It was nearly six o'clock when we finally reached the point where I thought I could safely commence my retrograde movement. As soon as I would turn to the right, the division of Luce's army I wanted to reach would lay directly between the place I would be then and the Potomac. During the last of our ride I had, by a bold move or two, managed to get very definite knowledge of the disposition of the Rebel troops in the vicinity, and by a lucky accident, during an enforced separation, Ned had discovered almost to a certainty that Captain DeLacy was where I had thought him. We had also in the middle of the afternoon each secured a fresh horse, and by far greater good fortune than I had dared hope for, they were fine, Looking back now, it seems strange that we were able to make our way as rapidly as we did through that section, filled as it was with troops, without being taken prisoner, scientifically bushwhacked, or picked off by a sharpshooter. A number of times we did barely escape encounters which would have cost us dear. About the middle of the afternoon we had come near running into a body of the Rebel troops. We were on a hill not far from a road running directly northwest, when through an opening in the trees there became visible a cloud of dust, which meant either sheep or Rebels. Taking into consideration time, place and circumstances, I knew the chances were that it meant Rebels. Dismounting I ordered Ned to take the horses and himself into concealment in an adjacent ravine, and I made my way to a large tree I had noticed for The extent of the knowledge I gained was that a move of some kind was on foot, which I did not understand. I was near enough to have thrown a stone down on the moving column, and I could recognize General Middlesworth riding with his staff. Why he was angling away from the main part of Luce's army and toward the Potomac puzzled me, and at a time when I did not care to solve any more enigmas than absolutely necessary. What General Middlesworth's move meant occupied my thoughts off and on all afternoon, as none of the intelligence I managed to gather could be made to explain it, and I determined to find out all about it when in the Rebel camp if possible. Before turning back in the direction of the Potomac I gave our horses a short rest. They had made remarkable good time and though comparatively fresh, they would, after we got beyond the Rebel lines again, have to be pushed to the full extent of their endurance. Besides, I did not care to start back too soon, for I wanted it to be dark when we would reach the vicinity of T——. I knew the moon would not rise that night until a little after eight, and between dusk and that time I had planned to get beyond T——, procure a vehicle of some kind and assume my disguise. That done, I was ready to encounter the enemy at any time, although I aimed to run against them later and further on. Ned made an excursion into a neighboring field and brought back some feed for the horses. As soon as they finished their meal we started. Ned soon suggested that we might find a conveyance that would answer our purpose at The stables stood off by themselves and we were well enough satisfied not to find anyone around them and did not investigate further. The carriage and horses were gone, but we found a good set of harness and an old fashioned light buggy, which suited our purpose admirably and were all we needed. We had left our horses in the woods across the lane. I went on ahead to reconnoiter. Ned followed, pulling the buggy. By the time I was arrayed in my disguise Ned had the horses harnessed to the buggy and my clothes and the saddles and bridles stowed compactly away under the buggy seat. It was an extra piece of luck finding a vehicle so near, for I could not assume my disguise I had on starting from S—— forbade Ned to address me except as Miss Salome, for I was afraid if he did not have some practice he would in any sudden fright forget and let slip the "Mars," which would be sure to rouse suspicion. I impressed on him that he must, until we were through with the rather unpleasant affair before us, act as if I were in reality his young mistress, whom he was trying to get safely to her home, and protect to the best of his ability in a dangerous and unsettled country. It was a decided change in our mode of progression for us to be speeding along over good roads in a comfortable buggy and not actually shunning observation, as I had been obliged to do until then. But while it was a rest, it was the kind of a rest one experiences |