the shod hoofs struck, and Dick exulting felt the cold air rush past.
Another shot was fired at long range, but the bullet did not strike
anywhere near.

Dick took only a single backward glance. He saw the two men on their
horses, but drooping as if weak from hurts, and he knew that for the
present at least he was safe from any hurt from them. But he allowed his
horse his head for a long time, and then he gradually slowed him
down. No human being was in sight now and he spoke to the noble animal
soothingly.

"Good old boy," he said; "the strongest, the swiftest, the bravest, and
the truest. I was sorry to make those red stripes on your sides, but it
had to be done. Only quickness saved us."

The horse neighed. He was still quivering from excitement and
exertion. So was Dick for that matter. The men might have been robbers
merely--they were at least that bad--but they might have deprived him
also of his precious dispatch. He was proud of the confidence put in
him by General Thomas, and he meant to deserve it. It was this sense
of responsibility and pride that had attuned his faculties to so high a
pitch and that had made his action so swift, sudden and decisive.

But he steadied himself presently. The victory, for victory it certainly
was, increased his strength and confidence. He stopped soon at a
brook--they seemed to occur every mile--and bathed with cold water the
red streaks his spurs had made on either side of his horse. Again he
spoke soothing words and regretted the necessity that had caused him to
make such wounds, slight though they were.

He also bathed his own face and hands and, as it was now about noon,
ate of the cold ham and bread that he carried in his knapsack, meanwhile
keeping constant watch on the road over which he had come. But he did
not believe that the men would pursue, and he saw no sign of them.
Mounting again he rode forward.

The remainder of the afternoon went by without interruption. He passed
three or four people, but they were obviously natives of that region,
and they asked him only innocent questions. The wintry day was short,
and the twilight was soon at hand. He was riding over one of the bare
ridges, when first he noticed how late the day had grown. All the sky
was gray and chill and the cold sun was setting behind the western
mountains. A breeze sprang up, rustling among the leafless branches, and
Dick shivered in the saddle. A new necessity was pressed suddenly upon
him. H