is mount, and, not looking back, he
continually urged the horse to greater speed.

Bending low he heard the distant sound of hoofbeats behind him, but they
soon died away. Then he entered a belt of forest, and when he passed
out on the other side no pursuit could be seen. But he did not slacken
speed. He knew that all Sherburne had said about Stonewall Jackson was
true. He would forgive no dallying by the way. He demanded of every man
his uttermost.

He turned from the unfenced field into the road, and rode at a full
gallop toward Winchester. The cold wind swept past and his spirits rose
high. Every pulse was beating with exultation. It was he who had brought
the warning to the defenders of the stores. It was he who had brought
Sherburne's troop to help beat off the attack, and now it was he who,
bursting through the ring of steel, was riding to Jackson and sure
relief.

His horse seemed to share his triumph. He ran on and on without a swerve
or jar. Once he stretched out his long head, and uttered a shrill neigh.
The sound died in far echoes, and then followed only the rapid beat of
his hoofs on the hard road.

Harry knew that there was no longer any danger to him from the enemy,
and he resolved now not to go to his own colonel, but to ride straight
to the tent of Jackson himself.

The night had never grown dark. Moon and stars still shed an abundant
light for the flying horseman, and presently he caught fleeting glimpses
through the trees of roofs that belonged to Winchester. Then two men
in gray spring into the road, and, leveling their rifles, gave him the
command to stop.

"I'm Lieutenant Kenton of the Invincibles," he cried, "and I come for
help. A strong force of the Yankees is besieging Hertford, and four
hundred of our men are defending it. There is no time to waste! They
must have help there before dawn, or everything is lost! Which way is
General Jackson's tent?"

"In that field on the hillock!" replied one of the men, pointing two or
three hundred yards away.

Harry raced toward the tent, which rose in modest size out of the
darkness, and sprang to the ground, when his horse reached it. A single
sentinel, rifle across his arms, was standing before it, but the flap
was thrown back and a light was burning inside.

"I'm a messenger for General Jackson!" cried Harry. "I've news that
can't wait!"

The sentinel hesitated a moment, but a figure within stepped to the door
of the tent and Harry for the