His own cavalry was gathering in the road ready to
meet Jeb Stuart and his squadrons.
The three boys sat on their horses within the covering of the trees,
and watched eagerly, while the hostile forces massed for battle. The
Southern cavalry was supported by infantry also on its flanks, and once
again Dick caught sight of Jeb Stuart with his floating plume. But that
time he was too far away for any of the Northern riflemen to reach him
with a bullet, and as before he disappeared quickly in the clouds of dust
and smoke which never ceased to float over both forces.
"Look out! The charge!" suddenly exclaimed Colonel Winchester.
They heard the thunder of the galloping horses, and also the flash of
many rifles and carbines. Cavalry met cavalry but the men in gray reeled
back, and as they retreated the Northern infantry in the wood sent a
deadly fire into the flank of the attacking force. The Southern infantry
replied, and a fierce battle raged along the road and through the woods.
Dick heard once more the rattling of bullets on bark, and felt the twigs
falling upon his face as they were shorn off by the missiles.
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