Never lose hope, Dick." "I don't mean to do so, sir." The next morning, when Dick was with one of the outposts, a man of powerful build, wonderfully quick and alert in his movements, appeared.
His coming was so quick and silent that he seemed to rise from the earth, and Dick was startled.

The man's face was uncommon.

His features were of great strength, the eyes being singularly vivid and penetrating.
He was in civilian's dress, but he promptly showed a pass from General Pope, and Dick volunteered to take him to headquarters, where he said he wished to go.
Dick became conscious as they walked along that the man was examining him minutely with those searching eyes of his which seemed to look one through and through.
"You are Lieutenant Richard Mason," said the stranger presently, "and you have a cousin, Harry Kenton, also a lieutenant, but in the army of Stonewall Jackson." Dick stared at him in amazement.
"Everything you say is true," he said, "but how did you know it ?" "It's my business to know.

Knowledge is my sole pursuit in this great war, and a most engrossing and dangerous task I find it.

Yet, I would not leave it.