Langdon, "but it
might be worse than that. It might be a hundred to one."

"It's hardly as bad as ten to one, Tom," said Harry with a laugh.
"Ashby's men say it's only eight to one, and they know."

"It's all right, then," said Langdon, squaring his shoulders, and
looking ferocious. "Ten to one would be a little rough on us, but I
don't mind eight to one at all! at all! They say that the army of Banks
is not many miles away. Is it so, Harry?"

"I suppose so. That's the news the cavalry bring in."

Harry rode on, saluting Colonel Talbot and Lieutenant-Colonel St.
Hilaire as he passed. They returned the salutes, but said nothing, and
in a few minutes he was with General Jackson again.

It was now March, and the spring was making headway in the great valley.
The first flush of green was over everything. The snows were gone, the
rains that followed were gone, too, and the earth was drying rapidly
under the mild winds that blew from the mountains. It was evident to all
that the forces of war were unloosed with the departure of winter.

The day was filled with excitement for Harry. The great Federal army was
now so near that the rival pickets were almost constantly in touch. Only
stern orders from Jackson kept his fiery cavalry from making attacks
which might have done damage, but not damage enough. Banks, the Union
leader, eminent through politics rather than war, having been Governor
of Massachusetts, showed the utmost caution. Feeling secure in
his numbers he resolved to risk nothing until he gained his main
object--Winchester--and the efforts of Turner Ashby and his brilliant
young lieutenants like Sherburne, could not lead him into any trap.

Night came and the Southern army stopped for supper and rest. The
Northern army was then only four miles from Winchester, and within a
half hour hostile pickets had been firing at one another. Yet the men
ate calmly and lay down under the trees. Jackson called a council in a
little grove. General Garnett, the commander of the Stonewall Brigade,
all the colonels of the regiments, and the most trusted young officers
of his staff were present. A little fire of fallen wood lighted up the
anxious and earnest faces.

Jackson spoke rapidly. Harry had never before seen him show so much
emotion and outward fire. He wanted to bring up all his men and attack
the Union army at once. He believed that the surprise and the immense
dash of the Southern troops would overcome the great odds.