Yet the forest was so dense and there was so much of it that a great force might easily be hidden within its depths only a mile away.
"Have we any information at all about Forrest's strength ?" whispered Pennington to Dick.
"His full force isn't down here.

It is believed he has not more than a thousand or twelve hundred men.

But he and his officers know the country thoroughly, and of course the inhabitants, being in full sympathy with them, will give them all the information they need.

The news of every movement of ours has been carried straight to the rebel general." "And yet the country seems to have no people at all.

We come to but few houses, and those few are deserted." "So they are.