"
The region in which they lay was west of the higher mountains, which
they had now crossed, but it was very rough and hilly. Not far from
them was a little town called Somerset, which Dick had visited once,
and near by, too, was the deep and swift Cumberland River, with much
floating ice at its edges. When the two lads lay by a campfire that
night Sergeant Whitley came to them with the news of the situation,
which he had picked up in his usual deft and quiet way.
"The Southern army is on the banks of the Cumberland," he said. "It
has not been able to get its provisions by land through Cumberland Gap.
Instead they have been brought by boats on the river. As I hear it,
Crittenden and Zollicoffer are afraid that our general will advance to
the river an' cut off these supplies. So they mean to attack us as soon
as they can. If I may venture to say so, Mr. Mason, I'd advise that you
and Lieutenant Warner get as good a rest as you can, and as soon as you
can."
They ate a hearty supper and being told by Major Hertford that they
would not be wanted until the next day, they rolled themselves in heavy
blankets, and, pointing their feet toward a good fire, slept on the
ground. The night was very cold, because it was now the middle of
January, but the blankets and fire kept them warm.
Dick did not fall to sleep for some time, because he knew that he was
going into battle again in a few days. He was on the soil of his native
state now.
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