"No, but both of us at least have come out of it alive, and unwounded.
I'm sorry to see that your friend there is hurt."

"It's nothing," said Langdon, whose left arm was in a hasty bandage.
"A scratch only. I'll be able to use my arm as well as ever three days
from now."

"Your force," said St. Clair, "was marching to reinforce General Sheridan
in the Valley of Virginia. I'm not asking for information, which of
course you wouldn't give. I'm merely stating the fact."

"And yours," said Dick, "was marching to reinforce General Early in the
same valley. I, like you, am just making a statement."

"We've met, but you haven't been able to stop us."

"Nor have you been able to stop _us_."

"And so it's checkmate."

"Checkmate it is."

"Why don't you fellows give up and go home?" exclaimed Dick, moved by
an irresistible impulse. "You know that your armies are wearing out,
while ours are growing stronger!"

"We couldn't think of such a thing," replied St. Clair, in a tone of
cool assurance. "My friend Langdon here, has taken an oath to sleep
in the White House. We also intend to make a triumphal march through
Philadelphia, and then down Broadway in New York. You would not have us