His mind became
absorbed in a vital question. Would Lee and Jackson come up before they
could reach the bigger river? Would a battle be forced the next day
while the Union army was in retreat? He confided his anxieties to Warner
who rode by his side.
"I take it that it's only a vanguard that's pursuing us," said the
Vermonter. "If they were in great force they'd have been pushing harder
and harder. We must have got a good start before Lee and Jackson found
us out. We know our Jackson, Dick, and he'd have been right on top of
us without delay."
"That's right, George. It must be their cavalry mostly. I suppose Jeb
Stuart is there leading them. At any rate we'll soon know better what's
doing. Look there toward the east. Don't you see a ray of light behind
that hill?"
"I see it, Dick."
"Is it the first ray of the morning, or is it just a low star?"
"It's the dawn, Dick, and mighty glad I am to see it. Look how fast it
comes!"
The sun shot up, over the hill. The sky turning to silver soon gave way
to gold, and the clear August light poured in a flood over the rolling
country.
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