they examined with the curious eyes of youth.
But there was little to see. The last leaves were falling from the trees
under the early winter rain. Bare boughs and brown grass went past their
windows and the fields were deserted. The landscape looked chill and
sullen.

Warner was less depressed than Dick. He had an even temperament based
solidly upon mathematical calculations. He knew that while it might
be raining today, the chances were several to one against its raining
tomorrow.

"I've good cause to remember Baltimore," he said. "I was with the New
England troops when they had the fight there on the way down to the
capital. Although we hold it, it's really a Southern city, Dick. Most
all the border cities are Southern in sympathy, and they're swarming
with people who will send to the Southern leaders news of every movement
we make. I state, and moreover I assert it in the face of all the
world, that the knowledge of our departure from Washington is already
in Southern hands. By close mathematical calculation the chances are at
least ninety-five per cent in favor of my statement."

"Very likely," said Dick, "and we'll have that sort of thing to face all
the time when we invade the South. We've got to win this war, George,
by hard fighting, and then more hard fighting, and then more and more of
the same."

"Guess you're right. Arithmetic shows at least one hundred per cent of
probability in favor of your suggestion."

Dick looked up and down the long coach packed with young troops. Besides
the commissioned officers and the sergeants, there was not one in the
coach who was twenty-five. Most of them were nineteen or twenty, and
it was the same in the other coaches. After the first depression their
spirits rose. The temper of youth showed strongly. They were eager to
see Baltimore, but the train stopped there only a few minutes, and they
were not allowed to leave the coaches.

Then the train turned towards the west. The drizzle of rain had now
become a pour, and it drove so heavily that they could see but little
outside. Food was served at noon and afterward many slept in the cramped
seats. Dick, despite his stiff position, fell asleep too. By the middle
of the afternoon everybody in their coach was slumbering soundly except
Sergeant Whitley, who sat by the door leading to the next car.

All that afternoon and into the night the train rattled and moved into
the west. The beautiful rolling country was left behind