him to march out that way. Then he looked
down the steep and lofty banks of the Cumberland. His horses and those
of his troopers could swim like fishes; for it had been a part of the
drill at Riverlawn to exercise the animals in the water, and they had
often crossed Bar Creek with their riders on their backs, and they had
even swam them over the Green River, though never in the rapids.

Deck considered a plan for descending the banks to the stream, swimming
the horses a mile or two down the river, and then of escaping across
the country to the position of the rest of the squadron. He was about
to ask Sergeant Knox for his opinion, when the company of Confederate
cavalry which had been next to his force outside the works rode over to
the side of the camp he had chosen, and halted a few rods from his
position.

But this body did not seem to be in a belligerent mood, and did not
appear to take much notice of the platoon. Possibly they were ashamed
of their conduct on the field; for they had been the first of the
enemy's cavalry to arrive at the works, and they must have been among
the first to run away. The men did not look like a fair specimen of the
cavalry of the other side which the troopers had seen.

"We must get out of this place somehow," said Deck to the orderly
sergeant, who had brought up a little behind him.

"I don't believe there is many more outside who want to get into this
place," replied Life; "and I reckon the major will be looking this way
for us, for he couldn't help seeing that we had been crowded in here."

"I don't see that he can do anything for us, unless he fights the whole
force of the enemy outside; and I know they are not all cowards, like
some of these fellers what worked harder to get into this fort than
they would to git inter the kingdom o' heaven," answered Life.

"I don't look for any help from the rest of the squadron. If we don't
get out on our own hook I think we shall have to stay here," replied
Deck. "What do you think of escaping by the river? We can easily swim
the horses down the stream a mile or two; for there is not much current
near the shore, though it is strong in the middle of the river."

The sergeant rode over to the high bank, and looked it over in an
apparently careless manner, so as not to attract attention, as far up
as the great bend just above Mill Springs. He shook his head
significantly as he resumed his former position.

"The swimmin' is all right after