But Harry ceased to think of armies and battles as he rode on in the dark. He was growing sleepy again and he dozed in his saddle. Half consciously he thought of his father and wondered where he was. He had received only one letter from him after Shiloh, but he believed that he was still with the Confederate army in the west, taking an active part. Much as he loved his father it was the first time that he had been in his thoughts in the last two weeks. How could any one think of anything but the affair of the moment at such a time, when the seconds were ticked off by cannon-shots! In this vague and pleasant dream he also remembered Dick Mason, his cousin, who was now somewhere there in the west fighting on the other side. He thought of Dick with affection and he liked him none the less because he wore the blue. Then, curiously enough, the last thing that he remembered was his Tacitus, lying in his locked desk in the Pendleton Academy. He would get out that old fellow again some day and finish him. Then he fell sound asleep in his saddle, and the horse went steadily on, safely carrying his sleeping master. He did not awake until midnight, when Dalton's hand on his shoulder caused him to open his eyes. “I've been asleep, too, Harry,” said Dalton, “but I woke up first. We're going into camp here for the rest of the night.” “I'm glad to stop,” said Harry, “but I wonder what the dawn will bring.” “I wonder,” said Dalton. CHAPTER XIII. THE SULLEN RETREAT Harry, like the rest of the army, slept soundly through the rest of the night and they rose to a brilliant first day of June. The scouts said that the whole force of Fremont was not far behind, while the army of Shields was marching on a parallel line east of the Massanuttons, and ready at the first chance to form a junction with Fremont. Youth seeks youth and Harry and Dalton found a little time to talk with St. Clair and Langdon. “We've broken their ring and passed through,” said Langdon, “but as sure as we live we'll all be fighting again in a day. If the Yankees follow too hard Old Jack will turn and fight 'em. Now, why haven't the Yankees got sense enough to let us alone and go home?” “They'll never do it,” said Dalton gravely. “We've got to recognize that fact. I'm never going to say another word about the Yankees not being willing to fight.” “They're too darned willing,” said Happy Tom. “That's the trouble.” “I woke up just about the dawn,” said Dalton. “Everybody was asleep, but the general, and I saw him praying.” “Then it means fighting and lots of it,” said St. Clair. “I'm going to make the best use I can of this little bit of rest, as I don't expect another chance for at least a month. Stonewall Jackson thinks that one hour a day for play keeps Jack from being a dull boy.” “Just look at our colonels, will you?” said Happy Tom. “They're believers in what Arthur says.”