"It's news of battle! I know it!" he exclaimed. They sprang to their feet and hurried into the ballroom. William Curtis, his habitual calm broken, was standing upon a chair and all the people had gathered in front of him. A piece of paper, evidently a telegram, was clutched in his hand. "Friends," he said in a strained, but exultant voice, "a great battle has been fought near Chattanooga on a little river called the Chickamauga, and we have won a magnificent victory." A mighty cheer came from the crowd. "The army of Rosecrans, attacked with sudden and invincible force by Bragg, has been shattered and driven into Chattanooga." Another cheer burst forth. "No part of the Union army was able to hold fast, save one wing under Thomas." A third mighty cheer arose, but this time Harry did not join in it. He felt a sudden sinking of the heart at the words, "save one wing under Thomas." Then the victory was not complete. It could be complete only when the whole Union army was driven from the field. As long as Thomas stood, there was a flaw in the triumph. He had heard many times of this man, Thomas. He had Grant's qualities. He was at his best in apparent defeat. "Is there anything else, Mr. Curtis?" asked Colonel Talbot. "That is all my agent sends me concerning its results, but he says that it lasted two days, and that it was fierce and bloody beyond all comparison with anything that has happened in the West. He estimated that the combined losses are between thirty and forty thousand men." A heavy silence fell upon them all. The victory was great, but the price for it was great, too. Yet exultation could not be subdued long. They were soon smiling over it, and congratulating one another. But Harry was still unable to share wholly in the joy of victory. "Why this gloom in your face, when all the rest of us are so happy?" asked St. Clair. "My father was there. He may have fallen. How do I know?" "That's not it. He always comes through. What's the real cause? Out with it!" "You know that part of the dispatch saying, 'No part of the Union army was able to hold fast save one wing under Thomas.' How about that wing! You heard, too, what the colonel said about General Bragg. He always overestimates the strength of the enemy, and while he may win a victory he will not reap the fruits of it. That wing under Thomas still may be standing there, protecting all the rest of the Union army." "Come now, old Sober Face! This isn't like you. We've won a grand victory! We've more than paid them back for their Gettysburg."