ving with Colonel Mosby," was
the quiet reply. "We were reconnoitring when we met your party, Major,
and you obligingly asked us to 'close up.'"

Goddard inwardly cursed his own stupidity. He remembered, too late,
that it was a favorite trick of Mosby's guerillas to disguise
themselves in Federal uniforms and raid the mail and supply trains.

"Where are you taking us?" he inquired as, obedient to an order from
Captain Tucker, the squad wheeled to the left at the fork of the roads.

"To Mosby," was the brief response. "Your name and regiment, and the
names of your companions, Major?"

Goddard quickly supplied the desired information, and Tucker rode up to
the wagon. "I am sorry to inconvenience you, ladies," he said, "but I
must take you with me to headquarters."

Miss Metoaca and Nancy had sat spellbound watching Goddard's capture
with startled eyes.

"Very well," said Miss Metoaca, with resignation, drawing a long
breath. "Apparently it is as difficult for me to get to Winchester as
it is for our troops to enter Richmond."

Tucker laughed as he leaned forward and addressed Symonds.

"If you try to drive anywhere but in the direction I tell you you will
be instantly shot; and you, too, Captain Lloyd," he added sternly.

Symonds nodded glumly. Both he and Lloyd had been searched and their
revolvers taken from them. Escape just then appeared to be out of the
question. They were but three men against twenty guerillas. It was
impossible to make the old mules go faster than a jog-trot; while the
rebels were well mounted. Goddard, with his arms bound behind him, rode
with a trooper on either side, each holding one of his reins.

After about an hour's ride over a rough road, that was really nothing
more than a cow path, they turned to the east until they reached a
creek.

Tucker shouted an order to his men, then turned to Miss Metoaca.

"We will bivouac in the woods yonder, near this ford," he said
courteously. "It is impossible for us to reach Mosby to-night."

The rough and ready camp was soon organized, and a special shelter was
arranged for Miss Metoaca and Nancy on the extreme left of the camp
fire. They had watched the preparations with interest and, glad of the
warmth of the fire, sat as near it as they conveniently could while a
hasty meal was being cooked.

From the first moment of their capture Lloyd had watched Nancy like a
lynx. Not a movement of her hands had escaped him. Had she planned
their cap