walk by my side here until we reach deep
water."

They entered the river. Latham wading quietly by the side of the horse,
until the water became so deep the horse began to plunge.

"Now, grab his tail," commanded Calhoun, and he watched Latham until he
had taken a firm hold of the horse's tail and was in water beyond his
depth.

"For the Lord's sake, keep his head above water," shouted Latham from
behind, as the horse made a fearful plunge.

For the next few minutes Calhoun had enough to do without looking to see
what had become of Latham. The horse, as the Sergeant had said, proved a
poor swimmer. Twice he came near drowning; but at last managed to struggle
through. When he got to where the water was shallow enough for the horse
to wade, Calhoun looked around to see how Latham had fared.

To his surprise he saw that worthy leaning against a tree on the bank from
which they had started, and apparently he had been watching the struggles
of the horse in the water with a great deal of satisfaction.

Calhoun hardly knew whether to laugh or get angry. Riding to the edge of
the water, he turned his horse around, and yelled over, "You are a pretty
fellow, you are! Like most Yankees, your word of honor is worthless."

"Did just what I said I would!" yelled back Latham.

"You did not. You told me you would hold on that horse's tail like grim
death."

"And so I did. I am holding on to it yet," and to Calhoun's surprise
Latham shook a large piece of the horse's tail at him. He had neatly
severed it.

Calhoun shook with suppressed laughter, but assuming a severe tone, he
said: "You lied to me like a Turk, anyway, you miserable Yankee; you told
me you could not swim."

"I told you no such thing, you skulking Rebel," yelled back Latham,
wrathfully. "Come back here and fight me like a man, and I will wallop you
until you can't stand, for calling me a liar. I would have you know I am a
member of the church in good standing."

"Didn't you tell me you couldn't swim?"

"No; I told you I had never learned to swim when a boy."

"When did you learn to swim?"

"After I became a man."

Calhoun exploded. "Say, Latham," he cried, "I forgive you. You are the
slickest Yankee I ever met. I must be going, for I see your men are
coming. Ta! ta!"

Calhoun turned and urged his horse up the bank, but not in time to escape
having two balls sing uncomfortably close to his head.

Sergeant Latham had little trouble in recovering his