deep woods. The rabbit, frightened into unusual speed by the shouts,
darted into the thick brush and escaped them all.

"Poor little rascal," said Harry, "I'm glad he got away after all.
What good would one rabbit be to an army corps of twenty-five thousand
men?"

As they were returning to their place on the creek bank an orderly came
for Harry, and he was summoned to the tent of Jackson. It was a large
tent spread in the shade of an old oak, and Harry found that Captain
Sherburne had already preceded him there. All signs of splendor were
hidden completely. Jackson once more wore with ease his dingy old gray
clothes, but the skin of his brow was drawn into a tiny knot in the
center, as if he were concentrating thought with his utmost power.

"Sit down, Mr. Kenton," he said kindly. "I've already been speaking
to Captain Sherburne and I'll tell you now what I want. General
McClellan's army is still beyond the Potomac. As nearly as our
spies can estimate it has, present and fit for duty, one hundred and
thirty-five thousand men and three hundred and fifty cannon. McClellan,
as we well know, is always overcautious and overestimates our numbers,
but public opinion in the North will force him to action. They claim
there that Antietam was a victory for them, and he will surely invade
Virginia again. I shall send Captain Sherburne and his troop to find
out where and when, and you are to go with him as my aide and personal
representative."

"Thanks, sir," said Harry.

"When can you start?"