on a scrap of very old and dirty newspaper, in
pencil.

"They tried to; but they could not catch him. I reckon by this time he
is well within the Southern lines."

"He is certainly very thankful," mused the major. "Come what may, it
would seem that I have one friend in the South--although it is likely I
shall never see or hear of him again."

"That is true, Deck; yet it must make you feel glad to know the fellow
appreciates your kindness."

"It does, father; I shall prize the letter very highly," and Deck placed
it in an inner pocket. When next he wrote to Kate Belthorpe he enclosed
the communication with his own, and Kate thought almost as much of one
letter as of the other.

The first cavalry division, under General Mitchell, was located near
Triune, and this division now moved forward, on the Eagleville and
Shelbyville turnpike, in the direction of the enemy's centre and left.
Less than half an hour after came the order for the Riverlawns to move
in a similar manner.

"Hurrah! we'll soon be in it again!" cried Captain Artie, rushing into
his company street with the news. "Get to moving, boys; for there is no
time to lose. We are going to smash the rebs this trip."

"Well, I hope so," said Black, his first lieutenant. "How about your
brother, the major?"

"Deck is going along. My father doesn't like to hear of it; but the
major says he is feeling all right again. I reckon he will take it a bit
easy, though."

There was little time to say more, for the call to move made plenty of
work for everybody. Every man was supplied with twelve days' rations of
bread, coffee, sugar, and salt, and six days' rations of pork and bacon,
while other meat was carried "on the hoof," as it was expressed, that
is, alive, the animals being driven along in droves, or tied to the
rear of the supply wagons.

"I'm glad we're going to move, but I'd just as lief have clear weather
for it," observed Life Knox, as he came up, shaking the water from his
military cape. "Captain Lyon, do you feel like taking a dash of some ten
or twelve miles on horseback with me?"

"A dash--where to?" queried Artie, stopping in his operations of
strapping his belongings together.

"The general wants to learn in what condition the side road to the
southeast is in, and he has detailed me to make an investigation. I can
take any one along whom I please, and I thought of you and Deck; but
Deck is not fit to go, even though I have seen him around on his