Stuart rose erect in his saddle, and looked in the direction of the sound, his eyes glowing. Another followed; then another; then a long, continuous bellow of artillery, making the hills echo. There was no longer any doubt about the fate of the messengers. Lee had received the dispatches; Rodes had opened on the Federal columns, attacking as that good soldier knew how to attack. Stuart darted to his guns. On his countenance was a grim smile. “Attention!” he exclaimed. The cannoneers ran to their posts, a cheer rose, the next instant the guns spouted flame; shell after shell in rapid succession screamed through the woods--and bursting in the midst of the blue groups, threw them into the wildest disorder. Stuart did not allow the panic to subside. His sharp-shooters opened at the same instant a determined fire; the great cavalier went at full speed to the head of his column:--then rushing like an avalanche, troopers and artillery, charged the column in front, burst through, trampling it as he went, and at a gallop the gray horsemen, with guns following, broke out; and were again free. Stuart was out of the trap. From one of the “tightest places” that a commander was ever in he had extricated his whole command. Once in safety, he turned like a wild boar on his enemies. In ten minutes his artillery had taken a new position--its thunders had opened--its roar told the army, that his feather still floated, his star was still in the ascendant. Such was that queer affair of Auburn. Few more curious incidents occurred in the war. A brave officer of the infantry had accompanied us as an amateur. “I’ve got enough of the cavalry,” he said, laughing; “I am going back to the infantry. It is safer!” VIII. GENERAL MEADE’S “EYE-TEETH.” Stuart came back laughing from his adventure. The army hailed his reappearance with joy and cheers. They had already split the air with shouts in honor of the cavalry, on that evening at Warrenton Springs, when Stuart charged through the ford. “Hurrah for Stuart!” was now the exclamation everywhere. And let me add that the stout cavalier keenly enjoyed his popularity. He was brave and fond of glory--approbation delighted him. In his ears, praise, sympathy, admiration, sounded sweet. General Lee continued to press forward, but the golden moment for intercepting Meade had fled. He had not been cut off in Culpeper; he had not been cut off at Warrenton; he was not going to be cut off at Bristoe, near Manassas. Hill had been sent in that direction to intercept the enemy’s retreat, but on the afternoon succeeding the adventure of Stuart, an ugly blow was dealt him on the banks of Deep Run. He came up with the enemy’s rear guard under their brave General Warren; assailed it in front of an embankment furiously, and suffered a heavy repulse.