When Captain Markham, Dick and Warner galloped into camp, ahead of the
others, a thickset strong figure walked forward to meet them. They
leaped from their horses and saluted.
"Well?" said General Thomas.
"The enemy is advancing upon us in full force, sir," replied Captain
Markham.
"You scouted thoroughly?"
"We saw their whole army upon the road."
"When do you think they could reach us?"
"About dawn, sir."
"Very good. We shall be ready. You and your men have done well.
Now, find food and rest. You will be awakened in time for the battle."
Dick walked away with his friends. Troopers took their horses and
cared for them. The boy glanced back at the thickset, powerful figure,
standing by one of the fires and looking gravely into the coals.
More than ever the man with the strong, patient look inspired confidence
in him. He was sure now that they would win on the morrow. Markham
and Warner felt the same confidence.
"There's a lot in having a good general," said Warner, who had also
glanced back at the strong figure. "Do you remember, Dick, what it was
that Napoleon said about generals?"
"A general is everything, an army nothing or something like that."
"Yes, that was it. Of course, he didn't mean it just exactly as he said
it. A general can't be one hundred per cent and an army none. It was a
figure of speech so to say, but I imagine that a general is about forty
per cent. If we had had such leadership at Bull Run we'd have won.
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