exclaimed, triumphantly.

The blacksmith seemed convinced. "Mought hev hed a map," he speculated.
"Them fellers in the army _do_ hev maps. I f'und that out whenst I war
in the service."

The group listened respectfully. The blacksmith's practical knowledge of
the art of war had given him the prestige of a military authority.
Doubtless some of the acquiescent wights entertained a vague wonder how
the army contrived to fare onward bereft of his advice. And, indeed,
despite his maimed estate, his heart was the stoutest that thrilled to
the iteration of the trumpet. Nearer now it was, and once more echoing
down the sunset glen.

"Right wheel, trot--_march_," he muttered, interpreting the sound of the
horses' hoofs. "It's a critter company, fur sure!"

There was no splendor of pageant in the raid of the guerilla into the
Cove. The pines closing above the cleft in the woods masked the entrance
of the "critter company." Once a gleam of scarlet from the guidon
flashed on the sight. And again a detached horseman was visible in a
barren interval, reining in his steed on the almost vertical slant,
looking the centaur in literal presentation. The dull thud of hoofs made
itself felt as a continuous undertone to the clatter of stirrup and
sabre, and now and again rose the stirring mandate of the trumpet, with
that majestic, sweet sweep of sound which so thrills the senses. They
were coming indubitably, the troop of the dreaded guerilla--indeed, they
were already here. For while the sun still glinted on carbine and sabre
among the scarlet and golden tints of the deciduous growths and the
sombre green of the pines on the loftier slopes, the vanguard in column
of fours were among the gray shadows at the mountains' base and
speeding into the Cove at a hand-gallop, for the roads were fairly good
when once the level was reached. Though so military a presentment, for
they were all veterans in the service, despite the youth of many, they
were not in uniform. Some wore the brown jeans of the region, girt with
sword-belt and canteen, with great spurs and cavalry boots, and
broad-brimmed hats, which now and again flaunted cords or feathers.
Others had attained the Confederate gray, occasionally accented with a
glimmer of gold where a shoulder-strap or a chevron graced the garb. And
yet there was a certain homogeneity in their aspect. All rode after the
manner of the section, with the "long stirrup" at the extreme length of
the limb, and th