y talked of many things, and after a while Harry and St. Clair were
sent with a message to the crest of Three Top Mountain, where the
Confederate signal station was located, and from which the Union officers
had taken the dispatch about the coming of Longstreet with a strong
force. Both were fully aware of the great movement contemplated by Early
and their minds now went back to march and battle.

The climb up the mountain was pleasant to such muscles and sinews as
theirs, and they stopped at intervals to look over the valley, now a
great desolation, until nature should come again with her healing touch.
Harry smothered a sigh as he recalled their early and wonderful victories
there, and the tremendous marches with the invincible Stonewall. Old
Jack, as he sat somewhere with Washington and Cromwell and all the group
of the mighty, must feel sad when he looked down upon this, his beloved
valley, now trodden into a ruin by the heel of the invader.

He resolutely put down the choking in his throat, and would not let
St. Clair see his emotion. They reached the signal station, which at
that hour was in charge of a young officer named Mortimer, but little
older than themselves. They delivered to him their message and stood by,
while he talked with flags to another station on the opposite mountain.
Harry watched curiously although he could read none of the signals.

"This is our only newspaper and I can't read it," he said when Mortimer
had finished. "What's the news?"

"There's a lot of it, and it's heavy with importance," replied Mortimer.

"Tell us a bit of it, can't you?"

"Sheridan has left his army and gone north. That's one bit."

"What?"

"It's so. We know absolutely, and we've signaled it to General Early.
But we don't know why he has gone."

"That is important."

"It surely is, and he's taken his cavalry with him. Our men have seen
the troops riding northward. Since Sheridan went away, the Union
commander, whoever he is, has been strengthening his right, fearing an
attack there, since he learned of our reappearance in the valley."

"Therefore General Early will attack on the left?"

"Correct. You can see now the value of signal stations like ours.
We can look down upon the enemy and see his movements. Then we know
what to do."

"And what have they on their left?" asked Harry. "Do you know that, too?"

"Of course. General Crook with two divisions is there. He has Cedar
Creek in front of h