Under no circumstances must the feelings of those two young men be hurt," laughed Colonel Winchester.
"And Sergeant Whitley, too?
He's probably the best scout in our army.
He can follow a trail where there is no trail.

He can see in the pitchy dark, and he can hear the leaves falling." "High recommendations, but they're almost true.

Take the sergeant by all means.

I fancy you'll need him." The whole party numbered about a dozen, and Shepard was the guide.
It was dismounted, of course, as the first slope they intended to carry was too steep for a horse to climb.

They were also heavily armed, it being absolutely certain that Southern riflemen were on Massanutton Mountain.
Dick and Shepard were in the lead, and, climbing up at a sharp angle, they quickly disappeared from the view of those below.