on the slope, where he could watch what was going forward, and once more
his face turned to the likeness of the great Indian fighter.

He saw Sherburne's dismounted troop and others, perhaps five hundred in
all, moving slowly among the bushes parallel with the stream, and he saw
a force which he surmised to be of about equal size, creeping along in
the undergrowth on the other side. He followed both bodies with his
glasses. With long looking everything became clearer and clearer.
The moonlight had to him almost the brilliancy of day.

His eyes followed the Union force, until it came to a point where the
creek ran shallow over pebbles. Then the Union leader raised his sword,
uttered a cry of command, and the whole force dashed at the ford.
The cry met its response in an order from Sherburne, and the thickets
flamed with the Southern rifles.

The advantage was wholly with the South, standing on the defense in dark
undergrowth, and the Union troop, despite its desperate attempts at the
ford, was beaten back with great loss.

Harry waited until the result was sure, and then he walked slowly over
the hill toward the point, where the orderly was waiting with the horses.
The man, who knew him, handed him the reins of his mount, saying at the
same time:

"I've a note for you, sir."

"For me?"

"Yes, sir. It was handed to me about fifteen minutes ago by a large man