e, in his quest for Jackson, had heard about sunset the booming of
guns in the west, but he could not believe that the Southern general
was there. Many of his dispatches had been captured by the hard-riding
cavalry of Stuart. His own division commanders had lost touch with him.
It was not possible for him to know what to do until morning, and no
one could tell him. Meanwhile Longstreet was advancing in the darkness
through the Gap to reinforce Jackson.

Dick had found another horse belonging to a slain owner, and, in the
darkness, his heart full of bitterness, he rode back beside Colonel
Winchester toward Manassas. Could they never win a big victory in the
east? The men were brave and tenacious. They had proved it over and over
again, but they were always mismanaged. It seemed to him that they were
never sent to the right place at the right time.

Nevertheless, many of the Northern generals, able and patriotic,
achieved great deeds before the dawn of that momentous morning.
Messengers were riding in the darkness in a zealous attempt to gather
the forces together. There was yet abundant hope that they could crush
Jackson before Lee came, and in the darkness brigade after brigade
marched toward Warrenton.

Dick, after tasting all the bitterness of retreat, felt his hopes rise
again. They had not really been beaten. They had fought a superior force
of Jackson's own men to a standstill. He could never forget that. He
cherished it and rolled it under his tongue. It was an omen of what was
to come. If they could only get leaders of the first rank they would
soon end the war.

He found himself laughing aloud in the anticipation of what Pope's Army
of Virginia would do in the coming day to the rebels. It might even
happen that McClellan with the Army of the Potomac would also come upon
the field. And then! Lee and Jackson thought they had Pope in a trap!
Pope and McClellan would have them between the hammer and the anvil, and
they would be pounded to pieces!

"Here, stop that foolishness, Dick! Quit, I say, quit it at once!"

It was Warner who was speaking, and he gripped Dick's arm hard, while he
peered anxiously into his face.

"What's the matter with you?" he continued. "What do you find to laugh
at? Besides, I don't like the way you laugh."

Dick shook himself, and then rubbed his hand across his brow.

"Thanks, George," he said. "I'm glad you called me back to myself. I was
thinking what would happen to the enemy