Part 7 (1/2)
”Yes, and at a steady pace. No stops and no hesitation.”
”Which shows that it's somebody who doesn't fear any harm.”
”The beats are pretty solid. A heavy man on a heavy horse.”
”About three hundred yards away, don't you think?”
”About that, sir.”
”Maybe a farmer going home?”
”Maybe, but I don't think so, sir.”
”At any rate, we'll soon see, because our unknown comes on without a break. There he is now!”
They had a comparatively clear view straight ahead, and the figure of a man and a horse emerged from the shadows.
The sergeant raised his rifle, but, as the man came on without fear, he dropped it again. Some strange effect of the moonlight exaggerated the rider and his horse, making both look gigantic, blending them together in such manner that a tremendous centaur seemed to be riding them down. In an instant or two the general effect vanished and as a clear beam fell upon the man's face d.i.c.k uttered an exclamation of relief.
”Shepard!” he said, and he felt then that he should have known before that it was Shepard who was coming. He, alone of all men, seemed to have the gift of omniscience and omnipresence. The spy drew his horse to a halt directly in front of him and saluted:
”Lieutenant Mason, sir?” he said.
”I'm glad it's you, Mr. Shepard,” said d.i.c.k. ”I think that in this wood we'll need the hundred eyes that once belonged to Argus, but which he has pa.s.sed on to you.”
”Thank you, sir,” said Shepard.
But the man at whom he looked most was the sergeant, and the sergeant looked most at him. One was a sergeant and the other was a spy, but each recognized in the other a king among men. Eyes swept over powerful chests and shoulders and open, bold countenances, and signified approval. They had met before, but they were more than well met here in the loneliness and the dark, amid dangers, where skill and courage, and not rank, counted. Then they nodded without speaking, as an Indian chief would to an Indian chief, his equal.
”You were coming to meet us, Mr. Shepard?” said d.i.c.k.
”I expected to find you on this path.”
”And you have something to tell?”
”A small Confederate force is in the mountains, awaiting Colonel Hertford. It is inferior to his in numbers, but it knows the country thoroughly and has the sympathy of all the inhabitants, who bring to it news of everything.”
”Do you know these Confederate troops?”
”Yes, sir. Their corps is a regiment called in General Lee's army the Invincibles, but it includes two other skeleton regiments. Colonel Talbot who leads the Invincibles is the commander of them all. He has, I should say, slightly less than a thousand men.”
”You know a good deal about this regiment called the Invincibles, do you not, Mr. Shepard?”
”I do, sir. Its colonel, Talbot, and its lieutenant-colonel, St. Hilaire, are as brave men as any that ever lived, and the regiment has an extraordinary reputation in the Southern army for courage. Two of General Lee's young staff officers are also with them now.”
”Who are they?”
”Lieutenant Harry Kenton and Lieutenant George Dalton.”
d.i.c.k with his troop rode at once to Colonel Hertford and reported.