er and sister,
and of Will in the 2d, and of to-morrow's movements, and of Stonewall
Jackson. A dark figure came wandering up to him. It proved to be that of
an old negro. "Marster, is you seen Marse Charlie?"

"Marse Charlie whom, uncle?"

"Marse Charlie Armetage, sah, mah young marster. I 'spec you done seed
him? I 'spec he come marchin' wif you down de pike f'om dat damn
battlefield? I sure would be 'bleeged ef you could tell me, sah."

"I wish I could," said Cleave, with gentleness. "I haven't seen him, but
maybe some one else has."

The old negro drew one hand through the other. "I's asked erbout fifty
gent'men ... Reckon Marse Charlie so damn tired he jes' lain down
somewhere an' gone ter sleep. Reckon he come down de pike in de mahnin',
shoutin' fer Daniel. Don' you reckon so, marster?"

"It's not impossible, Daniel. Maybe you'll find him yet."

"I 'specs ter," said Daniel. "I 'spec ter fin' him howsomever he's
a-lyin'." He wandered off in the darkness, and Cleave heard him speaking
to a picket, "Marster, is you seen Marse Charlie?"

CHAPTER XVI

RUDE'S HILL

Stonewall Jackson and his army in slow retreat up the valley came, the
second day after Kernstown, to the gorge of Cedar Creek. A bridge had
once been here; there remained the blackened cross-timbers and a portion
of the flooring. The water below was cold, deep, and rapid. Rather than
breast it, the army made shift to cross on the charred wood. An infantry
command, stepping gingerly, heard behind it shots and shouts--a Federal
cavalry charge upon the rear guard. Several of the men, listening too
absorbedly, or not content with the present snail-like motion, suddenly
left the timbers and entered the rough and swollen creek that poured
beneath. Their exclamations in this berth were piteous, and their
comrades fished them out with bayonets and laughter.

Upon the night of the 26th Banks's troopers occupied the northern shore
of Tom's Brook. Ashby held the southern side, and held it fast. Behind
that safe and vigilant and valiant screen the Army of the Valley moved
quietly and in good spirits to the points its general had in mind. The
army never knew what were these points until it found itself actually
upon the ground. It is morally certain that had he lived, a
recalcitrant, in former days, no amount of _peine forte et dure_ would
have opened the lips of Stonewall Jackson had he willed to keep them
closed. During their earlier acquaintance o