!" murmured Colonel Talbot, "but terribly trying
to new men! Carrington certainly grows better with the years."

Harry tried to compose himself and rest, as he lay in the trench with
St. Clair and Langdon. They had had their battle face to face and all
three of them were terribly shaken, but they recovered themselves at
last, despite the shells which burst at short but irregular intervals
inside the fort. Thus the last hours of the afternoon waned, and as the
twilight came, they went more freely about the fort.

Colonel Talbot called a conference of the senior officers in a corner
of the enclosure well under the shelter of the earthen walls, and after
some minutes of anxious talking they sent for the three youths. Harry,
St. Clair and Langdon responded with alacrity, sure that something of
the utmost importance was afoot.

CHAPTER XIII

THE SEEKER FOR HELP

Colonel Talbot, Lieutenant-Colonel St. Hilaire and four other officers
were in a deep alcove that had been dug just under the highest earthwork,
where they were not likely to be interrupted in their deliberations by
any fragment of an exploding shell. The only light was that of the
stars and the early moon which had now come out, but it was sufficient
to show faces oppressed by the utmost anxiety. Three other men also had
been summoned to the council.

"We have chosen you six for an important errand," said Colonel Talbot,
"but you are to go upon it singly, and not collectively. As you see,
we are besieged here by a greatly superior force. Its assault has been
repulsed, but it will not go away. It will bombard us incessantly, and,
since we are not strong enough to break through their lines and have
limited supplies of food and water, we must fall in a day or two,
unless we get help. We want you to make your way over the hills tonight
to General Beauregard's army and bring aid. Even should five be
captured or slain the sixth may get through. Lieutenant Kenton, you
will go first. You will recall that the horses of the officers were
left on the crest of the mountain with a small guard. They may be there
yet, and if you can secure a mount, so much the better. But the moment
you leave this fort you must rely absolutely upon your own skill and
judgment."

Harry bowed. It was a great trust and he felt elation because he had
been chosen first. He was again a courier, and he would do his best.

"I should advise you not to take either a rifle o