to the bottom of the valley, about five
hundred feet below.

A fire burned there and they could discern men around it, with horses in
the background.

"Yankees," said Billy. "Look at 'em through the glasses."

Harry raised his glasses and took a long look. They had the full
moonlight where they stood and the fire in the valley below was also a
help. He saw that the camp was made by a strong cavalry force. Many of
them were asleep in their blankets, but the others sat by the fire and
seemed to be talking.

Then he passed the glasses to Dalton, who also, after looking long and
well, passed them to Billy, as a right belonging to one who had been
their real leader, and who shared equally with them their hardships and
dangers.

"How large would you say that force is, George?" asked Harry.

"Three or four hundred men at least. There's a great bunch of horses. I
should judge, too, from the careless way they've camped, that they've no
fear of being attacked. How many do you think they are, Billy?"

"Just about what you said, Cousin George. Are you going to attack them?"

Harry and Dalton laughed.

"No, Billy," replied Dalton. "You see we're only three, and there must
be at least three hundred down there."

"But we've been hearin' that Stonewall Jackson's men never mind a
hundred to one," said Billy, in an aggrieved tone. "We hear that's just
about what they like."

"No, Billy, my boy. We don't fight a hundred to one. Nobody does, unless
it's like Thermopylae and the Alamo."

"Then what are we going to do?" continued Billy in his disappointed
tone.

"I think, Billy, that Harry and I are going to dismount, slip down
the mountainside, see what we can see, hear what we can hear, and that
you'll stay here, holding and guarding the horses until we come back."

"I won't!" exclaimed Billy in violent indignation. "I won't, Cousin
George. I'm going down the mountain with you an' Mr. Kenton."

"Now, Billy," said Dalton soothingly, "you've got a most important job
here. You're the reserve, and you also hold the means of flight. Suppose
we're pursued hotly, we couldn't get away without the horses that you'll
hold for us. Suppose we should be taken. Then it's for you to gallop
back with the news that Shields' whole army will be in the pass in the
morning, and under such circumstances, your mother would send you on to
General Jackson with a message of such immense importance."

"That's so," said Billy with conviction, in t