The air was cold and flakes of snow dropped upon the decks and the river, but were gone in an instant.

The skies were an unbroken sheet of gray.

The scene so lonely and desolate contained a majesty that impressed them all, heightened for these youths by the knowledge that many of them were going on a campaign from which they would never return.
"Looks as wild as the great plains on which I've hunted with my father," said Pennington.
"But we hunt bigger game than buffalo," said Dick.
"Game that is likely to turn and hunt us." "Yes." "Do you know where we're going ?" "Not exactly, but I can make a good guess.

I know that we've taken on Tennessee River pilots, and I'm sure that we'll turn into the mouth of that river at Paducah.

I infer that we're to attack Fort Henry, which the Confederates have erected some distance up the Tennessee to guard that river." "Looks likely.