They sprang from their horses, St. Clair spoke quickly with a watching officer who went at once to awaken Lee. Harry dimly saw the form of the general who was sleeping on a blanket, spread over small boughs. Near him a man in brilliant uniform was walking softly back and forth, and now and then impatiently striking the tops of his high yellow-topped boots with a little riding whip. Harry knew at once that it was Stuart, but the cavalry leader had not yet noticed him. Harry saw the officer bend over the commander-in-chief, who rose in an instant to his feet. He was fully dressed and he showed gray in the dusky light, but he seemed as ever calm and grave. Harry felt instantly the same swell of courage that the presence of Jackson had always brought to him. It was Lee, the indomitable, the man of genius, who could not be beaten. He heard him say to the officer who had awakened him, "Bring him immediately!" and he stepped forward, strengthening himself anew and filled with pride that he should be the first to arrive, as he felt that he certainly now was. "Lieutenant Kenton!" said Lee. "Yes, sir," said Harry, lifting his cap. "You were sent with Colonel Sherburne to see about the fords of the Potomac." "I was, sir." "And he has sent you back with the report?" "He has, sir. He did not give me any written report for fear that I might be captured. He did me the honor to say that my verbal message would be believed." "It will. I know you, as I do the other members of my staff. Proceed." "The Potomac is in great flood, sir, and the bridge is destroyed. It can't be crossed until it runs down to its normal depth." Harry saw other generals of high rank drawing near. One he recognized as Longstreet. They were all silent and eager. "Colonel Sherburne ordered me to say to you, sir," continued Harry, "that the best fords would be between Williamsport and Hagerstown when the river ran down." "When did you leave him?" "Nearly two days ago, sir." "You have made good speed through a country swarming with our enemy. You are entitled to rest." "It's not all, sir?" "What else?" "On my way I captured a messenger with a letter from General Meade to General Pleasanton. I have the message, sir." He brought forth the paper from his blouse and extended it to General Lee, who took it eagerly. Some one held up a torch and he read it aloud to his generals. "And so Meade means to trap me," he said, "by coming down on our flank!" "Since the river is unfordable he'll have plenty of time to attack us there," said Longstreet. "But will he dare to attack?" said Stuart defiantly. "He was able to hold his own in defense at Gettysburg, but it's another thing to take the offensive. We hear that General Meade is cautious and that he makes many complaints to his government. A complainer is not the kind of man who can destroy the Army of Northern Virginia." "Sometimes it's well to be cautious, General," said Lee. Then he turned to Harry and said: