e, he'll have to give up. The siege of
Vicksburg is over. I know everything, except the exact date."

Dick was inclined to believe that Warner was right, but he forgot about
his prediction, because a mail came down the river that afternoon, and
he received a letter from his mother, his beautiful young mother, who
often seemed just like an elder sister.

She was in Pendleton, she wrote, staying comfortably in their home. The
town was occupied by three companies of veteran Union troops who behaved
well. They were always glad to have a garrison of good soldiers whether
Federal or Confederate--sometimes it was one and sometimes the other.
But she thought the present Union force would remain quite a while, as
she did not look for the reappearance of the Southern army in Kentucky.
But if the town were left without troops she would go back to her
relatives in the Bluegrass, as Bill Skelly's band to the eastward in
the mountains was raiding and plundering and had become a great menace.
Guerillas were increasing in numbers in those doubtful regions.

"The regular troops will have to deal with those fellows later on," said
Dick.

"Dr. Russell has had a letter from Harry Kenton," continued Mrs. Mason.
"It was written from some point near the Pennsylvania line, and, while
Harry did not say so in his letter, I know that General Lee is expecting
a great victory in the North. Harry was not hurt at Chancellorsville,
but he says he does not see how he escaped, the fire of the cannon and
rifles being more awful than any that he had ever seen before. He was
present when General Jackson was mortally wounded, and he seems to have
been deeply affected by it. He writes that the Confederacy could better
have lost a hundred thousand men."

There was more in the letter, but it was strictly personal to Dick, and
it closed with her heartfelt prayer that God, who had led him safely so
far, would lead him safely through all.

After reading it several times he put it in a hidden pocket. Soldiers
did not receive many letters and they always treasured them. Ah, his
dear, beautiful young mother! How could anyone ever harm her! Yet the
thought of Skelly and his outlaws made him uneasy. He hoped that the
Union garrison would remain in Pendleton permanently.

His mind was soon compelled to turn back to the siege. They were digging
trenches and creeping closer and closer. Warner had made no mistake
in his mathematics. The army and the people in Vicks