"So that's the lay of the land, eh! I'm mighty glad you told me this.

But still--" Cary's voice faded away under the weight of a sudden despair.

What was the use of fighting forever against such fearful odds?
What could they ever gain--save a little more honor--and at what dreadful cost?
"What makes you look so worried, Herbert ?" his wife murmured, her nerves on edge again.
"Yes, it's true," the man said with a groan.

"They're gradually closing in on us--surrounding Richmond." "_Surrounding us ?_" Mrs.Cary whispered, hardly believing her ears.
"Yes, it's true--all too true," the man burst out bitterly.

"We can fight against thousands--and against tens of thousands but, darling, we can't fight half the world." He sank down on the bench, one elbow on his crossed knee, the other arm hanging listlessly by his side.