Stuart seized it, read it hastily, and uttered an exclamation of satisfaction. Ten minutes afterward he was going at full speed, accompanied by Nighthawk, toward General Lee’s head-quarters.
XXI. — “VIRGINIA EXPECTS EVERY MAN TO DO HIS DUTY!”
Soon after daylight, on the next morning, Stuart was up, and writing busily at his desk.
He was perfectly cool, as always, and his manner when I went in exhibited no sort of flurry. But the couriers going and coming with dispatches indicated clearly that “something was in the wind.”
I was seated by the fireplace when Stuart finished a dispatch and came toward me. The next moment he threw himself upon a chair, leaned his head upon my shoulder, and began to caress one of his dogs, who leaped into his lap.
“Well, Surry, old fellow, we are going to get into the saddle. Look out for your head!”
“Excellent advice,” I replied. “I recommend you to follow it.”
“You think I expose myself, do you?”