Dick. War is a terrible thing. Besides being a ruthless slaughter it's
an economic waste,--did you ever think of that, you reckless youngsters?--
but it has a few minor compensations, and one of them is an evening like
this. Why, everything tastes good to us. Nothing could taste bad.
Our twelve wounds don't pain us in the least, and they'll heal absolutely
in a few days, our blood being so healthy. The air we breathe is
absolutely pure and the sky over our heads is all blue and silver,
spangled with stars, a canopy stretched for our especial benefit, and
upon which we have as much claim of ownership as anybody else has.
We've lived out of doors so much and we've been through so much hard
exercise that our bodies are now pretty nearly tempered steel. I doubt
whether I'll ever be able to live indoors again, except in winter."

"I'm the luckiest of all," said Pennington. "Out on the plains we don't
have to live indoors much anyway. I've lived mostly in the saddle since
I was seven or eight years old, but the war has toughened me just the
same. I'll be able to sleep out any time, except in the blizzards."

"As soon as you finish devouring the government stores," said a voice
behind them, "it would be well for all of you to seek the sleep you're
telling so much about."

It was Colonel Winchester who spoke, and they looked at him, inquiringly.

"Can I ask, sir, which way we ride?" said Dick.

"Northward with General Sheridan," replied the Colonel.

"But there is no enemy to the north, sir!"

"That's true, but we go that way, nevertheless. Although you're discreet
young officers I'm not going to tell you any more. Now, as you've eaten
enough food and drunk enough coffee, be off to your blankets. I want all
of you to be fresh and strong in the morning."

Fresh and strong they were, and promptly General Sheridan rode away,
taking with him all the cavalry, his course taking him toward Front
Royal. The news soon spread among the horsemen that from Front Royal
the general would go on to Washington for a conference with the War
Department, while the cavalry would turn through a gap in the mountains,
and then destroy railroads in order to cut off General Early's
communications with Richmond.

"We're to be an escort and then a fighting and destroying force," said
Dick. "But it's quite sure that we'll meet no enemy until we go through
the gap. Meanwhile we'll enjoy a saunter along the valley."

But when they re