man rode off.

The boys had gone in and out among them, without being molested. Now
and then some rough fellow would swear at them, but for the most part
their intercourse with the boys was friendly. When, therefore, they
rode off, the boys were allowed by their mother to go and see the main
body.

Peter and Cole were with them. They took the main road and followed
along, picking up straps, and cartridges, and all those miscellaneous
things dropped by a large body of troops as they pass along.

Cartridges were very valuable, as they furnished the only powder and
shot the boys could get for hunting, and their supply was out. These
were found in unusual numbers. The boys filled their pockets, and
finally filled their sleeves, tying them tightly at the wrist with
strings, so that the contents would not spill out. One of the boys
found even an old pistol, which was considered a great treasure. He
bore it proudly in his belt, and was envied by all the others.

It was quite late in the afternoon when they thought of turning toward
home, their pockets and sleeves bagging down with the heavy
musket-cartridges. They left the Federal rear-guard feeding their
horses at a great white pile of corn which had been thrown out of the
corn-house of a neighbor, and was scattered all over the ground.

They crossed a field, descended a hill, and took the main road at its
foot, just as a body of cavalry came in sight. A small squad, riding
some little distance in advance of the main body, had already passed
by. These were Confederates. The first man they saw, at the head of
the column by the colonel, was the General, and a little behind him
was none other than Hugh on a gray roan; while not far down the column
rode their friend Tim Mills, looking rusty and sleepy as usual.

"Goodness! Why, here are the General and Hugh! How in the world did
you get away?" exclaimed the boys.

They learned that it was a column of cavalry following the line of the
raid, and that the General and Hugh had met them and volunteered. The
soldiers greeted the boys cordially.

"The Yankees are right up there," said the youngsters.

"Where? How many? What are they doing?" asked the General.

"A whole pack of 'em--right up there at the stables, and all about,
feeding their horses and sitting all around, and ever so many more
have gone along down the road."

"Fling the fence down there!" The boys pitched down the rails in two
or three places. An order was