eye belied it. "I suppose I might as well defer my
work if Jeb Stuart is coming to see me. Stay with me, lads, and help me
to entertain him. You know Stuart is nothing but a joyous boy--younger
than either of you, although he is one of the greatest cavalry leaders
of modern times."

Harry and Dalton were more than willing to remain. Everybody was always
glad when Jeb Stuart came. Now he was in his finest mood, and he and
the two staff officers with him rode at a canter. They leaped from
their horses at Jackson's door, throwing the reins over their necks and
leaving them to the orderly. Then they entered boldly, Stuart leading.
He was the only man in the whole Southern army who took liberties with
Jackson, although his liberties were always of the inoffensive kind.

If St. Clair was gorgeous in his new clothes, he would have been pale
beside Stuart, who also had new raiment. A most magnificent feather
looped and draped about his gold-braided hat. His uniform, of the
finest cloth, was heavy with gold braid and gold epaulets, and the great
yellow silk sash about his waist supported his gold-hilted sword.

"What new and splendid species of bird is this?" asked General Jackson,
as Stuart and his men saluted. "I have never before seen such grand
plumage."

Stuart complacently stroked the gold braid on his left sleeve and
looked about the hunting lodge, the walls of which had been decorated
accordingly long since by its owner.

"Splendid picture this of a race horse, General," he said, "and the one
of the trotter in action is almost as fine. Ah, sir, I knew there were
good sporting instincts in you and that they would come out in time.
I approve of it myself, but what will the members of your church say,
sir, when they hear of your moral decline?"

Jackson actually blushed and remained silent under the chaff.

"And here is a picture of a greyhound, and here of a terrier," continued
the bold Stuart. "Oh, General, you're not only going in for racing,
but for coursing dogs as well, and maybe fighting dogs, too! Throughout
the South all the old ladies look up to you as our highest moral
representative. What will they think when they hear of these things?
It would be worse than a great battle lost."

"General Stuart," said Jackson, "I know more about race horses than you
think I do."

He would add no more, but Harry had learned that, when quite a small boy,
he had ridden horses in backwoods races for a spor