y's face quivering, and he noticed a pallor
that came for an instant.

"I understand," he said. "I had thought of it already. If a Northern
general like Lee or Stonewall Jackson were behind us we might never get
back across the Potomac. It's somewhat the same position that we were in
after Antietam."

"But we've no Stonewall Jackson now to help us."

Again that lump rose in Harry's throat. The vision of the sober figure
on Little Sorrel, leading his brigades to victory, came before him,
but it was a vision only.

"It's strange that we've not come in contact with their scouts or
cavalry," he said. "In that fight with Pleasanton we saw what horsemen
they've become, and a force of some kind must be hanging on our rear."

"If it's there, Sherburne and his troop will find it."

"I think I can detect signs of the enemy now," said Harry, putting his
glasses to his eyes. "See that hill far behind us. Can't you catch the
gleam of lights on it?"

"I think I can," replied Dalton, also using glasses. "Four lights are
there, and they are winking, doubtless to lights on another hill too far
away for us to see."

"It shows that the enemy at least is watching, and that while we may
retreat unattacked it will not be unobserved. Hark! do you hear that,
George? It's rifle shots, isn't it?"

"Yes, and a lot of 'em, but they're a long distance away. I don't think
we could hear 'em at all if it were not night time."

"But it means something! There they go again! I believe it's a heavy
skirmish and it's in the direction in which Sherburne rode."

"The general's up. It's likely that one of us will be sent to see what
it's all about."

General Lee and his whole staff had risen and were listening attentively.
The faint sound of many shots still came, and then a sharper, more
penetrating crash, as if light field guns were at work. The commander
beckoned to Harry.

"Ride toward it," he said briefly, "and return with a report as soon as
you can."

Harry touched his cap, sprang upon his horse and galloped away. He knew
that other messengers would be dispatched also, but, as he had been sent
first, he wished to arrive first. He found a path among the trees along
which he could make good speed, and, keeping his mind fixed on the firing,
he sped forward.

Thousands of soldiers lay asleep in the woods and fields on either side
of him, but the thud of the horse's hoofs awakened few of them. Nor did
the firing disturb