snow was falling fast.

Darkness came, and supper was served to the troops, but at the colonel's
command Dick was not awakened. Nature had not yet finished her task of
repairing. There was worn tissue still to be replaced, and the nerves
had not yet recovered their full steadiness.

So Dick slept on, while the night deepened and the snow continued to
drive against the window panes. Nor did he awake until morning, when the
train stopped at a tiny station in the hills. There was no snow here,
but the sun, just rising, threw no heat, and icicles were hanging from
every cliff. Dispatches were waiting for Colonel Newcomb, and after
breakfast he announced to his staff:

"I have orders from Washington to divide my regiment. The Southern
forces are operating at three points in Kentucky. They are gathering at
Columbus on the Mississippi, at Bowling Green in the south, and here
in the mountains there is a strong division under an officer named
Zollicoffer. Scattered forces of our men, the principal one led by a
Virginian named Thomas, are endeavoring to deal with Zollicoffer. The
Secretary of War regrets the division of the regiment, but he thinks it
necessary, as all our detached forces must be strengthened. I go on with
the main body of the regiment to join Grant, near the mouth of the Ohio.
You, Major Hertford, will take three companies and march south in search
of Thomas, but be careful that you are not snapped up by the rebels on
the way. And if you can get volunteers and join Thomas with your force
increased threefold, so much the better."

"I shall try my best, sir," said Major Hertford, "and thank you for this
honor."

Dick and Warner stood by without a word, but Dick cast an appealing look
at Colonel Newcomb.

"Yes, I know," said the Colonel, who caught the glance. "This is your
state, and you wish to go with Major Hertford. You are to do so. So is
your friend, Lieutenant Warner, and, Major Hertford, I also lend to you
Sergeant Whitley, who is a man of much experience and who has already
proved himself to be of great value."

The three saluted and were grateful. They longed for action, which they
believed would come more quickly with Major Hertford's column. A little
later, when military form permitted it, the two boys thanked Colonel
Newcomb in words.

"Maybe you won't thank me a few days from now," said the colonel a
little grimly, "but I am hopeful that our plans here in Eastern Kentucky
will prove successf