o me this morning asking what he ought to do, but
I told him the troops needed a rest of one day, but that he mustn't make
it more than one day or he'd spoil 'em."

Happy Tom, who was lying on the ground, sat up abruptly.

"If ever you hear of Old Stonewall spoiling anybody or anything," he
said, "just you report it to me and I'll tell you that it's not so."

"I believe," said Dalton, "that we're going to leave the valley. Both
Shields and Fremont are still retreating. Our cavalry scouts brought
in that word this morning. We've heard also that Johnston and McClellan
fought a big battle at a place called Seven Pines, and that after it
McClellan hung back, waiting for McDowell, whom Old Jack has kept busy.
General Johnston was wounded at Seven Pines and General Robert Edward
Lee is now in command of our main army."

"That's news! It's more! It's history!" exclaimed St. Clair. "I think
you're right, Harry. Two to one that we go to Richmond. And for one I'll
be glad. Then we'll be right in the middle of the biggest doings!"

"I'm feeling that way, too," said Happy Tom. "But I know one thing."

"What's that?"

"Not a soul in all this army, except Old Jack himself, will know a thing
about it, until it's done, and maybe we won't know very much then. I
passed Old Jack about an hour ago and he saw me as clearly and plainly
as I see you, but he did not tell me a thing about his plans. He did not
even say a word. Did not speak. Just cut me dead."

Not one of the four was destined for some days to learn what Jackson
intended. His highest officers even were kept in the same ignorance.
While the bulk of the army did little, the cavalry under Munford, who
had succeeded Ashby, were exceedingly active. The horsemen were like a
swarm of hornets in front of Jackson, and so great was their activity
that the Northern leaders were unable to gauge their numbers. Fremont,
exposed to these raids, retreated farther down the valley, leaving two
hundred of his wounded and many stores in the hands of Munford.

Then Jackson crossed South River and marched into extensive woods by
the Shenandoah, where his army lay for five full days. It was almost
incredible to Harry and his friends that they should have so long a
rest, but they had it. They luxuriated there among the trees in the
beautiful June weather, listening to the music of the Acadians, eating
and drinking and sleeping as men have seldom slept before.

But while the infantry was rest