ked up a weary youth,
dodging about among the trees. It was St. Clair. He had run the
gauntlet, but he had been pursued so hotly that he had been forced to
lie hidden in the forest a long time. He had made his uniform look as
spruce as possible and he held himself with dignity when the horsemen
approached, but he could not conceal the fact that he was exhausted.

"I congratulate you, Harry," he said, when he also was astride a horse.
"It is likely that you are the only one who has got through so far.
I'm quite sure that Langdon was driven back, and I don't know what has
become of the others. But it was great luck to find such a command as
this."

He looked somewhat enviously at Jeb Stuart's magnificent raiment,
and again pulled and brushed at his own.

"You cannot expect to equal it," said Harry, smiling.

"Not unless my opportunities improve greatly. I must say, also, that
the colors are a little too bright for me, although they suit him.
Everything must be in harmony, Harry, and it is certainly true of Stuart
and his uniform that they are in perfect accord. Good clothes, Harry,
give one courage and backbone."

Stuart and his men continued to advance rapidly, although they were now
deep in the hills, and Harry realized to the full that it was a splendid
command, splendid men and splendid horses, led by a cavalryman of
genius. Stuart neglected no precaution. He sent scouts ahead and threw
out flankers. When they reached the forest the ranks opened out, and,
without losing touch, a thousand men rode among the trees as easily as
they had ridden in the open fields.

They reached the crest of the last slope and Stuart, sitting his horse
with Harry and St. Clair on either side, looked through his glasses at
the valley below.

"Our people still hold it," he said. "I can see their gray uniforms and
I have no doubt the besiegers are still in the forest. Yes, there's
their signal!"

The heavy report of a cannon shot rolled up the valley and Harry saw a
shell burst over the fort. Carrington was still at work, playing upon
the nerves of the defenders.

"While we have ridden through the forest," said Stuart, "a cavalry
charge here is not possible. We must dismount, leaving one man in every
ten to hold the horses, signal to Colonel Talbot that help has come,
and then attack on foot."

A bugler advanced on horseback at Stuart's command, blew a long and
thrilling call, and then another man beside him broke ou