The report of the pistol was almost like the roar of a cannon in the desolate Wilderness and made Harry himself jump.  Then he promptly threw himself flat upon his face.  Shepard’s answering fire came from a point about thirty yards in front of the horse, and the bullet passed very close over Harry’s head.  It was a marvelous shot to be made merely at the place from which a sound had come.  It all passed in a flash, and the next moment Harry heard the sound of a horse falling and kicking a little.  Then it too was still.

He remained only a half minute in the grass.  Then he began to creep back, curving a little in his course, toward his own horse.  He did not believe that Shepard’s faculty of hearing was as keen as his own, and he moved with the greatest deftness.  He relied upon the fact that Shepard had not yet located the horse, and if Harry could reach it quickly it would not be hard for him, a mounted man, to leave behind Shepard, dismounted.  It might be possible, too, that Shepard had gone back to see about his own horse, not knowing that it was slain.

He saw the dusky outline of his horse, and, rising, made two or three jumps.  Then he snatched the rein loose, sprang upon his back, and lying down upon his neck to avoid bullets, crashed away, reckless of bushes and briars.  He heard one bullet flying near him, but he laughed in delight and relief as his horse sped on toward Longstreet.

He did not diminish his speed until he had gone two or three miles, and then, knowing that Shepard had been left hopelessly behind, even if he had attempted pursuit, he brought his horse down to a walk, and laughed.  There was a bit of nervous excitement in the laugh.  He had outwitted Shepard again.  He had never seen the man, but it did not enter his mind that it was not he.  Each had scored largely over the other from time to time, but Harry believed that he was at least even.

He steadied his nerves now and rode calmly toward Longstreet, coming soon upon his scouts, who informed him that the heavy columns were not far behind, marching with stalwart step to their appointed place in the line.  But it was Harry’s business to see Longstreet himself, and he continued his way toward the center of the division, where they told him the general could be found.

He rode forward and in the moonlight recognized Longstreet at once, a heavy-set, bearded man, mounted on a strong bay horse.  He had a very small staff, and he was first to notice the young lieutenant advancing.  He knew Harry well, having seen him with Lee at Gettysburg and with Jackson before.  He stopped and said abruptly: 

“You come from the commander-in-chief, do you not?”

“Yes, sir,” replied Harry, “and I’ve been coming as fast as I could.”

He did not deem it necessary to say anything about his encounter with Shepard.

“There has been heavy fighting.  What are his orders?”