It's hopeless." "That's true," said Warner, who was standing by, "but we--hark, what was that ?" The boom of a cannon echoed over the fort and forest, and then another and another.

To the northward they saw thin black spires of smoke under the horizon.
"It's the fleet! It's the fleet!" cried Warner joyously, "coming up the Cumberland to our help! Oh, you men of Donelson, we're around you now, and you'll never shake us off!" Again came the crash of great guns from the fleet, and the crash of the Southern water batteries replying..