t an immense
Confederate flag.

"They see us in the fort and recognize us," said Stuart. "Hark to the
cheer!"

The faint sound of many voices in unison came up from the valley,
and Harry knew it to be the Invincibles expressing joy that help had
come. The fort then opened with its own guns, and Stuart's dismounted
horsemen, who were armed with carbines, advanced through the forest,
using the trees for shelter, and attacking the Northern force on the
flank. They and the Invincibles together were not strong enough to
drive off the enemy, but the heavy skirmishing lasted until the middle
of the afternoon, when a whole brigade of infantry came up from the main
army. Then the Northern troops retreated slowly and defiantly, carrying
with them all their wounded and every gun.

"I've got to take my hat off to the mill hands and mechanics," said
St. Clair. "I think, Harry, that if it hadn't been for your skill
and luck in getting through we would soon have been living our lives
according to their will."

Colonel Talbot congratulated Harry, but his words were few.

"Lad," he said, "you have done well."

Then he and Stuart consulted. Harry, meanwhile, found Langdon, who had
been driven back, as St Clair had suspected. He had also sustained a
slight wound in the arm, but he was rejoicing over their final success.

"Everything happens for the best," he said. "You might have been driven
back, Harry, as I was. You might not have met Stuart. This little
wound in my arm might have been a big one in my heart. But none of
those things happened. Here I am almost unhurt, and here we are
victorious."

"Victorious, perhaps, but without spoils," said St. Clair. "We've got
this fort, but we know it will take a big force to keep it. I don't
like the way these mill hands and mechanics fight. They hang on too
long. After we drove them out of the fort they ought to have retreated
up the valley and left us in peace. If they act this way when they're
raw, what'll they do when they are seasoned?"

After the conference with Colonel Talbot, Stuart and his cavalry pursued
the Northern force up the valley, not for attack, but for observation.
Stuart came back at nightfall and reported that their retreat was
covered by the heavy guns, and, if they were attacked with much success,
it must be done by at least five thousand men.

"Carrington again," said Colonel Talbot, smiling and rubbing his hands.
"You and your horsemen, Stuar