those with him took shelter behind a thick growth of cedars, while Calhoun
rode ahead to investigate. He discovered no enemy and was coming back when
he ran squarely into the Federals. The foremost of them were not ten feet
from Morgan, he still being screened from view by the cedars. Without
hesitation, Calhoun cried, "This way, Major. Hurry up, they have gone this
way," pointing the way he had come.

The major took Calhoun for a guide, and giving the command, "Forward,"
rode rapidly after Calhoun, and Morgan was saved. For half a mile they
rode, when a stream was reached, and it was seen no horseman had crossed
it. The major drew rein and turned to Calhoun in fury.

"You have deceived me, you dog!" he cried.

"Yes, I am one of Morgan's men," calmly replied Calhoun.

The anger of the major was terrible. He grew purple in the face. "Yes, and
you have led me away from Morgan," he hissed. "You will pay for this."

Calhoun still remained calm. "That was not Morgan," he said; "I ought to
know Morgan, I have ridden with him for two years."

"I know better," roared the Major, thoroughly beside himself; "you are a
lying scoundrel; I will fix you."

"What are you going to do?" asked Calhoun, with apparent calmness, but a
great fear coming over him.

"Hang you, you lying devil, as sure as there is a God in heaven! I would
not have had Morgan slip through my fingers for ten thousand dollars. It
would mean a brigadier generalship for me if I had caught him. String him
up, men."

One of the soldiers coolly took the halter off his horse, fastened it
around Calhoun's neck, threw the other end over the projecting limb of a
tree, and stood awaiting orders.

Once more an ignominious death stared Calhoun in the face, and there was
no Captain Huffman near to rescue him. It looked as if nothing could save
him, but his self-possession did not forsake him.

"Major, before you commit this great outrage--an outrage against all rules
of civilized warfare--let me say one word." Calhoun's voice did not even
tremble as he asked this favor.

"Be quick about it, then, but don't think you can say anything that will
save your cursed neck!"

"Major, if that was General Morgan, as you say, and I have been one of
Morgan's men, as I have confessed, ought I not to be hanged if I had
betrayed him into your hands?"

The fire of anger died out of the major's eyes. He hesitated, and then
said: "You are right. If that was General Morgan, and y