ovement, the
nature of which officers alone seemed to know.

The Invincibles were an infantry regiment and the three youths, like the
men, were on foot. They filed off to the left behind the front line of
the Southern army, and marched steadily westward, inclining slightly to
the north. Many of the men, or rather boys, not yet fast in the bonds
of discipline, began to talk, and guess together about their errand.
But Colonel Talbot and Lieutenant-Colonel St. Hilaire rode along the
line and sternly commanded silence, once or twice making the menace of
the sword. The lads scarcely understood it, but they were awed into
silence. Then there was no noise but the rattle of their weapons and
the steady tread of eight hundred men.

The young troops had been kept in splendid condition, drilling steadily,
and they marched well. They passed to the extreme western end of the
Confederate camp, and continued into the hills. The sun had passed
its zenith when they started and a pleasant, cool breeze blew from the
slopes of the western mountains. The sun set late, but the twilight
began to fall at last, and they saw about them many places suitable for
a camp and supper. But Colonel Talbot, who was now at the head of the
line, rode on and gave no sign.

"If I were riding a bay horse fifteen hands high I could go on, too,
forever," whispered Langdon to Harry.

"Remember your belief that everything happens for the best and just keep
on marching."

The twilight retreated before the dark, but the regiment continued.
Harry saw a dusky colonel on a dusky horse at the head of the line,
and nearer by was Lieutenant-Colonel St. Hilaire, also riding, silent
and stern. The Invincibles were weary. It was now nine o'clock,
and they had marched many hours without a rest, but they did not dare to
murmur, at least not loud enough to be heard by Colonel Leonidas Talbot
and his lieutenant-colonel, Hector St. Hilaire.

"I wonder if this is going on all night," whispered Langdon.

"Very likely," returned Harry, "but remember that everything is for the
best."

Langdon gave him a reproachful look, but trudged sturdily on. They
halted about an hour later, but only for fifteen or twenty minutes.
They had now come into much rougher country, steep, with high hills
and populated thinly. Westward, the mountains seemed very near in the
clear moonlight. No explanation was given to the Invincibles, but the
officers rode among the groups and made