Why, Dick, these boats can go clear down into
Alabama, into the very heart of the Confederacy, into the very state at
the capital of which Jefferson Davis was inaugurated President of the
seceding states."
"I was thinking of that some time ago," said Dick. "The water is with
us."
"Yes, the 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.
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