this desperate crisis of the Confederacy, more desperate than any of
the Southern generals yet realized, the brain under the old slouch hat
never worked with more precision, clearness and brilliancy. He would not
only do his own task, but he would help his chief while doing it. When
McClellan began his march after a delay of a day he was nearer to Lee
than Jackson was and every chance was his, save those that lightning
perception and unyielding courage win.

The lads heard the mutter of the cannon grow louder, and rise to a
distant thunder. Far ahead of them, where high hills thick with forest
rose, they saw smoke and flashes of fire. A young Maryland cavalry
officer, riding near, explained to them that the point from which the
cannonade came was a gap in South Mountain, although it was as yet
invisible, owing to the forest.

"We heard that Lee's army was much further away," said Warner to Dick.
"What can it mean? What force is there fighting our vanguard?"

It was Shepard, the spy, who brought them the facts. He had already
reported to General McClellan, when he approached Colonel Winchester.
His face was worn and drawn, and he was black under the eyes. His
clothes were covered with dust. His body was weary almost unto death,
but his eyes burned with the fire of an undying spirit.

"I've been all the night and all this morning in the mountains and
hills," he said. "Harper's Ferry is not yet taken, but I think it will
fall. But Hill, McLaws and Longstreet are all in this pass or the other
which leads through the mountain. They mean to hold us as long as they
can, and then hang on to the flank of our army."

He passed on and the little regiment advanced more rapidly. Dick saw
Colonel Winchester's eyes sparkling and he knew he was anxious to be in
the thick of it. Other and heavier forces were deploying upon the same
point, but Winchester's regiment led.

As they approached a deadly fire swept the plain and the hills. Rifle
bullets crashed among them and shell and shrapnel came whining and
shrieking. Once more the Winchester regiment, as it had come to be
called, was smitten with a bitter and deadly hail. Men fell all around
Dick but the survivors pressed on, still leading the way for the heavy
brigades which they heard thundering behind them.

The mouth of the pass poured forth fire and missiles like a volcano, but
Dick heard Colonel Winchester still shouting to his men to come on, and
he charged with the rest. T