is men. A skillful
and dangerous foe, as you know."

Already the fame of this daring Confederate horseman was spreading over
Virginia and Maryland.

"If we are right in our guess," said Major Hertford, "they will
dismount, lead their horses along the mountain side, and shut down the
trap upon us. Doubtless they are in superior force, and know the country
much better than we do. If they get ahead of us and have a little time
to do it in they will certainly tear up the tracks."

"I think you are right in all respects," said Colonel Newcomb. "But it
is obvious that we must not give them time to destroy the road ahead of
us. As for the rest, I wonder."

He pulled uneasily at his short beard, and then he caught sight of
Sergeant Whitley standing silently, arms folded, by the side of the
engine. Newcomb, the miner colonel, was a man of big and open mind.
A successful business man, he had the qualities which made him a good
general by the time the war was in its third year. He knew Whitley and
he knew, too, that he was an old army regular, bristling with experience
and shrewdness.

"Sergeant Whitley," he said, "in this emergency what would you do, if
you were in my place?"

The sergeant saluted respectfully.

"If I were in your place, sir, which I never will be," he replied,
"I would have all the troops leave the train. Then I would have the
engineers take the train forward slowly, while the troops marched on
either side of it, but at a sufficient distance to be hidden in the
darkness. Then, sir, our men could not be caught in a wreck, but with
their feet on solid earth they would be ready, if need be, for a fight,
which is our business."

"Well spoken, Sergeant Whitley," said Colonel Newcomb, while the other
officers also nodded approval. "Your plan is excellent and we will adopt
it. Get the troops out of the train quickly but in silence and do you,
Canby, be ready with the engine."

Dick and Warner with the older officers turned to the task. The young
soldiers were out of the train in two minutes and were forming in lines
on either side, arms ready. There were many whisperings among these
boys, but none loud enough to be heard twenty yards away. All felt
intense relief when they left the train and stood upon the solid, though
decidedly damp earth.

But the cold rain sweeping upon their faces was a tonic, both mental and
physical, after the close heat of the train. They did not know why they
had disembarked, but