r
four feet deep, but as its banks were thickly lined with dwarfed cedar
they were completely hidden unless they should chance to meet the
Southern riflemen, coming down the mountain by the same way.

The ravine at one point led out on a bare shoulder of the slope, and
looking over the little pines they clearly saw a fire blazing on the
crest and waving flags silhouetted before its glow. Far below, at
Fisher's Hill, flags were waving also.

"Quite a lively talk," whispered Shepard. "I suppose the lookouts are
telling a lot about our army."

"But it won't make much difference," said Dick. "By the time they've
spelled out from the flags what Sheridan is doing he'll be doing
something else."

They resumed their climb and the ravine led again into dense forest.
Sergeant Whitley had moved up by the side of Shepard, as they were now
near the enemy, and his great scouting abilities were needed. It was a
wise precaution, as presently he held up his hand, and then, at a signal
from him, the whole party climbed softly out of the ravine, and crouched
among the little cedars.

Now Dick himself heard what the sergeant had heard perhaps a half minute
earlier, that is, the footsteps of two men coming swiftly down the
ravine. In another minute they came in sight, Confederate troopers,
obviously scouting. Luckily, the ravine being stony and the light bad,
they did not see any trail, left by Shepard's troop, and they went on
down the ravine.

"Shall we go on?" asked Dick.

"Not yet, sir," replied Shepard. "They don't suspect that we're up here,
and it's likely they're trying for a good view of our army. But I fancy
they'll be returning in a few minutes. We'd best be very quiet, sir."

Dick cautioned the men, and they lay as still as wild animals in their
coverts. In about ten minutes the two riflemen came back up the ravine,
and the hidden troopers could hear them talking.

"We'll try some other part of the slope, Jack," said one.

"Yes, that was a bad view," rejoined the other. "We couldn't tell a
thing about the Yankee movements from down there. We can leave the
ravine higher up, and I know a path that leads toward the north."

"There's not much good in finding out about 'em anyway. That fellow
Sheridan is going to press us hard, and they have everything, numbers,
arms, food, while we have next to nothing."

"But we'll fight 'em anyhow. Still, I wish old Stonewall was here."

"But he ain't here, and we'll