reply was short and
seemingly gruff, as many another man's has been under too heavy
circumstances.

"Scouting duty. I've been on it for the past two months."

Mrs. Cary's hand went to her heart.

"A _scout_, Herbert! But, darling, why? It's so dangerous--so
horrible--so--"

He put up his hand, with a forced smile, to check her, and broke in
gayly.

"Ah, but think of the fun in it. It's like playing hide-and-go-seek with
Virgie."

But his wife was not to be put off so lightly and she put her impelling
hands on his arm.

Gary changed his tone. His voice deepened.

"They need me, dear," he said earnestly. "What does danger to one man
mean when Dixie calls us all? And I'm doing work--good work. I've
already given one battle to General Lee and now I have information that
will give him another and a bigger one. Two nights ago I came through
the Union lines. I ..."

Mrs. Cary rose unsteadily to her feet.

"Through the Yankee lines! Oh, Herbert. _Not as a spy!_"

"A spy? Of course not. I hid in the woods all day, then climbed a tall
pine tree and got the lay of their camp--the number of their guns--the
disposition of forces and their lines of attack. Yesterday I had the
wires at Drury's Bluff and started trouble. I'm on my way now to join my
command, but I had a good excuse for coming home to hold you in in my
arms again, if only for a moment. You see, poor old Roger got a wound in
his flank--from a stray bullet."

"A _stray_ bullet," asked Mrs. Gary, doubtfully.

"Yes," he smiled, for he had escaped it, "a stray bullet meant for
_me_."

"But, Daddy," Virgie interrupted, "while you were up in the tree--"

A wild whoop broke off Virgie's question. Sally Ann was rushing down the
steps, her eyes rolling up with excitement.

"Mars' Cary! Mars' Cary! Somebody comin' long de road!"

"Who? How many?" Cary demanded, springing up and running towards the
gate that opened on the wagon road over the hills.

"Des' one," responded Sally Ann with naive truthfulness. "Ol' Dr.
Simmons. He drivin' by de gate in de buggy."

Mrs. Cary threw up her hands with a muffled cry of relief and laughter.
"Oh, Sally! Sally!" she exclaimed, "you'll be the death of me."

"But Lor! Miss Hallie," said Sally plaintively, "he _tole_ me fer to
tell him."

Cary, returning, waved Sally Ann back to her post. "That's right," he
laughed. "You're a good sentry, Sally Ann. Go back and watch again.
_Scoot_!"

"Herbert," and his wife stood be