f the news you brought. Dalton arrived about noon,
dead beat. Happy is coming with a horse for you, and you can rejoin the
staff now."

"Before I leave I'll have to thank Mr. Jones once more," said Harry.
"He runs the best passenger service that I know."

"Welcome to it any time, either you or your friend," said Jones, saluting
with his whip.

CHAPTER VIII

THE CROSSING

Harry left the wagon at midnight and overtook the staff, an orderly
providing him with a good horse. Dalton, who had also been sleeping in
a wagon, came an hour or two later, and the two, as became modest young
officers, rode in the rear of the group that surrounded General Lee.

Although the darkness had come fully, the Army of Northern Virginia had
not yet stopped. The infantry flanked by cavalry, and, having no fear
of the enemy, marched steadily on. Harry closely observed General Lee,
and although he was well into his fifties he could discern no weakness,
either physical or mental, in the man who had directed the fortunes of
the South in the terrific and unsuccessful three days at Gettysburg and
who had now led his army for nearly a week in a retreat, threatened,
at any moment, with an attack by a veteran force superior in numbers.
All the other generals looked worn and weary, but he alone sat erect,
his hair and beard trimmed neatly, his grave eye showing no sign of
apprehension.

He seemed once more to Harry--youth is a hero-worshiper--omniscient and
omnipotent. The invasion of the North had failed, and there had been a
terrible loss of good men, officers and soldiers, but, with Lee standing
on the defensive at the head of the Army of Northern Virginia, in
Virginia, the South would be invincible. He had always won there,
and he always would win there.

Harry sighed, nevertheless. He had two heroes, but one of them was gone.
He thought again if only Stonewall Jackson had been at Gettysburg.
Lee's terrible striking arm would have smitten with the hammer of Thor.
He would have pushed home the attack on the first day, when the Union
vanguard was defeated and demoralized. He would have crushed the enemy
on the second day, leaving no need for that fatal and terrific charge of
Pickett on the third day.

"You reached the general first," said Dalton, "but I tried my best to
beat you."

"But I started first, George, old fellow. That gave me the advantage
over you."

"It's fine of you to say it. The army has quickened its pa