they pointed out that there
had been no pursuit thus far, and the unlikelihood of there being one.
When did Panic yield to Reason? In those demoralized ears the thunder of
the cannon at Wildcat, the crash of the bursting shells, and the deadly
whistle of bullets still rang louder than any words officers could
speak.

The worst frightened crowded into the stream in a frenzy, and struggled
wildly with the current that swept their feet off the slimy
limestone bottom, with the logs and trees dashing along like so many
catapult-bolts, and with the horses and teams urged on by men more
fear-stricken still. On the steep slope on the other side glimmered
numbers of little fires where those who were lucky enough to get across
were warming and drying themselves.

"Heavens!" said Harry with an anticipatory shudder, "if our men
should come up, the first cannon shot would make half these men drown
themselves in trying to get away."

Fortner heeded him not. The mountaineer's eyes were fixed upon a tall,
imperious looking man, whose collar bore the silver stars of a Colonel.

"He has found his man at last," said Harry, noticing his companion's
attitude, and picking up his own gun in readiness for what might come.

Fortner half-cocked his rifle, took from its nipple the cap that had
been there an hour and flung it away. He picked the powder out if
the tube, replaced it with fresh from his horn, selected another cap
carefully, fitted it on the nipple, and let the hammer down with the
faintest snap to force it to its place.

His eyes had the look of a rattlesnake's when it coils for a spring,
and his breast swelled out as if he was summoning all his strength. He
stepped forward to a tree so lightly that there came no rustle from the
dead leaves he trod upon. Harry took his place on the other side of the
tree, and cocked his musket.

So close were they to hundreds of Rebels with arms in their hands, that
it seemed simply an invitation to death to call their attention.

Fortner turned and waved Harry back as he heard him approach, but Glen
had apparently exhausted all his capacity for fearing, in the march upon
Wildcat, and he was now calmly desperate.

The Colonel rode out from the throng toward the level spot at the base
of the ledge upon which the two were concealed. The horse he bestrode
was a magnificent thoroughbred, whose fine action could not be
concealed, even by his great fatigue.

"Go and find Mars," said the Colonel