Shepard smiled, as if the question brought memories that pleased him.

"A fine youth," he said. "Yes, I've seen him more than once. I'm free
to tell you, Lieutenant Mason, that I know a lot about this rebel cousin
of yours. He and I have come into conflict on several occasions, and I
did not win every time."

"Nobody could beat Harry always," exclaimed Dick with youthful loyalty.
"He was always the strongest and most active among us, and the best in
forest and water. He could hunt and fish and trail like the scouts of
our border days."

"I found him in full possession of all these qualities and he used them
against me. I should grieve if that cousin of yours were to fall,
Mr. Mason. I want to know him still better after the war."

Dick would have asked further questions about the encounters between
Harry and the spy, but he judged that Shepard did not care to answer them,
and he forbore. Yet the man aroused the most intense curiosity in him.
There were spies and spies, and Shepard was one of them, but he was not
like the others. He was unquestionably a man of great mental power.
His calm, steady gaze and his words to the point showed it. No one
patronized Shepard.

"I should like to go into Richmond with you some dark night," said Dick,
who hid a strong spirit of adventure under his quiet exterior.

"You're not serious, Lieutenant Mason?"

"I wasn't, maybe, when I began to say it, but I believe I am now.