erior and ready to take
responsibility if his superior were not there. Harry knew that Jackson
expected much of him.

He saw a rather slender man with wonderfully bright eyes that smiled
much, a prominent and pronounced nose and a strong chin. When he took
off his hat at the meeting with Jackson he disclosed a round bald head,
which he held on one side when he talked.

Jackson had risen from the log as Ewell rode up and leaped from his
magnificent horse--his horses were always of the best--and he advanced,
stretching out his hand. Ewell clasped it and the two talked. The staffs
of the two generals had withdrawn out of ear shot, but Harry noticed
that Ewell did much the greater part of the talking, his head cocked on
one side in that queer, striking manner. But Harry knew, too, that
the mind and will of Jackson were dominant, and that Ewell readily
acknowledged them as so.

The conference did not last long. Then the two generals shook hands
again and Ewell sprang upon his horse. Jackson beckoned to Harry.

"Lieutenant Kenton," he said, "ride with General Ewell to his camp.
You will then know the way well, and he may wish to send me some quick
dispatch."

Harry, nothing loath, was in the saddle in an instant, and at the wish
of General Ewell rode by his side.

"You have been with him long?" said Ewell.

"From the beginning of the campaign here, sir."

"Then you were at both Kernstown and McDowell. A great general, young
man."

"Yes, sir. He will march anywhere and fight anything."

"That's my own impression. We've heard that his men are the greatest
marchers in the world. My own lads under him will acquire the same
merit."

"We know, sir, that your men are good marchers already."

General Ewell laughed with satisfaction.

"It's true," he said. "When I told my second in command that we were
going to march to join General Jackson he wanted to bring tents. I told
him that would load us up with a lot of tent poles and that he must
bring only a few, for the sick, perhaps. There must be no baggage, just
food and ammunition. I told 'em that when we joined General Jackson we'd
have nothing to do but eat and fight."

He seemed now to be speaking to himself rather than to Harry, and the
boy said nothing. Ewell, relapsing into silence, urged his horse to a
gallop and the staff perforce galloped, too. Such a pace soon brought
them to the camp of the second army, and as they rode past the pickets
Harry heard the sou