And with a gloomy look he rushed from the house, followed by the gray
woman.
XII.
THE BUCKLAND RACES.
In a moment the voice of Darke was heard, ordering "to horse!" a
clatter of sabres followed; and the company of cavalry sat out at full
gallop toward the firing.
At their head I saw Darke's burly figure. The woman, escorted by an
orderly, rode toward the rear.
In a few minutes the company of cavalry had entered a belt of woods and
disappeared.
We had hastened into the apartment--Tom and myself, and looked now
toward the highway. It was dark with a long column of Federal cavalry
which seemed to be in great agitation.
The column, as well as I could make out, numbered at least a division.
Neither the head nor the tail of the blue serpent was visible--only the
main body, with its drawn sabres glittering like silver scales in the
sun.
I hesitated not many seconds. Something was evidently going on, and our
present whereabouts dangerous.
With a hasty salute to the young ladies who had hurried in, I made a
sign to Tom, and ran to my horse.
My companion did not join me for at least five minutes. Impatience
began to master me, when he appeared, laughing, and flourishing a knot
of red ribbon, which I had observed in Miss Katy's hair.
With a bound he was in the saddle--I saw him turn and make a gay salute
toward the ladies on the steps, and then we set out at full speed
across the fields to rejoin Stuart.
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