to do it ourselves!"

Cleave drew his horse to one side. "I'll wait here until he comes
up--no, not the Lord; General Jackson. I want, too, to speak to Will.
Where in column is the 65th?"

"Fourth, I think. He's a nice boy--Will. It was pretty to watch him at
Kernstown--V. M. I. airs and precision, and gallantry enough for a
dozen!"

"I'll tell him you said so, colonel! Good-bye!"

Will, too, wanted to know--he said that Mr. Rat wanted to know--all the
fellows wanted to know, what--("I wish you'd let me swear, Richard!")
what it all meant? "Mr. Rat and I don't believe he's responsible--it
isn't in the least like his usual conduct! Old Jack backing away from
cannons and such--quitting parade ground before it's time!--marching off
to barracks with a beautiful rumpus behind him! It ain't natural! Mark
my words, Richard, and Mr. Rat thinks so, too, it's General Lee or
General Johnston, and he's got to obey and can't help himself!--What do
you think?"

"I think it will turn out all right. Now march on, boy! The colonel says
he watched you at Kernstown; says you did mighty well--'gallant for a
dozen!'"

General Jackson on Little Sorrel was met with further on. Imperturbable
and self-absorbed, with his weather-stained uniform, his great boots,
his dreadful cap, he exhibited as he rode a demeanour in which there was
neither heaviness nor lightness. Never jovial, seldom genial, he was on
one day much what he was on another--saving always battle days. Riding
with his steadfast grey-blue eyes level before him, he communed with
himself or with Heaven--certainly not with his dissatisfied troops.

He acknowledged Cleave's salute, and took the letter which the other
produced. "Good! good! What did you do at Charlottesville?"

"I sent the stores on to Major Harman at Staunton, sir. There was a good
deal of munition." He gave a memorandum.

One hundred rifled muskets with bayonets.
" " Belgian " " "
Fifty flintlocks.
Two hundred pikes.
Five hundred pounds cannon powder.
Two " " musket "
Five thousand rounds of cartridge.
Eight sets artillery harness.
Ten artillery sabres.
One large package of lint.
One small case drugs and surgical instruments.

"Good, good," said Jackson. "What day?"

"Monday, sir. Virginia Central that afternoon. I t