Dick's hasty glance backward lingered for a moment on a powerful man on a white horse just in advance of the Southern column.

He saw this man raise his hand and then command the men to fire.

He and twenty others under the impulse of excitement shouted to the regiment to drop down, and the Northern lads did so.
Most of the volley passed over their heads.

Rising they sent back a return discharge, and then the head of the columns rushed into the stream.

Dick felt swift water whirling about him and tugging at his body, but it rose no higher than his waist, although foam and spray were dashed into his face.