Struck dumb by this sudden return to the actualities of life the two men stood motionless, listening for every sound which might tell them what it meant. For a little while they had dreamed the dream of peace only to have it rudely shattered.
But Virgie had not followed them in their dreams, for she was an extremely practical young lady. Having seen food, real food, vanish away before her very eyes several times already she was quite prepared to see it happen again.
"There!" she said, in tones in which prophecy and resignation were oddly mingled. "Didn't I jus' know somethin' was goin' to happen!"
By this time Morrison had run to the stone wall and sprung to its top. Out in the road the troopers had mounted without waiting for command and with one accord had faced towards the firing.
"Can you see anything?" Cary called.
"Not yet," said Morrison. "I guess we came too close to your nest—and the hornets are coming out."
"Turner!" he commanded, and a trooper's hand went up, "ride up to the fork of the road. Learn what you can and report."
As the cavalryman struck his heels into his horse's sides and dashed up the road Cary put the wishes of both men into words.
"It's too near sundown for a battle. It will only be a skirmish."
"Ye-e-e-s, possibly," the Northerner assented, and he looked thoughtfully at Virgie, "but still—"