Dick found himself shaking hands with him.
"Good-bye, Mr.Mason," said Watson.

"It may be that we shall meet on the field, although I shall not be within range of the guns." He left the lobby of the hotel, and Dick was rather puzzled.

It was his first thought to tell Colonel Winchester about him, but he finally decided that Watson's own advice to him to keep silent was best.

He and Colonel Winchester took the train from Washington the next day, and on the day after were with Pope's army on the Rapidan.
Dick detected at once a feeling of excitement or tension in this army, at least among the young officers with whom he associated most.

They felt that a storm of some kind was gathering, either in front or on their flank.