Later on, the moon and all the stars slipped away, and it became very dark. Harry felt that it was merely a preliminary to the dawn, and he asked Dalton if he did not think so, too.
“It’s too dark for me to see the face of my watch,” said Dalton, “but I know you’re right, Harry. I can just feel the coming of the dawn. It’s some quality in the air. I think it grows a little colder than it has been in the other hours of the night.”
“I can feel the wind freshening on my face. It nips a bit for a May morning.”
They slackened speed a little, wishing to save their horses for a final burst, and stopped once or twice for a second or two to listen for the sound of other hoofbeats than their own. But they heard none.
“If the Yankee armies are already on the turnpike they’re not near us. That’s sure,” said Dalton.
“Do you know how many men they have?”
“Some of the spies brought in what the general believed to be pretty straight reports. The rumors said that Shields was advancing to Manassas Gap with ten thousand men, and from what we heard we know that is true. A second detachment, also ten thousand strong, from McDowell’s army is coming toward Front Royal, and McDowell has twenty thousand men east of the Blue Ridge. What the forces to the west are I don’t know but the enemy in face of the general himself on the Potomac must now number at least ten thousand.”
Harry whistled.
“And at the best we can’t muster more than fifteen thousand fit to carry arms!” he exclaimed.
Dalton leaned over in the dark, and touched his comrade on the shoulder.
“Harry,” he said, “don’t forget Old Jack. Where Little Sorrel leads there is always an army of forty thousand men. I’m not setting myself up to be very religious, but it’s safe to say that he was praying to-night, and when Old Jack prays, look out.”
“Yes, if anybody can lead us out of this trap it will be Old Jack,” said Harry. “Look, there’s the dawn coming over the Blue Ridge, George.”
A faint tint of gray was appearing on the loftiest crests of the Blue Ridge. It could scarcely be called light yet, but it was a sign to the two that the darkness there would soon melt away. Gradually the gray shredded off and then the ridges were tipped with silver which soon turned to gold. Dawn rushed down over the valley and the pleasant forests and fields sprang into light.
Then they heard hoofbeats behind them coming fast. The experienced ears of both told them that it was only a single horseman who came, and, drawing their pistols, they turned their horses across the road. When the rider saw the two threatening figures he stopped, but in a moment he rode on again. They were in gray and so was he.
“Why, it’s Chris Aubrey of the general’s own staff!” exclaimed Dalton. “Don’t you know him, Harry?”
“Of course I do. Aubrey, we’re friends. It’s Dalton and Kenton.”
Aubrey dashed his hands across his eyes, as if he were clearing a mist from them. He was worn and weary, and his look bore a singular resemblance to that of despair.
“What is it, Chris?” asked Dalton with sympathy.
“I was sent down the Luray Valley to learn what I could and I discovered that Ord was advancing with ten thousand men on Front Royal, where General Jackson left only a small garrison. I’m going as fast as my horse can take me to tell him.”
“We’re on the same kind of a mission, Chris,” said Harry. “We’ve seen the vanguard of Shields, ten thousand strong coming through Manassas Gap, and we also are going as fast as our horses can take us to tell General Jackson.”
“My God! Does it mean that we are about to be surrounded?”
“It looks like it,” said Harry, “but sometimes you catch things that you can’t hold. George and I never give up faith in Old Jack.”
“Nor do I,” said Aubrey. “Come on! We’ll ride together! I’m glad I met you boys. You give me courage.”