“Cease firing!” said Dick, presently.

A cloud of smoke rose from the gully, and, as it lifted, they could see nothing in the woods beyond, but the sergeant announced that for an instant or two he heard the sound of running feet.

“It means they’ve gone,” said Dick, “and that being the case we’ll be off, too.  I fancy we’ve a great prize in this map.  Your sister, Mr. Shepard, must be a woman of extraordinary daring and ability.”

“She’s all that,” replied the spy earnestly.  “I think sometimes that God gave to me the size and physical strength of the family, but to her the mind.  Think of her life there in Richmond, surrounded by dangers!  She has done great service to our cause tonight, and she has done other services, equally as great, before.”

Shepard was silent for a little while and then he began to chuckle to himself, almost under his breath, but Dick heard.

“What is it?” he asked.

“I was thinking of my sister,” Shepard replied.  “Your cousin, Harry Kenton, if you should ever meet him again—­and I know that you will—­ could tell you a story of a dark night in Richmond, or at least a part of it, and he could also tell an interesting story, or a part of it, of another map, almost as valuable as this, which disappeared mysteriously from the house of a rich man in Richmond where he and other Southern officers were being entertained.  It vanished almost from under their hands.”

“Tell me now,” said Dick, feeling great curiosity.

“I think I’d better wait, if you’ll pardon me, sir,” said Shepard.

“I’ll have to wait anyhow,” said Dick, “because I hear the tread of men coming toward us.”

“But they’re our own,” said Sergeant Whitley, who was a little ahead, peering between the cedars.

“I suppose they heard the shots and are hurrying to our relief,” said Dick.  “But we routed the enemy, we did not lose a man, and we’ve brought away the prize.”

The two forces joined and they were shortly back with Colonel Winchester, who fully appreciated the great value of the information obtained by such a remarkable coordination of effort.

“Dick,” he said, “you and Mr. Shepard shall ride at once with me and this map to General Sheridan.”

CHAPTER IX

AT GRIPS WITH EARLY

Dick felt great excitement and elation as he rode before dawn with Colonel Winchester and the spy to see Sheridan.  They found him sitting by a small fire receiving or sending reports, and talking with a half-dozen of his generals.  It was not yet day, but the flames lighted up the commander’s thin, eager face, and made him look more boyish than ever.

Dick felt as he had felt before that he was in the presence of a man.  He had had the same impression when he stood near Grant and Thomas.  Did strong men send off electric currents of will and power which were communicated to other men, by which they could know them, or was it the effect of deeds achieved?  He could not decide the question for himself, but he knew that he believed implicitly in their leader.