e darkness and stillness the engines throbbed
powerfully, and the night was lighted fitfully by the showers of sparks
that gushed now and then from the smoke stacks.

Dick thought of rising and brushing the snow from his blankets, but he
was so warm inside them that he yawned once or twice and went to sleep
again. When he awoke it was morning again, the snow had ceased and the
men were brushing it from themselves and the decks.

The young soldiers, as they ate breakfast, spoke of the rifle shots that
had been fired at them the night before and, since little damage had
been done, they appreciated the small spice of danger. The wildness
and mystery of their situation appealed to them, too. They were like
explorers, penetrating new regions.

"To most of us it's something like the great plains," said Pennington
to Dick. "There you seldom know what you're coming to; maybe a blizzard,
maybe a buffalo herd, and maybe a band of Indians, and you take a
pleasure in the uncertainty. But I suppose it's not the same to you,
this being your state."

"I don't know much about Western Kentucky," said Dick, "my part lies to
the center and east, but anyway, our work is to be done in Tennessee.
Those two forts, which I'm sure we're after, lie in that state."

"And when do you think we'll reach 'em?"

"Tomorrow, I suppose."

The day passed without any interruption to the advance of the fleet,
although there was occasional firing, but not of a serious nature. Now
and then small bands of Confederate skirmishers sent rifle shots from
high points along the bank toward the fleet, but they did no damage and
the ships steamed steadily on.

The third night out came, and again the young soldiers slept soundly,
but the next morning, soon after breakfast, the whole fleet stopped in
the middle of the river. A thrill of excitement ran through the
army when the news filtered from ship to ship that they were now in
Tennessee, and that Fort Henry, which they were to attack, was just
ahead.

Nevertheless, they seemed to be yet in the wilderness. The Tennessee, in
flood, spread its yellow waters through forest and undergrowth, and the
chill gray sky still gave a uniform somber, gray tint to everything.
Bugles blew in the boats, and every soldier began to put himself and
his weapons in order. The command to make a landing had been given, and
Commodore Foote was feeling about for a place.

Dick now realized the enormous advantage of supremacy upon