anding directly in the rear of Pope. The trap
had been shut down, and it was to be seen whether Pope was strong enough
to break from it.

CHAPTER V. THE SECOND MANASSAS

The sunbeams seemed fairly to dance over the dusty earth. The dust was
not only over the earth, but over everything, men, animals, wagons and
tents. Dick Mason who had struggled so hard through a storm but a few
nights ago now longed for another like it. Anything to get away from
this blinding blaze.

But he soon forgot heat and dust. He was conscious of a great quiver
and thrill running through the whole army. Something was happening.
Something had happened, but nobody knew what. Warner and Pennington felt
the same quiver and thrill, because they looked at him as if in inquiry.
Colonel Winchester showed it, too. He said nothing, but gazed uneasily
toward the Northern horizon. Dick found himself looking that way also.
Along the Rappahannock there was but little firing now, and he began to
forget the river which had loomed so large in the affairs of the armies.
Perhaps the importance of the Rappahannock had passed.

It was said that Pope himself with his staff had ridden away toward
Washington, but Dick did not know. Far off toward the capital he
saw dust clouds, but he concluded that they must be made by marching
reinforcements.

The long hot hours dragged and then came a messenger. It was Shepard who
had reported to headquarters and who afterwards came over to the shade
of a tree where Colonel Winchester and his little staff were gathered.
He was on the verge of exhaustion. He was black under the eyes and the
veins of his neck were distended. Dust covered him from head to foot.
He threw himself on the ground and drank deeply from a canteen of cool
water that Dick handed to him. All saw that Shepard, the spy, the man
whose life was a continual danger, who had never before shown emotion,
was in a state of excitement, and if they waited a little he would speak
of his own accord.

Shepard took the canteen from his lips, drew several long deep breaths
of relief and said:

"Do you know what I have seen?"

"I don't, but I infer from your manner, Shepard, that it must be of
great importance," said Colonel Winchester.

"I've seen Stonewall Jackson at the head of half of Lee's army behind
us! Standing between us and Washington!"

"What! Impossible! How could he get there?"

"It's possible, because it's been done--I've seen the rebel army be