This is a wild country. The mountaineers in the
main are for us, but we are not far north of the Southern line, and
if they know we are crossing they may undertake to raid in here."
"And they may know it," said the colonel. "Washington is full of
Southern sympathizers. Stop the train, Canby, when we come to the first
open and level space, and we'll do some scouting ahead."
The engineer felt great relief. He was devoutly glad that the colonel
was going to take such a precaution. At that moment he, more than
Colonel Newcomb, was responsible for the lives of the seven hundred
human beings aboard the train, and his patriotism and sense of
responsibility were both strong.
The train, with much jolting and clanging, stopped fifteen minutes
later. Both Dick and Warner, awakened by the shock, sat up and rubbed
their eyes. Then they left the train at once to join Colonel Newcomb,
who might want them immediately. Wary Sergeant Whitley followed them
in silence.
The boys found Colonel Newcomb and the remaining members of his staff
standing near, and seeking anxiously to discover the nature of the
country about them. The colonel nodded when they arrived, and gave them
an approving glance. The two stood by, awaiting the colonel's orders,
but they did not neglect to use their eyes.
Dick saw by the engineer's lantern that they were in a valley, and he
learned from his words that this valley was about three miles long with
a width of perhaps half a mile.
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