with him turned and drew across the gaping mouth. The blue cavalry came on, firing as they came. Staff and orderlies, the grey answered with pistols. Behind, in the bridge, sounded the hollow thunder of Little Sorrel's hoofs. The sound grew fainter. Horse and rider were nearly across. Staff and orderlies fired once again, then, just as the blue were upon them, turned, dug spur, shouted, and disappeared beneath the arch. The Federal cavalry, massed before the bridge and in the field to either side, swore and swore, "He's out!--Jackson's out! There he goes--up the road! Fire!--Damn it all, what's the use? He's charmed. We almost got him! Good Lord! We'd all have been major-generals!" A patrol galloped up. "They've got a great wagon train, sir, at the other end of the village--ordnance reserve, supply, everything! It is in motion. It's trying to get off by the Staunton road." The cavalry divided. A strong body stayed by the bridge, while one as large turned and galloped away. Those staying chafed with impatience. "Why don't the infantry come up--damned creeping snails!"--"Yes, we could cross, but when we got to the other side, what then?--No, don't dare to burn the bridge--don't know what the general would say."--"Listen to those drums over there! If Stonewall Jackson brings all those hornets down on us!"--"If we had a gun--Speak of the angels!--Unlimber right here, lieutenant!--Got plenty of canister? Now if the damned infantry would only come on! Thought it was just behind us when we crossed the ford--What's that off there?" "That" was a sharp sputter of musketry. "Firing! Who are they firing at? There aren't any rebels--we took them all prisoners--" "There's fighting, anyway--wagon escort, maybe. The devil! Look across the river! Look! All the hornets are coming down--"