?"

"I am Captain Fordick, commanding the Fordick Michigan mounted infantry,
unattached," was the reply. "But you haven't answered my question yet."

"I won't surrender, to be hung for what I've done," burst out the
traitorous lieutenant, and cutting his horse, he urged him out of the
barn. "Back, if you value your life!" and he thrust his pistol into
Captain Artie Lyon's face.

The young captain was about to fire on the fellow, when Life Knox's
weapon rang out, and the lieutenant pitched forward in his saddle and
fell down at his horse's side. Frightened, the steed took to his heels,
running directly for the brook. The lieutenant's foot had caught fast in
the stirrup and he was dragged along, his head striking the ground at
every step. In a twinkle, horse and man had disappeared into the water
together.

In the meantime Gossley had fired, and an infantryman riding behind
Captain Fordick was struck in the hip. The Confederate spy fired half a
dozen shots, and then leaped from his horse's back into the hay-mow
above. As he disappeared from view he yelled that he would kill anybody
who attempted to capture him.

"Better get back," said Life. "There is no use in running a useless
risk. We'll make him come down from his perch as fast as Davy Crockett
brought the 'possum from the tree."

The advice was good, and captains and men scattered to points where the
Confederate could not get a chance at him.

"Now, if you'll let me take the lead I'll bring him down in short
order," said the captain of the seventh company of the Riverlawns.

"All right, do as you please," answered the Michigan captain, and Artie
nodded in approval.

Advancing on foot to a tree directly behind the barn, Life called out to
Gossley,--

"Are you coming down, Gossley?"

"Not much."

"You had better give yourself up. We are about fifty to one, you know."

"I won't give myself up. You'll hang me as you hung Williams and Peter.
I'm going to die game."

"Wouldn't you rather be hung than burnt alive?" went on Life, coolly.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean that if you won't come down and surrender, we'll burn you out."

"You can't do it. The place is too wet."

"Well, we'll smoke you out then, and shoot you as soon as you appear. If
you want to become an ordinary prisoner, now is your chance. I won't do
any talking with you after we have applied the torch."

At this Gossley began to say some very uncomplimentary things concerning
t