Andy gladly accepted the offer, and six o’clock in the morning found him homeward bound at the rate of four miles an hour, for the canvas-covered vehicle was loaded to the ash bows and the recent rains had rendered the roads almost impassable. Ordinarily the time would have dragged heavily, but the teamster was a jolly fellow, full of jokes and war stories, and he made Andy forget his troubles in spite of himself. They had their army rations with them and only stopped long enough to feed the horses. The teamster intimated several times that they might stop at a roadhouse, “to become better acquainted,” but as neither he nor Andy had money to spend this was not done. Andy’s heart beat quickly as they approached the familiar surroundings of Lee Run. What a long while it seemed since he had gone away! He wondered how his father and the rest of the family were. “Andy, my son! God be praised!” came from the stoop of the country store, and the next minute the young soldier was in his mother’s arms, while Grace was bobbing around, this side and that, looking for a chance to get at him. “You have been shot and a prisoner!” gasped Grace. “Oh, Andy!” “We thought you had been killed,” said the mother, with her eyes full of tears. “Captain Montgomery sent us word of how you had gone over the bluff while on horseback, and when Firefly came back alone--” “Firefly!” burst out Andy, his face beaming more brightly than ever. “Is he really back?” “Why, yes, he came back the next day. A man caught him who knew him and turned him over to Captain Montgomery. He is at home in the stable now.” “I’m awfully glad, mother. I was afraid I would never see the dear old fellow again. And how is father?” “As well as he can be expected. The war has upset him completely, and he cannot settle down to work as he used to do. But how pale and thin you are!” “He’s only a ghost of himself,” added Grace. “But never mind, Andy,” she went on, warmly, “we’ll fatten you up again, and make you strong, and I’m proud to know what a hero I have for a brother!” and then he gave her such a hug and a kiss as only Andy could give--he was so whole-souled in everything he did. Mrs. Arlington and Grace had been down to the store to do some trading and to hear the latest news from the seat of war. Around Washington, as we know, all was quiet, but in the west, especially in Missouri, matters were getting livelier every day. The news from this district did not arrive until three or four days old, there being no telegraph lines in use south of Cairo, but when it did come, how eagerly every line was perused, and what a running fire of comment ensued! Soon the three were on their way to the dairy farm. As the old horse jogged along over the stony road, Andy related the particulars of his experience at Ball’s Bluff. “I don’t mind telling you that I was scared,” he said to mother and sister, frankly, “but I wouldn’t have let the enemy know that for the world!”