t is one of the very best, and that we are ready to welcome all
volunteers with open arms."

The two boys slept under the same blankets that night, but the talking
they did was intended for the benefit for those who were lying near
them, rather than for each other. Tom sent numberless messages to Dick
Graham, and wanted Rodney to be sure and tell him that he (Tom) would be
a member of his company before its next battle with the Yankees; all of
which Rodney promised to bear in mind. The squad broke their fast next
morning on provisions which they had "foraged" from the Union men whose
buildings they had destroyed two nights before, and at eight o'clock
arrived at the old post-road where the Barrington boys were to take
leave of each other, to meet again perhaps under hostile flags and with
deadly weapons in their hands. But there was one thing about it: They
might be enemies in name, but they never would in spirit.

"There goes one of the bravest and best fellows that ever lived," said
Rodney, facing about in his saddle to take a last look at his friend who
rode away with a heavy heart.

"Don't be so solemn over it," said the captain. "Didn't he say he would
come back as soon as he could?"

Yes, that was what Tom said; but the trouble was, that when he came
again he might come in such a way that Rodney could not shake hands with
him.

CHAPTER XIV.

"HURRAH FOR BULL RUN!"

Having decided that he would waste too much time if he turned from his
course to punish the Union men who had persecuted his recruits, the
captain "kept lumbering right along," and on the afternoon of the next
day came within sight of the town in which his regiment had been
encamped when he left it to start on his scout; but there was not a
tent, a wagon or a soldier to be seen about the place now, and a citizen
who came out to meet him, brought the information that the regiment had
moved South to join Rains and Jackson, who were marching toward Neosho,
a short distance from Springfield: and at the same time he gave the
captain a written order from his colonel to join his command with all
haste.

"If we had known this before, we might have kept company with your
friend Tom," said the captain, as he faced the squad about after a
fashion of his own and started them on the back track. "Both sides
seemed to be concentrating in the southwestern part of the State, and
there's where the batt