"My dear Gil!" cried Brace, gently, "I see now. Yes; such thoughts are
enough to chill any one. I had not thought of them. But come, come; we
have enough to do to fight with real troubles. You must not build up
imaginary ones. Your father is a good soldier, I have heard, and his
regiment is noted for its discipline. Let us trust that he has not been
surprised, but had warnings of the trouble to come, and has placed your
mother and sister and the other ladies of his station in safety."
"Thank you," I said quietly, for his words were comforting; and I knew
that my trouble was imaginary.
"Hah, that's better!" he cried. "Come, we must be getting near the
town."
We were passing through a wooded part of the country now, the road being
cut in several places through patches of forest; and scouts and flankers
were sent out to make sure against surprise, as we were getting so near
the enemy's lair.
Ten minutes later there was an alarm in front, shouts and the clashing
of swords, and in a wonderfully short time a couple of guns were
unlimbered and ready for action, while Haynes was sent forward to
support our men as they were out of sight beyond the trees, and did not
return.
But before Haynes had gone far, he met them coming back, to report that
they had surprised a picket of half a dozen sowars who were watching our
road.
"And you let them gallop off," cried Brace, angrily, "to alarm their
comrades?"
"No, sir," said the corporal, who was at the head of the advance; "we
went at 'em directly."
"How many got back?"
"None on 'em, sir."
"Anybody hurt?"
"No, sir. Scratch or two on the horses' heads and necks; that's all."
The orders were given to limber up again, and we advanced once more, as
soon as the farriers had roughly seen to the injuries the horses had
received; and as we went on, I caught a glimpse or two of the white
uniforms and puggrees of the sowars in amongst the trees to right and
left, the broken-down twigs and herbage showing where the running fight
had taken place.
Brace reined up by one of the dead men.
"Why, Gil," he said, "this must be the same regiment as the one we met."