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 inured to hardship now that they paid no attention to it.
But this rough riding soon showed so much effect upon the horses that
Colonel Winchester led aside into the woods and fields, keeping parallel
with the road.
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