s gauntleted hands held the reins, and the other
swung easily by his side. He would have given his cloak to some one
of the shivering youths who marched on foot near him, but he knew that
Jackson would not permit any such open breach of discipline.

The boy watched the leader who rode almost by his side. Jackson had put
on his own cavalry cloak, but it was fastened by a single button at
the top and it had blown open. He did not seem to notice the fact.
Apparently he was oblivious of heat and cold alike, and rode on, bent a
little forward in the saddle, his face the usual impenetrable mask. But
Harry knew that the brain behind that brow never ceased to work, always
thinking and planning, trying this combination and that, ready to make
any sacrifice to do the work that was to be done.

The long shadows came, and the short day that had turned so cold was
over, giving way to the night that was colder than the day. They were
on the hills now and even the vigorous Jackson felt that it was time to
stop until morning. The night had turned very dark, a fierce wind was
blowing, and now and then a fine sift of snow as sharp as hail was blown
against their faces.

The wagons with the heavy clothing, blankets and food had not come up,
and perhaps would not arrive until the next day. Gloom as dark as the
night itself began to spread among the young troops, but Jackson gave
them little time for bemoaning their fate. Fires were quickly built
from fallen wood. The men found warmth and a certain mental relief in
gathering the wood itself. The officers, many of them boys themselves,
shared in the work. They roamed through the forest dragging in fallen
timber, and now and then, an old rail fence was taken panel by panel to
join the general heap.

The fires presently began to crackle in the darkness, running in long,
irregular lines, and the young soldiers crowded in groups about them.
At the same time they ate the scanty rations they carried in their
knapsacks, and wondered what had become of the wagons. Jackson sent
detachments to seek his supply trains, but Harry knew that he would not
wait for it in the morning. The horses drawing the heavy loads over the
slippery roads would need rest as badly as the men, and Jackson would
go on. If food was not there--well then his troops must march on empty
stomachs.

Youth changes swiftly and the high spirits with which the soldiers had
departed in the morning were gone. The night had become ex