upon　by　slaves；　and　their　only　exercise　had　been　riding。　　For
  months　now　they　had　almost　lived　in　the　saddle；　had　slept　in　the
  open　air；　and　had　thought　themselves　lucky　if　they　could　obtain　a
  sufficient　meal　of　the　roughest　food　to　satisfy　their　hunger　once　a
  day。　　In　this　respect；　however；　the　cavalry　were　better　off　than　their
  comrades　of　the　infantry；　for　scouting　as　they　did　in　small　parties
  over　a　wide　extent　of　country；　they　were　sure　of　a　meal　and　a
  hearty　welcome　whenever　they　could　spare　time　to　stop　for　half　an
  hour　at　the　house　of　a　farmer。
  〃It's　a　glorious　life；　Wingfield！　When　we　chatted　over　the　future　at
  school　we　never　dreamed　of　such　a　life　as　this；　though　some　of　us
  did　talk　of　entering　the　army；　but　even　then　an　occasional　skirmish
  with　Indians　was　the　limit　of　our　ideas。〃
  〃Yes；　it　is　a　glorious　life！〃　Vincent　agreed。　　〃I　cannot　imagine
  anything　more　exciting。　　Of　course；　there　is　the　risk　of　being　shot；
  but　somehow　one　never　seems　to　think　of　that。　　There　is　always
  something　to　do　and　to　think　about；　from　the　time　one　starts　on　a
  scout　at　daybreak　to　that　when　one　lies　down　at　night　one's　senses
  are　on　the　stretch。　　Besides；　we　are　fighting　in　defense　of　our
  country　and　not　merely　as　a　profession；　though　I　don't　suppose；
  after　all；　that　makes　much　difference　when　one　is　once　in　for　it。
  As　far　as　I　have　read　all　soldiers　enjoy　campaigning；　and　it　does
  not　seem　to　make　any　difference　to　them　who　are　the　foe　or　what
  they　are　fighting　about。　　But　I　should　like　to　feel　a　little　more　sure
  that　we　shall　win　in　the　long　run。〃
  There　was　a　chorus　of　indignant　protests　against　there　being　any
  possible　doubts　as　to　the　issue。
  〃Why；　we　have　thrashed　them　every　time　we　have　met　them；
  Wingfield。〃
  〃That　is　all　very　well；〃　Vincent　said。　　〃Here　in　Virginia　we　have
  held　our　own；　and　more　than　held　it。　　We　have　beat　back　Scott　and
  McClellan；　and　now　we　have　thrashed　Pope；　and　Stonewall
  Jackson　has　won　a　dozen　battles　in　Western　Virginia。　　But　you
  must　remember　that　in　other　parts　they　are　gradually　closing　in；　all
  the　ports　not　already　taken　are　closely　blockaded；　they　are　pushing
  all　along　the　lines　of　the　great　rivers；　and　worst　of　all；　they　can　fill
  up　their　vacancies　with　Irishmen　and　Germans；　and　as　fast　as　one
  army　disappears　another　takes　its　place。　　I　believe　we　shall　heat
  them　again　and　again；　and　shall　prove；　as　we　have　proved　before；
  that　one　Southerner　fighting　for　home　and　liberty　is　more　than　a
  match　for　two　hired　Germans　or　Irishmen；　even　with　a　good　large
  sprinkling　of　Yankees　among　them。　　But　in　the　long　run　I　am　not
  sure　that　we　shall　win；　for　they　can　go　on　putting　big　armies　into
  the　field；　while　some　day　we　must　get　used　up。
  〃Of　course　it　is　possible　that　we　may　some　day　capture
  Washington；　and　that　the　North　may　get　weary　of　the　tremendous
  drain　of　money　and　men　caused　by　their　attempt　to　conquer　us。　　I
  hope　it　may　be　so；　for　I　should　like　to　think　that　we　should　win　in
  the　long　run。　　I　never　feel　any　doubt　about　our　winning　a　battle
  when　we　begin。　My　only　fear　is　that　we　may　get　used　up　before　the
  North　are　tired　of　it。
  〃I　did　not　expect　to　hear　you　talk　so；　Wingfield；　for　you　always
  seem　to　he　in　capital　spirits。〃
  〃I　am　in　capital　spirits；〃　Vincent　replied；　〃and　ready　to　fight　again
  and　again；　and　always　confident　we　shall　lick　the　Yankees；　the　fact
  that　I　have　a　doubt　whether　in　the　long　run　we　shall　outlast　them
  does　not　interfere　in　the　slightest　degree　with　my　comfort　at
  present。　　I　am　very　sorry　though　that　this　fellow　Pope　is　carrying　on
  the　war　so　brutally　instead　of　in　the　manner　in　which　General
  McClellan　and　the　other　commanders　have　waged　it。　　His
  proclamation　that　the　army　must　subsist　upon　the　country　it　passes
  through　gives　a　direct　invitation　to　the　soldiers　to　pillage；　and　his
  order　that　all　farmers　who　refuse　to　take　the　oath　to　the　Union　are
  to　be　driven　from　their　homes　and　sent　down　south　means　ruin　to
  all　the　peaceful　inhabitants；　for　there　is　scarcely　a　man　in　this　part
  of　Virginia　who　is　not　heartily　with　us。〃
  〃I　hear；〃　one　of　the　other　officers　said；　〃that　a　prisoner　who　was
  captured　this　morning　says　that　Pope　already　sees　that　he　has　made
  a　mistake；　and　that　he　yesterday　issued　a　fresh　order　saying　that　the
  proclamation　was　not　meant　to　authorize　pillage。　　He　finds　that　the
  inhabitants　who　before；　whatever　their　private　sentiments　were；
  maintained　a　sort　of　neutrality；　are　now　hostile；　that　they　drive　off
  their　cattle　into　the　woods；　and　even　set　fire　to　their　stacks；　to
  prevent　anything　from　being　carried　off　by　the　Yanks；　and　his
  troops　find　the　roads　broken　up　and　bridges　destroyed　and　all　sorts
  of　difficulties　thrown　in　their　way。〃
  〃It　does　not　always　pay…even　in　war…to　be　brutal。　　I　am　glad　to　see
  he　has　found　out　his　mistake　so　soon；〃　another　officer　said。
  〃McClellan　waged　war　like　a　gentleman；　and　if　blackguards　are　to
  be　allowed　to　carry　fire　and　sword　through　the　land　they　will　soon
  find　it　is　a　game　that　two　can　play　at；　and　matters　will　become
  horribly　embittered〃
  〃We　shall　never　do　that；〃　Vincent　said。　　〃Our　generals　are　all
  gentlemen；　and　Lee　and　Jackson　and　many　others　are　true
  Christians　as　well　as　true　soldiers；　and　I　am　sure　they　will　never
  countenance　that　on　our　side　whatever　the　Northerners　may　do。
  We　are　ready　to　fight　the　hordes　of　Yankees　and　Germans　and
  Irishmen　as　often　as　they　advance　against　us；　but　I　am　sure　that
  none　of　us　would　fire　a　homestead　or　ill…treat　defenseless　men　and
  women。　It　is　a　scandal　that　such　brutalities　are　committed　by　the
  ruffians　who　call　themselves　Southerners。　　The　guerrillas　in
  Missouri　and　Tennessee　are　equally　bad　whether　on　our　side　or　the
  other；　and　if　I　were　the　president　I　would　send　down　a　couple　of
  regiments；　and　hunt　down　the　fellows　who　bring　dishonor　on　our
  cause。　　If　the　South　cannot　free　herself　without　the　aid　of　ruffians
  of　this　kind　she　had　better　lay　down　her　arms　at　once。〃
  〃Bravo；　Wingfield！　　spoken　like　a　knight　of　chivalry！〃　one　of　the
  others　laughed。　　〃But　many　of　these　bands　have　done　good
  nevertheless。　　They　have　kept　the　enemy　busy　there；　and　occupied
  the　attention　of　a　very　large　force　who　might　otherwise　have　been
  in　the　woods　yonder　with　Pope。　　I　agree　with　you；　it　would　be
  better　if　the　whole　thing　were　fought　out　with　large　armies；　but
  there　is　a　good　deal　to　be　said　for　these　hands　you　are　so　severe
  upon。　They　are　composed　of　men　who　have　been　made　desperate
  by　seeing　their　farms　harried　and　their　buildings　burned　by　the
  enemy。　　They　have　been　denounced　as　traitors　by　their　neighbors
  on　the　other　side；　and　if　they　retaliate　I　don't　know　that　they　are　to
  be　altogether　blamed。　　I　know　that　if　my　place　at　home　were
  burned　down　and　my　people　insulted　and　ill…treated　I　should　be
  inclined　to　set　off　to　avenge　it。；'
  〃So　would　I；〃　Vincent　agreed；　〃but　it　should　be　upon　those　who　did
  the　wrong；　not　upon　innocent　people。〃
  〃That　is　all　very　well；　but　if　the　other　side　destroy　your　people's
  farms；　it　is　only　by　showing　them　that　two　can　play　at　the　game
  that　you　can　make　them　observe　the　laws　of　war。　　I　grant　it　would
  be　very　much　better　that　no　such　thing　should　take　place；　but　if　the
  Northerners　begin　this　sort　of　work　they　may　be　sure　that　there　will
  be　retaliation　Anyhow；　I　am　glad　that　I　am　an　officer　in　the　7th
  Virginians　and　not　a　guerrilla　leader　in　Missouri。　　Well；　all　this
  talking　is　dry　work。　　Has　no　one　got　a　full　canteen？〃
  〃I　have；〃　Vincent　said。　　〃Dan　managed　to　buy　a　gallon　of　rum　at　a
  farmhouse　yesterday。　　I　think　the　farmer　was　afraid　that　the　enemy
  might　be　paying　him　a　visit　before　many　days；　and　thought　it　best
  to　get　rid　of　his　spirits。　Anyhow；　Dan　got　the　keg　at　ordinary　city
  prices；　as　well　as　that　couple　of　fine　turkeys　he　is　just　bringing
  along　for　our　supper。　　So　you　had　better　each　get　your　ration　of
  bread　and　fall　to。〃
  There　was　a　cheer　as　Dan　placed　the　turkeys　down　in　the　center　of
  the　group；　and　soon　the　whole　party；　using　their　bread　as　plates；
  fell　to　upon　them；　and　afterward　joined　in　many　a　merry　song；
  while　Dan　handed　round　the　jar　of　spirits。
  CHAPTER　IX。　A　PRISONER。
  THE　PARTY　round　the　fire　were　just　about　to　disperse　when　the
  captain　of　Vincent's　troop　approached。　　He　took　the　horn　of　spirits
  and　water　that　Vincent　held　up　to　him　and　tossed　it　off。
  〃That　is　a　stirrup…cup；　Wingfield。〃
  〃What！　are　we　for　duty；　captain？〃　Vincent　asked　as　he　rose　to　his
  feet。
  〃Yes；　our　troop　and　Harper's　are　to　muster。　　Get　the　men　together
  quietly。　　I　think　it　is　a　serious　business；　each　of　the　regiments
  furnish　other　troops；　and　I　believe　Stuart　himself　takes　the
  command。〃
  〃That　sounds　like　work；　indeed；〃　Vincent　said。　　〃I　will　get　the
  troop　together；　sir。〃
  〃There　are　to　be　no　trumpet　calls；　Wingfleld；　we　are　to　get　off　as
  quietly　as　possible。〃
  Most　of　the　men　were　alread