l those who had taken a leading part in the Southern cause
prepared in haste to leave with Johnston's army. The roads were choked
with vehicles and fleeing people. The State Legislature, which was then
in session, departed bodily with all the records and archives.

But Dick, after the first hours of triumph, felt relaxed and depressed.
After all, the victory was over their own people, and five thousand of
the farmer lads, North and South, had been killed or wounded. But this
feeling did not last long, as on the very evening of victory he was
summoned to action. Action, with him, always made the blood leap and
hope rise. It was his own regimental chief, Arthur Winchester, who
called him, and who told him to make ready for an instant departure from
Donelson.

"You are to be a cavalryman for a while, Dick," said Colonel Winchester.
"So much has happened recently that we scarcely know how we stand. Above
all, we do not know how the remaining Southern forces are disposed,
and I have been chosen to lead a troop toward Nashville and see. You,
Warner, Pennington, that very capable sergeant, Whitley, and others whom
you know are to go with me. My force will number about three hundred and
the horses are already waiting on the other side."

They were carried over the river on one of the boats, and the little
company, mounting, prepared to ride into the dark woods. But before they
disappeared, Dick looked back and saw many lights gleaming in captured
Donelson. Once more the magnitude of Grant's victory impressed him.
Certainly he had struck a paralyzing blow at the Southern army in the
west.

But the ride in the dark over a wild and thinly-settled country
soon occupied Dick's whole attention. He was on one side of Colonel
Winchester and Warner was on the other. Then the others came four
abreast. At first there was some disposition to talk, but it was checked
sharply by the leader, and after a while the disposition itself was
lacking.

Colonel Winchester was a daring horseman, and Dick soon realized that
it would be no light task to follow where he led. Evidently he knew the
country, as he rode with certainty over the worst roads that Dick had
ever seen. They were deep in mud which froze at night, but not solidly
enough to keep the feet of the horses from crushing through, making a
crackle as they went down and a loud, sticky sigh as they came out. All
were spattered with mud, which froze upon them, but they were so much
inure