Repeat a copy of Colonel Abbey's orders to General Bean."

"That's good work, Danby, once more," he said, then, turning to Jack.
"We'd have been in a nice mess if you hadn't discovered that. They
masked their turning movement beautifully. If they had got hold of
Newville and cut General Bean off from the main body of this army we
would have had to abandon Hardport at once. General Bean would certainly
have been captured, and we would have had to fall back on the capital,
with an excellent prospect of being attacked and forced to fight at a
great disadvantage on our retreat. As it is, even if General Bean is
forced to circle around Newville, we can concentrate at Bremerton and
fight on ground of our own choosing, though that would make this place
untenable."

Receiving no further orders, Jack remained to listen. He stood at
attention, and he enjoyed the experience of being in the room of a
general on active service, for the constant stream of orders General
Harkness was giving was hardly checked at all by his pause to speak to
Jack and thank him for the good work he had done.

"Instruct Colonel Henry to complete preparations for the theoretical
destruction of the railroad station, the sidings, and all passenger and
freight cars now here," he directed next. "If we are forced to abandon
the place, we will leave plenty of evidence behind us that it is no
longer of any use to the enemy. Rather a dog-in-the-manger policy, I
suppose--" this to Jack, since the officer had gone to obey the
order--"but that's war. If you can't make any use of a town or a lot of
supplies yourself, remember always that that is no reason why the enemy
should not find them of the utmost service, and see to it that he can
get no benefit from them. That was General Sherman's way. He left a
trail of desolation fifty miles wide wherever he marched with his army,
and he was always sure that the enemy, even if he came along after him,
would find no chance to live in that country."

Jack offered no comment at all. He knew his place, as a Boy Scout, and,
while he realized that it was a great compliment for the General to talk
to him in that fashion, he had no intention of presuming on the fact.

Just then an orderly entered.

"Scout Thomas Binns, of Durland's Troop, General," he said, saluting.
"He says he has important information."

"Another of you?" asked the General, smiling as he faced Jack. "Send him
in!"

"He was with me in the car, sir," sai