on; in fact, that it was
at Frankfort, the capital of the state. And the news was heightened in
interest by the statement that the division was there to assist in the
inauguration of a Confederate government of the state, so little of
which the Confederate army held.

Colonel Winchester at once applied to General Buell for permission for
a few officers like himself, natives of Kentucky and familiar with the
region, to ride forward and see what the enemy was really doing. Dick
was present at the interview and it was characteristic.

"If you leave, what of your regiment, Colonel Winchester?" said General
Buell.

"I shall certainly rejoin it in time for battle."

"Suppose the enemy should prevent you?"

"He cannot do so."

"I remember you at Shiloh. You did good work there."

"Thank you, sir."

"And this lad, Lieutenant Mason, he has also done well. But he is
young."

"I can vouch for him, sir."

"Then take twenty of your bravest and most intelligent men and ride
toward Frankfort. It may be that we shall have to take a part in this
inauguration, which I hear is scheduled for to-morrow."

"It may be so, sir," said Colonel Winchester, returning General Buell's
grim smile. Then he and Dick saluted and withdrew.

But it did not take the colonel long to make his preparations. Among his
twenty men all were natives of Kentucky except Warner, Pennington
and Sergeant Whitley. Two were from Frankfort itself, and they were
confident that they could approach through the hills with comparative
security, the little capital nestling in its little valley.

They rode rapidly and by nightfall drew near to the rough Benson Hills,
which suddenly shooting up in a beautiful rolling country, hem in the
capital. Although it was now the third day of October the little
party marked anew the extreme dryness and the shrunken condition of
everything. It was all the more remarkable as no region in the world is
better watered than Kentucky, with many great rivers, more small ones,
and innumerable creeks and brooks. There are few points in the state
where a man can be more than a mile from running water.

The dryness impressed Dick. They had dust here, as they had had it in
Virginia, but there it was trampled up by great armies. Here it was
raised by their own little party, and as the October winds swept across
the dry fields it filled their eyes with particles. Yet it was one of
the finest regions of the world, underlaid with vitalizin