both. Then Stackridge gave Dobbin a resounding slap, and the
horse bounded away, bearing his rider swiftly out of sight in the woods.

All this had passed so rapidly that Penn had scarcely time to think of
any thing but the necessity of immediate flight. But during that
solitary ride through the forest he had ample leisure for reflection. He
thought of the mountain cave, whose gloomy but quiet shelter, whose dark
but nevertheless humane and hospitable inmates he seemed to have quitted
weeks ago, so crowded with experiences had been the few hours since last
he shook Pomp and Cudjo by the hand. He thought of Virginia and her
father, to visit whom for perhaps the last time he had incurred the risk
of descending into the valley; whom now he felt, with a strangely
swelling heart, that he might never see again. And he thought with
grief, pity, and remorse of Carl, a rebel now for his sake.

These things, and many more, agitated him as he spurred the farmer's
horse along the narrow, shaded, lonesome path. He met an old man on
horseback, with a bright-faced girl riding behind him on the crupper,
who bade him a pleasant good morning, and pursued their way. Next came
some boys driving mules laden with sacks of corn. At last Penn saw two
men in butternut suits with muskets on their shoulders. He knew by their
looks that they were secessionists hastening to join their friends in
town. They regarded him suspiciously as he came galloping up. Penn
perceived that some off-hand word was necessary in passing them.

"Hurry on with those guns!" he cried; "they are wanted!"

And he dashed away, as if his sole business was to hurry up guns for the
confederate cause.

He met with no other adventure that day. He followed Stackridge's
directions implicitly, and at evening, leaving his horse tied in the
woods, approached on foot the house to which he had been sent.

He was cordially received by the same old man whom he had seen riding to
town in the morning with a bright-faced girl clinging behind him. At a
hint from Stackridge the man had hastily ridden home again, passing Penn
at noon while he lay hidden in the woods; and here he was, honest,
friendly, vigilant, to receive and protect his guest.

"You did well," he said, "to turn off up the mountain; for I am not the
only man that passed you there. You have been pursued. Three persons
have gone on after you. I met them as I was going into town; they
inquired of me if I had seen you, and