e dreaded guerilla--indeed, they
were already here. For while the sun still glinted on carbine and sabre
among the scarlet and golden tints of the deciduous growths and the
sombre green of the pines on the loftier slopes, the vanguard in column
of fours were among the gray shadows at the mountains' base and speeding
into the Cove at a hand-gallop, for the roads were fairly good when once
the level was reached. Though so military a presentment, for they were
all veterans in the service, despite the youth of many, they were not in
uniform. Some wore the brown jeans of the region, girt with sword-belt
and canteen, with great spurs and cavalry boots, and broad-brimmed hats,
which now and again flaunted cords or feathers. Others had attained the
Confederate gray, occasionally accented with a glimmer of gold where a
shoulder-strap or a chevron graced the garb. And yet there was a certain
homogeneity in their aspect, All rode after the manner of the section,
with the "long stirrup" at the extreme length of the limb, and the
immovable pose in the saddle, the man being absolutely stationary, while
the horse bounded at agile speed. There was the similarity of facial
expression, in infinite dissimilarity of feature, which marks a common
sentiment, origin, and habitat. Then, too, they shared something
recklessly haphazard, gay, defiantly dangerous, that, elusive as it
might be to describe, was as definitely perceived as the guidon, riding
apart at the left, the long lance of his pennant planted on his stirrup,
bearing himself with a certain stately pride of port, distinctly
official.

The whole effect was concentrated in the face of the leader, obviously
the inspiration of the organization, the vital spark by which it lived;
a fierce face, intent, commanding. It was burned to a brick-red, and
had an aquiline nose and a keen gray-green eagle-like eye; on either side
auburn hair, thick and slightly curling, hung, after the fashion of
the time, to his coat collar. And this collar and his shoulders were
decorated with gold lace and the insignia of rank; the uniform was of
fine Confederate gray, which seemed to contradict the general impression
that he was but a free-lance or a bushwhacker and operated on his own
responsibility. The impression increased the terror his name excited
throughout the countryside with his high-handed and eccentric methods of
warfare, and perhaps he would not have resented it if he were cognizant
of its genera