commands from Richmond. The great army of the South waited, because the
great army of the North, under McClellan, also waited and temporized
while the autumn was passing fast.

But Jackson, while held in the bonds of orders, did not sleep. The most
active youth of his command rode day and night toward the northern end of
the valley, where the forces of the Union were gathering. The movements
of Banks and Kelly and the other Northern commanders were watched
continually by keen eyes trained in the southern forests. Slim
striplings passed in the night through the little towns, and the people,
intensely loyal to the South, gave them the news of everything.

Harry had seen the whole autumn pass and winter come, and the war,
save for a fitful skirmish now and then, stood at a pause in the valley.
Yet he rode incessantly, both with the others and alone, on scouting
duty. He knew every square mile of the country over a wide range,
and he had passed whole nights in the forest, when hail or snow was
whistling by. But these had been few. Mostly mild winds blew and the
hoofs of his horse fell on green turf.

Harry was intensely alert now. He was far from his command, and he knew
that he must see and hear everything or he would soon be in the hands
of the enemy. He rode on rather slowly, and amid continued silence.
He saw on his left a white house with green shutters and a portico.
But the shutters were closed tightly and no smoke rose from the chimneys.
Although house and grounds showed no touch of harm, they seemed to bear
the brand of desolation. The owners had fled, knowing that the sinister
march of war would pass here.

Harry's mood changed suddenly from gladness to depression. The desolate