by the flash of the firing and, after that ceased,
by the campfires. Jackson's advance was at an end for the time.
He was fully in touch with his enemy and understood him. Hooker had
retreated as far as he would go. When the fog cleared away in the
morning the men in the captive balloons had informed him that heavy
Southern columns were marching toward Chancellorsville. He was sure
now that the full strength of the Southern army was before him, and
he continued to fortify the Chancellor House and the plateau of Hazel
Grove. He also threw up log breastworks through the heavily wooded
country, and his lines, bristling with artillery and defended now by
six score thousand men, extended along a front of six miles.

Jackson's division lay in the Wilderness before Hooker, but out of
cannon shot. All along that vast front hundreds and hundreds of pickets
and riflemen on either side were keeping a vigilant watch. Jackson and
his staff had dismounted and were eating their suppers around one of the
campfires. The general was again impassive.

After the supper Harry walked a little distance and found the
Invincibles, resting comfortably on the trodden undergrowth. The two
colonels had preserved the neatness of their attire, and whatever they
felt, neither showed any anxiety. But St. Clair and Langdon were free
of speech.

"Well, Harry," said Happy Tom, "is Old Jack going to send us up against
intrenchments and four to one?"

"He hasn't confided in me, but I don't think he means to do any such
thing. He remembers, as even a thick-head like you, Happy, would
remember, how the splendid army of Burnside beat itself to pieces
against our works at Fredericksburg."

"Well, then, why are we here?"

"There's sense in your question, Tom, but I can't answer it."

"No, there isn't any sense in it," interrupted St. Clair. "Do you
suppose for an instant that Lee and Jackson would bring us here if they
didn't have a mighty good reason for it?"

"That's so," admitted Happy Tom; "but General Lee isn't here. Yes,
he is! Listen to the cheering!"

They sprang to their feet and saw Lee coming through the woods on his
white horse, Traveler, a roar of cheers greeting him as he advanced.
Behind him came new brigades, and Harry believed that the whole Southern
army was now united before Hooker.

Lee dismounted and Jackson went forward to meet his chief. The staffs
stood at a respectful distance as the two men met and began to t