ward is with the Rifles?"

"Yes, adding lustre to the ranks. I came upon him yesterday cutting wood
for his mess. 'Why don't you make Jeames cut the wood?' I asked. 'Why,'
said he, 'you see it hurts his pride--and, beside, some one must cook.
Jeames cooks.'" Cary laughed. "I left him getting up his load and
hurrying off to roll call. Phoebus Apollo swincking for Mars!--I was
at Greenwood the other day. They all sent you their love."

A colour came into Cleave's dark cheek. "Thank them for me when you
write. Only the ladies are there?"

"Yes. I told them it had the air of a Spanish nunnery. Maury Stafford is
with Magruder on the Peninsula."

"Yes."

"Judith had a letter from him. He was in the affair at Bethel.--What's
this? Orders for us all to move, I hope!"

A courier had galloped into the wood. "General Jackson? Where is General
Jackson?" A hundred hands having pointed out Little Sorrel and his
rider, he arrived breathless, saluted, and extended a gauntleted hand
with a folded bit of paper. Jackson took and opened the missive with his
usual deliberation, glanced over the contents, and pushed Little Sorrel
nearer to Fauquier Cary. "_General_," he read aloud, though in a low
voice, "_the signal officer reports a turning column of the enemy
approaching Sudley Ford two miles above the Stone Bridge. You will
advance with all speed to the support of the endangered left. Bee and
Barlow, the Hampton Legion and the Virginia Legion will receive like
orders. J. E. Johnston, General Commanding._"

The commander of the Virginia Legion gathered up his reins. "Thank you,
general! _Au revoir_--and laurels to us all!" With a wave of his hand to
Cleave, he was gone, crashing through the thinning pines to the
broomsedge field and his waiting men.

It was nine o'clock, hot and clear, the Stone Bridge three miles away.
The First Brigade went at a double quick, guided by the sound of
musketry, growing in volume. The pines were left behind; oak copse
succeeded, then the up and down of grassy fields. Wooden fences
stretched across the way, streamlets presented themselves, here and
there gaped a ravine, ragged and deep. On and on and over all! Bee and
Bartow were ahead, and Hampton and the Virginia Legion. The sound of the
guns grew louder. "Evans hasn't got but six regiments. _Get on, men, get
on!_"

The fields were very rough, all things uneven and retarding. Only the
sun had no obstacles: he rose high, and there set in a scorch