A set of signals was sent up again and was answered duly from the same point to the east of the Gap.
But after long waiting, they were rewarded.

Few of the officers or men ever went far from the fires.

They seemed to be at a loss in the dark and silent wilderness which was absolute confirmation to Harry that they were city dwellers.
Two officers, captains or majors, stopped within twenty feet of the crouching scouts, and gazed for a long time through the Gap toward the west into the valley, at the northern end of which Jackson and his army lay.
"I tell you, Curtis," one of them said at last, "that if we get through the Gap to-morrow and Fremont and the others also come up, Jackson can't possibly get away.

We'll have him and his whole force in a trap and with three or four to one in our favor, it will be all over." "It's true, if it comes out as you say, Penfield," said the other, "but there are several 'ifs,' and as we have reason to know, it's hard to put your hand on Jackson.

Why, when we thought he was lost in the mountains he came out of them like an avalanche, and some of our best troops were buried under that avalanche." "You're too much of a pessimist, Curtis.