But Thomas, the future "Rock of Chickamauga," was already showing himself a tower of strength.

He reassured his nervous troops, he borrowed Dick and Warner and sent them along the line with messages from himself that they had nothing to do but stand firm and the victory was theirs.
Meanwhile the line of red dots in front was lengthening.

It stretched farther to left and right than Dick could see, and was rapidly coming nearer.

Already the sentinels and skirmishers were waging a sharp conflict, and the shouts of the combatants increased in volume.

Then the cold sun swung clear of the earth, and its wintry beams lighted up both forest and open.