"What is it, Dan?" I questioned cautiously; for all I could feel
reasonably assured of just then was that behind any rock or tree in our
front there might be crouching a Federal picket.

"It's nothing Cap," he answered quietly, turning his face toward me as
he spoke. "I'm just tryin' ter 'member some landmark yereabout ter
guide from. Blamed if ever I see such a dark night; it's like bein'
inside a pocket, sir, an' I reckon as how it must be nigh onter ten
year since I run loose in this yere country as a kid. Thet thar cut-off
we took a while back has sort o' confused me, that's a fac', and I
don't just know whar I am; but I reckon as how the main ridge road we
're a huntin' after oughter run somewhar out yonder." He pointed
forward into the night.

"I supposed from the map it would be found farther back and
considerably to the right of us," I ventured doubtfully.

"Never saw no map, Cap," he returned, with the easy familiarity of a
scout on service. "But if I recollect clear, it sure used ter run
mighty close ter the east edge. I reckon it ain't changed none to speak
of, an' so it'll have ter be somewhere just along thar."

He spoke with such an air of certainty that I felt any controversy
useless.

"Very well; hand me your rein, and see what you can discover out there
on foot. Sitting here isn't apt to mend matters, and we surely cannot
afford to cripple our horses among those rocks."

The Sergeant, a gaunt, tireless mountaineer, slipped silently from his