seat beside Bert.

"What is this scheme of yours, Bert?" he asked. "Can't you tell me? Is it a
secret?"

Bert considered the matter for nearly a minute, while Tom watched him
intently. "Yes, it's a secret," replied Bert; then he added, "But I'll tell
you."

"If it's a military secret, perhaps you'd better not. Of course I wouldn't
tell anyone, but...."

"No, it's all right for me to tell you." Bert put his hand into his
knapsack which lay beside his bed and pulled forth a map. "Look here." Tom
moved up beside him and they spread the map out on their knees. "There's a
town called Corinth." Tom pointed with a brown forefinger. "Beauregard is
there. And here is Atlanta, which is Beauregard's base of supplies. Here is
Murfreesboro where we're camped. If Beauregard's supplies were cut off
between Atlanta and Chattanooga, what would happen to Beauregard?"

"He'd been in for trouble," answered Tom.

"And Chattanooga...?"

"Chattanooga would be flying Mitchel's flag." Tom's eyes brightened, and he
turned so that he could look squarely at his cousin. "But, Bert, how were
you going to do it?"

Bert smiled wanly, and left Tom in suspense a moment before he answered.
Then he glanced balefully at his ankle. "Some of us were going into the