Once or twice he came away from the window and listened at the entrance to his little room, but he could hear nothing stirring in the larger chamber.
Yet it was incredible that Colonel Woodville and his daughter should not be awake.

They would certainly be listening with an anxiety and suspense not less than his.
Dawn came after painful ages, and slowly the region out there where the Union army lay rose into the light.

But it was a red dawn, a dawn in flame and smoke.

Scores of guns crashed in front, and behind the heavy booming of the mortars on the boats formed the overnote of the storm.
The opening was not large, but it afforded the lad a good view, and he thrust his head out as far as he could, every nerve in him leaping at the deep roar of the cannonade.

He had no doubt that the assault was about to be made.