t a cock crew, and was answered from across a stream. To the
south, visible between and above the fringing trees, a ribbon of mist
proclaimed the river. The two men rode, not in silence, but still not
with yesterday's freedom of speech. There was, however, no quietude that
the chill ebb of the hour and the weariness of overwork might not
account for. They spoke of this and that briefly, but amicably. "Will
you report at headquarters?" asked Marchmont, "before attempting the
Virginia shore?"

"I do not yet know. There is no occasion, as I have all instructions
from General Banks. I wish to make no unnecessary delay."

"Have you the countersign?"

"Yes."

"Will you cross by the ferry?"

"I hardly think so. Ashby may be watching that and the ford below. There
is a place farther up the river that I may try."

"That is, after you pass through Williamsport?"

"Yes, a mile or two beyond."

The light increased. Gold clouds barred the east, the cocks crew, and
crows came cawing from the woods to the vast, brown cornfields. The road
now ran at no great distance from the canal and the river. First came
the canal, mirroring between trodden banks the red east, then the
towpath, a cornfield, a fringe of sycamore, oak, and willow, then the
Potomac veiled with mist. They were drawing near to Williamsport. The
day's travel had begun. They met or overtook workers upon the road,
sutlers' carts, ordnance wagons, a squad of artillerymen conducting a
gun, a country doctor in an old buggy, two boys driving calves yoked
together. The road made a curve to the north, like a sickle. On the
inland side it ran beneath a bluff; on the other a rail fence rimmed a
twelve-foot embankment dropping to a streamlet and a wide field where
the corn stood in shocks. Here, at a cross-roads debouching from the
north into the pike, they encountered a company of infantry.

Marchmont checked his horse. "I'm not sure, but I think I know the
officer. Be so good as to await me a moment, lieutenant."

He rode up to the captain in blue, and the two talked in low voices. The
infantrymen broke lines a little, leaned on their rifles, and discussed
arrangements for breakfast. Among them were a number of tall men, lean
and sinewy, with a sweep of line and unconstraint of gesture that
smacked of hunters' ways and mountain exercise. The two troopers from
Frederick City came up. The place of the cross-roads showed animated
and blue. The sun pushed its golden ball a