n force, their lines extending far
to the left and right, with several batteries showing at intervals. Then
came the rebel yell from the pass and as the Union lines advanced the
Southerners poured upon them a vast concentrated fire.

Dick, watching through the smoke and forgetful of his enemy across the
valley, saw the Union charge rolled back. But he also saw the men out
of range gathering themselves for a new attack. Within the pass
preparations were going on to repel it a second time. Then he glanced
toward the opposite rock and dropped down just in time. He had seen a
rifle barrel protruding above it, and a second later the bullet whistled
where his head had been.

He grew angrier than ever. He had left that sharpshooter alone for at
least ten minutes, while he watched charge and repulse, and he expected
to be treated with the same consideration. He would pay him for such
ferocity, and seeing an edge of gray shoulder, he fired.

No sign came from the rock, and Dick was quite sure that he had missed.
The blood mounted to his head and surcharged his brain. A thousand
little pulses that he had never heard of before began to beat in his
head, and he was devoured by a consuming anger. He vowed to get that
fellow yet.

Lying flat upon his stomach he drew himself around the edge of the rock
and watched. There was a great deal of covering smoke from the artillery
in the pass now, and he believed that it would serve his purpose.

But when he got a little distance away from the rock the bank of smoke
lifted suddenly, and it was only by quickly flattening himself
down behind a little ridge of stone that he saved his life. The
sharpshooter's bullet passed so close to his head that Dick felt as if
he had received a complete hair cut, all in a flash.

He fairly sprang back to the cover of his rock. What a fine rock
that was! How big and thick! And it was so protective! In a spirit of
defiance he fired at the top of the other stone and saw the gray dust
shoot up from it. Quick came the answering shot, and a little piece of
his coat flew with it. That was certainly a great sharpshooter across
the valley! Dick gave him full credit for his skill.

Then he heard the rolling of drums and the mellow call of trumpets in
front of the pass. Taking care to keep well under cover he looked back.
The Union army was advancing in great force now, its front tipped with a
long line of bayonets and the mouths of fifty cannon turned to the pa