General Foster rode forward with his staff into the woods, and made a reconnoissance. The line of pickets opened to let the brigade pass through. Not a drum was beat. Slowly, in silence, occasionally halting, regiment succeeded regiment, in perfect order, with heavy muffled tramp. Along the forest road they passed, the men laughing and joking in high spirits, as if marching to a parade. The still, beautiful light of the innocent morning silvered the trees. The glistering branches arched above; the glistening stream of steel flowed beneath. Wreaths of vines, beards of moss, trailed their long fringes and graceful drapery from the boughs. The breeze shook down large shining drops, and every bush a soldier touched threw off its dancing shower. "'And Ardennes waves above them her green leaves, dewy with nature's tear-drops, as they pass,'" remarked Seth Tucket. "Come, none o' your solemncholy poetry to-day," said Jack Winch. "I never felt so jolly in my life. There's only one kind of poetry I want to hear, and that's the pouring of our volleys into the rebels." "The pouring of their volleys into us ain't quite so desirable, I suppose," said Harris. "There wouldn't be much fun without some danger," said Jack. "If that's fun, I guess Winch 'll have fun enough before we're through with this job," remarked Ellis. "What a long road it is!" cried Jack, impatiently. "We'll come to a short turn in it pretty soon," said Atwater, significantly. "Well, Abe has spoken!" said Jack. "His mouth has been shut so tight all along, I didn't think 'twould open till the time comes for him to cry quarter." "Atwater means to let his gun speak for him to-day," said Harris. "What do we go so slow for? Why don't we hurry on?" said Jack. "I want to get at the rebels some time this week. I don't believe they----" He was going to say that he didn't believe they would wait to fire a shot. But even as he spoke the confutation of his opinion resounded in the woods. Crack--crack--crack--went the rebel muskets; then followed a volley from the troops in advance. "Why didn't you finish your sentence, Jack?" said Harris, with a smile. "They're at it!" whispered Jack, in a changed voice. "A little skirmishing," said Atwater, quietly. Crack, crack, again; and--_sing!_--came a bullet over the heads of the men, cutting the leaves as it passed. "Too high," laughed Gray, coolly. "Halt!" come the command, which John Winch, for one, obeyed with amazing promptness. "Hallo, Jack!" said Ellis; "who taught you to halt before the word is given?" "Are they going to keep us standing here all day?" said Jack, presently. "He's as wide awake now to be on the move as he was to stop," laughed Harris. "Well," said Jack, nervously, "who likes to stand still and be shot at?" "There's no shooting at us," replied Harris. "When it comes to that, we'll see the fun you talk about." Fun! Jack's countenance looked like any thing but fun just then.