"But you must remember that the fleet hasn't arrived off the cape yet," Marcy reminded him. "With the best of luck it cannot get there until late this afternoon. I wish we could go down and watch the fight."
"I wish we could be in it," replied Jack, "for I just know it will end in a Union victory."
But as they could do neither one thing nor the other, they were obliged to possess their souls in patience. Of course they went to Nashville after breakfast, and of course, too, they found in the post-office the same excited and confident crowd they had met the day before, who had all sorts of stories to tell them.
"Report says that the most of the Union ships foundered before they were fairly out of sight of Fortress Monroe," shouted Allison, in great glee. "I am sorry for that, for I wanted our boys to have the honor of sending them to the bottom."
"Another report says that one of the old tubs that the Yankees were using for a transport ship sprung a leak and went down with every soul on board," said a second speaker.
"Why didn't the other vessels save them?" asked Marcy.
"They couldn't. There was a heavy gale on."
"Who brought these reports?" inquired Jack.
"The papers, of course."
"How did the papers get them, seeing that all telegraphic communication with the North is cut off?" continued Jack.