day to admiring visitors how I whipped the Yankees every time I could
get near enough to see 'em, and how a lot more were scared to death just
because they heard me crashing through the brush."

"You'll do the bragging part, all right, Happy," said St. Clair.
"I believe you could keep up the sort of existence you describe for
a year at least."

"I'd like to try. Now, what under the stars is that?"

Nothing had happened. Something had merely ceased to happen. The great
cannonade had stopped in an instant, as if by a preconcerted signal,
and their nerves, attuned so long to such a continuous roar, seemed to
collapse, because some support was withdrawn. Harry's face turned white
and his heart beat very fast, but in a few moments he recovered himself.

"I suppose they've given it up for the time being," he said, "but
they're sure to try it again in some other way."

"That's a safe prediction," said St. Clair. "Burnside is trying to get
across the Rappahannock to attack us, because the whole North is driving
him on, and he hasn't got the moral courage to hold back until he can
choose his time and place. Funny how this silence oppresses one."

The whole Southern army, along its six miles of length, was now standing
up and looking toward the point on the other shore of the Rappahannock
where the Union batteries were massed. All work seemed to have been
abandoned there, although the troops were still clustered along the
shore and about the bridge head. Clouds of smoke from the great
batteries floated down the river.