"I know that man, although I've never seen him before in a uniform,"
he said. "I met him when President Davis was inaugurated at Montgomery
and I saw him again at Washington. His name is Shepard, the most
skillful and daring of all the Union spies."

"I've heard you speak of that fellow before," said Sherburne, "and since
we've put him to flight, I think we'd better stop. Ten to one, if we
follow him over the brow of the hill, he'll lead us into an ambush."

"I think you're right, Captain, and it's likely, too, that he'll come
back soon with a heavy cavalry detachment. I've no doubt that thousands
of Union horsemen are this side of the river."

Sherburne was impressed by Harry's words, and the little detachment,
returning at a gallop, joined the main troop, which was now close to a
considerable stretch of forest.

"Ah, there they are!" exclaimed Harry, looking back at the hill on which
he had seen the lone horseman.

A powerful body of cavalry showed for a moment against the sun, which
was burning low and red in the west. The background was so intense and
vivid that the horsemen did not form a mass, but every figure stood
detached, a black outline against the sky. Harry judged that they were
at least a thousand in number.

"Too strong a force for us to meet," said Sherburne. "They must
outnumber us five to one, and since they've had practice the Northern
cavalry has improved a lot. It must be a part of the big force that
made the scout toward our lines. Good thing the forest is just ahead."