bot, returned with reports that
justified his suspicions. A heavy force, evidently from Patterson's
army operating in the hills and mountains, was marching down the valley
to join those who had been driven from the fort. The junction would be
formed within an hour. Harry was present when the report was made and
he understood its significance. He rejoiced that the walls of earth had
been thrown so much higher and that the trenches had been dug so much
deeper.

In the middle of the afternoon, when the cool shade was beginning to
fall on the eastern forest, they noticed a movement in the woods.
They saw the swaying of bushes and the officers, who had glasses,
caught glimpses of the men moving in the undergrowth. Then came a
mighty crash and the shells from a battery of great guns sang in the air
and burst about them. It was well for the Invincibles that they had
dug their trenches deep, as two of the shells burst inside the fort.
Harry was with Colonel Talbot, now acting as an aide, and he heard the
leader's quiet comment:

"The reinforcements have brought more big guns. They will deliver a
heavy cannonade and then under cover of the smoke they will charge.
Lieutenant Kenton, tell our gunners that it is my positive orders that
they are not to fire a single shot until I give the word. The Yankees
can see us, but we cannot see them, and we'll save our ammunition for
their charge. Keep well down in the trench, Lieutenant Kenton!"

The Invincibles hugged their shelter gladly enough while the fire from
the great guns continued. A second battery opened from a point further
down the slope, and the fort was swept by a cross-fire of ball and
shell. Yet the loss of life was small. The trenches were so deep
and so well constructed that only chance pieces of shell struck human
targets.

Harry remained with Colonel Talbot, ready to carry any order that he
might give. The colonel peered over the earthwork at intervals and
searched the woods closely with a powerful pair of glasses. His face
was very grave, but Harry presently saw him smile a little. He wondered,
but he had learned enough of discipline now not to ask questions of his
commanding officer. At length he heard the colonel mutter:

"It is Carrington! It surely must be Carrington!" A third battery now
opened at a point almost midway between the other two, and the smile of
the colonel came again, but now it lingered longer.

"It is bound to be Carrington!