They were only two soldiers, out of the presence of others and in a
pretty tight place together--Mathew Coffin but three years older than
he, and no great shakes anyhow. "What for?" asked Billy.

"I just want to say to you," said Coffin thickly, "that as to that
shed, it was my duty to protect my men; just as it is my duty as an
officer to report you for disobedience and bad language addressed to an
officer--"

Billy's brow clouded. "I had forgotten all about that. I was going along
very nicely with you. You were really behaving yourself--like a--like a
gentleman. The cow-house was all right. You are brave enough when it
comes to fighting. And now you're bringing it all up again--"

"'_Gentleman._'--Who are you to judge of a gentleman?"

Billy looked at him calmly. "I air one of them.--I air a-judging from
that-a stand."

"You are going to the guardhouse for disobedience and bad language and
impertinence."

"It would be right hard," said Billy, "if I had to leave
su-pe-ri-or-i-ty outside with my musket. But I don't."

Coffin, red in the face, made at him. The Thunder Run man, supple as a
moccasin, swerved aside. "Air you finished speaking, sergeant? Fer if
you have, 'n' if you don't mind, I think I'll run along--I air only
fighting Yankees this mornin'!"

An aide of Jackson's, cut off from headquarters and taking shelter in
the upper part of the town, crept presently out of hiding, and finding
the invaders' eyes turned toward the bridge, proceeded with dispatch and
quietness to gather others from dark havens. When he had a score or more
he proceeded to bolder operations. In the field and on the Staunton road
all was commotion; wagons with their teams moving in double column up
the road, negro teamsters clamouring with ashen looks, "Dose damn Yanks!
Knowed we didn't see dat ghos' fer nothin' las' night!" Wagon masters
shouted, guards and sentries looked townward with anxious eyes. The aide
got a flag from the quartermaster's tent; found moreover a very few
artillery reserves and an old cranky howitzer. With all of these he
returned to the head of the main street, and about the moment the
cavalry at the bridge divided, succeeded in getting his forces admirably
placed in a strong defensive position: Coffin and Billy Maydew joined
just as an outpost brought a statement that about two hundred Yankee
cavalry were coming up the street.

The two guns, Federal Parrott, Confederate howitzer, belching smoke,
made in tw