Harry drew himself together as if he were going to dive, but instead of doing so suddenly raised himself in the water and shot forth his clenched tight fist with all his might.  Shepard was taken completely by surprise and he sank back under the water, leaving a blood stain on its surface.  Harry watched anxiously, but Shepard came up again in a moment or two, gasping and swimming wildly.  The point of his jaw was presented fairly and Harry struck again as hard as he could in the water.  Shepard with a choked cry went under and Harry, diving forward, seized his body, bringing it to the surface.

Shepard was senseless, but getting an arm under his shoulders Harry was able to swim with him to the northern shore, although it took nearly all his strength.  Then he dragged him out upon the bank, and sank down, panting, beside him.

The great Civil War in America, the greatest of all wars until nearly all the nations of Europe joined in a common slaughter, was a humane war compared with other wars approaching it in magnitude.  It did not occur to Harry to let Shepard drown, nor did he leave him senseless on the bank.  As soon as his own strength returned he dragged him into a half-sitting position, and rubbed the palms of his hands.  The spy opened his eyes.

“Good-by, Mr. Shepard,” said Harry.  “I’m bound to leave before you recover fully because then I wouldn’t be your match.  I’m sorry I had to hit you so hard, but there was nothing else to do.”

“I don’t blame you.  It was man against man.”

“The water was in my favor.  I’m bound to admit that on land you’d have won.”

“At any rate I thank you for dragging me out of the river.”

“You’d have done as much for me.”

“So I would, but our personal debts of gratitude can’t be allowed to interfere with our military duty.”

“I know it.  Therefore I take a running start.  Good-by.”

“We’ll meet again.”

“But not on this side of the Potomac.  It may happen when the Army of Northern Virginia and the Army of the Potomac go into battle on the other side of the river.”

Harry darted into the forest, and ran for a half-hour.  He meant to put as much distance as possible between Shepard and himself before the latter’s full strength returned.  He knew that Shepard would follow, if he could, but it was not possible to trail one who had a long start through dark and wet woods.

He came through the forest and into a meadow surrounded by a rail fence, on which he sat until his breath came back again.  He had forgotten all about his wet uniform, but the run was really beneficial to him as it sent the blood leaping through his veins and warmed his body.

“So far have I come,” said Harry, “but the omens promise a hard march.”

He had his course fixed very clearly, and a veteran now in experience, he could guide himself easily by the moon and stars.  The clouds were clearing away and a warm wind promised him dry clothing, soon.  Long afterward he thought it a strange coincidence that his cousin, Dick Mason, in the far South should have been engaged upon an errand very similar in nature, but different in incident.