the
more men he will save. No Yankee general can ever get by General Lee.
Keep that in your mind, Harry Kenton."

Harry was silent, but rejoicing to find that his friends would soon
recover from their wounds, he went back to his place, and saw all the
afternoon pass, without any movement indicating battle.

Night came again and the scouts reported to Lee that the Union army
was breaking camp, evidently with the intention of getting out of the
Wilderness and marching to Fredericksburg. Harry was with the general
when he received the news, and he saw him think over it long. Other
scouts brought in the same evidence.

Harry did not know what the general thought, but as for himself, although
he was too young to say anything, it was incredible that Grant should
retreat. It was not at all in accordance with his character, now tested
on many fields, and his resources also were too great for withdrawal.

But the night was very dark and no definite knowledge yet came out of it.
Lee stayed by his little campfire and received reports. Far after dusk
Harry saw the look of doubt disappear from his eyes, and then he began
to send out messengers. It was evident that he had formed his opinion,
and intended to act upon it at once.

He beckoned to Harry and Dalton, and bade them go together with written
instructions to General Anderson, who had taken the place of General
Longstreet.

"You will stay with General Anderson subject to his orders," he said,
as Harry and Dalton, saluting, rode toward Anderson's command.

Their way led through torn, tangled and burned thickets. Sometimes a
horse sprang violently to one side and neighed in pain. His hoof had
come down on earth, yet so hot that it scorched like fire. Now and then
sparks fell upon them, but they pursued their way, disregarding all
obstacles, and delivered their sealed orders to General Anderson, who at
once gathered up his full force, and marched away from the heart of the
Wilderness toward Spottsylvania Court House.

Harry surmised that Grant was attempting some great turning movement,
and Lee, divining it, was sending Anderson to meet his advance. He never
knew whether it was positive knowledge or a happy guess.

But he was quite sure that the night's ride was one of the most singular
and sinister ever made by an army. If any troops ever marched through
the infernal regions it was they. In this part of the Wilderness the
fires had been of the worst. Trees