there it is, the nice snowy bump above us."

They dragged themselves upon the loftiest crest, and, panting, stood
there for a few minutes in several inches of snow. Then the wind caught
up the last shreds and tatters of mist, and whipped them away southward.
Every one of them drew a deep, sharp breath, as the great panorama of
the valley to the northward and far below was unrolled before them.

The brilliant sunshine of early spring played over everything, but far
down in the valley they seemed to see by contrast the true summer of the
sunny south, which is often far from sunny. But seen from the top of
the mountain the valley was full of golden rays. Now the roofs of the
villages showed plainly and they saw with distinctness the long silver
lines that marked the flowing of the rivers and creeks. To the east and
to the west further than the eye could reach rose the long line of dim
blue mountains that enclosed the valley.

But it was the glitter of the bayonets in the valley that caused the
hearts of the Virginians to beat most fiercely. Banners and guidons,
clusters of white tents, and dark swarms of men marked where the foot
of the invading stranger trod their soil. The Virginians loved the great
valley. Enclosed between the blue mountains it was the richest and most
beautiful part of all their state. It hurt them terribly to see the
overwhelming forces of the North occupying its towns and villages and
encamped in its fields.

Harry, not a Virginian himself, but a brother by association, understood
and shared their feeling. He saw Sherburne's lips moving and he knew
that he was saying hard words between his teeth. But Sherburne's eyes
were at the glasses, and he looked a long time, moving them slowly from
side to side. After a while he handed them to Harry.

The boy raised the glasses and the great panorama of the valley sprang
up to his eyes. It seemed to him that he could almost count the soldiers
in the camps. There was a troop of cavalry riding to the southward,
and further to the left was another. Directly to the north was their
battlefield of Kernstown, and not far beyond it lay Winchester. He saw
such masses of the enemy's troops and so many signs of activity among
them that he felt some movement must be impending.

"What do you think of it, Harry?" said Sherburne.

"Banks must be getting ready to move forward."

"I think so, too. I wish we had his numbers."

"More men are coming for us. We'll have Ew