e point of Abe's bayonet."

"Is that so? Did Abe get struck at all?"

"Only a whack over the nose with the butt of a gun, which will doubtless
improve his looks. Any change would."

"Guess we can go back now with some peace and comfort," said Abe, coming
up, and alluding to the cessation of the firing in their front. "That
last round took all the fight out of them hell-hounds across the field."

"Some of you had better go over to the camp there and get our axes.
We'll have to cut a road through the cedars if we take these guns off,"
said Harry, tieing a handkerchief around the gaping saber wound in his
temple. "The rest of you get around to the right, and keep a sharp look
out for the flank."

So they worked their way back, and a little after noon came to the open
fields by the pike.

----

As the wagon rolled slowly down the pike toward Nashville Rachel, in
spite of anxiety, fell asleep. Some hours later she was awakened by the
driver shaking her rudely.

"Wake up!" he shouted, "ef ye value yer life!"

"Where are we?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.

"At Stewart's Creek," answered the driver, "an' all o' Wheeler's cavalry
are out thar' in them woods."

She looked out. She could see some miles ahead of her, and as far as
she could see the road was filled with wagons moving toward Nashville. A
sharp spurt of firing on the left attracted her attention, and she saw
a long wave of horsemen ride out of the woods, and charge the
wagon-guards, who made a sharp resistance, but at length fled before
overwhelming numbers. The teamsters, at the first sight of the
formidable line, began cutting their wheel-mules loose, and escaping
upon them. Rachel's teamster followed their example.

"The off-mule's unhitcht; jump on him, an' skip," he shouted to her as
he vanished up the pike.

The Rebels were shooting down the mules and such teamsters as remained.
Some dismounted, and with the axes each wagon carried, chopped the
spokes until the wagon fell, while others ran along and started fires
in each. In a little while five hundred wagons loaded with rations,
clothing, ammunition and stores were blazing furiously. Their work done,
the cavalry rode off toward Nashville in search of other trains.

Rachel leaped from the wagon, before the Rebels approached, and took
refuge behind a large tree, whence she saw her wagon share the fate of
the rest. When the cavalry disappeared, she came out again into the road
and walked slowly up