own country,
the real capital. Somehow he could not divest himself of that idea,
and he looked until mists and vapors began to float up from the lowlands,
and the white gleam was lost behind them. Then he rode on slowly and
thoughtfully, trying to think of a plan that would bring rich rewards
for the cause for which he was going to fight.

He had discovered something already. He had seen the bayonets of a
regiment marching to join the Northern army, and he had no doubt that he
would see others. Perhaps they would consider themselves strong enough
in a day or two to attack. It was for him to learn. He was back in the
forest and he now turned his course more toward the east. By dawn he
would be well in the rear of the Northern army, and he must judge then
how to act.

But all his calculations were upset by a very simple thing, one of
Nature's commonest occurrences--rain. The heavy clouds that had
gathered early in the night were gone away merely for a time. Now they
came back in battalions, heavier and more numerous than ever. The
shining moon and the brilliant stars were blotted out as if they had
never been. A strong wind moaned and a cold rain came pouring into
his face. The blanket that he carried on his saddle, and which he
now wrapped around him, could not protect him. The fierce rain drove
through it and he was soaked and shivering. The darkness, too, was so
great that he could see only a few yards before him, and he let the
horse take his course.

Harry thought grimly that he was indeed well hidden in the forest.
He was so well hidden that he was lost even to himself. In all that
darkness and rain he could not retain the sense of direction, and he had
no idea where he was. He rambled about for hours, now and then trying
to find shelter behind massive tree trunks, and, after every failure,
going on in the direction in which he thought Washington lay. His
shivering became so strong that he was afraid it would turn into a real
chill, and he resolved to seek a roof, if the forest should hold such a
thing.

It was nearly dawn when he saw dimly the outlines of a cabin standing
in a tiny clearing. He believed it to be the hut of a charcoal burner,
and he was resolved to take any risk for the sake of its roof. He
dismounted and beat heavily upon the door with the butt of a pistol.
The answer was so long in coming that he began to believe the hut was
empty, which would serve his purpose best of all,