e men strove for the sake of striving,
came to him again.

The Union horsemen rode along the edge of the stream a little space,
and then plunged into a ford. The water rose to their saddle skirts, but
they preserved their even line and Harry still admired. When all were on
his own shore the golden trumpet sang merrily again, and they turned the
heads of their horses southward.

Harry rode deeper into the ancient wood. They might throw out scouts or
skirmishers and he had no mind to be taken. It was his belief that they
came from Romney, where a Northern army had gathered in great force and
would eventually march toward Jackson at Winchester. But whatever their
errand, here was something for him to watch, and he meant to know what
they intended.

The Northern troop, youths also, the average of their age not much more
than twenty, rode briskly along the edge of the little river, which was
a shining one for them, too, as well as Harry. They knew that no enemy
in force was near, and they did not suspect that a single horseman
followed, keeping in the edge of the woods, his eyes missing nothing
that they did.

As for themselves, they were in the open now and the brilliant sunshine
quickened their blood. Some of them had been at Bull Run, but the sting
of that day was going with time. They were now in powerful force at the
head of the great Virginia valleys, and they would sweep down them with
such impact that nothing could stand before them. The trumpet sang its
mellow triumphant note again, and from across a far range of hills came
its like, a low mellow note, faint, almost an echo, but a certain reply.
It was the answer from another troop of their men who rode on a parallel
line several miles away.

The lone lad in the edge of the forest heard the distant note also, but
he gave it no heed. His eyes were always for the troop before him. He
had already learned from Stonewall Jackson that you cannot do two things
at once, but the one thing that you do you must do with all your might.

The troop presently left the river and entered the fields from which
the crops had been reaped long since. When the horsemen came to a fence
twelve men dismounted and threw down enough panels for the others to
ride through without breaking their formation. Everything was done with
order and precision. Harry could not keep from admiring. It was not
often that he saw so early in the war troops who were drilled so
beautifully, and who marche