“That to you is a mystery, Hector.  It’s like one of Stonewall Jackson’s flanking marches, and in due time the secret will be revealed with terrible results.”

“Pshaw, Leonidas, you can’t frighten a veteran like me.  That for your move, and here’s mine in reply.”

The two gray heads bent lower over the board as the colonels made move after move.  The youths standing in the shadow of the trees watched until the second time that night the two uttered a simultaneous cry.  But they were very different in quality.  Now Colonel Talbot’s expressed victory and Lieutenant-Colonel St. Hilaire’s consternation.

“Your bishop, Hector!” exclaimed Colonel Talbot.  “Pious and able gentleman as he is, an honor to his cloth, he is nevertheless my captive.”

“I admit that it was most unexpected, Leonidas.  You have matched my victory with one of yours.  It was indeed most skillful and I don’t yet see what led to it.”

“Did I not warn you a little while ago that you couldn’t frighten me?  I prepared a trap for you, and thus I rise from defeat to victory.”

“At any rate we are about even on the evening’s work, Leonidas, and we have made more progress than for the whole six months preceding.  It seems likely now that we can finish our game soon.”

A sudden crash of rifle fire toward the east and from a point not distant told them no.  They rose to their feet, but they put the chessmen away very deliberately, while the young officers hastened to their posts.  The fire continued and spread about them in a half circle, accompanied now and then by the deeper note of a light field gun.  Sherburne made his dispositions rapidly.  All the men remained on foot, but a certain number were told off to hold the horses in the center of the camp.

“We’re attacked by a large force,” said Sherburne, “Our scouts gave us warning in time.  Evidently they wish to drive us away from here because this will be the ford in case the river falls in time.”

“Then you look for a sharp fight?”

“Without question.  And remember that you’re to avoid all risk if you can.  It’s not your business to get shot here, but it is your business, and your highly important business, to ride back to General Lee with the news of what’s happening.  In order to do that it’s necessary for you to remain alive.”

“I obey orders,” said Harry reluctantly.

“Of course you do.  Keep back with the men who are holding the horses.  That fire is growing fast!  I’m glad we were able to find a camp so defensible as this hill.”

He hurried away to watch his lines and Harry remained at his station near the horses, where Dalton was compelled by the same responsibility to stay with him.  It was the first time that Harry had been forced to remain a mere spectator of a battle raging around him, and while not one who sought danger for danger’s sake, it was hard work to control himself and remain quiet and unmoved.