armed enemy than she had expected, after her panic over the scout, and
rode toward the horsemen with perfect outward, and no little inward
composure.

The Lieutenant in command raised his hat with the greatest gallantry.

"Good morning, Miss. From the city, I suppose?" he inquired.

"Yes," she answered in tones as even as if speaking in a parlor;
"fortunately, I am at last from the city. I have been trying to get away
ever since it seemed hopeless that our people would not redeem it soon."

The conversation thus opened was carried on by Rachel giving copious
and disparaging information concerning the "Yankees," and the Lieutenant
listening in admiration to the musical accents, interrupting but
rarely to interject a question or a favorable comment. He was as
little critical as ardent young men are apt to be of the statements of
captivating young women, and Rachel's spirits rose as she saw that the
worst she had to fear from this enemy was an excess of devotion. The
story of her aunt at Murfreesboro received unhesitating acceptance, and
nothing but imperative scouting orders prevented his escorting her to
the town. He would, however, send a non-commissioned officer with
her, who would see that she was not molested by any one. He requested
permission to call upon her at her aunt's, which Rachel was compelled to
grant, for lack of any ready excuse for such a contingency. With this,
and many smiles and bows, they parted.

All the afternoon she rode through camps of men in gray and butternut,
as she had ridden through those of men in blue in the morning. In these,
as in the others, she heard gay songs, dance music and laughter, and saw
thousands of merry boys rollicking in the sunshine at games of ball and
other sports, with the joyous earnestness of a school-house playground.
She tried, but in vain, to realize that in a few days these thoughtless
youths would be the demons of the battle-field.

Just before dusk she came to the top of a low limestone ridge, and saw,
three miles away, the lights of Murfreesboro. At that moment Fortner
appeared, jogging leisurely toward her, mounted on a splendid horse.

"O there's my Cousin Jim!" she exclaimed gleefully, "coming to meet me.
Sergeant, I am deeply obliged to you and to your Lieutenant, for your
company, and I will try to show my appreciation of it in the future in
some way more substantial than words. You need not go any farther with
me. I know that you and your horse are