olonel Winchester
having yielded to his request to take him with him when he reported the
arrival of his regiment. Thomas, usually so taciturn, delighted the soul
of the lad by remembering him at once.

"It was you, Lieutenant Mason, who came to me there in the Kentucky
mountains with the dispatches," he said, "and you were also with us at
Perryville and Stone River."

"I was, sir," said Dick, flushing with pride.

"And you were with General Grant at the taking of Vicksburg! It was a
great exploit, and it has lifted us up mightily. But I'm glad to have
you back along with Colonel Winchester and the rest of his brave lads.
I think you'll see action before long, action perhaps on a greater scale
than any witnessed hitherto in the West."

Dick saluted and withdrew. He knew that a young lieutenant must not stay
too long in the presence of a commanding general and he quickly rejoined
Warner and Pennington.

"How's the old man?" asked Pennington, with the familiarity of youth,
which was not disrespectful in the absence of the "old man."

"'Pap' Thomas is looking well," replied Dick. "I fancy that his
digestion was never better. He did not act in a belligerent way, but I
think he's hunting for a fight."

"Since you and Warner and I have arrived he can begin it."

"I think it's coming," said Dick earnestly. "Often you can feel when
things are moving to some end, and I'm sure that we'll measure strength
again with Bragg before the autumn has gone far."

The valley in which the camp lay was green and beautiful, and a deep,
clear little river from the mountains, ran rushing, through it. The
three lads lay on their blankets near the bank and listened to the
musical sweep of the stream. Pennington suddenly sprang up and hailed:

"Hey, Ohio, is that you? Come here!"

A tall youth emerged from the dusk and looked at them inquiringly.

"Ohio," said Pennington, "don't you remember your friends?"

The long, lean lad looked again, and then he was enthusiastically
shaking hands with each in turn.

"Remember you!" he exclaimed. "Of course I do. If it hadn't been so dark
I'd have seen you and called to you first. I'm glad you're alive. It's
a lot to live in these times. I tried to find out about you fellows but
couldn't. We came in a detachment ahead of you. But if you'll invite me,
I'll stay awhile with you and talk."

They offered him a blanket and he stretched out upon it, turning his
eyes up to the sky, in which the sta