s called back, but their voices were already
dying in the distance as Harry and his comrades were now riding rapidly
down the valley, knee to knee, because St. Clair and Langdon meant to
keep very close to him. They saw that he was a little unsteady, and that
his eyes were unnaturally bright. They knew, too, that if he said he
had great news for General Lee he told the truth, and they meant that he
should get there with it in the least time possible.

The valley opened out before them, broadening considerably as they
advanced. The night was far gone, there was not much moonlight, but
their eyes had grown used to the dark, and they could see well. They
passed sentinels and small detachments of cavalry, to whom St. Clair and
Langdon gave the quick password. They saw fields of wheat stubble and
pastures and crossed two brooks. The curiosity of Langdon and St. Clair
was overwhelming but they restrained it for a long time. They could tell
by his appearance that he had passed through unimaginable hardships,
but they were loath to ask questions.

An owl on their right hooted, and both of them saw Harry shiver.

"What makes an owl's cry disturb you so, Harry?" asked Langdon.

"Because one of them tried to put the hoodoo on me as they say down in
your country, Happy. I was lying back there in the forest on the hill
and the biggest and reddest-eyed owl that was ever born sat on a bough
over head, and kept telling me that I was finished, right at the end
of my rope. But he was a liar, because here I am, with you fellows
on either side of me, inside our lines and riding to the camp of the
commander-in-chief."

"I think you're a bit shaky, Harry," said St. Clair, "and I don't wonder
at it. If I had been through all I think you've been through I'd tumble
off that horse into the road and die."

"Has any messenger come from Colonel Sherburne at the river to General
Lee?"

"Not that I've heard of. No, I'm sure that none's come," replied
St. Clair.

"Then I'll get to him first. Don't think, Arthur, it's just a foolish
ambition of mine to lead, but the sooner some one reaches the general the
better."

"We'll see that you're first old man," said Langdon. "It's not more than
a half-hour now."

But Harry reeled in his saddle. The singular weakness that he had felt
a while back returned, and the road grew dark before him. With a mighty
effort he steadied himself in the saddle and St. Clair heard him say in a
fierce