o often upon the
charging bayonets of the foe.

He stopped suddenly and put away his violin. There was a hush, and then
a long roll of applause, not loud, but very deep.

"I hear Pendleton calling," said Harry to Dick.

"So do I," said Dick. "I wonder what they're doing there. Have you
heard from your father?"

"Not for several months. I think he's in North Carolina with Johnston,
and I mean to go home that way. I've a good horse, and he'll carry me
through the mountains. I think I'll find father there. An hour or two
ago, Dick, I felt like a man and I was a man, but since De Langeais
played I've become a boy again, and I'm longing for Pendleton, and its
green hills, and the little river in which we used to swim."

"So am I, Harry, and it's likely that I'll go with you. The war is over
and I can get leave at once. I want to see my mother."

They stayed together until night came over Appomattox and its famous
apple tree, and a few days later Harry Kenton was ready to start on
horseback for Kentucky. But he was far from being alone. The two
colonels, St. Clair, Langdon, Dick, De Langeais, Colonel Winchester and
Sergeant Whitley were to ride with him. Warner was to go north and
Pennington west as soon as they were mustered out. Dick wrung their
hands.

"Good-by, George! Good-by, Frank! Old comrades!" he said. "But
remember that we are to see a good deal of one another all through our
lives!"

"Which I can reduce to a mathematical problem and demonstrate by means of
my little algebra here," said Warner, fumbling for his book to hide his
emotion.

"I may come through Kentucky to see you and Harry," said Pennington,
"when I start back to Nebraska."

"Be sure to come," said Dick with enthusiasm, "and remember that the
latch string is hanging out on both doors."

Then, carrying their arms, and well equipped with ammunition, food and
blankets, the little party rode away. They knew that the mountains were
still extremely unsettled, much infested by guerrillas, but they believed
themselves strong enough to deal with any difficulty, and, as the April
country was fair and green, their hearts, despite everything, were light.

CHAPTER XVIII

THE FINAL RECKONING

They rode a long time through a war-torn country, and the days bound the
young men together so closely that, at times, it seemed to them they
had fought on the same side all through the war. Sergeant Whitley was
usually their guide