as the best jockeys in
Virginia could have done.

"You see she hasn't fallen into such bad hands," Pierre said as we
passed for the third time where I could have a good view of my pet, and
I replied sorrowfully:

"It isn't that she won't be taken care of, Pierre, for he into whose
hands she might fall would indeed be a fool if he neglected so valuable
a bit of horse-flesh; but it is the thought that she will be taken into
battle, wounded, and left on the field to die, that breaks my heart."

"And yet many a poor fellow will be wounded on the field of battle, and
left there to die. Mayhap it will be the fate of you or of me, and since
Silver Heels has been reared by a rebel, she must take the same chances
that all us rebels in this country are forced to take if the yoke of the
king's oppression is to be removed from our necks."

Little Frenchie spoke like a preacher, and I dimly wondered whether his
courage might not be failing him, now that we were fully committed to as
desperate a venture as ever lads embarked on; but I need have had no
forebodings, for after remaining silent a dozen seconds or more he
seemingly shook off somber thoughts, and said cheerily:

"The less you and I think of the future, and the closer we keep to the
present, the better. Now let us make our way along the outer works in
order to decide where we may have the best show of getting through the
lines, if so be we decide to play the part of spies."

"What about making ready to bring Horry Sims into the cabin?"

"There's plenty of time for that 'twixt now and sunset," Pierre said
carelessly. "We need spend little time in forming plans, because it must
all be done by accident, or, what is the same thing, through chance and
the negligence of the enemy. We'll get a good idea of the general
situation, and then go back to Uncle 'Rasmus for something to eat."

As Pierre had said so we did. Twice we traversed the entire length of
the outer works, meaning the entrenchments facing the north; noted where
each sentinel was posted, and otherwise gained all the information
possible that might be of advantage to one who was trying to escape from
the British.

Then we went back to old Mary's cabin where Uncle 'Rasmus, despite his
seeming feebleness, had made ready for us a most appetizing meal, by
warming the corn-bread and toasting some of the boiled ham in a
frying-pan.

Although the outlook was most dismal to me, it did not affect my
appetite on th