By striking to right or left we might walk into it, and then good-bye to our hopes of the hills.

But the whole thing was easier to me than the cruel toil of yesterday.

There was need of stealth and woodcraft, but not of yon killing speed.
For the first hour we went up a northern fork of the Rappahannock, then crossed the water at a ford, and struck into a thick pine forest.

I was feeling wonderfully rested, and found no discomfort in Shalah's long strides.

My mind was very busy on the defence of the Borders, and I kept wondering how long the Governor's militia would take to reach the Rappahannock, and whether Lawrence could reinforce the northern posts in time to prevent mischief in Stafford county.