and God alone knows where were my thoughts a-gypsying, when, very far away, I heard a gun-shot.

At first I could perceive nothing, then on the distant Bedford road I saw one of our dragoons running his horse and bending low in his saddle.

Another dragoon appeared, riding a diable — and a dozen more behind these; and on their heels a-galloping, a great body of red-jacketed horsemen — hundreds of them — the foremost shooting from their saddles, the great mass of them swinging their heavy cutlasses and spurring furiously after our flying men.

I had seen far more than was necessary, and I ran for my horse. Other officers came running, too — Sheldon, Thomas, Lockwood, and my Lieutenant Boyd.