un, pleasantly; "we are going to parole
you. You will soon be at liberty."

"How often do you want to parole a fellow? This will be the third time,"
growled Haines. "Curse the luck. I thought we would wipe you off the face
of the earth sure this time. We would, too, if it hadn't been for that
cowardly regiment which broke."

"An 'if' has stood in between many a man and success," answered Calhoun.
"How long ago were you exchanged?"

"About two months," replied Haines, "and here I am in for it again. I
expected to win a captaincy to-day. If this is the way it goes, I shall
die a lieutenant."

"Oh, you may wear the star of a general yet, who knows? To change the
subject, have you met the charming Miss Osborne since your return to the
army?"

A change came over the face of Haines--one that transformed his rather
handsome features into those of a malignant spirit. Calhoun saw it and
wondered. The Lieutenant quickly recovered himself, and answered:

"Yes, but trouble has come upon the family. Mr. Osborne refused to take
the oath of allegiance, and as he was looked upon as a dangerous
character, he has been sent North as a prisoner."

"To wear his life away in some Northern bastile!" exclaimed Calhoun, in a
fury. "Monstrous!"

"That is not all," returned Haines. "By some means the house took fire and
burned with all its contents. I did all I could for them--tried to save Mr.
Osborne, but could not; but I will not relax my efforts to have him
released. I have some powerful friends in the North."

Calhoun thanked him, and went his way. But that look which came over
Haines's face, what did it mean? It was months before Calhoun knew.

CHAPTER IX.

THE DUEL.

IN August, 1862, Cumberland Gap, the gateway between Eastern Kentucky and
East Tennessee, was held by a Federal force of over ten thousand,
commanded by General George W. Morgan. It was this force which confronted
General Kirby Smith as he set out to invade Kentucky.

The place being too strong to carry by assault, General Smith left a force
in front of the Gap to menace it, made a flank movement with the rest of
his army, passed through Roger's Gap unopposed, and without paying any
attention to the force at Cumberland Gap, pushed on with all speed for
Central Kentucky.

At the same time General Bragg made his long-expected advance from
Chattanooga, completely deceiving Buell, who first