s more tricks than you dream of."

"I am not worrying," replied Mathews. "One of your scouts has just had to
fork over five dollars to one of my men, on a bet they made at Crab
Orchard that I could not get the hoss. Perhaps you would like to bet I
can't keep him?"

"Yes, I will go you twenty-five that Captain Shackelford will have his
horse back in less than two months," answered Calhoun, dryly.

"Done!" exclaimed the Captain, gleefully, and the stakes were placed in
the hands of Captain Huffman. The bet afforded much amusement to the
officers, but all of them looked upon it as a very foolish bet on the part
of Calhoun.

"That twenty-five is gone," said Huffman to Calhoun, as he pocketed the
stakes, "but I am sure of having fifty dollars for at least two months."

"I reckon I shall lose," said Calhoun, "but Mathews had better not let
Shackelford get sight of his horse."

"Why?" asked a dozen voices in concert.

"Because that horse is up to more antics than a trick horse in a circus.
You will see, if we ever run across my cousin in our raids."

"I don't know what you mean," said one of the officers, "but your cousin
will have a fine time getting that horse away from Jim Mathews."

"Wait and see," was Calhoun's answer.

It was not many days before they knew what Calhoun meant. A few days
sufficed to rest Morgan's command, and it was not the nature of Morgan to
remain long idle. He had to be doing something. It was known that the
Confederate armies were about ready to make the long-talked-of forward
movement into Kentucky. In fact, General Kirby Smith had already set out
from Knoxville to invade Eastern Kentucky, and General Bragg was nearly
ready to take the initiative from Chattanooga.

The Federal army in Tennessee was scattered, and owing to the raids of
Morgan and Forrest, the men were on short rations. General Buell was at
his wits' end. He knew that General Bragg was preparing to advance, but
thought he would not attempt the invasion of Kentucky before attacking
him. He therefore looked for a great battle somewhere in Middle Tennessee,
and concentrated his forces for that event.

Before Bragg moved, Morgan decided to strike another blow at the
Louisville and Nashville Railroad, and this time right under the noses of
the Federal army. Gallatin is only twenty-six miles from Nashville, and
Morgan decided to attempt its capture. In order to spy out the land,
Calhoun entered the place as a country lad. He fo