"
"Lee is due," said Warner, "but I doubt whether his men will let him
expose himself in such a way. We'll have to slip under cover to get a
chance of seeing him."
The hours went on, and the fight between rear guard and vanguard never
ceased. That column of dust miles long was at the same distance in front,
continuing in its slow course for the river, but the foes in contact were
having plenty of dust showers of their own. Dick's throat and mouth
burned with the dust and heat of the pitiless August day, and his bones
ached with the tension and the long hours in the saddle. But his spirit
was high. They were holding off the Southern cavalry and he felt that
they would continue to do so.
About noon he ate more cold food, and then rode on, while the sun blazed
and blazed and the dust whirled in clouds like the "dust devils" of the
desert, continually spitting forth bullets instead of sand. Late in
the afternoon he heard the sound of many trumpets, and saw the Southern
cavalry getting together in a great mass. A warning ran instantly
among the Union troops and the horsemen in blue and one or two infantry
regiments drew closer together.
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