ll be back at General
Jackson's tent with the news of their coming."

"If nothing gets in the way. Do you remember that man whom we saw on
the hill watching, the one who I said was Shepard, the ablest and most
daring of all their spies?"

"I haven't forgotten him."

"This man Shepard, Captain, is one of the most dangerous of all our
enemies. The Union could much more easily spare one of its generals
than Shepard. He's omniscient. He's a lineal descendant of Argus,
and has all the old man's hundred eyes, with a few extra ones added in
convenient places. He's a witch doctor, medicine man, and other things
beside. I believe he's followed us, that some way he's picked up our
trail somewhere. He may have been hanging on the rear of the troop when
we came through the gorge."

"Nonsense, Harry, you're turning the man into a supernatural being."

"That's just the way I feel about him."

"Then, if that's the case, we'd better be clearing out as fast as we
can. We've seen enough, anyhow. We'll go straight back to the company
and ride hard for the camp."

They reached the troop, which was waiting silently under the command
of the faithful Marlowe. But before they could gallop back toward the
south, the loud, clear call of a trumpet came from a point near by,
and it was followed quickly by the beat of many hoofs.

"I see him! It's Shepard," exclaimed Harry excitedly.

He had beheld what was almost the ghost of a horseman galloping among
the trees, followed in an instant by the more solid rush of the cavalry.

It was evident to both Sherburne and Harry that the Federal pickets and
outriders had acquired much skill and alertness, and they urged the
troop to its greatest speed. Even if they should be able to defeat
their immediate pursuers, it was no place for them to engage in battle,
as the enemy could soon come up in thousands.

As they galloped down the road they heard bullets kicking up the dust
behind, and the sound made them go faster. But they were still out of
range and the pursuit did not make any gain in the next few minutes.
But Harry, looking back, saw that the Union cavalry was hanging on
grimly, and he surmised also that other forces might appear soon on
their flanks.

"We've got to use every effort," he said to Sherburne.

"That's apparent. You were right about your man Shepard, Harry.
He has certainly inherited all the eyes of his ancestor, Argus, and
about three times as many besides. H