by, ate it quickly, wrapped
himself in borrowed blankets, and lay down under the shade of an oak.
Langdon saw him just as he was about to close his eyes, and called to
him:

"Here, Harry, I didn't know you were back. What's your news?"

"That McClellan and the Yankee army are this side of the Potomac.
That's all. Good night."

He closed his eyes, and although it was near the middle of the day,
with the multifarious noises of the camp about him, he fell into the
deep and beautiful sleep of the tired youth who has done his duty.

He was still asleep when Captain Sherburne, worn and wounded slightly,
came in and reported also to General Jackson. He and his main force had
been pursued and had been in a hot little brush with the Union cavalry,
both sides losing several men. Others who had been detached before the
action also returned and reported. All of them, like Harry, were told
to seek food and sleep.

Harry slept a long time, and the soldiers who passed, making many
preparations, never disturbed him. But the entire Southern army under
Lee, assisted by his two great corps commanders, Jackson and Longstreet,
was making ready to meet the Army of the Potomac under McClellan.
The spirit of the Army of Northern Virginia was high, and the news that
the enemy was marching was welcome to them.

When Harry awoke the sun had passed its zenith and the cool October
shadows were falling. He yawned prodigiously, stretched his arms,
and for a few moments could not remember where he was, or what he had
been doing.

"Quit yawning so hard," said Happy Tom Langdon. "You may get your mouth
so wide open that you'll never be able to shut it again."

"What's happened?"

"What's happened, while you were asleep? Well, it will take a long time
to tell it, Mr. Rip Van Winkle. You have slept exactly a week, and in
the course of that time we fought a great battle with McClellan, were
defeated by him, chiefly owing to your comatose condition, and have
fallen back on Richmond, carrying you with us asleep in a wagon.
If you will look behind you you will see the spires of Richmond.
Oh, Harry! Harry! Why did you sleep so long and so hard when we needed
you so much?"

"Shut up, Tom. If ever talking matches become the fashion, I mean
to enter you in all of them for the first prize. Now, tell me what
happened while I was asleep, and tell it quick!"

"Well, me lad, since you're high and haughty, not to say dictatorial
about it, I