Undoubtedly a
Federal force was near, or the farmer and his wife would not be signaling
from the roof of their house.
A plucky couple they were and he gave them all credit, but he was aware
that while he had secured breakfast from them they had put the wolves
upon his trail. There were high hills on both the right and left of the
road, and, as he galloped along he examined them through his glasses for
flags answering the signal on the house. But he saw nothing and the
thickness of the forest indicated that even if the signals were made
there it was not likely he could see them.
Now he wisely restrained the speed of his horse, so full of strength and
spirit that it seemed willing to run on forever, and brought him down to
a walk. He had an idea that he would soon be pursued, and then a fresh
horse would be worth a dozen tired ones.
The road continued to run between high, forested hills, splendid for
ambush, and Harry saw what a danger it was not to have knowledge of the
country. He understood how the Union forces in the South were so often
at a loss on ground that was strange to them.
The road now curved a little to the left, and a few hundred yards ahead
another from the east merged with it.
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