good-bye."

"An' ef you hear anybody say Tim Mills is a d'serter, tell 'em it's a
lie, an' you know it. Good-bye." He turned away as if relieved.

The boys said good-bye to all three, and started in the direction of
home.

CHAPTER XVI.

After crossing the gully, and walking on through the woods for what
they thought a safe distance, they turned into the path.

They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their
friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture
of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into
the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of
Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding
the road.

The sight of the blue-coats made the boys jump. They would have crept
back, but it was too late--they caught the eye of the man nearest
them. They ceased talking as suddenly as birds in the trees stop
chirruping when the hawk sails over; and when one Yankee called to
them, in a stern tone, "Halt there!" and started to come toward them,
their hearts were in their mouths.

"Where are you boys going?" he asked, as he came up to them.

"Going home."

"Where do you belong?"

"Over there--at Oakland," pointing in the direction of their home,
which seemed suddenly to have moved a thousand miles aways.

"Where have you been?" The other soldiers had come up now.

"Been down this way." The boys' voices were never so meek before. Each
reply was like an apology.

"Been to see your brother?" asked one who had not spoken before--a
pleasant-looking fellow. The boys looked at him. They were paralyzed
by dread of the approaching question.

"Now, boys, we know where you have been," said a small fellow, who
wore a yellow chevron on his arm. He had a thin moustache and a sharp
nose, and rode a wiry, dull sorrel horse. "You may just as well tell
us all about it. We know you've been to see 'em, and we are going to
make you carry us where they are."

"No, we ain't," said Frank, doggedly.

Willy expressed his determination also.

"If you don't it's going to be pretty bad for you," said the little
corporal. He gave an order to two of the men, who sprang from their
horses, and, catching Frank, swung him up behind another cavalryman.
The boy's face was very pale, but he bit his lip.

"Go ahead," continued the corporal to a number of his men, who started
down the path. "You four men remain here till we come back,"