"What do you mean?" asked Andrews.

"I mean that Mitchel broke through and captured Huntsville yesterday,"
answered the conductor. "If you're working for the government, you ought to
know it by this time, too."

"Don't believe everything you hear," answered Andrews. "Mitchel wouldn't be
fool enough to risk an attack on Huntsville in this weather."

"Then why are they bringing this special train down from Chattanooga with
all the supplies?"

"That's their business, not mine," answered Andrews. "If Mitchel has
captured Huntsville, then some of Beauregard's troops are split, and that's
probably the reason why I'm ordered to get this powder up as far as I can.
When I get there I'll find soldiers to use it."

"Maybe," answered the conductor.

"How long will it be before the special is here?"

"Probably about thirty minutes."

Forty minutes passed before they heard the whistle of the second train;
then five minutes of anxious waiting before it came into the station. The
first freight, in the meantime, had pulled up on another side track,
waiting patiently for the arrival of the passenger train which Andrews' men
had stolen.

The special train stopped, blocking the path of the _General_, just as the