But he thought again how strange it was that the two should have been face to face at the Second Manassas, and then after a wide separation, involving so many great battles and marches, should come here into the Valley of Virginia, face to face once more.
Mortimer and his assistants presently began to manipulate the flags again, and Confederate signalmen, on a far peak, replied.

Harry and St.Clair watched them with all the curiosity that a mystery inspires.
"Can we ask again," said Harry, when they had finished, "what you fellows were saying ?" Mortimer laughed.
"It was a quick dialogue," he replied, "but it was intended for the Yankees down in the valley, who, we learn, have deciphered some of our signals.

I said to Strother on the other peak: 'Six thousand ?' He replied: 'No, eight thousand!' I said: 'In center or on their right flank ?' He replied: 'On their right flank.' I said: 'Two thousand fresh horses ?' He replied: 'Nearer twenty-five hundred.' I said: 'Five hundred fresh beeves from the other side of the Blue Ridge.' He replied: 'Great news, we need 'em!' I wish it was true, but it will set our Yankee friends to thinking." "I see.

Your talk was meant to fool the Yankees." "Yes, and we need to fool 'em as much as we can.

It's a daring venture that we're entering upon, but it's great luck for us to have Sheridan away.