He had forbidden anyone to enter and was trying to get a little rest which he was so much in need of. “What means this intrusion?” he asked starting up. “Nothing--noth-ing--no-thing--not much. Thought I must see you.” “Orderly Knox----” The strange visitor stopped him with a wave of the hand. “Don’t trouble yourself, general, I’m Old Fatality and I thought----” General Johnston repeated the name in a husky tone. “Yes; I am Old Fatality,” the other went on, unheeding the commander’s discomfiture; “and though my errand is not a pleasant one it is none the less----” “Orderly Knox----” “Stop, general! three ain’t company!” One of the general’s aides entered the tent. “What is it, general?” “Put that man out. He is disturbing me. How dared you let him in?” “How in the dickens did he get in? Mercy me, it is the mad wizard! Come along here, old man; you are not wanted here.” “Of course I ain’t. Misfortune ain’t wanted anywhere; but you have to take what the Lord sends, don’t you? I have taken the trouble to come here and I am going to stay with you--my spirit if not my body. I was with Beauregard at Shiloh, with Pemberton at Vicksburg, with Bragg at Chattanooga and--you know the result. I am sorry for you, General Johnston, for you are worthy of a better cause than which has led you into the field, but defeat is as sure to be your portion as night is to follow day. Adieu.” As silently as a shadow he passed out, the spectators unable to throw off the spell which he had thrown over them by his burning words and wild manner. When they did recover their self-possession enough to look for him he was gone as silently and mysteriously as he had appeared. Though no one may have believed his words they were never forgotten; and later on they were recalled with a startling distinctness. CHAPTER XII. WARLIKE SCENES. Fortunately for Mara Morland she had passed the pickets before the discovery of Cavalry Curt’s escape. We doubt if she would have succeeded in doing so then. The night was clear starlight and she had no difficulty in following the way. She was mounted on the same horse she had ridden in coming to Dalton and it was barely two hours ride to her home. A part of her journey lay on the road to Buzzard’s Gap. Anxious to reach home Mara was riding at a smart canter when she fancied she heard the sound of hoof-strokes behind her. Thinking nothing strange of this she kept on her way at her former rate of speed. The sounds continued and even grew plainer, until she was aware that not one rider but several horsemen were following her. “It must be a skirmishing party,” she thought, “or it may be troops going to Buzzard’s Gap.” Whichever case it might be she had no desire to be seen so she urged her horse on a faster gait--faster and faster until she fairly flew along the way. Still to her surprise the horsemen seemed to come nearer. Surprise soon gave place to alarm for she felt now that she was pursued.