rough such a
sea of mud.

"A battle would be a relief," said Harry, as he rode with the
Invincibles, having brought some order to Colonel Talbot. "There's
nothing like this to take the starch out of men. Isn't that so, Happy?"

"It depresses ordinary persons like you, Harry," replied Langdon,
"but a soul like mine leaps up to meet the difficulties. Mud as an
obstacle is nothing to me. As I was riding along here I was merely
thinking about the different kinds we have. I note that this Virginia
mud is tremendously sticky, inclined to be red in color, and I should
say that on the whole it's not as handsome as our South Carolina mud,
especially when I see our product at its best. What kind of mud do you
have in Kentucky, Harry?"

"All kinds, red, black, brown and every other shade."

"Well, there's a lot of snow mixed with this, too. I think that at the
very bottom there is a layer of snow, and then the mud and the snow come
in alternate layers until within a foot of the top, after which it's all
mud. Harry, Old Jack doesn't believe it's right to fight on Sunday,
but do you believe it's right to fight in winter, when the armies have
to waste so much strength and effort in getting at one another?"

He was interrupted by the mellow tones of a bugle, and a brilliant troop
of horsemen came trotting toward them through a field, where the mud was
not so deep. They recognized Stuart in his gorgeous panoply at their
head and behind him was Sherburne.

Stuart rode up to the Invincibles. Colonel Leonidas Talbot and
Lieutenant-Colonel Hector St. Hilaire gravely saluted the brilliant
apparition.

"I am General Stuart," said Stuart, lifting the plumed hat, "and I
am glad to welcome the vanguard of General Jackson. May I ask, sir,
what regiment is this?"

"It is the South Carolina regiment known as the Invincibles," said
Colonel Talbot proudly, as he lifted his cap in a return salute,
"although it does not now contain many South Carolinians. Alas! most of
the lads who marched so proudly away from Charleston have gone to their
last rest, and their places have been filled chiefly by Virginians.
But the Virginians are a brave and gallant people, sir, almost equal
in fire and dash to the South Carolinians."

Stuart smiled. He knew that it was meant as a compliment of the first
class, and as such he took it.

"I think, sir," he said, "that I am speaking to Colonel Leonidas Talbot?"

"You are, sir, and the gentleman