a great battle. It seemed that the rival forces in both east and west
would meet at nearly the same time in terrible conflict.

Dr. Russell told that Dick Mason had been wounded in the combat at
Perryville, but had been nursed back to health by his mother, who with
others had found him upon the field. He had since gone into Tennessee
to rejoin the Union army, and his mother had returned to Pendleton.

Harry folded the letter, put it in his pocket, and for a while he was
very thoughtful.

It was a great relief to be sure that his father had gone safely through
Perryville, and that Dick Mason, although wounded there, was well again.
His heart yearned over both. His devotion to his father had always been
strong and Dick Mason had stood in the place of a brother. They were
alive for the present at least, but Harry knew of the sinister threat
that hung over the west. The terrible battle that was to be fought at
Stone River was already sending forth its preliminary signals, and for
a little while Harry thought more of those marching forces in Tennessee
than of the great army to which he belonged and of the one yet more
numerous that faced it.

But these thoughts could not last long. The events in which he was to
have a part were too imminent and mighty for anyone to detach himself
from them more than a few minutes. He quickly returned, heart and soul,
to his duties, which in these days took all his time. Many messages
were passing between Lee and Jackson and Longstreet and the commanders
next to them in rank, and Harry carried his share.

A few days after the letter from Dr. Russell the cold abated