ly, the eighty-seventh anniversary
of the Declaration of Independence, and no one could have possibly
conceived a more striking celebration.

As soon as Dick was free for a little space he hurried to the ravine,
and, as before, found there the open door. He passed in without
hesitation.

The light as of old filtered into the room, and Colonel Woodville lay
just as before in bed with his great bald head upon the pillow. Miss
Woodville sat beside the bed, reading aloud from Addison. Dick's step
was light, but the colonel heard him and held up a finger. The lad
paused until Miss Woodville, finishing a long sentence, closed the
book. Then the colonel, raising a little the great white thatch of his
eyebrows, said:

"Young sir, you have returned again, and, personally, you are welcome,
but I do not conceive how you can stand the company you keep. My
daughter informs me that the Yankees are in Vicksburg, and I have no
reason to doubt the statement."

He paused, and Dick said:

"Yes, Colonel, it's true."

"I suppose we must endure it. I should have gone myself and have offered
my sword to General Grant, but this confounded leg of mine is still
weak."

"At least, sir, we come with something besides arms. May I bring you
rations?"

"You are generous, young man, and my daughter and I appreciate the
obvious nature of your errand here. Speaking for both of us, a little
food will not be unwelcome."

"Tell me first, what has become of your nephew. Has he escaped from the
city?"

"He slipped out nearly a week ago, and will join his father's regiment
in Bragg's command. That scoundrel, Slade, is gone too. Since the city
had to be surrendered I would gladly have made you a present of Slade,
but it's out of my power now."

Dick soon returned with ample food for them and helped them later, when
they moved to quarters outside in the shell-torn city. Dick saw that
they were comfortable, and then his mind turned toward Tennessee.
Detachments from Grant's army were to be sent to that of Rosecrans, who
was now heavily threatened by Bragg, and the Winchester regiment, which
really belonged with him, was sure to go.

The order to march soon came, and it was welcome. The regiment, or
rather what was left of it, promptly embarked upon one of the river
steamers and started northward.

As they stood on the deck and looked down at the yellow waters in which
Dick had swum on his trusty plank Warner said:

"I've news of importance.