I rode toward the town as rapidly as I dared, watchful of every deepening shadow, until I came to the first straggling houses. These were dark and silent, and not so much as a dog barked as I walked my horse cautiously forward toward the main street. I saw but one dim light streaming out through an uncurtained window of what looked like a law office, and passed close enough to learn that a group of men within were playing cards. I could glimpse their shadows, but was unable to determine if any among them were in uniform. Yet few men were at home in those days, and it was highly probable these belonged to the Major's escort. I passed the place unobserved, and rode on into the night, feeling I had escaped from immediate danger. At what I took to be the tavern corner I discovered the road leading to the left, and turned in that direction, assured that it would lead directly into the heart of Green Briar. At a little stream unbridged, I watered my horse, which drank greedily, and then climbed the opposite bank. The road ran through thick woods, the darkness intense, and as the way was silent and seemed deserted I gave the animal the spur.
I must have loped along thus for ten minutes, all thought of pursuit already dismissed, and my mind occupied with plans for the future, when the woods suddenly ended in a bare ridge, the ribbon of road revealing itself under the soft glow of the stars. I know not why I heard no sound of warning, but at the instant, a half dozen shadows loomed up blocking the path. I barely had time to rein in my horse before we were intermingled, the surprise evidently mutual, although one of the newcomers was swift enough to seize my animal's bit, and hold him plunging in fright. I clung to the stirrups, aware of the flash of a weapon in my face, and an oath uttered in a gruff voice.
"In God's name! where did you come from? Here, Snow, see what this fellow looks like."
The speaker had a wide brimmed hat, drawn low over his face, and a cape concealed his uniform. But Snow wore the cap of the Federal cavalry, and I knew I had fallen into Yankee hands.
CHAPTER V I JOIN THE FEDERAL CAVALRY
I SHOOK off the grip of the latter's hand from my arm.
"I have no objection to telling you my name and rank," I said coldly. "but lower that gun first; I am in uniform."
The rather contemptuous tone of voice employed had greater effect on the fellow than the evidence of his eyes. His arm fell to his side, although he still retained a grasp on my bridle.
"So I see," but with no cordiality in the words. "But that is hardly convincing. Federal officers are rare birds who ride these roads alone. Who are you, sir, and why are you here?"
"Perhaps I may be privileged to ask first by what authority you halt and question me?"
He laughed, and waved the weapon he still held toward the others of his party.
"Our force alone is sufficient authority I should suppose. However I will set your mind at—I am Captain Fox, in command of a detachment of the Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry."
"Oh, yes," I responded more pleasantly, "of General Ramsay's command. You had left Charleston before my arrival. You know Major Harwood, no doubt?"
"We are of his escort," both suspicion and command lost before my cool assurance. "You are in the service, sir?"
"Third United States Cavalry; on recruiting detail. I was to meet Harwood at Hot Springs, but was told he had gone to Green Briar."
"By whom?"
"A scout I met by chance; he gave the name Taylor."
The Captain swore grimly, glancing across my horse into the face of the trooper opposite.
"By all the gods, that's rather odd!" he exclaimed in apparent surprise. "That was the name of the man the Major expected to meet, wasn't it, Snow?"
"It was, sir."
"And he told you the Major had gone west to Green Briar? That isn't true, for this is the Green Briar road, and we have met no one. Were there no soldiers in Hot Springs?"
"I saw a group playing cards, but there were no sentries. The men had no knowledge of where Major Harwood had gone; only that he had left the village."
'Well, this stumps me!" his voice grown suddenly harder. "It doesn't sound straight, for we left him safely in Hot Springs an hour before sundown, and he had no purpose at that time except to wait there for Taylor. Do you carry any papers?"
I drew the official envelope from my pocket, and held it out to him calmly. He opened the flap.
"A little light, Snow—yes, a match will do."
The flame lit up their faces—the officer a thin-faced man with moustache and imperial, his teeth oddly prominent; the trooper older in years, but smooth-shaven, with deep-set eyes and square chin. Their uniforms were dusty and well worn. The others, clustered behind, remained mere shadows. The Captain took in the nature of the document at a glance, and I marked a change in his expression before the match went out.
"Oh, I see—you are Lieutenant Raymond. Got to us earlier than you expected. Find many recruits north?"
"No," I answered, taken completely by surprise, but managing to control my voice. "That was why I thought I might accomplish more in this section. Those counties have been combed over." I hesitated an instant, and yet it was best for me to learn what I could. "I was not aware, Captain, that my projected visit had been announced."
He laughed, and the second match went out, leaving us again in darkness.
"Nor was it, officially; merely a friendly letter from an officer on Heitzelman's staff to our Major, asking for you a friendly reception. Camp gossip brought the news to me. You knew Harwood?"
"No; only General Ramsay advised me to confer with him, because of his intimate knowledge of this section. He belonged, I believe, in Green Briar?"
"Yes, we were at his place yesterday; south of Lewisburg. What sort of a looking man was this fellow Taylor?"
I described him minutely, hoping for some recognition, but the Captain did not appear to recall any such character.
"We have only been in this region a few months," he said, in explanation, "and I don't remember any such chap. He is none of Ramsay's scouts. What do you say, Snow?"
"Only man like that I've heard of, sir, is old Ned Cowan, and it ain't likely he's left the mountins to go into 'Old Jack's' camp."
Fox laughed, as though the idea amused him.
"Hardly. Cowan is too well known to take the risk. Either side would hang the hound on sight. Well, let's ride along into Hot Springs. You'll come with us, Lieutenant?"
There was no excuse left me, no reason that