Still, we're not moving away and the reinforcements are coming." Dick explained to Colonel Winchester why he had failed in his mission, and the colonel promised to report in turn to the commander that the hand of God had intervened.

Dick's conscience was now at rest, and he resumed at once his duties with the regiment.
Many days passed.

While Grant did not make any other attack upon Vicksburg his circle of steel grew tighter, and the rain of shells and bombs upon the devoted town never ceased.

Reinforcements poured forward.
His army rose to nearly eighty thousand men, and Johnston, hovering near, gathering together what men he could, did not dare to strike.

Dick was reminded more than once of Caesar's famous siege of Alesia, about which he had read not so long ago in Dr.Russell's academy at Pendleton.
There were long, long days of intrenching, skirmishing and idleness.