sh to rouse you."

Jackson walked past the fire to a fallen tree, sat himself down and
looked across to the other man. The low flame more deeply bronzed his
face. His eyes looked preternaturally sunken. He sat, characteristically
rigid, a figure in grey stone. There was about him a momentary air of an
Indian, he looked so ruthless. If it was not that, thought Cleave, then
it was that he looked fanatic. Whichever it might be, he perceived that
he himself stood in arctic air. He had been liked, he knew; now he saw
the mist of disfavour rise. Jackson's voice came gratingly. "Who sent
you?"

"General Winder and General D. H. Hill."

"You will tell General Hill that I shall make no further attack
to-night. I have other important duties to perform."

"I know what I risk," said Cleave, "and I do not risk it lightly. Have
you thought of how you fell on them at Front Royal and at Winchester?
Here, too, they are confused, retreating--a greater force to strike, a
greater result to win, a greater service to do for the country, a
greater name to make for yourself. To-morrow morning all the world may
say, 'So struck Napoleon--'"

"Napoleon's confidence in his star was pagan. Only God rules."

"And the man who accepts opportunity--is he not His servant? May we not,
sir, may we not make the attack?"

"No, sir; not to-night. We have marred too many Sundays--"

"It is not Sunday!"

Jackson looked across with an iron countenance. "So little the fighter
knows! See, what war does! But I will keep, in part at least, the
Sabbath. You may go, sir."

"General Jackson, this is Friday evening."

"Colonel Cleave, did you hear my order? Go, sir!--and think yourself
fortunate that you do not go under arrest."

"Sir--Sir--"

Jackson rose. "One other word, and I take your sword. It occurs to me
that I have indulged you in a freedom that--Go!"

Cleave turned with sharp precision and obeyed. Three paces took him out
of the firelight into the overhanging shadow. He made a gesture of
sorrow and anger. "Who says that magic's dead? Now, how long will that
potion hold him?" He stumbled in the loose, bare earth, swamp and creek
below him. He looked down into that trough of death. "I gained nothing,
and I have done for myself! If I know him--Ugh!"

He shook himself, went on through the sultry, smoky night, alternate
lantern-slides of glare and darkness, to the eastern face of the
plateau. Here he found Winder, reported, and with him encounte