on
did not change when Sherburne, halting his horse before him, saluted
respectfully.

"What did you find, Captain Sherburne?" he asked.

"The enemy, sir. We ran into a force of cavalry about four hundred
strong."

"And then?"

"We had a smart little skirmish with them, sir, and then both sides
withdrew."

"Undoubtedly they went to report to their people, as you have come to
report to yours. It looks as if our attempt to surprise Bath might fail,
but we'll try to reach it to-night. Lieutenant Kenton, ride back and
give the brigade commanders orders to hasten their march."

He detached several others of his staff for the same duty, and in most
cases wrote brief notes for them. Harry noticed how he took it for
granted that one was always willing to do work, and yet more work.
He himself had just ridden back from battle, and yet he was sent
immediately on another errand. He noticed, too, how it set a new
standard for everybody. This way Jackson had of expecting much was
rapidly causing his men to offer much as a matter of course.

While Jackson was writing the notes to the brigadiers he looked up once
or twice at the darkening skies. The great mass of clouds, charged with
snow that had been hovering in the east, was now directly overhead. When
he had finished the last note it was too dark for him to write any more
without help of torch. As he handed the note to the aide who was to take
it, a great flake of snow fell upon his hand.

Harry found that the brigades could move no faster. They were already
toiling hard. The twilight had turned to night, and the clouds covered
the whole circle of the heavens. The snow, slow at first, was soon
falling fast. The soldiers brushed it off for a while, and then, feeling
that it was no use, let it stay. Ten thousand men, white as if wrapped
in winding sheets, marched through the mountains. Now and then, a thin
trickle of red from a foot, encased in a shoe worn through, stained the
snow.

The wind was not blowing, and the night, reinforced by the clouds,
became very dark, save the gleam from the white covering of snow upon
the earth. Torches began to flare along the line, and still Jackson
marched. Harry knew what was in his mind. He wished to reach Bath that
night and fall upon the enemy when he was not expected, even though that
enemy had been told that Jackson was coming. The commander in front,
whoever he might be, certainly would expect no attack in the middle of
the ni