sister, Mr. Shepard,
must be a woman of extraordinary daring and ability."

"She's all that," replied the spy earnestly. "I think sometimes that
God gave to me the size and physical strength of the family, but to her
the mind. Think of her life there in Richmond, surrounded by dangers!
She has done great service to our cause tonight, and she has done other
services, equally as great, before."

Shepard was silent for a little while and then he began to chuckle to
himself, almost under his breath, but Dick heard.

"What is it?" he asked.

"I was thinking of my sister," Shepard replied. "Your cousin, Harry
Kenton, if you should ever meet him again--and I know that you will--
could tell you a story of a dark night in Richmond, or at least a part
of it, and he could also tell an interesting story, or a part of it, of
another map, almost as valuable as this, which disappeared mysteriously
from the house of a rich man in Richmond where he and other Southern
officers were being entertained. It vanished almost from under their
hands."

"Tell me now," said Dick, feeling great curiosity.

"I think I'd better wait, if you'll pardon me, sir," said Shepard.

"I'll have to wait anyhow," said Dick, "because I hear the tread of men
coming toward us."

"But they're our own," said Sergeant Whitley, who was a little ahead,
peering between the cedars.

"I suppose they heard the shots and are hurrying to our relief," said
Dick. "But we routed the enemy, we did not lose a man, and we've brought
away the prize."

The two forces joined and they were shortly back with Colonel Winchester,
who fully appreciated the great value of the information obtained by such
a remarkable coordination of effort.

"Dick," he said, "you and Mr. Shepard shall ride at once with me and this
map to General Sheridan."

CHAPTER IX

AT GRIPS WITH EARLY

Dick felt great excitement and elation as he rode before dawn with
Colonel Winchester and the spy to see Sheridan. They found him sitting
by a small fire receiving or sending reports, and talking with a
half-dozen of his generals. It was not yet day, but the flames lighted
up the commander's thin, eager face, and made him look more boyish than
ever.

Dick felt as he had felt before that he was in the presence of a man.
He had had the same impression when he stood near Grant and Thomas.
Did strong men send off electric currents of will and power which were
communicated to other men, by