"Perhaps so, Leonidas. Undoubtedly you'll have plenty of time to think
over it."

"Which is a good thing, Hector."

"Which is undoubtedly a good thing, Leonidas."

They put the chess men carefully in a box, which they gave to an orderly
with very strict injunctions. Then both, after heaving a deep sigh,
transformed themselves into men of energy, action, precision and
judgment. Every soldier and officer in the trim ranks of the
Invincibles was ready.

But action did not come as soon as Harry and his friends had thought.
Lee made preliminary movements to mass his army for battle, and then
stopped. The spies reported that political wire-pulling, that bane of
the North, was at work. McClellan's enemies at Washington were active,
and his indiscreet utterances were used to the full against him.
Attention was called again and again to his great overestimates of Lee's
army and to the paralysis that seemed to overcome him when he was in the
presence of the enemy. Lincoln, the most forgiving of men, could not
forgive him for his failure to use his full opportunity at Antietam and
destroy Lee.

The advance of McClellan stopped. His army remained motionless while
October passed into November. The cold winds off the mountains swept
the last leaves from the trees, and Harry wondered what was going to
happen. Then St. Clair came to him, precise and dignified in manner,
but obviously anxious to tell important news.