One blow and "Jeff Davis and Secession" would be smashed to
atoms. Harry's young blood flamed at the contemptuous words, but he
could not afford to show any resentment. Yet this was valuable
information. He could confirm Beauregard's belief that an attack would
soon be made in great force.
When Harry left them he turned again to the left, as he saw a stretch of
country rolling and apparently wooded lying in that direction. Once,
when a young boy, he had come to Washington with his father for a stay
of several weeks, and he had a fair acquaintance with the region about
the capital. He knew that forested hills lay ahead of him and beyond
them the Potomac.
In another hour he was in the hills, which he found without people.
Through every opening in the leaves he saw Washington and he could also
discern long lines of redoubts on the Virginia side of the river.
Late in the afternoon he came to a small, abandoned log cabin. He
inferred that its owner had moved away because of the war. As nearly as
he could judge it had not been occupied for several weeks. Back of it
was a small meadow enclosed with a rail fence, but everything else was
deep woods. He turned his horse into the meadow and left his saddle,
bridle and saddle blanket in the house.
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