news of Mitchel's movement had not advanced before him, thought Tom. To
him, that was the best news in the world. Mitchel's plans were successful.

He followed the crowd from the station and once again began wandering about
the streets. Not far away was a big shed labeled Commissary Department. The
army wagons were backed up to a loading platform, and Confederate soldiers
were busy transferring boxes of supplies. By this time Tom had lost the
first sense of strangeness at being in the enemy country, and so he went
over to watch the soldiers work.

Presently it was noon, and time for dinner. He returned to the hotel.

There, sitting apart from the others at one end of the long table, were
Brown and his companion! They glanced at him, and then continued eating. It
dawned upon Tom that while he knew Brown, Brown did not know him. He took a
seat opposite them.

"How d'you do?" said Tom.

Brown and the other man nodded, but did not speak.

"Just traveling through?" asked Tom.

"Yes," said Brown.

"Where are you from?" Tom's manner was casual and friendly.

"Kentucky," answered Brown.

"Oh, is that so? Coming through to enlist?"