Wandering winds caught up the banks of smoke and carried most of them away.

Dick, as he rose a little, saw the Southern troops massing in the forest for an attack upon their new position.

They seemed to be only a few yards away and he clearly observed the officers walking along the front of the lines.

It flashed upon him that they must hold these hills or Grant's army would perish.
Where was Buell?
Why did he not come?
If the Southerners destroyed one Northern army today they would destroy another tomorrow! They would break the two halves of the Union force in the west into pieces, first one and then the other.
"What do you see, Dick ?" asked Warner, who was lying almost flat upon his face.
"The Confederate army is getting ready to wipe us off the face of the earth! Up with your rifle, George! They'll be upon us in two minutes!" They heard a sudden shout behind them.

It was a glad shout, and well it might be.