fter he sees the
lay of the land."

As we know, Captain Knox's men were more or less experts at shooting,
they being Kentuckians who were used to handling firearms almost daily
in the woods and on the border. The order was transmitted to Life, who
took his command ahead on the double-quick. This accomplished, the
remaining companies continued on the road until another bend was gained.

The Confederate sharpshooters had stationed themselves behind some heavy
brush, not daring to climb the trees for fear of being surrounded. No
sooner had the seventh company of the Riverlawns appeared than they
opened a sharp fire, wounding two privates.

The flashes of fire and the smoke served to locate the sharpshooters in
spite of the downpour of rain, but instead of answering the shots at
once, Life took his command around to the shelter of some other brush.
Then he commenced to work up on the Confederates' rear, picking off
three men in less than as many minutes.

By this time Deck had his battalion ready for a rush, and as soon as
Life sent word where he was located, the young major started forward on
a gallop. He, however, went but two hundred yards, just enough to give
the enemy the impression that a direct attack was contemplated. Up came
the Confederates, as expected, firing as rapidly as they could. Then,
realizing how they were caught between two fires, they started to
retreat, only to find themselves faced by Life Knox's command.

"Take aim! Fire!" cried the tall Kentuckian, and the command discharged
their weapons, not as a regular company would, but as soon as a proper
"bead" could be drawn. This fire was most deadly, and when Deck ordered
another advance, the Confederates began to flee in confusion, about half
of them taking to the main road of Guy's Gap, and the balance taking to
the mountain trails.

"Forward, men, we have them on the run now!" shouted Major Deck, waving
his sabre. His illness was now forgotten, and he rode well in advance,
by Captain Abbey's side. The first battalion was far in advance of the
rest of the regiment, and as it swept along, Life Knox's company joined
it in the rear without waiting for Major Belthorpe's battalion to
appear.

The road now led upward, and at the top of a rise, the Confederate force
took another stand. There were in all about four hundred men, about the
same number Deck possessed, counting the seventh company in with his
own. Without hesitation the major ordered the ch