The words, "men higher in rank than I,"
whipped his blood.
Colonel Kenton led through the darkness to a deep and broad ravine,
into which they descended. The sides and bottom of this ravine were
clothed in bushes, and they grew thick on the edges above. It was much
darker here, but Dick presently caught ahead of him the flicker of the
first light that he had seen in the Southern army.
The boy's heart began to beat fast and hard. All the omens foretold
that he was about to witness something that he could never by any
possibility forget. They came nearer to the flickering light, and he
made out seated figures around it. They were men wrapped in cavalry
cloaks, because the night air had now grown somewhat chill, and Dick
knew instinctively that these were the Southern generals preparing for
the hammer-stroke at dawn.
A sentinel, rifle in hand, met them. Colonel Kenton whispered with
him a moment, and he went to the group. He returned in a moment and
escorted Dick and his uncle forward. Colonel Kenton saluted and Dick
involuntarily did the same.
It was a small fire, casting only a faint and flickering light, but Dick,
his eyes now used to the dusk, saw well the faces of the generals.
He knew at once which was Johnston, the chief. He seemed older than the
rest, sixty at least, but his skin was clear and ruddy, and the firm
face and massive jaw showed thought and power. Yet the countenance
appeared gloomy, as if overcast with care.
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