"
"And what has the army been doing while I slept?"
"Oh, it's been marchin' an' marchin' an' marchin'. Can't you hear the
wagons an' the cannons clinkin' an' clankin'? An' the hoofs of the
horses beatin' in the road? An the feet of forty or fifty thousand men
comin' down ker-plunk! ker-plunk! an' all them thousands talkin' off an'
on? Yes, we're still marchin', Mr. Kenton, but we're retreatin' with all
our teeth showin' an' our claws out, sharpened specially. Most of the
boys don't care if Meade would attack us. They'd be glad of the chance
to get even for Gettysburg."
There was a beat of hoofs and St. Clair rode up by the side of the wagon.
"All right again, Harry?" he said cheerfully. "I'm mighty glad of it.
Other messengers have got through from Sherburne, confirming what you
said, but you were the first to arrive and the army already was on the
march because of the news you brought. Dalton arrived about noon,
dead beat. Happy is coming with a horse for you, and you can rejoin the
staff now."
"Before I leave I'll have to thank Mr. Jones once more," said Harry.
"He runs the best passenger service that I know."
"Welcome to it any time, either you or your friend," said Jones, saluting
with his whip.
Pages:
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181