I just grazed capture--passing through the door, in rear of the mansion, at the very moment when a number of the enemy, who had hastily dismounted, rushed in at the front door. Tom was mounted, and holding my horse, which the good boy had saddled with his own hands. I leaped to saddle, and had scarcely done so, when a pistol bullet whizzed by my head. It had crashed through a pane of the window from within--and a loud shout followed. We had been perceived. Under these circumstances, my dear reader, we always ran in the late war. Some persons considered it disgraceful to run or dodge, but they were civilians. “Don’t run until you are obliged to, but then run like the ----!” said a hard-fighting general. And one day when a lady was telling General R.E. Lee, how a friend of hers had dodged once, the general turned to the laughing officer, and said in his deep voice, “That’s right captain, dodge all you can!” I have often dodged, and more than once have--withdrawn rapidly. On this occasion, Tom and I thought that retreat was the wisest course. In a moment we had disappeared in the woods, followed by pistol shots and some of the enemy. They did not pursue us far. The Federal cavalry did not like the Virginia woods. In ten minutes their shots were no longer heard; their shouts died away; and returning on our steps, we came once more in sight of Disaways and reconnoitred. The enemy were not visible, and riding up, we dismounted and entered.[1] [Footnote 1: “I have taken up too much space with this trifle,” said Colonel Surry when I read this, “but that hot tea was a real cup of tea! I was really burned nearly to death, in attempting to swallow it! The dialogue with my friend, the cavalryman, was real; and it is just these trifles which cling to the memory, obscuring the ‘greater events!’”] XIV. MR. ALIBI. The enemy had eaten up my supper! A glance at the table told the whole tragic history;--but the unnerved family were scarce in a condition to think of my misfortune. The enemy had staid for a few moments only, but in that time the family had gathered important information of their intentions. They were going to surprise and attack General Fitz Lee that night; and had not so much as halted, as they passed the house, to gain a by-road beyond. They were commanded, the men said, by a General Darke, and guided by a man living near Monk’s Neck, whose name was Alibi. This information of the enemy’s design banished all other thoughts from my mind and Tom’s. We ran to our horses--and I think I heard something like a kiss, in the shadow of the porch, as Tom and Katy parted. We galloped into the woods, following a course parallel to that taken by the enemy’s cavalry, and keeping as close to it as was safe. “A sudden parting between yourself and Katy, Tom!” I said, as we galloped on. “A touching spectacle! When will you be married?” “In a week or two--to answer seriously, old fellow,” responded Tom. “Is it possible!” “Even so, my boy.”