Warner kept their eyes on the mountains, turning them alternately from
north to south. Nothing appeared on either ridge, and no sound came to
tell of an enemy near.

Dick began to believe that they would pass through the valley and out of
the trap without a combat. But while a train may go two or three miles
in a few minutes it takes troops marching in the darkness over uncertain
ground a long time to cover the same distance. They marched a full half
hour and then Dick suppressed a cry. The light, burning as intensely
red as before, appeared again on the mountain to the right, but further
toward the west, seeming to have moved parallel to the Northern troops.
As Dick looked it began to flash swiftly from side to side and that
chill and weird feeling again ran down his spine. He looked toward the
south and there was the second signal, red and intense, replying to the
first.

Dick heard a deep "Ah!" run along the line of young troops, and he knew
now that they understood as much as he or any of the officers did.
He now knew, too, that they would not pass out of the valley without a
combat. The Southern forces, beyond a doubt, would try to shut them in
at the western mouth of the valley, and a battle in the night and rain
was sure to follow.

The train continued to move slowly forward. Had Colonel Newcomb dared
he would have ordered Canby to increase his speed in order that he might
reach the western mouth of the valley before the Southern force had a
chance to tear up the rails, but there was no use for the train without
the troops and they were already marching as fast as they could.

The gorge was now not more than a quarter of a mile away. Dick was able