glance told him that they were crowded with
soldiers. General Saxton with seven thousand men and eighteen guns had
undertaken to hold the place against his formidable opponent.

General Jackson held a brief council, and, when it was over, summoned
Harry and Dalton to him.

"You are both well mounted and have had experience," he said. "You
understand that the army before us is not by any means the only one
that the Yankees have. Shields, Ord and Fremont are all leading armies
against us. We can defeat Saxton's force, but we must not be caught in
any trap. Say not a word of this to anybody, but ride in the direction
I'm pointing and see if you can find the army of Shields. Other scouts
are riding east and west, but you must do your best, nevertheless.
Perhaps both of you will not come back, but one of you must. Take food
in your saddle bags and don't neglect your arms."

He turned instantly to give orders to others and Harry and Dalton
mounted and rode, proud of their trust, and resolved to fulfill it.
Evening was coming as they left the army, and disappeared among the
woods. They had only the vague direction given by Jackson, derived
probably from reports, brought in by other scouts, but it was their
mission to secure definite and exact information.

"You know this country, George, don't you?" asked Harry.

"I've ridden over all of it. They say that Shields with a large part of
McDowell's army is approaching the valley through Manassas Gap. It's a
long ride from here, Harry, but I think we'd better make for it. This
horse of mine is one of the best ever bred in the valley. He could carry
me a hundred miles by noon to-morrow."

"Mine's not exactly a plough horse," said Harry, as he stroked the mane
of his own splendid bay, one especially detailed for him on this errand.
"If yours can go a hundred miles by noon to-morrow so can mine."

"Suppose, then, we go a little faster."

"Suits me."

The riders spoke a word or two. The two grand horses stretched out their
necks, and they sped away southward. For a while they rode over the
road by which they had come. It was yet early twilight and they saw many
marks of their passage, a broken-down wagon, a dead horse, an exploded
caisson, and now and then something from which they quickly turned away
their eyes.

Dalton knew the roads well, and at nightfall they bore in toward the
right. They had already come a long distance, and in the darkness they
went more slowly.