of the country, he has detailed me for the duty, and
I choose you as my assistants. I'm sure that the skill and danger such a
task requires will make you all the more eager for it."

The three youths responded quickly and with zeal, and Sergeant Whitley,
when he was chosen, too, nodded in silent gratitude. The night was dark,
overcast with clouds, and in an hour Colonel Winchester with his four
departed upon his perilous mission. He was to secure information in
regard to the Southern army, and to do that they were to go very near
the Southern lines, if not actually inside them. Such an attempt would
be hazardous in the extreme in the face of a vigilant watch; but on the
other hand they would be aided by the fact that both North and South
were of like blood and language. Even more, many of those in the
opposing camps came from the same localities, and often were of kin.

Dick's regiment had been stationed at the southern end of the line, near
the little town of Dover, but they now advanced northward and westward,
marching for a long time along their inner line. It was Colonel
Winchester's intention to reach Hickman Creek, which formed their
northern barrier, creep in the fringe of bushes on its banks, and then
approach the fort.

When they reached the desired point the night was well advanced, and
yet dark with the somber clouds hanging over river and fort and field
of battle. The wind blew out of the northwest, sharp and intensely cold.
The snow crunched under their feet. But the four had wrapped themselves
in heavy overcoats, and they were so engrossed in their mission that
neither wind nor snow was anything to them.

They passed along the bank of the creek, keeping well within the shadow
of the bushes, leaving behind them the last outpost of the Union army,
and then slowly drew near to the fort. They saw before them many lights
burning in the darkness, and at last they discerned dim figures walking
back and forth. Dick knew that these were the Southern sentinels. The
four went a little nearer, and then crouched down in the snow among some
low bushes.

Now they saw the Southern sentinels more distinctly. Some, in fact, were
silhouetted sharply as they passed before the Southern fires. Northern
sharpshooters could have crept up and picked off many of them, as the
Southern sharpshooters in turn might have served many of the Northern
watchers, but in this mighty war there was little of such useless and
merciless ente