ithout detracting from its good
cheer.

The table had been set late, and soon the winter twilight was
approaching. As they took another slice of ham they heard the boom of a
cannon on the far side of the Rappahannock. Harry went to the window
and saw the white smoke rising from a point about three miles away.

"They can't be firing on us, can they, sir?" he said to Colonel Talbot.
"They wouldn't do it on a day like this."

"No. There are two reasons. We're so far apart that it would be a
waste of good powder and steel, and they would not violate Christmas in
that manner. We and the Yankees have become too good friends for such
outrageous conduct. If I may risk a surmise, I think it is merely a
Christmas greeting."

"I think so, too, sir. Listen, there goes a cannon on our side."

"It will be answered in a few moments. The favorite Biblical numbers
are seven and twelve, and I take it that each side will fire either
seven or twelve shots. It is certainly a graceful compliment from the
Yankees, befitting the season. I should not have said a year ago that
they would show so much delicacy and perception."

"I think that the number of shots on each side will be twelve," said
Lieutenant-Colonel St. Hilaire. "It's three apiece now, isn't it?"

"Yes, three apiece," said Colonel Talbot.

"Four now," said Sherburne.

"Five now," said Dalton.

"Six now," said St. Clair.

"Seven now," said Harry.

"Eight now," said Happy Tom.

"And seven has been passed," said Colonel Talbot. "It will surely be
twelve."

All were silent now, counting under their breath, and they felt a
certain extraordinary solemnity as they counted. Harry knew that both
armies, far up and down the river, were counting those shots, as the
little group in the Moncrieffe house were counting them. Certainly
there would be no hostilities on that day.

"Nine," they said under their breath.

"Ten!"

"Eleven!"

"Twelve!"

Then they listened, as the echo of the twelfth Southern shot died away
on the stream, and no sound came after it. Twenty-four shots had been
fired, twelve by each army, conveying Christmas good wishes, and the
group in the house went back to their dinner. Some glasses had been
found, and there was a thimbleful of wine, enough for everyone. The
black cake was cut, and at a word from Colonel Talbot all rose and drank
a toast to the mothers and wives and sweethearts and sisters they had
left behind them.

Then th