Mr. Nighthawk glanced quickly at the face of the general. His eyes
resembled steel points, but the piercing glance at once sank.

"Something between them, general? What could have made you think that?
But here is Major McClellan. I will not detain you, general; I will
come back at daylight to receive your orders."

With these words, Mr. Nighthawk distributed a benignant smile, bowed in
a friendly manner, and disappeared, it was difficult to say how, from
the apartment. I had turned my eyes from him but an instant; when I
again looked he was gone.

"And now to work!" exclaimed Stuart. "We are going to fight tomorrow,
Surry, since the 'man before the battle' has made his appearance!"




XII.


HOW STUART FELL BACK.


At daybreak, Stuart was going at full gallop to the front.

A rapid fire of skirmishers, mingled with the dull roar of cannon,
indicated that Nighthawk had not been deceived.

All at once the sharp-shooters were seen falling back from the woods.