t as day, with a burnished
moon and brilliant stars, and they did not greatly fear ambush. Dick
shrewdly reckoned that Early would need all his men in the valley, and,
after the first day at sharpshooting, they would withdraw to meet greater
demands.

Nevertheless he took a rather wide circuit and came into a lonely portion
of the hills, where the forest was unbroken, save for the narrow path on
which they rode. The sergeant dismounted once and examined the ground.

"Nothing has passed here," he said, "and the woods and thickets are so
dense that men can't ride through 'em."

The path admitted of only two abreast, and the forest was so heavy that
it shut out most of the moonlight. But they rode on confidently, Dick
and the sergeant leading. If it had not been for the size of the trees,
Dick would have thought that he was back in the Wilderness. They heard
now and then the wings of night birds among the leaves, and occasionally
some small animal would scuttle across the path. They forded a narrow
but deep stream, its waters black from decayed vegetation, and continued
to push on briskly through the unbroken forest, until the sergeant said
in a low voice to Dick:

"I think I hear something ahead of us."

They pulled back on the reins so suddenly that those behind almost rode
into them. Then they sat there, a solid, compact little group, while
Dick and the sergeant listened intently.

"It's hoofbeats," said Dick, "very faint, because they are far away."

"I think you are right, sir," said the sergeant.

"But they're coming this way."

"Yes, and at a steady pace. No stops and no hesitation."

"Which shows that it's somebody who doesn't fear any harm."

"The beats are pretty solid. A heavy man on a heavy horse."

"About three hundred yards away, don't you think?"

"About that, sir."

"Maybe a farmer going home?"

"Maybe, but I don't think so, sir."

"At any rate, we'll soon see, because our unknown comes on without a
break. There he is now!"

They had a comparatively clear view straight ahead, and the figure of a
man and a horse emerged from the shadows.

The sergeant raised his rifle, but, as the man came on without fear,
he dropped it again. Some strange effect of the moonlight exaggerated
the rider and his horse, making both look gigantic, blending them
together in such manner that a tremendous centaur seemed to be riding
them down. In an instant or two the general effect vanished and as