d mentally. His doubts and apprehensions were gone.
The unconquerable Army of Northern Virginia was merely marching again
to fresh triumphs.

Although Hooker now understood Lee's movement, and was pushing more
troops forward on his side of the Rappahannock, the Southern general,
with his eye ever on his main object, did not cease his advance.
He had turned his back on Washington, and nothing, not even formidable
irruptions like that of Pleasanton, could make him change his plan.

The calls from the Valley of Virginia became more frequent and urgent.
Messengers came to Lee, begging his help. Milroy at Winchester, with a
strong force, was using rigorous measures. The people claimed that he
had gone far beyond the rules of war. Jackson had come more than once
to avenge them, and now they expected as much of Lee.

They did not appeal in vain. Harry saw Lee's eyes flash at the reports
of the messengers, and he himself took a dispatch, the nature of which
he knew, to Ewell, who was in advance, leading Jackson's old corps.
Ewell, strapped to his horse, had regained his ruddiness and physical
vigor. Harry saw his eyes shine as he read the dispatch, and he knew
that nothing could please him more.

"You know what is in this, Lieutenant Kenton?" he said, tapping the
paper.

"I do, sir, and I'm sorry I can't go with you."

"So am I; but as sure as you and I are sitting here on our horses,
trouble is coming to Mr. Milroy. Some friends of yours in the little
regiment called the Invincibles are just beyond the hill. Perhaps you'd
like to see them."

Harry thanked him, saluted, and rode over the hill, where he found the
two colonels, St. Clair and Langdon riding at the head of their men.
The youths greeted him with a happy shout and the colonels welcomed him
in a manner less noisy but as sincere.

"The sight of you, Harry, is good for any kind of eyes," said Colonel
Talbot. "But what has brought you here?"

"An order from General Lee to General Ewell."

"Then it must be of some significance."

"It is, sir, and since it will be no secret in a few minutes, I can
tell you that this whole corps is going to Winchester to take Milroy.
I wish I could go with you, Colonel, but I can't."

"You were at Brandy Station, and we weren't," said St. Clair quietly.
"It's our turn now."

"Right you are, Arthur," said Langdon. "I mean to take this man Milroy
with my own hands. I remember that he gave us trouble in Jackson's
ti