At first his heart leaped up with the belief that they were Colonel Winchester and his own people, but they were going in the wrong direction, and then he was able to discern the bedraggled and faded Confederate gray.
The horsemen were about fifty in number and most of them rode with the reins hanging loose on their horses' necks.

They were wrapped in cloaks, but cloaks and uniforms alike were sodden.

A stream of water ran from every stirrup to the ground.
Dick looked at them attentively.

Near the head of the column but on one side rode a soldierly figure, apparently that of a young man of twenty-three or four.

Just behind came three youths, and Dick's heart fairly leaped when he saw the last of the three.