"
"Yes, hot it will be," Harry said to himself. They had eaten their
breakfast and lay once more among the trees. Harry searched with his
eyes the bushes and thickets on the other side for their riflemen,
but most of them were still invisible in the day. Then the Southern
brigades were ordered to lie down, but after they lay there some time
Harry felt that the film of dust on the edge of the wind was growing
stronger, and presently they saw a great cloud of it rising above hills
and trees and moving toward them.
"They're coming," said St. Clair. "In less than a half hour they'll be
at the ford."
"But I doubt if they know what is waiting for them," said Harry.
The cloud of dust rapidly came nearer, and now they heard the beat of
horses' feet and the clank of artillery. Harry began to breathe hard,
and he and the other young officers walked up and down the lines of
their company. All the Invincibles clearly saw that great plume of dust,
and heard the ominous sounds that came with it. It was very near now,
but suddenly the fringe of forest on the far side of the river burst
into flame. The hidden riflemen had opened fire and were burning the
front of the advancing army.
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