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ud around their feet； with the dumb； stolid discontent characteristic of seasoned veterans。 When mules and horses went by they seemed poor and shrunken。 They drew their limbs and bodies together； as if to present the least surface to the inclement showers； and their labored； toilsome motion contrasted painfully with their strong； free movement on brighter days。 Everything and everybody in sight added something to increase the dismalness of the view； and as Rachel continued to gaze upon it the 〃horrors〃 took possession of her。 She began to brood wretchedly over her position as a spy inside the enemy's lines； and upon all the consequences of that position。
It was late that night when Fortner came in。 As he entered the two expectant women saw； by the ruddy light of the fire； that his face was set and his eyes flashing。 He hung his dripping hat on a peg in the chimney； and kicked the blazing logs with his wet boots until a flood of meteor sparks flew up the throat of the fireplace。 Turning； he said； without waiting to be questioned：
〃Well； the hunt's begun at last。 Our folks came out'n Nashville this morning in three big armies； marchin' on different roads； an they begun slashin' at the Rebels wherever they could find 'em。 Thar's been fouten at Triune an' Lavergne； an' all along the line。 They histed the Rebels out'n ther holes everywhar； an' druv' em back on the jump。 Wagon load arter wagon load o' wounded's comin' back。 I come in ahead of a long train agwine ter the hospital。 Hark！ ye kin heah 'em now。〃
The women listened。
They heard the ceaseless patter and swish of the gloomy rainthe gusty sighs of the wind through the shade…trees' naked brancheslouder still the rolling of heavy wheels over the rough streets； and all these were torn and rent by the shrieks of men in agony。
〃Poor fellows；〃 said Rachel； 〃how they are suffering！〃
〃Think ruther；〃 said Aunt Debby calmly； 〃of how they've made others suffer。 Hit's God's judgement on 'em。〃
Rachel turned to Fortner。 〃What will come next？ Will this end it？ Will the Rebels fall back and leave this place？〃
〃Hardly。 This's on'y like the fust slap in the face in a fight atween two big savage men； who've locked horns ter see which is the best man。 Hit's on'y a sorter limberin' the jints fur the death rassel。〃
〃Yes； and what next？〃
〃Well； Rosy's started fur this 'ere place； an' he's bound ter come heah。 Bragg's bound he sha'n't come heah； an' is gittin' his men back to defend the town。〃
〃What am Iwhat are we to do in the meanwhile？〃
〃Ye're ter do nothin'； on'y stay in the house ez close ez ye kin； an' wait tell the chance comes ter use ye。 Hit may be ter…morrer； an' hit mayn't be fur some days。 These army moves are mouty unsartin。 Aunt Debby 'll take keer on ye； an' ye 'll not be in a mite o' danger。〃
〃But we'll see you frequently？〃
〃Ez offen ez I kin arrange hit。 I'm actin' ez orderly an' messenger 'bout headquarters； but I'll come ter ye whenever I kin git a chance； an' keep ye posted。〃
This was Friday night。 All day Saturday； as long as the light lasted； Rachel stood at the window and watched with sinking heart the steady inflow of the Rebels from the north。 That night she and Aunt Debby waited till midnight for Fortner； but he did not come。 All day Sunday she stood at her post； and watched the unabated pouring…in on the Nashville pike。 Fortner did not come that night。 She was downcast； but no shade disturbed the serenity of Aunt Debby's sweet hymning。 So it was again on Monday and Tuesday。 The continually…swarming multitudes weighed down her spirits like a millstone。 She seemed to be encompassed by millions of armed enemies。 They appeared more plentiful than the trees； or the rocks； or the leaves even。 They filled the streets of the little town until it seemed impossible for another one to find standing room。 Their cavalry blackened the faces of the long ranges of hills。 Their artillery and wagons streamed along the roads in a never…ending train。 Their camp…fires lighted up the country at night for miles； in all directions。
Just at dusk Tuesday night Fortner came in； and was warmly welcomed。
〃There are such countless hosts of the Rebels；〃 Rachel said to him after the first greetings were over； 〃that I quite despair of our men being able to do anything with them。 It seems impossible that there can be gathered together anywhere else in the world as many men as they have。〃
〃I don't wonder ye think so； but ef ye'd been whar I wuz to…day ye'd think thet all the world wuz marchin' round in blue uniforms。 Over heah hit seems ez ef all the cedars on the hills hed suddintly turned inter Rebel soldiers。 Three miles from heah the blue…coats are swarmin' thicker'n bees in a field o' buckwheat。〃
〃Three miles from here！ Is our army within three miles of here？〃
〃Hit sartinly is； an' the Lord…awfullest crowd o' men an' guns an' hosses thet ever tromped down the grass o' this ere airth。 Why； hit jest dazed my eyes ter look at 'em。 Come ter this other winder。 D' ye see thet furtherest line o' campfires； 'way on yander hill？ Well； them's Union。 Ef ye could see far enuf ye'd see they're 'bout five miles long； an' they look purtier'n the stars in heaven。〃
〃But if they are so close the battle will begin immediately； will it not？〃
〃Hit ain't likely ter be put off very long； but thar's no tellin' what'll happen in war； or when。〃
〃When is my time to come？〃
〃Thet's what I've come furt ter tell ye。 Ef we're agwine ter be of sarvice ter the Guv'MENT； we must do hit to…night； fur most likely the battle'll begin in the mornin'。 Hit's not jest the way I intended ter make use of ye； but hit can't be helped now。 I hev information thet must reach Gineral Rosencrans afore daybreak。 The vict'ry may depend on hit。 Ter make sure all on us must start with hit； fur gittin' through the lines is now mouty dangersome； an' somebodymebbe severalis bound to git cotcht； mebbe wuss。 The men I expected ter help me are all gone。 I hain't nobody now but ye an Aunt Debby。 D'ye dar try an' make yer way through the lines to…night？〃
Rachel thought a minute upon the dreadful possibilities of the venture； and then replied firmly：
〃Yes I dare。 I will try anything that the rest of you will attempt。〃
〃Good。 I knowed ye'd talk thet…a…way。 Now we must waste no time in gittin' started； fur God on'y knows what diffikilties we'll meet on the way； an' Rosencrans can't hev the information enny too soon。 Ev'ry minute hit's kep' away from him'll cost many vallerable livesmebbe help defeat the army。〃
〃Tell me quickly； then； what I must do； that I may lose no time in undertaking it。〃
〃Well； heah's a plan of the position at sundown of the Rebels。 Hit's drawed out moughty roughly but hit'll show jest whar they all are； an' about the number there is at each place。 Hit begins on the right； which is south of Stone River； with Breckenridge's men； then across the river is Withers； an' Cheatham； an' Cleburne； with McCown's division on the left； an' Wharton's cavalry on the flank。 But the thing o' most importance is thet all day long they've been movin' men round ter ther left； ter fall on our right an' crush hit。 They're hid in the cedar thickets over thar； an' they'll come out to…morrow mornin' like a million yellin' devils； an' try ter sweep our right wing offen the face o' the arth。 D'ye understand what I've tole ye？〃
〃Yes。 Breckenridge's division is on their right； and south of Stone River。 Withers； Cheatham； and Cleburne come next； on the north of the river； with McCown's division and Wharton's cavalry on the left； as shown in the sketch； and they are moving heavy forces around to their left； with the evident intention of falling overwhelmingly on our right early in the morning。〃
〃Thet's hit。 Thet's hit。 But lay all the stres ye kin on the movin' around ter ther left。 Thar's mo' mischief in thet than all the rest。 Say thet thar's 20；000 men gwine round thar this arternoon an' evening'。 Say thet thar's the biggest thunder…cloud o' danger thet enny one ever seed。 Say hit over an' over； tell everybody understands hit an' gits ready ter meet hit。 Tell hit till ye've made ev'ry one on 'em understand thet thar can't be no mistake about hit； an' they must look out fur heeps o' trouble on ther right。 Tell hit ez ye never tole anything afore in yer life。 Tell hit ez ye'd pray God Almighty fur the life o' the one thet ye love better then all the world beside。 An' GIT THAR ter tell hitgit thru the Rebel linesef ye love yer God an' yer country； an' ye want ter see the brave men who are ter die tomorrer make their deaths count somethin' to'ard savin' this Union。 Hit may be thet yore information'll save the army from defeat。 Hit may behit's most likelythet hit'll save the lives o' thousands o' brave men who love ther lives even ez yo an' me loves ourn。〃
〃Trust me to do all that a devoted woman can。 I will get through before daybreak or die in the attempt。 But how am I to go？〃
〃Hide this paper somewhar。 Aunt Debby'll fix ye up ez a country gal； while I'm gittin' yer mar saddled an' bridled with some common harness； instid o' the fancy fixin's ye hed when ye rode out heah。 Ef ye're stopt； ez ye likely will be； say that ye've bee