The distant rifle fire and the occasional cannon shot had no significance
and did not disturb him. They blended now with the breeze that blew
among the leaves of the apple trees. He had never felt more like peace,
and the pleasant open country was soothing to the eye. What a contrast
to that dark and sodden Wilderness where men fought blindly in the dusk.
He shuddered as he remembered the forests set on fire by the shells,
and burning over the fallen.

A light step aroused him and a large man sat down on the bench beside
him. Dick often wondered at the swift and almost noiseless tread of
Shepard, with whom he was becoming well acquainted. He was tall, built
powerfully and must have weighed two hundred pounds, yet he moved with
the ease and grace of a boy of sixteen. Dick thought it must come from
his trade.

"I don't want to intrude, Mr. Mason," said Shepard, "but I saw you
sitting here, looking perhaps too grave and thoughtful for one of your
years."

"You're most welcome, Mr. Shepard, and I was thinking, that is in a vague
sort of way."

"I saw your face and you were wondering what was to become of Virginia
and the Virginians."

"So I was, but how did you know it?"

"I didn't know it. It was just a guess, and the guess was due to the
fact that I was having the same thoughts myself."