One was a sergeant and the other was a spy, but each recognized in the other a king among men.

Eyes swept over powerful chests and shoulders and open, bold countenances, and signified approval.
They had met before, but they were more than well met here in the loneliness and the dark, amid dangers, where skill and courage, and not rank, counted.

Then they nodded without speaking, as an Indian chief would to an Indian chief, his equal.
"You were coming to meet us, Mr.Shepard ?" said Dick.
"I expected to find you on this path." "And you have something to tell ?" "A small Confederate force is in the mountains, awaiting Colonel Hertford.

It is inferior to his in numbers, but it knows the country thoroughly and has the sympathy of all the inhabitants, who bring to it news of everything." "Do you know these Confederate troops ?" "Yes, sir.

Their corps is a regiment called in General Lee's army the Invincibles, but it includes two other skeleton regiments.