ce since we
came. A part of it, at least, ought to arrive at the river to-morrow,
though their cavalry are skirmishing continually on our flanks. Don't
you hear the rifles?"

Harry heard them far away to right and left, like the faint buzzing of
wasps, but he had heard the same sound so much that it made no impression
upon him.

"Let 'em buzz," he said. "They're too distant to reach any of us,
and the Army of Northern Virginia is passing on."

Those were precious hours. Harry knew much, but he did not divine the
full depths of the suspense, suffered by the people beyond the veil that
clothed the two armies. Lincoln had been continually urging Meade to
pursue and destroy his opponent, and Meade, knowing how formidable Lee
was, and how it had been a matter of touch and go at Gettysburg, pursued,
but not with all the ardor of one sure of triumph. Yet the man at the
White House hoped continually for victory, and the Southern people feared
that his hopes would come true.

It became sure the next day that they would reach the Potomac before
Meade could attack them in flank, but the scouts brought word that the
Potomac was still a deep and swollen river, impossible to be crossed
unless they could rebuild the bridges.

Finally the whole army came against the Potomac and it seemed to Harry
that its yellow flood had not diminished one particle since he left.
But Lee acted with energy. Men were set to work at once building a new
bridge near Falling Waters, parts of the ruined pontoon bridges were
recovered, and new boats were built in haste. But while the workmen
toiled the army went into strong positions along the river between
Williamsport and Hagerstown.

Harry found himself with all of his friends again, and he was proud of
the army's defiant attitude. Meade and the Army of the Potomac were
not far away, it was said, but the youthful veterans of the South were
entirely willing to fight again. The older men, however, knew their
danger. The disproportion of forces would be much greater than at
Gettysburg, and even if they fought a successful defensive action with
their back to the river the Army of the Potomac could bide its time and
await reinforcements. The North would pour forth its numbers without
stint.

Harry rode to Sherburne with a message of congratulation from General Lee,
who told him that he had selected the possible crossing well, and that
he had shown great skill and valor in holding it until t