and fierce, the men in gray throwing away their
lives freely in charge after charge, but they were gradually borne back.
Lee showed all his old skill and generalship, marshaling his men with
coolness and precision, but Grant and Sheridan would not be denied.
They too were cool and skillful, and when night came the Southern army
was driven back at all points, although it had displayed a valor never
surpassed in any of the great battles of the war. But Lee's face had not
yet shown any signs of despair, when he gathered his men again in his old
works.

It was to Harry, however, one of the gloomiest nights that he had ever
known. As a staff officer, he knew the desperate position of the
Southern force, and his heart was very heavy within him. He saw across
the swamps and fields the innumerable Northern campfires, and he heard
the Northern bugles calling to one another in the dusk. But as the night
advanced and he had duties to do his courage rose once more. Since their
great commander-in-chief was steady and calm he would try to be so too.

The opposing sentinels were very close to one another in the dark and as
usual they often talked. Harry, as he went on one errand or another,
heard them sometimes, but he never interfered, knowing that nothing was
to be gained by stopping them. Deep in the night, when he was passing
through a small wood very close to the Union lines, a figure rose up
before him. It was so dark that he did not know the man at first,
but at the second look he recognized him.

"Shepard!" he exclaimed. "You here!"

"Yes, Mr. Kenton," replied the spy, "it's Shepard, and you will not
try to harm me. Why should you at such a moment? I am within the
Confederate lines for the last time."

"So, you mean to give up your trade?"

"It's going to give me up. Chance has made you and me antagonists,
Mr. Kenton, but our own little war, as well as the great war in which we
both fight, is about over. I will not come within the Southern lines
again because there is no need for me to do so. In a few days there will
be no Southern lines. Don't think that I'm trying to exult over you,
but remember what I told you four years ago in Montgomery. The South has
made a great and wonderful fight, but it was never possible for her to
win."

"We are not beaten yet, Mr. Shepard."

"No, but you will be. I suppose you'll fight to the last, but the end is
sure as the rising of tomorrow's sun. We have generals now