bit ashamed.
But two captains older than himself were sound asleep with their backs
against trees.

Dick stood up and shook himself violently. Whatever others might do he
must not allow himself to relax so much. He saw that the sun was slowly
descending and that the full heat of the afternoon was passing. Colonel
Winchester had withdrawn somewhat among the trees and he beckoned to
him. Sergeant Whitley was standing beside the colonel.

"Dick," said Colonel Winchester, "colored men have brought us news that
Colonel Grierson of our army, with a strong raiding force of nearly two
thousand cavalry is less than a day's march away and on the same side
of this river that we are. We have received the news from three separate
sources and it must be true. Probably Forrest's men know it, too, but
expect Grierson to pass on, wholly ignorant that we're here. I have
chosen you and Sergeant Whitley to bring Grierson to our relief. The
horses are ready. Now go, and God speed you. The sergeant will tell you
what we know as you ride."

Dick sprang at once into the saddle, and with a brief good-bye he and
the sergeant were soon in the forest riding toward the southeast. Dick
was alive and energetic again. All that laziness of mind and body was
gone. He rode on a great ride and every sense was alert.

"Tell me," he said, "just about what the news is."

"Three men," replied the sergeant, "came in at different times with
tales, but the three tales agree. Grierson has made a great raid, even
further down than we have gone. He has more than double our numbers, and
if we can unite with him it's likely that we can turn Forrest into the
pursued instead of the pursuer. They say we can hit his trail about
twenty-five miles from here, and if that's so we'll bring him up to the
ford by noon to-morrow. Doesn't it look promising to you, Lieutenant
Mason?"

"It does look promising, Sergeant Whitley, if we don't happen to be
taken by the Johnnies who infest this region. Besides, you'll have to
guide through the dark to-night. You're trained to that sort of thing."

"You can see pretty well in the dark yourself, sir; and since our way
lies almost wholly through forest I see no reason why we should be
captured."

"That's so, sergeant. I'm just as much of an optimist as you are. You
keep the course, and I'm with you to the finish."

They rode rather fast at first as the sun had not yet set, picking their
way through the woods, and soon left their