But Croff stood up and said quietly: "This is a pretty well-hidden cave. The Yankees probably believe they've swept out this valley. You stay holed up here, and you're safe for a while. Then when you're ready to ride, Sarge, we'll head back south." He stopped to pick up his carbine by its sling. "Where're you going?" "Take a look-see for Yankees. If they got Anse, there's a slim chance we can learn of it and take steps. Leastwise, nosing a little downwind ain't goin' to do a bit of harm." He moved out of the firelight with his usual noiseless tread and was gone. 17 _Poor Rebel Soldier...._ "Sergeant Rennie reporting suh, at the General's orders." Drew came to attention under the regard of those gray-blue eyes, not understanding why he had been summoned to Forrest's headquarters. "Sergeant, what's all this about bushwhackers?" Drew repeated the story of their adventure in Tennessee, paring it down to the bald facts. "That nest was wiped out by the Yankee patrol, suh. Afterward Private Croff found a saddlebag with some papers in it, which was in the remains of their camp. It looks like they'd been picking off couriers from both sides. We sent those in with our first report." The General nodded. "You stayed near-by for a while after the camp was taken?" "Well, I was hurt, suh." He saw that General Forrest was smiling. "Sergeant, that theah story about your belt buckle has had a mightly lot of repeatin' up and down the ranks. You were a lucky young man!" "Yes, suh!" Drew agreed. "While I was laid up, Privates Croff and Webb took turns on scout, suh. They located some of our men hidin' out--stragglers from the retreat. They also rounded up a few of the bushwhackers' horses and mules." Forrest nodded. "You returned to our lines with some fifteen men and ten mounts, as well as information. Your losses?" Drew stared at the wall behind the General's head. "One man missin', suh." "You were unable to hear any news of him?" "No, suh." The old weariness settled back on him. They had hunted--first Croff and Webb--and then he, too, as soon as he was able to sit a saddle. It was Weatherby's fate all over again; the ground might have opened and gulped Kirby down. "How old are you, Sergeant?" Drew could not see what his age had to do with Kirby's disappearance, but he answered truthfully: "Nineteen--I had a birthday a week ago, suh." "And you volunteered when--?" "In May of '62, suh. I was in Captain Castleman's company when they joined General Morgan--Company D, Second Kentucky. Then I transferred to the scouts under Captain Quirk." "The big raids ... you were in Ohio, Rennie? Captured?" "No, suh. I was one of the lucky ones who made it across the river before the Yankees caught up--" "At Chickamauga?" "Yes, suh."