nion fleets upon its bosom were splitting the Confederacy asunder.

He, too, fell asleep before long. Warner glanced at his comrades who
slept so well on a hard bench, and his look was rather envious. He
returned his beloved algebra to his pocket, leaned back on the bench
also, and, although he had not believed it possible, slept also inside
of five minutes. Colonel Winchester passing smiled sympathetically, but
his glance lingered longest on Dick.

After days on the water the regiment disembarked, marched more days
across the country, joining other regiments on the way, and reached
the rear guard of the army of Rosecrans, which was already marching
southward in the direction of Chattanooga to meet that of Bragg. They
advanced now over the Cumberland mountains through a country wild
and thinly inhabited. The summer was waning, but it was cool on the
mountains and in the passes, nor was it so dry as the year before, when
they fought that terrible battle at Perryville in Kentucky.

Dick was glad to be again in the high country, the land of firm soil and
of many clear, rushing streams. Heart and lungs expanded, when he looked
upon the long ridges, clothed in deep forest, and breathed the pure air
that blew down from their summits. Yet his dream of peace was over.
As they advanced through the forests and passes they were harassed
incessantly by sharpshooters on the slopes, who melted away before them,
but who returned on the very heels of the vain pursuit to vex them again
with bullets.

They heard soon that the most daring of these bands was led by a man
named Slade, and Dick's pulse took a jump. He felt in a curious sort of
way that this man Slade was still following him. It seemed more than a
decree of chance that their fates should be intertwined. He hoped that
Slade would never hear how he had been hidden in that hole in the ravine
with the Woodvilles. Trouble could come of it for gallant young Victor
Woodville, and even for his uncle. He was sure that Victor was now with
Bragg and they might meet face to face again.

As they rode through a defile and came into a wide valley they saw
before them an extensive Union camp, and they were overjoyed to learn
that it was the division of Thomas, the general to whom they were to
report. Dick had once received the personal thanks of Thomas, and
the grave, able man inspired him with immense respect, mingled with
affection.

He stood before Thomas in his tent that evening, C