x and Private Milton to me," said Major Lyon, at the
suggestion of Captain Gordon, to Artie, his orderly. "I think Milton
knows all about the country in this vicinity."

"So much the better," replied the aide-de-camp, as the two scouts
saluted the major. "Milton, are you acquainted about here?"

"As well as in the dooryard of my father's house in Miltonville. I have
been to Fishing Creek as man and boy, and fished it for its whole
length," replied the new recruit.

"Do you know the road across the country to the Danville Pike? It is
nothing but a by-path to the woods."

"I know it very well, for I have ridden my horse over it fifty times,"
answered Milton.

"He will do, Major. Send them off at once."

"Excuse me for a suggestion. I think Lieutenant Lyon will do better if
he has about half of our riflemen with him," interposed Captain Gordon,
when the two scouts had galloped up the road on their mission.

"That is a good idea," added the captain.

"Rather too many men for a young man to command," said Deck's father,
shaking his head.

"He is the best officer in the squadron for this duty," persisted the
captain of the first company.

Major Lyon yielded the point, for the aide-de-camp had practically
ordered Deck to the command of the expedition. The lieutenant marched
his platoon ahead of the column, while Captain Ripley detailed thirty
of his men, under the command of Lieutenant Butters, to which position
the jailer had been elected by the company. Life Knox galloped
furiously in advance of Milton for half a mile, till the latter called
to him to halt.

"Here is the road across the country," shouted the recruit.

There was a fence across the entrance, which Milton removed without
dismounting, for it consisted of only two rails, within his reach. Life
rode through the opening, and started his horse into a gallop again.
The subsoil was of gravel, with a thin coating of loam on it, not more
than three inches deep, so that the animals had a good footing.

"Are we uns in a hurry?" asked Life, turning his head back to see his
fellow scout.

"I should say so," replied Milton; "for the wagon-train may be captured
before we come up with it if we delay, though we don't know that it is
in any danger; but the pike must be crowded with the enemy hurrying on
to the attack of General Thomas's force."

"Then I reckon we had better keep the hosses' legs moving lively,"
replied Life, as he hurried his steed to his best