ock, carrying under his arm a bundle which they took to be rockets.

"Signals," whispered Dalton. "You just watch, Harry, and you'll see 'em
answered from the eastward."

The officer on the summit of the hillock sent up three rockets, which
curved beautifully against the blue heavens, then sank and died. Far to
the eastward they saw three similar lights flame and die.

"How far away would you say those answering rockets were?" whispered
Harry.

"It's hard to say about distances in the moonlight, but they may be
three or four miles. I take it, Harry, that they are sent up by the
Northern main force."

"So do I, but we've got to get actual evidence in words, or we've got
to see this army. I'm afraid to go back to General Jackson with anything
less. Now, we won't have time to go through the Gap, see the army and
get back to the general before things begin to happen, so we've got to
stick it out here, until we get what we want."

"True words, Harry, and we must risk going a little nearer. See that
line of bushes running along there in the dark? It will cover us, and
we're bound to take the chance. We must agree, too, Harry, that if we're
discovered, neither must stop in an attempt to save the other. If one
reaches Jackson it will be all right."

"Of course, George. We'll run for it with all our might, and if it's
only one it's to be the better runner."

They lay almost flat on their stomachs, and passing through the
grass, reached the line of bushes. Here they could rise from such an
uncomfortable position, and stooping they came within fifty yards of the
first fire, where they saw very clearly the men who were not asleep,
and who yet moved about. Most of them were not yet sunburned, and Harry
judged at once that they had come from the mills and workshops of New
York or New England. As far as he could see they had no pickets, and he
inferred their belief that no enemy was nearer than Jackson's army, at
least thirty miles away. Perhaps the little band of horsemen who had
knocked at Mrs. Pomeroy's door had brought them the information.

They lay there nearly an hour, not thinking of the danger, but consumed
with impatience. Officers passed near them talking, but they could catch
only scraps, not enough for their purpose. A set of signals was sent up
again and was answered duly from the same point to the east of the Gap.
But after long waiting, they were rewarded. Few of the officers or men
ever went far from the fir