ke of the recapture of the
fort within two days at least. When they were lost among the trees he
rose and advanced more rapidly than before.

He met no interruption until he reached the crest of the mountain,
when he ran almost into the arms of a sentinel. The man in the darkness
did not see the color of his uniform and hailed him for news.

"Nothing," replied Harry hastily, as he darted away. "I carry a message
from our commander to a detachment stationed further on!"

But the sentinel, catching sight of his uniform, and exclaiming: "A
Johnny Reb!" threw up his rifle and fired. Luckily for Harry it was
such a hurried shot that the bullet only made his flesh creep, and
passed on, cutting the twigs. Then Harry lifted himself up and ran.
Lifting himself up describes it truly. He had all the motives which can
make a boy run, pressing danger, love of life, devotion to his cause,
and a burning desire to do his errand. Hence he lifted his feet,
spurned the earth behind him and fled down the slope at amazing speed.
Several more shots were fired, but the bullets flew at random and did
not come near him.

Harry did not stop until he was two or three miles from the fort,
when he knew that he was safe from anything but a chance meeting with
the Northern troops. Then he lay down under a big tree and panted.
But his breathing soon became easy, and, rising, he examined the region.
He always had a good idea of locality, and soon he found the road by
which the Invincibles had come. No one could mistake the tracks made by
the cannon wheels. He would retrace his steps on that road as fast as
he could. He saw that it was useless now to look for the men with the
horses. Fear of capture had compelled them to move long since, and a
search would merely waste time.

He tightened his belt, squared his shoulders, and bending a little
forward, ran at a long, easy gait along the trail. He was a strong and
enduring youth, trained to the woods and hills, and, with occasional
stops for rest, he knew that he could continue until he reached the
camp at Manassas. He wondered if the others had got through. He hoped
they had, but he was still anxious to be the first who should reach
Beauregard, an ambition not unworthy on the part of youth.

He stopped after midnight for a longer rest than usual. Colonel Talbot,
at the last moment, had made him take a small knapsack with some food
in it, and now he was grateful for his commander's fo