pt McDowell with another great army from joining him, but to keep back
this force of McDowell until they dealt with McClellan, there must be
yet other rapid marches and lightning strokes.

Harry's sleep that night was the longest in two weeks, but he was up
at dawn, and he was directed by Jackson to ride forward with Sherburne
toward the southern base of the Massanuttons, observe the approach of
both Fremont and Shields and report to him.

Harry was glad of his errand. He always liked to ride with Sherburne,
who was a fount of cheerfulness, and he was still keyed up to that
extraordinary intensity and pitch of excitement that made all things
possible. He now understood how the young soldiers of Napoleon in
Italy had been able to accomplish so much. It was the man, a leader of
inspiration and genius, surcharging them all with electrical fire.

Sherburne's troop was a portion of a strong cavalry force, which divided
as it reached the base of the Massanuttons, a half passing on either
side. Sherburne and Harry rode to the right in order to see the army
of Shields. The day was beautiful, with a glorious June sun and gentle
winds, but Harry, feeling something strange about it, realized presently
that it was the silence. For more than two weeks cannon had been
thundering and rifles crashing in the valley, almost without cessation.
Neither night nor storm had caused any interruption.

It seemed strange, almost incredible now, but they heard birds singing
as they flew from tree to tree, and peaceful rabbits popped up in the
brush. Yet before they went much further they saw the dark masses of the
Northern army under Shields moving slowly up the valley, and anxious for
the junction with Fremont.

But the Northern generals were again at a loss. Jackson had turned
suddenly and defeated Fremont's vanguard with heavy loss, but what
had become of him afterward? Fremont and Shields were uncertain of
the position of each other, and they were still more uncertain about
Jackson's. He might fall suddenly upon either, and they grew very
cautious as they drew near to the end of the Massanuttons.

Sherburne and Harry, after examining the Northern army through
their glasses, rode back with a dozen men to the south base of
the Massanuttons. Most of them were signal officers, and Harry and
Sherburne, dismounting, climbed the foot of the mountain with them. When
they stood upon the crest and looked to right and left in the clear June
air, t