"Yesterday!" exclaimed the three older men.
"Yes. My cousin was going on the raid, but he sprained his ankle. I came to enlist, and I begged the Captain to send me."
"I see," answered Andrews, studying him. After a moment he plunged again into consideration of the problems which lay before him. "I am going ahead on the theory that Mitchel will be one day late in reaching Huntsville," he said at last. "We must find all the men and tell them, so that there will be no confusion in Marietta."
"There are three men at the Widow Fry's back there," said Shadrack. "I don't know if they're some of ours or not."
Andrews nodded. "We'll find out presently. I'm worrying most about our engineers. I think I know where I can find Knight, but Brown has gone on ahead. Do any of you know Brown?"
"I do, sir," answered Tom. "We met at the same place last night, and then I got a good look at him in the lightning."
"Hm-m-m! That may help."
"Mr. Andrews," commenced Tom.
"Yes? What is it?"
"If we're going to delay a day, shouldn't someone be sent back with a message for General Mitchel?"