lf light at a table, reading a little book, which the
lad guessed was a pocket Bible.

Harry saluted and Jackson looked at him gravely.

"You've come back alone, it seems," he said, "but you've obeyed my
instructions not to come without definite news?"

"I have, sir."

"What have you seen?"

"We saw the main army of General McClellan crossing the Potomac at
Berlin. He must have had there a hundred thousand men and three or
four hundred guns, and others were certainly crossing elsewhere."

"You saw all this with your own eyes?"

"I did, sir. We watched them for a long time. They were crossing on a
bridge of boats."

"You are dusty and you look very worn. Did you come in contact with the
enemy?"

"Yes, sir. Many of their horsemen were already on this side of the
river, and this morning I was pressed very hard by a troop of their
cavalry. I gained a wood, but just at the edge of it my horse was
killed by a chance shot."

"Your horse killed? Then how could you escape from cavalry?"

"Chance favored me, sir. I dodged them for a while in the woods and
underbrush, helped by gullies here and there, and when I came to the
edge of the wood only a single horseman was near me. I hid behind a
tree and knocked him out of the saddle as he was riding past."

"I hope you did not kill him."

"I did not. He was merely stunned. He will have a headache for a day
or two, and then he will be as well as ever. I jumped on his horse and
galloped here as straight and fast as I could."

A faint smile passed over Jackson's face.

"You were lucky to make the exchange of horses," he said, "and you have
done well. The enemy comes and our days of rest are over. Do you know
anything of Captain Sherburne and his troop?"

"Captain Sherburne, under the urgency of pursuit, scattered his men
in order that some of them at least might reach you with the news of
General McClellan's crossing. I was the first detached, and so I know
nothing of the others."

"And also you were the first to arrive. I trust that Captain Sherburne
and all of his men will yet come. We can ill spare them."

"I truly hope so, sir."

"You need food and sleep. Get both. You will be called when you are
needed. You have done well, Lieutenant Kenton."

"Thank you, sir."

Harry, saluting again, withdrew. He was very proud of his general's
commendation, but he was also on the verge of physical collapse.
He obtained some food at a camp fire near