England troops when they had the fight there on the way down to the
capital. Although we hold it, it's really a Southern city, Dick.
Most all the border cities are Southern in sympathy, and they're
swarming with people who will send to the Southern leaders news of every
movement we make. I state, and moreover I assert it in the face of
all the world, that the knowledge of our departure from Washington
is already in Southern hands. By close mathematical calculation the
chances are at least ninety-five per cent in favor of my statement."

"Very likely," said Dick, "and we'll have that sort of thing to face all
the time when we invade the South. We've got to win this war, George,
by hard fighting, and then more hard fighting, and then more and more of
the same."

"Guess you're right. Arithmetic shows at least one hundred per cent of
probability in favor of your suggestion."

Dick looked up and down the long coach packed with young troops.
Besides the commissioned officers and the sergeants, there was not one
in the coach who was twenty-five. Most of them were nineteen or twenty,
and it was the same in the other coaches. After the first depression
their spirits rose. The temper of youth showed strongly. They were
eager to see Baltimore, but the train stopped there only a few minutes,
and they were not allowed to leave the coaches.

Then the train turned towards the west. The drizzle of rain had now
become a pour, and it drove so heavily that they could see but little
outside. Food was served at noon and afterward many slept in the
cramped seats. Dick, despite his stiff position, fell asleep too.
By the middle of the afternoon everybody in their coach was slumbering