water is with us, and will stay with us."

They were silent a little while longer and watched the coming of the
early winter twilight over the waters and the lonely land. The sky was
so heavy with clouds that the gray seemed to melt into the brown. The
low banks slipped back into the dark. They saw only the near surface
of the river, the dark hulls of the fleet, occasional showers of sparks
from smoke stacks, and an immense black cloud made by the smoke of the
fleet, trailing behind them far down the river.

"Dick," said Colonel Winchester suddenly, "as you came across Kentucky
from Mill Spring, and passed so near Pendleton it must have been a great
temptation to you to stop and see your mother."

"It was. It was so great that I yielded to it. I was at our home about
midnight for nearly an hour. I hope I did nothing wrong, colonel."

"No, Dick, my boy. Some martinets might find fault with you, but I
should blame you had you not stopped for those few moments. A noble
woman, your mother, Dick. I hope that she is watched over well."

Dick glanced at the colonel, but he could not see his face in the
deepening twilight.

"My uncle, Colonel Kenton, has directed his people to give her help in
case of need," he replied, "but that means physical help against raiders
and guerillas. Otherwise she has sufficient for her support."

"That is well. War is terrible on women. And now, Dick, my lad, we'll
get our supper. This nipping air makes me hungry, and the Northern
troops do not suffer for lack of food."

The officers ate in one of the cabins, and when the supper was finished
deep night had come over the river, but Dick, standing on the deck,
heard the heavy throb of many engines, and he knew that a great army
was still around him, driven on by the will of one man, deep into the
country of the foe.

The decks, every foot of plank it seemed, were already covered with
the sleeping boys, wrapped in their blankets and overcoats. He saw his
friend, the young hunter from Nebraska, lying with his head on his arm,
sound asleep, a smile on his face.

Dick watched until the first darkness thinned somewhat, and the stars
came out. Then he retired to one of the cabins, which he shared with
three or four others, and slept soundly until he was aroused for
breakfast. He had not undressed, and, bathing his face, he went out at
once on the deck. Many of the soldiers were up, there was a hum of talk,
and all were looking curiously at the