ime."

"That's a certainty," said Colonel Winchester.

"An' then there's the bridge, which, as we know, the cavalry has broke
down."

"Fortunately. But can't we go a little faster, boys?"

There was a well defined road and Shattuck now led them at a gallop.
As they approached the springs they checked their speed, owing to the
increasing darkness. But Dick's good ears soon told him that something
was happening at the springs. He heard faintly the sound of voices, and
the clank and rattle which many men with weapons cannot keep from making
now and then.

"I'm afraid, sir," he said to Colonel Winchester, "that they're already
across."

The little troop stopped at the command of its leader and all listened
intently. It was very dark now and the wood was moaning, but the columns
of air came directly from the wood, bearing clearly upon their crest the
noises made by regiments.

"You're right, Dick," said Colonel Winchester, bitter mortification
showing in his tone. "They're there, and they're on our side of the
river. Oh, we might have known it! They say that Stonewall Jackson
never sleeps, and they make no mistake, when they call his infantry foot
cavalry!"

Dick was silent. He shared his leader's intense disappointment, but he
knew that it was not for him to speak at this moment.

"Mr. Shattuck," said Colonel Winchester, "how near do you think we can
approach without being seen?"

"I know a neck of woods leading within a hundred yards of the cottages.
If we was to leave our horses here with a couple of men we could slip
down among the trees and bushes, and there ain't one chance in ten that
we'd be seen on so dark a night."

"Then you lead us. Pawley, you and Woodfall hold the horses. Now follow
softly, lads! All of you have hunted the 'coon and 'possum at night, and
you should know how to step without making noise."

Shattuck advanced with certainty, and the others, true to their
training, came behind him in single file, and without noise. But as they
advanced the sounds of an army ahead of them increased, and when they
reached the edge of the covert they saw a great Confederate division
on their side of the stream, in full possession of the cottages and
occupying all the ground about them. Many men were at work, restoring
the wrecked bridge, but the others were eating their suppers or were at
rest.

"There must be seven or eight thousand men here," said Dick, who did not
miss the full significance of the