rs are cruel," he said. "The killing of one's own people is
worst of all."

But as they went on, Dick's melancholy fell from him, and he had only
pleasant recollections of the meeting. Besides, the continued movement
and freedom were inspiriting in the highest degree to youth. Although
it was August the day was cool, and the blue sky of Virginia was never
brighter. A refreshing breeze blew from dim, blue mountains that they
could see far ahead, and, as they entered a wide stretch of open country
where ambush was impossible, the trumpets called in the flankers.

"We shall make the lower mountains about midnight, and we'd better camp
then until dawn. Don't you think so, gentlemen?" asked Colonel Hertford
of his associate colonels, Winchester and Bedford.

"The plan seems sound to me," replied Bedford, the Pennsylvanian. "Of
course, we want to reach Sheridan as soon as possible, but if we push
the horses too hard we'll break them down."

Dick had dropped back with Warner and Pennington, but he heard the
colonels talking.

"We all saw General Sheridan at the great battles in the West," he said.
"I particularly remember how he planted himself and the batteries at
Perryville and saved us from defeat, but he seems to be looming up so
much more now in the East."

"He's become the Stuart of our side," said Warner. "I've heard some of
the people at Washington don't believe in him, but he has General Grant's
confidence and that's enough for me. Not that I put military authority
over civil rule, but war has to be fought by soldiers. I look for lively
times in the Valley of Virginia."

"Anyway, the Lord has delivered me from the trenches at Petersburg,"
said Pennington. "Think of me, used to roaming over a thousand miles of
plains, shut up between mud walls only four or five feet apart."

"I believe that, with Sheridan, you're going to have all the roaming you
want," said Dick.

They passed silent farm houses, but took nothing from them. Ample
provision was carried on extra horses or their own, and the three
colonels were anxious not to inflame the country by useless seizures.
Twilight came, and the low mountains sank away in the dusk. But they had
already reached a higher region where nearly all the hills were covered
with forest, and Colonel Hertford once more spread out the flankers,
Dick and the sergeant, as before, taking the right with their little
troop.

The night was fortunately clear, almost as ligh