Wary Sergeant Whitley followed them in silence.
The boys found Colonel Newcomb and the remaining members of his staff standing near, and seeking anxiously to discover the nature of the country about them.

The colonel nodded when they arrived, and gave them an approving glance.

The two stood by, awaiting the colonel's orders, but they did not neglect to use their eyes.
Dick saw by the engineer's lantern that they were in a valley, and he learned from his words that this valley was about three miles long with a width of perhaps half a mile.

A little mountain river rushed down its center, and the train would cross the stream about a mile further on.
It was still raining and the cold wind whistled down from the mountains.
Dick could see the somber ridges showing dimly through the loom of darkness and rain.

He was instantly aware, too, of a tense and uneasy feeling among the officers.