while Jack, embarrassed, stood first on one
foot and then on the other, the events that led up to the capture of the
enemy's car, as Abbey had learned them from Captain Beavers. Far from
being sore at his capture, Beavers regarded the whole affair as a fine
joke on himself, and was only eager to find listeners who would give him
a chance to repeat the story.

"That was fine work, Jack," said the Scout-Master, his eyes showing how
proud he was of the Scout who had done his duty so well. "You
accomplished something to-night that General Harkness and I were agreed
was next door to impossible."

"It certainly seemed so to me," said the general, nodding his head. "But
we needed that information badly, and I was ready to consent to any
plan, however desperate the chances of success seemed to be, if it gave
us even an outside chance to learn what it was that the enemy intended
to do. We couldn't defend Tryon Creek and the Mardean road together,
though we could block either one or the other, if we only knew where to
look for the attack. As it is, thanks to what you have brought back, I
think that we need have no fear of the outcome of the battle."

General Harkness, once aroused, and understanding what he had to do,
stayed up. It was no time for him to sleep, and, as was presently
proved, the army had had all the rest that was its due that night. For
even as Jack and Durland made their way back to their own headquarters,
the bugles began to blow, and the sleeping ranks began to stir all over
the great encampment.

The transition from sleep to wakefulness and activity was brief enough.
The bugles, blowing in all directions, aroused the sleepers, and soon
all was bustle and apparent confusion all over the camp. But it was only
apparent. Soon ordered ranks appeared, and all around the odor of frying
bacon, and the aroma of coffee told of breakfast being cooked under the
stars and the late moon, for it was recognized that there might be hard
marching and plenty of it before there would be a chance for another
meal. Two brigades were to start at once on the march to Tryon Creek,
and General Harkness had ordered that the men eat their breakfast and
receive a field ration before the march began.

"I guess we can turn in," said Jack to Pete and Tom, with a sigh of
utter weariness. "Seems funny to be going to bed when everyone else is
getting up--but they got in ahead of us on their sleep, so I guess it's
our turn all right."

"M