in experience, he felt able
to care for himself, even should the peril be greater than Colonel
Winchester had expected.

The sun was not far above the horizon but it was warm and brilliant,
and it lighted up the earth, throwing a golden glow over the plateau of
Vicksburg, the great maze of ravines and thickets and the many waters.

He passed along the lines, walking rapidly southward, and saw more than
one officer of his acquaintance. Hertford's cavalry were in a field, and
the colonel himself sat on a portion of the rail fence that had enclosed
it. He hailed the lad pleasantly.

"Into the forest again, Dick," he said.

"Not this time, sir," Dick replied. "It's just a little trip, down the
river."

"Success to the trip and a speedy return."

Dick nodded and walked on. He was quite sure that his dispatch was an
order from Grant for Porter to come up the stream and join in a general
attack which everybody felt sure was planned for an early date.

As he passed through the regiments and brigades he received much
good-humored chaff. The great war of America differed widely from the
great wars of Europe. The officers and men were more nearly on a plane
of equality. The vast majority of them had been volunteers in the
beginning and perhaps this feeling of comradeship made them fight all
the better. North and South were alike in it.

"Which way, sonny?" called a voice from a group. "You don't find the
fighting down there. It's back toward Vicksburg."

Dick nodded and smiled.

"Maybe he's out walking for exercise. These officers ride too much."

Dick walked on with a steady swinging step. He regarded the sunbrowned,
careless youths with the genuine affection of a brother. Many of them
were as young as he or younger, but they were now veterans of battle
and march. Napoleon's soldiers themselves could not have boasted of more
experience than they.

He was coming to the last link in the steel chain, and the colonel of
a regiment, an old man, warned him to be careful as he approached the
river.

"Southern sharpshooters are among the ravines and thickets," he said.
"They fired on our lads about dawn and then escaped easily in the thick
cover."

"Thank you, sir," said Dick, "I'll be on my guard." Yet he did not feel
the presence of danger. Youth perhaps becomes more easily hardened in
war than middle age, or perhaps it thinks less of consequences. The
Union cannon, many of great weight and power, had begun already t