dvancing on
Richmond, was without the support on his right which McDowell was to
furnish and was compelled to hesitate.

But Jackson's foot cavalry were soon to find that they were not to rest
on their brilliant exploits. As eager as ever, their general was making
them ready for another great advance further into the North.

CHAPTER XI. THE NIGHT RIDE

Harry was back with the general in a few hours, but now he was allowed a
little time for himself. It seemed to occur suddenly to Jackson that the
members of his staff, especially the more youthful ones, could not march
and fight more than two or three days without food and rest.

"You've done well, Harry," he said--he was beginning to call the boy by
his first name.

The words of praise were brief, and they were spoken in a dry tone, but
they set Harry's blood aflame. He had been praised by Stonewall Jackson,
the man who considered an ordinary human being's best not more than
third rate. Harry, like all the others in the valley army, saw that
Jackson was setting a new standard in warfare.

Tremendously elated he started in search of his friends. He found the
Invincibles, that is, all who were left alive, stretched flat upon
their sides or backs in the orchard. It seemed to him that St. Clair
and Langdon had not moved a hair's breadth since he had seen them there
before. But their faces were not so white now. Color was coming back.

He put the toe of his boot against Langdon's side and shoved gently but
firmly. Langdon awoke and sat up indignantly.

"How dare you, Harry Kenton, disturb a gentleman who is occupied with
his much-needed slumbers?" he asked.

"General Jackson wants you."

"Old Jack wants me! Now, what under the sun can he want with me?"

"He wants you to take some cavalry, gallop to Washington, go all around
the city, inspect all its earthworks and report back here by nightfall."

"You're making that up, Harry; but for God's sake don't make that
suggestion to Old Jack. He'd send me on that trip sure, and then have me
hanged as an example in front of the whole army, when I failed."

"I won't say anything about it."

"You're a bright boy, Harry, and you're learning fast. But things could
be a lot worse. We could have been licked instead of licking the enemy.
I could be dead instead of lying here on the grass, tired but alive.
But, Harry, I'm growing old fast."

"How old are you, Tom?"

"Last week I was nineteen, to-day I'm ninety-nine,