fighting. At any rate, they were silent. The
Acadians had played no music for a day now, and the band lay upon the
ground sunk in deep slumber.

Harry had not been sent on any errand, and he was sitting on a stone,
finishing his supper, when Dalton, who had been away with a message,
returned.

"What's happened, George?" asked Harry.

"Nothing yet, but a lot will happen soon."

"Where have you been?"

"I've been on the other side of the Shenandoah. You needn't open your
eyes. It's so. Moreover, Ewell's whole division is over there, and it
will meet the vanguard of Fremont as he advances. I think I begin to see
the general's scheme."

"I do, too. Ewell will fight off Fremont, holding him there until
Jackson can annihilate Shields. Then he will retreat over the river to
Jackson, burning the bridge behind him."

Dalton nodded.

"Looks that way to a man up a tree," he said.

"It's like the general," said Harry. "He could bring his whole army on
this side, burn the bridge, and in full force attack Shields, but he
prefers to defeat them both."

"Yes; but I wish to Heaven we had more men."

"Sh! Here comes the general," said Harry.

The two were silent as General Jackson and an officer passed. The
general spoke a word or two to the boys and went on. They were but
ordinary words, but both felt uplifted because he had spoken to them.

Morning found them motionless in the forest, over the caves. They ate a
hasty breakfast and waited. But the scouts were all out, and presently
Harry and Dalton were sent toward the Shenandoah. Finding nothing there,
they crossed over the bridge and came to Ewell's division, where they
had plenty of acquaintances.

The sun was now high, and while they were talking with their friends,
they heard the faint report of rifle shots far in their front. Presently
the scouts came running back, and said that the enemy was only two miles
away and was advancing to the attack.

Ewell took off his hat and his bald head glistened in the sun's rays.
But, like Jackson, he was always cool, and he calmly moved his troops
into position along a low ridge, with heavy woods on either flank. Harry
knew the ground, alas, too well. It was among the trees just behind the
ridge that Turner Ashby had been slain. Ewell had before him Fremont
with two to one, and the rest of the army under Jackson's immediate
command was four miles away, facing Shields.

"Do you hear anything behind you, Harry?" asked Dalton.