Heavy banks of fog were rising from the Cumberland and the flooded marshes.

The earth began to soften as if unlocking from the hard frost of the night.
Colonel Winchester stood near him and his position showed that he was intensely awake.

He was bent slightly forward, and every nerve and muscle was strained as if he were eager to see and hear something which he knew was there, but which he could not yet either see or hear.
Dick threw off his blanket and sprang to his feet.

At the same moment Colonel Winchester motioned him to awaken Warner and Pennington, which he did at once in speed and silence.

That tint of silver, the lining of the fogs and vapors, shone more clearly through, and spread across the East.