It was late in the afternoon, but the road lay yet in sunshine between the clover and the wheat, the bloomy orchards and the woods of May. Allan's precautions had been largely instinctive; there were no Federals, he had reason to be sure, south of Strasburg. He looked to see some changing picket post of Ashby's. But the five horsemen who came in sight, three riding abreast, two a little behind, had not a Valley air. "Tidewater men," said Allan to himself. "How far is it to Swift Run Gap? Shouldn't wonder if General Ewell--" A minute later the party came in line with the woods. Allan, after another deliberate look, stepped from behind a flowering thorn. The party drew up. "Good-afternoon, my man," said the stars and wreath in the centre in a high, piping voice. "Alone, are you?--Ain't straggling, I hope? Far too many stragglers--curse of this service--civilians turned soldiers and all that. What's that? You know him, Stafford? One of General Jackson's scouts?--Then do you know, pray, where is General Jackson? for, by God, I don't!" "I came across country myself to-day, sir--I and a boy that's with me. We've been ahead with Ashby, fending off Fremont. General Jackson is marching very rapidly, and I expect him to-night." "Where's he going, then?" "I haven't the least idea, sir." "Well," piped Ewell, "I'll be glad to see him. God knows, I don't know what I'm to do! Am I to strengthen Johnston at Richmond? Am I to cross into the Valley--by God, it's lovely!--and reinforce Jackson? Damn it, gentlemen, I'm a major-general on a seesaw! Richmond in danger--Valley in danger. 'Better come to me!' says Johnston. Quite right! He needs every man. 'Better stay with Jackson,' says Lee. Quite right again! Old Jackson has three armies before him and only a handful. 'Better gallop across and find out the crazy man's own mind,' says the major-general in the middle." He turned with the suddenness of a bird to Allan. "By God, I'm hungry as a coyote! Have you got anything to eat?" "I've some bread and bacon and a few eggs and half a pot of apple butter and a piece of honeycomb, sir--" Ewell dismounted. "You're the foster brother I've been in search of for thirty-five years! Maury and John, it sounds as though there were enough for four. Deane and Edmondson, you ride on to that mill I see in front of us, and ask if the folks won't give you supper. We'll pick you up in an hour or so. Now, my friend in need, we'll build a fire and if you've got a skillet I'll show you how an omelette ought to be made and generally isn't!"