oyed, Carlton said.
They crossed at sunset. There were a swamp and a wood and a hollow
commanded by hills. The enemy was in force behind the hill, and there
was beside a considerable command in ambush, concealed in the woods by
the swamp. These had a gun or two. All opened on the 65th. It was cut to
pieces in the swamp and in a little marshy meadow. Only a remnant got
back to the northern side of the creek. Richard is under arrest."

"He was acting under orders!"

"So Carlton says he says. But General Jackson says there was no such
order; that he disobeyed the order that was given, and now tries to
screen himself. Carlton says Jackson is more steel-like than usual, and
we know how it fared with Garnett and with others. There will be a
court-martial. I am very anxious."

"I am not," said Edward stoutly. "There will be an honourable acquittal.
We must write and tell Judith that she's not to worry! Richard Cleave
did nothing that he should not have done."

"Of course, we know that. But Carlton says that, on the face of it, it's
an ugly affair. And General Jackson--Well, we can only await
developments."

"Poor Judith!--and his sister and mother.... Poor women!"

The other made a gesture of assent and sorrow. "Well, I must go back.
Take care of yourself, Edward. There will be the devil's own work
presently."

He went, and Edward returned to his fellows. The silence yet held over
the field; the westering sun glowed dull red behind the smoke; the
three figures rested still by the cross-roads; the mass of frowning
metal topped Malvern Hill like a giant, smoke-wreathed _chevaux de
frise_. Out of the brushwood to the left of the regiment, straight by
it, upward towards the guns, and then at a tangent off through the
fields to the woods, sped a rabbit. Legs to earth, it hurried with all
its might. The regiment was glad of a diversion--the waiting was growing
so intolerable. The men cheered the rabbit. "Go it, Molly
Cottontail!--Go it, Molly!--Go it, Molly!--Hi! Don't go that-away!
Them's Yankees! They'll cut your head off! Go t'other way--that's it! Go
it, Molly! Damn! If't wasn't for my character, I'd go with you!"

The rabbit disappeared. The regiment settled back to waiting, a very
intolerable employment. The sun dipped lower and lower. The hush grew
portentous. The guns looked old, mailed, dead warriors; the gunboats
sleeping forms; the grey troops battle-lines in a great war picture, the
three horsemen by the cross-