Sergeant Whitley was standing beside the colonel.

"Dick," said Colonel Winchester, "colored men have brought us news that
Colonel Grierson of our army, with a strong raiding force of nearly two
thousand cavalry is less than a day's march away and on the same side of
this river that we are. We have received the news from three separate
sources and it must be true. Probably Forrest's men know it, too,
but expect Grierson to pass on, wholly ignorant that we're here. I have
chosen you and Sergeant Whitley to bring Grierson to our relief. The
horses are ready. Now go, and God speed you. The sergeant will tell you
what we know as you ride."

Dick sprang at once into the saddle, and with a brief good-bye he and the
sergeant were soon in the forest riding toward the southeast. Dick was
alive and energetic again. All that laziness of mind and body was gone.
He rode on a great ride and every sense was alert.

"Tell me," he said, "just about what the news is."

"Three men," replied the sergeant, "came in at different times with tales,
but the three tales agree. Grierson has made a great raid, even further
down than we have gone. He has more than double our numbers, and if we
can unite with him it's likely that we can turn Forrest into the pursued
instead of the pursuer. They say we can hit his trail about twenty-five
miles from here, and if that's so we'll bring him up to the ford by noon
to-morrow. Doesn't it look promising to you, Lieutenant Mason?"

"It does look promising, Sergeant Whitley, if we don't happen to be taken
by the Johnnies who infest this region. Besides, you'll have to guide
through the dark to-night. You're trained to that sort of thing."