tended by Warner. The high
officers examined the fort a long time through their glasses, but Dick
noticed that at times they watched the river. He knew they were looking
there for the black plumes of smoke which should mark the coming of the
steamers out of the Ohio.

But nothing showed on the surface of the Cumberland. The river, dark
gray under lowering clouds, flowed placidly on, washing the base of Fort
Donelson. At intervals of a minute or two there was a flash of fire
from the fort, and the menacing boom of the cannon rolled through the
desolate forest. Now and then, a gun from one of the Northern batteries
replied. But it was as yet a desultory battle, with much noise and
little danger, merely a threat of what was to come.

After a while Colonel Winchester wrote something on a slip of paper:

"Take this to our lieutenant-colonel," he said. "It is an order for the
regiment to hold itself in complete readiness, although no action may
come for some time. Then return here at once."

Dick rode back swiftly, but on his way he suddenly bent over his saddle
bow. A shell from the fort screamed over his head in such a menacing
fashion that it seemed to be only a few inches from him. But it passed
on, leaving him unharmed, and burst three hundred yards away.

Dick instantly straightened up in the saddle, looked around, breathed a
sigh of relief when he saw that no one had noticed his sudden bow, and
galloped on with the order. The lieutenant-colonel read it and nodded.
Then Dick rode back to the hill where the generals were yet watching in
vain for those black plumes of smoke on the Cumberland.

They left the hill at last and the generals went to their brigades.
General Grant was smoking a cigar and his face was impassive.

"We're to open soon with the artillery," said Colonel Winchester to
Dick. "General Grant means to push things."

The desultory firing, those warning guns, ceased entirely, and for a
while both armies stood in almost complete silence. Then a Northern
battery on the right opened with a tremendous crash and the battle for
Donelson had begun. A Southern battery replied at once and the firing
spread along the whole vast curve. Shells and solid shot whistled
through the air, but the troops back of the guns crouched in hasty
entrenchments, and waited.

The great artillery combat went on for some time. To many of the lads
on either side it seemed for hours. Then the guns on the Northern side
ceased sud