r any of the Northern riflemen to reach him
with a bullet, and as before he disappeared quickly in the clouds of
dust and smoke which never ceased to float over both forces.

"Look out! The charge!" suddenly exclaimed Colonel Winchester.

They heard the thunder of the galloping horses, and also the flash of
many rifles and carbines. Cavalry met cavalry but the men in gray reeled
back, and as they retreated the Northern infantry in the wood sent a
deadly fire into the flank of the attacking force. The Southern infantry
replied, and a fierce battle raged along the road and through the woods.
Dick heard once more the rattling of bullets on bark, and felt the twigs
falling upon his face as they were shorn off by the missiles.

"We hold the road and we'll hold it for a while," exclaimed Colonel
Winchester, exultation showing in his tone.

"Why can't we hold it all the time?" Dick could not refrain from asking.

"Because we are retreating and the Southerners are continually coming
up, while our army wishes to go away."

Dick glanced through the trees and saw that great clouds of dust still
were rolling toward the northwest. It must be almost at the Rappahannock
now, and he began to appreciate what this desperate combat in the woods
meant. They were holding back the Southern army, while their men could
cross the river and reform behind it.

The battle swayed back and forth, and it was most desperate between
the cavalry. The bugles again and again called the gray horsemen to the
charge, and although the blue infantry supported their own horsemen with
a heavy rifle fire, and held the wood undaunted, the Northern rear
guard was forced to give way at last before the pressure of numbers and
attacks that would not cease.

Their own bugles sounded the retreat and they began to retire slowly.

"Do we run again?" exclaimed Pennington, a tear ploughing its way
through the smoky grime on his cheek.

"No, we don't run," replied Warner calmly, "We're forced back, and the
rebels will claim a victory but we haven't fought for nothing. Lee and
Jackson will never get up in time to attack our army before it's over
the river."

The regiment began its slow retreat. It had not suffered much, owing to
the shelter of the forest, and, full of courage and resolution, it was a
formidable support on the flank of the slowly retreating cavalry.

The evening was now at hand. The sun was setting once more over the
Virginia hills destined to be