t possible.
I saw my own cousin, Harry Kenton, riding with them. I recognized them
perfectly."

"Then that settles it. The Confederate scouts and cavalry are abroad
to-night also, and on our side of the river. But they must be few who
dare to ride in such a storm."

"That's surely true, sir."

But both Dick and his commanding officer were mistaken. They still
underrated the daring and resolution of the Confederate leaders,
the extraordinary group of men who were the very bloom and flower of
Virginia's military glory, the equal of whom--two at least being in the
very first rank in the world's history--no other country with so small a
population has produced in so short a time.

Earlier in the day Stuart, full of enterprise, and almost insensible to
fatigue, had crossed the Rappahannock much higher up and at the head
of a formidable body of his horsemen, unseen by scouts and spies, was
riding around the Union right. They galloped into Warrenton where the
people, red hot as usual for the South, crowded around them cheering and
laughing and many of the women crying with joy. It was like Jackson and
Stuart to drop from the clouds this way and to tell them, although the
land had been occupied by the enemy, that their brave soldiers would
come in time.

News, where a Northern force could not have obtained a word, was poured
out for the South. They told Stuart that none of the Northern cavalry
was about, and that Pope's vast supply train was gathered at a little
point only ten miles to the southeast. Stuart shook his plumed head
until his long golden hair flew about his neck. Then he laughed aloud
and calling to his equally fiery young officers, told them of the great
spoil that waited upon quickness and daring.

The whole force galloped away for the supply train, but before it
reached it the storm fell in all its violence upon Stuart and his men.
Despite rain and darkness Stuart pushed on. He said afterward that it
was the darkest night he had ever seen. A captured negro guided them on
the final stage of the gallop and just when Dick was riding back to
camp behind Colonel Winchester, Stuart fell like a thunderbolt upon the
supply train and its guard.

Stuart could not drive wholly away the Northern guard, which though
surprised, fought with great courage, but he burned the supply train,
then galloped off with prisoners, and Pope's own uniform, horses,
treasure chest and dispatch book. He found in the dispatch book min