Dalton’s eyes followed Harry’s pointing finger, and he saw. It was a joyous sight, the masses of their own infantry coming down the road in perfect order, and their own personal friends not two hundred yards away. But the Northern artillerymen had seen them too, and they began to send up the road a heavy fire which made many fall. Ewell’s men came on, unflinching, until they unlimbered their own guns and began to reply with fierce and rapid volleys.
The two youths sprang from the brush and rushed directly into the gray ranks of the Invincibles before they could be fired upon by mistake as enemies. The two colonels had dismounted, but they recognized the fugitives instantly and welcomed them.
“Why this hurry, Lieutenant Kenton?” said Colonel Talbot politely.
“We were trying to reach General Lee, and not being able to do so, we are anxious to greet friends.”
“So it would seem. I do not recall another such swift and warm greeting.”
“But we’re glad, Leonidas, that they’ve found refuge with us,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Hector St. Hilaire.
“So we are, Hector. Down there, lads, for your lives!”
The colonel had seen a movement in the hostile artillery, and at his sharp command all of the Invincibles and the two lads threw themselves on their faces, not a moment too soon, as a hideous mass of grape and canister flew over their heads. The Invincibles, rising to their feet, sent a return volley from their rifles, and then, at the command of a general, fell back behind their own cannon.
The Northern artillery in front was shifted, evidently to protect some weaker position of their line, but the Southern troops in the road did not advance farther at present, awaiting the report of scouts who were quickly sent ahead.
“You’re welcome to our command,” said Langdon, “but I notice that you come on foot and in a hurry. We’re glad to protect officers on the staff of the commander-in-chief, whenever they appeal to us.”
“Even when they come running like scared colts,” said St. Clair. “Why, Happy, I saw both of ’em jump clean over bushes ten feet high.”
“You’d have jumped over trees a hundred feet high if a hundred thousand Yankees were shooting at you as they were shooting at us,” rejoined Harry.
“What place is this in the valley, Harry?” asked Colonel Talbot.
“It’s called Gettysburg, sir. We heard that it was full of shoes. We went there this morning to get em, but we found instead that it was full of Yankees.”
“And they know how to shoot, too,” said Lieutenant-Colonel St. Hilaire. “We heard all the thunder of a great battle as we came up.”
“You haven’t come too soon, sir,” said Dalton. “The Yankees are fighting like fiends, and we’ve made very little headway against ’em. Besides, sir, fresh men are continually coming up for ’em.”
“And fresh men have now come for our side, too,” said Colonel Leonidas Talbot proudly. “I fancy that a division of Jackson’s old corps will have a good deal to say about the result.”
“What part of the corps, sir, is this?” asked Harry.
“Rodes’ division. General Ewell himself has not yet arrived, but you may be sure he is making the utmost haste with the rest of the division.”
Rodes, full of eagerness, now pushed his troops forward. Hill, who saw his coming with unmeasured joy, shifted his men until they were fully in touch with those of Rodes, the whole now forming a great curving line of battle frowning with guns, the troops burning for a new attack.
Harry looked up at the sun, which long ago had pierced the mists and vapors, but not the smoke. He saw to his surprise that it had reached and passed the zenith. It must now be at least two o’clock in the afternoon. He was about to look at his watch when the Southern trumpets at that moment sounded the charge, and, knowing no other way to go, he and Dalton fell in with the Invincibles.
Howard was in command of the Northern army at this time, and from a roof of a house in Gettysburg he had been watching the Southern advance. He and Doubleday gathered all their strength to meet it, and, despite the new troops brought by Rodes, Hill was unable to drive them back. Harry felt, as he had felt all along, that marked hardening of the Northern resistance.