"A good day for a battle."
"We'll hear from the Yankees soon. They can't fail to discover our exact
location by sunrise, and they'll fight. Be sure of that."
It was now nearly six o'clock, and General Ewell, growing impatient,
rode forward a little. Harry followed with his staff. A half-dozen
Southern sharpshooters rose suddenly out of the thickets, and one of them
dared to lay his hands on the reins of the general's horse. But Ewell
was not offended. He looked down at the man and said:
"What is it, Strother?"
"Riflemen of the enemy are not more than three or four hundred yards
away. If you go much farther, General, they will certainly see you and
fire upon you."
"Thanks, Strother. So they've located us?"
"They're about to do it. They're feeling around. We've seen 'em in the
bushes. We ask you not to go on, General. We wouldn't know what to do
without you. There, sir! They're firing on our pickets!"
A half-dozen shots came from the front, and then a half-dozen or so
in reply. Harry saw pink flashes, and then spirals of smoke rising.
More shots were fired presently on their right, and then others on their
left. The Northern riflemen were evidently on a long line, and intended
to make a thorough test of their enemy's strength.
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