They had no doubt that eyes watched them from groves and fence corners, keeping cautiously out of the way, because it was sometimes difficult now to tell Federals from Confederates.

But it did not matter to Sherburne.

He kept a straight course for the Potomac, at least half of his men knowing thoroughly every foot of the way.
"What time can we reach the river and the place at which they say McClellan is going to cross ?" asked Harry.
"By midnight anyway," replied Sherburne.

"Of course, we'll have to slow down as we draw near, or we may run square into an ambush.

Do you see that grove about two miles ahead?
We'll go into that first, rest our horses, and take some food." It was a fine oak grove, covering about an acre, with no undergrowth and a fair amount of grass, still green under the shade, on which the horses could graze.