Dick took only a single backward glance.  He saw the two men on their horses, but drooping as if weak from hurts, and he knew that for the present at least he was safe from any hurt from them.  But he allowed his horse his head for a long time, and then he gradually slowed him down.  No human being was in sight now and he spoke to the noble animal soothingly.

“Good old boy,” he said; “the strongest, the swiftest, the bravest, and the truest.  I was sorry to make those red stripes on your sides, but it had to be done.  Only quickness saved us.”

The horse neighed.  He was still quivering from excitement and exertion.  So was Dick for that matter.  The men might have been robbers merely—­ they were at least that bad—­but they might have deprived him also of his precious dispatch.  He was proud of the confidence put in him by General Thomas, and he meant to deserve it.  It was this sense of responsibility and pride that had attuned his faculties to so high a pitch and that had made his action so swift, sudden and decisive.

But he steadied himself presently.  The victory, for victory it certainly was, increased his strength and confidence.  He stopped soon at a brook—­they seemed to occur every mile—­and bathed with cold water the red streaks his spurs had made on either side of his horse.  Again he spoke soothing words and regretted the necessity that had caused him to make such wounds, slight though they were.

He also bathed his own face and hands and, as it was now about noon, ate of the cold ham and bread that he carried in his knapsack, meanwhile keeping constant watch on the road over which he had come.  But he did not believe that the men would pursue, and he saw no sign of them.  Mounting again he rode forward.

The remainder of the afternoon went by without interruption.  He passed three or four people, but they were obviously natives of that region, and they asked him only innocent questions.  The wintry day was short, and the twilight was soon at hand.  He was riding over one of the bare ridges, when first he noticed how late the day had grown.  All the sky was gray and chill and the cold sun was setting behind the western mountains.  A breeze sprang up, rustling among the leafless branches, and Dick shivered in the saddle.  A new necessity was pressed suddenly upon him.  He must find shelter for the night.  Even with his warm double blankets he could not sleep in the forest on such a night.  Besides the horse would need food.

He rode on briskly for a full hour, anxiously watching both sides of the road for a cabin or cabin smoke.  By that time night had come fully, though fortunately it was clear but very cold.  He saw then on the right a faint coil of smoke rising against the dusky sky and he rode straight for it.

The smoke came from a strong double cabin, standing about four hundred yards from the road, and the sight of the heavy log walls made Dick all the more anxious to get inside them.  The cold had grown bitter and even his horse shivered.