“I said that, Surry,” Tom continued, “and as I could not go back into the infantry on account of my leg, I applied for an assignment to duty in the cavalry. Then the war office had a time of it. I besieged the nabobs of the red tape day and night, and they got so tired of me at last that they told me to find a general who wanted an aid and they would assign me.” “Well, as I was coming out of the den I met General Jeb Stuart going in. I knew him well, and he was tenth cousin to my grandmother, which you know counts for a great deal in Virginia.” “What’s the matter, Tom?” he said. “I want a place in the cavalry, general.” “What claim have you?” “Shot in the leg--can’t walk--am tired of drilling men in bomb-proof.” “Good!” he said. “That’s the way to talk. Come in here.” “And he dragged me along. I found that one of his aids had just been captured--he wanted another, and he applied for me. A month afterward his application was approved--short for the war office. That was five days ago. I got into the saddle,--pushed for the Rapidan--got to Middleburg--and arrived in time for supper.” “That’s my history, old fellow, except that I have just fallen in love--with the young angel who waited on me at supper, Miss Katy Dare. I opened the campaign in a corner last night--and I intend to win her, Surry, or perish in the attempt!” XVII. STUART GRAZES CAPTURE. As Tom Herbert uttered these words, a loud shout in front startled us. Stuart had ridden on ahead of his column, through the immense deserted camps around Wolf Run Shoals, attended only by two or three staff officers. As I now raised my head quickly, I saw him coming back at headlong speed, directing his horse by means of the halter only, and hotly pursued by a detachment of Federal cavalry, firing on him as they pressed, with loud shouts, upon his very heels. “Halt!” shouted the enemy. And this order was followed by “bang! bang! bang!” Stuart did not obey the order. “Halt! halt!” And a storm of bullets whistled around our heads. I had drawn my sword, but before I could go to Stuart’s assistance, Tom shot ahead of me. He came just in time. Two of the enemy had caught up with Stuart, and were making furious cuts at him. He parried the blow of one of the Federal cavalry-men--and the other fell from the saddle, throwing up his hands as he did so. Tom Herbert had placed his pistol on his breast, and shot him through the heart. But by this time the rest had reached us. A sabre flashed above Tom’s head; fell, cutting him out of the saddle nearly; and he would have dropped from it, had I not passed my arm around him. In another instant, all three would have been killed or captured. But the firing had given the alarm. A thunder of hoofs was heard: a squadron of our cavalry dashed over the hill: in three minutes the enemy were flying, to escape the edge of the sabre.