He was back in the
forest and he now turned his course more toward the east. By dawn he
would be well in the rear of the Northern army, and he must judge then
how to act.
But all his calculations were upset by a very simple thing, one of
Nature's commonest occurrences--rain. The heavy clouds that had
gathered early in the night were gone away merely for a time. Now they
came back in battalions, heavier and more numerous than ever. The
shining moon and the brilliant stars were blotted out as if they had
never been. A strong wind moaned and a cold rain came pouring into
his face. The blanket that he carried on his saddle, and which he
now wrapped around him, could not protect him. The fierce rain drove
through it and he was soaked and shivering. The darkness, too, was so
great that he could see only a few yards before him, and he let the
horse take his course.
Harry thought grimly that he was indeed well hidden in the forest.
He was so well hidden that he was lost even to himself. In all that
darkness and rain he could not retain the sense of direction, and he had
no idea where he was. He rambled about for hours, now and then trying
to find shelter behind massive tree trunks, and, after every failure,
going on in the direction in which he thought Washington lay.
Pages:
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362