"There are lights winking on the mountains again," said Pennington.

"Let 'em wink," said Dick. "Their signals can't amount to much now.
We know that Bragg is before us, and a great battle can't be delayed
long. Fellows, I'm not so sure about the result."

"Come! Come, Dick!" said Warner. "It's not often you're downhearted.
What's struck you?"

"Nothing, George, but, between you and me and the gate post, I wish that
our old 'Pap' Thomas commanded all the army, instead of the left merely.
I've learned a few things to-day. The enemy is spreading out, trying to
enfold us on both wings."

"What of it?"

"It means that they are sanguine of victory, and they want to stand
between us and Chattanooga, so they can cut off our retreat, after we're
beaten, as they think we surely will be. But their main force is not far
from us now, so a scout told me. It's massed heavily along the right
bank of the Chickamauga."

"And if there's a battle to-morrow we're likely to receive the first
attack?"

"Could it come any better than at the place where Thomas stands?"

They sat long by the fire and Dick could not rest. Shiloh, his capture,
and his knowledge of the secret Southern advance, of which he could give