comes."

Again the light flush appeared in her cheeks and she looked actually
handsome.

"Since my present task is finished," she said, "I'd better go."

"Where did you leave your horse?" asked Shepard.

"He's tethered in the bushes about a hundred yards farther down the side
of the mountain. I'll mount and ride back in the direction of Richmond.
I know all the roads."

Sergeant Whitley, who had gone a little higher up and who was watching
while they talked,