now what had become of Jackson. They knew that he was
somewhere within the ring, but where? He might pounce upon a division,
deal another terrible blow and then away! In a week he had drawn
the eyes of the world upon him, and his enemies no longer considered
anything impossible to him. Many a patriot who was ready to die rather
than see the union of the states destroyed murmured: "If he were only on
our side!" There was already talk of recalling McClellan's great army to
defend Washington.

The object of all this immense anxiety and care was riding peacefully in
a train to Winchester, talking with a friend but conscious fully of his
great danger. It seemed that the Northern generals with their separate
armies were acting in unison at last, and must close down on their prey.

They came again into Winchester, the town torn so often by battle and
its anxieties, and saw the Presbyterian minister, his face gray with
care, greet Jackson. Then the two walked toward the manse, followed at a
respectful distance by the officers of the staff.

Harry soon saw that the whole of Winchester was in gloom. They knew
there of the masses in blue converging on Jackson, and few had hope.
While Jackson remained at the manse he sat upon the portico within call.
There was little sound in Winchester. The town seemed to have passed
into an absolute silence. Most of the doors and shutters were closed.

And yet the valley had never seemed more beautiful to Harry. Far off
were the dim blue mountains that enclosed it on either side, and the
bright skies never bent in a more brilliant curve.

He felt again that overpowering desire to sleep, and he may have dozed a
little when he sat there in the sun, but he was wide awake when Jackson
called him.

"I want you to go at once to Harper's Ferry with this note," he said,
"and give it to the officer in command. He will bring back the troops to
Winchester, and you are to come with him. You can go most of the way on
the train and then you must take to your horse. The troops will march
back by the valley turnpike."

Harry saluted and was off. He soon found that other officers were going
to the various commands with orders similar to his, and he no longer had
any doubt that the whole force would be consolidated and would withdraw
up the valley. He was right. Jackson had abandoned the plan of entering
Maryland and marching on Baltimore and Washington, and was now about
to try another, fully as daring, bu