An owl on their right hooted, and both of them saw Harry shiver.
"What makes an owl's cry disturb you so, Harry?" asked Langdon.
"Because one of them tried to put the hoodoo on me as they say down in
your country, Happy. I was lying back there in the forest on the hill
and the biggest and reddest-eyed owl that was ever born sat on a bough
over head, and kept telling me that I was finished, right at the end
of my rope. But he was a liar, because here I am, with you fellows
on either side of me, inside our lines and riding to the camp of the
commander-in-chief."
"I think you're a bit shaky, Harry," said St. Clair, "and I don't wonder
at it. If I had been through all I think you've been through I'd tumble
off that horse into the road and die."
"Has any messenger come from Colonel Sherburne at the river to General
Lee?"
"Not that I've heard of. No, I'm sure that none's come," replied
St. Clair.
"Then I'll get to him first. Don't think, Arthur, it's just a foolish
ambition of mine to lead, but the sooner some one reaches the general the
better."
"We'll see that you're first old man," said Langdon. "It's not more than
a half-hour now."
But Harry reeled in his saddle. The singular weakness that he had felt
a while back returned, and the road grew dark before him.
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