Now follow softly, lads! All of you have hunted the 'coon and 'possum at night, and you should know how to step without making noise." Shattuck advanced with certainty, and the others, true to their training, came behind him in single file, and without noise.

But as they advanced the sounds of an army ahead of them increased, and when they reached the edge of the covert they saw a great Confederate division on their side of the stream, in full possession of the cottages and occupying all the ground about them.

Many men were at work, restoring the wrecked bridge, but the others were eating their suppers or were at rest.
"There must be seven or eight thousand men here," said Dick, who did not miss the full significance of the fact.
"So it seems," said Warner, "and I'm afraid it bodes ill for General Pope.".