Dick, reckless of shell and bullets, tried to pierce the cloud with his eyes.

He caught a glimpse of a flag and uttered a wild shout of joy.

It was the stars and stripes.

The eight thousand were eight thousand of the North! He danced up and down on the stump, and shouted at the top of his voice: "They're our own men! Help is here! Help is here!" A vast shout of relief rose from Thomas' army as the eight thousand still coming swiftly joined them.

Granger was their leader, but Steedman, his lieutenant, galloped at once to Thomas, who still stood in the clump of trees, and asked him what he wanted him to do.