e lemon and took up the other. "Why the deuce should he
look at me in that damned reproachful fashion?" thought Ewell. He made
another start. "There's a damned criss-cross of advices from Richmond.
I hate uncertainty like the devil, and so I thought I'd ride across--"

"General Ewell," said Jackson gently, "you will oblige me by not
swearing. Profanity, sir, is most distasteful to me. Now, you rode
across?"

Ewell swallowed. "Rode across--rode across--I rode across, sir, from
Swift Run Gap, and I brought with me two late dispatches from General
Johnston and General Lee. I thought some expression, perhaps, to them of
your opinion--following the late victory and all--"

The other took and read, laid down the dispatches and applied himself to
his lemon. Presently. "I will telegraph to-night to General Johnston and
General Lee. I shall advise that you enter the Valley as first intended.
As for Richmond--we may best serve Richmond by threatening Washington."

"Threatening Washington?"

"At present you are in my district and form part of my command. You will
at once move your troops forward a day's march. Upon receipt of advices
from General Johnston and General Lee--and if they are of the tenour I
expect--you will move with promptness to Luray."

"And then?"

"With promptness to Luray. I strongly value swiftness of movement."

"I understand that, sir. Double the distance in half the time."

"Good! When instructions are given, it is desirable that those
instructions be followed. I assume the responsibility of giving the
proper instructions."

"I understand, general. Obey and ask no questions."

"Just so. Be careful of your ammunition wagons, but otherwise as little
impedimenta as possible."

"I understand, sir. The road to glory cannot be followed with much
baggage."

Jackson put out his long arm, and gently touched the other's hand.
"Good! I should be surprised if we didn't get on very well together. Now
I will write a telegram to General Lee and then you shall get back to
Swift Run Gap. The fewer hours a general is away from his troops the
better." He rose and opened the door. "Lieutenant Meade!" The aide
appeared. "Send me a courier--the one with the freshest horse. Order
General Ewell's horses to be saddled."

This was the seventeenth. Two days later the Army of the Valley, moving
down the Valley pike in a beautiful confidence that it was hurling
itself against Banks at Strasburg, swerved to the east abou