"Arthur has turned from a sodden soldier
into a giddy poet! Is any more poetry left in the barrel, Arthur?"
"Plenty, but I won't turn on the tap again to-day. I've translated for
you. I've shown you where beauty and happiness lie, and you must do the
rest for yourself."
They crowded about the huge fire which ran the entire length of the cove,
and watched the cooks who had brought their supplies on horseback.
Great quantities of coffee were made, and they had bacon and hard
biscuits.
Although the rain still reached them in the cove they forgot it as they
ate the good food--any food was good to them--and drank cup after cup of
hot coffee. Youthful spirits rose once more. It wasn't such a bad day
after all! It had rained many times before and people still lived.
Also, the Potomac had risen many times before, but it always fell again.
They were riding to clear the way for Lee's invincible army which could
go wherever it wanted to go.
"Men on horseback looking at us!" hailed Happy Tom. "About fifty on a
low hill on our right. Look like Yankee cavalrymen. Wonder what they
take us for anyway!"
Harry, St. Clair, Langdon and Dalton walked to the edge of the cove,
every one holding a cup of hot coffee in his hand.
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