"Within five minutes."

"Good. I was going to allow you ten, but it's better to take only five.
Captain Sherburne, you have your instructions already. Now go, and bear
in mind, both of you, that you are to bring back what you are sent to
get, no matter what the cost. Prepare no excuses."

There was a stern and ominous ring in his last words, and Harry and
Sherburne, saluting, retired with all speed. Harry ran to his own tent,
snatched up his arms and blanket-roll, saddled and bridled his horse,
and well within five minutes was riding by the side of Captain
Sherburne. He shouted to St. Clair, who had run forward in amazement:

"Gone on a mission for Old Jack. Will be back--some time."

The cavalry troop of two hundred splendid men, led by Sherburne, one of
the finest of the younger leaders, trotted fast through the oak forest.
They were fully refreshed and they were glad of action. The great
heats of that famous summer, unusually hot alike in both east and west,
were gone, and now the cool, crisp breezes of autumn blew in their faces.

"Have you heard at what point on the Potomac the Union army is gathered?"
Harry asked.

"At a village called Berlin, so our spies say. You know McClellan
really has some high qualities. We found a heavy reconnoitering force
of cavalry not far in our front two or three days ago, and we did not
know what it meant, but General Jackson now has an idea that McClellan
wanted to find out whether we were near enough to the Potomac to dispute