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"Well, Harry," said Sherburne, still attempting the gay air, "chance has brought us together again, and I should judge from your appearance that you've come a long way, bringing nothing particularly good." "It's so. George and I have been riding all night. We were in Manassas Gap and we learned definitely that Shields is coming through the pass with ten thousand men."
Praying for both, his heart grew strong, and he heard the sick man say, ere he journeyed forth to the crossroads: "You have shown me the way. I have peace." "Speak for me in the Presence," said Sherburne softly. The dying man could not answer, but that moment, as he journeyed forth on the Far Trail, he held Sherburne's hand. "Why don't she come back, father?"
Sherburne and Funsten, two of Ashby's most valiant cavalry leaders, came up with their squadrons, and covered the retreat, fighting off the Northern horsemen as Jackson and his army disappeared in the woods, and night came over the lost field. The Southern army retired, beaten, but sullen and defiant. It did not go far, but stopped at a point where the supply train had been placed.
"Forward!" said Captain Philip Sherburne, himself leading the way, Harry by his side. The troops, wheeling back into the road and marching by fours in perfect order, rode straight toward the village. "Who comes?" was the stern hail. "A troop of Stonewall Jackson's cavalry to help you," replied Sherburne. "You are about to be attacked by a Northern division eight hundred strong."
Once or twice Sherburne looked round as though he felt others present, and once Pierre looked out to the wide portals, as though he saw some one entering. But there was nothing to the eye nothing. Presently Pierre said: "Begin." The other drew a card, then Pierre drew one, then the other, then Pierre again; and so on. How slow the game was!
He drew his men back instantly somewhat in the shelter of the trees and received the Union fire first. As Sherburne had expected, few of the Northern bullets struck home. Some knocked bark from the trees, others kicked up dirt from the frozen road, but most of them sang vainly through the empty air and passed far beyond.
"Captain Sherburne, under the urgency of pursuit, scattered his men in order that some of them at least might reach you with the news of General McClellan's crossing. I was the first detached, and so I know nothing of the others." "And also you were the first to arrive. I trust that Captain Sherburne and all of his men will yet come. We can ill spare them." "I truly hope so, sir."
The present building is about three hundred years old, and quaint gardens adjoin it, while quite an extensive park surrounds the college. Not far away are Clytheroe Castle and the beautiful ruins of Whalley Abbey. The Stonyhurst gardens are said to remain substantially as their designer, Sir Nicholas Sherburne, left them.
But Harry, who was keeping by the side of Sherburne, saw Stuart halt suddenly. A messenger had galloped up to him and he brought formidable news. A heavy column of horsemen had just appeared directly behind the Southern cavalry and was marching to the attack. Stuart was in a trap. Harry saw that Stuart had been outgeneralled, and again he shut his teeth together hard.
They were met by more Northern cavalry coming up, and the combat assumed a deeper and more furious phase. Sherburne, with the fragment of his troop and Harry by his side, was in this charge. The effect of it upon Harry, as upon his older comrade, was bewildering. The combatants, having emptied their pistols or thrust them back in their belts, were now using their sabres alone.
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