ighway was marvellous
to behold.

"After 'em boys, we have 'em on the run!" shouted one of the Confederate
majors, and he started his battalion along the highway. He was given the
chance to fire one volley, and received another in return, from Major
Truman's command. He would have kept on running had not his colonel
ordered him back. The Confederate commander knew there was no need for
the Unionists to retreat and began to "smell a mouse."

The high ground was gained, and the first battalion, under Deck,
galloped into the open timber. Life Knox, who had just been over the
ground, rode in advance, as a guide. The ground was rough, but Life was
a thorough backwoodsman and easily pointed out the best trail. In less
than five minutes the whole regiment was behind the shelter of the
trees, and by this time the first and second companies occupied
positions directly in the rear of the Confederate reserves.

The reserves numbered but a company and a half, and not knowing what was
taking place, the ranking captain ordered one round to be fired, and,
receiving a round in return from the whole first battalion, started on a
rapid retreat, to bring up against the companies from the road, which
had just been turned in that direction.

These counter-movements in the timber, where the ground was sloping and
rough, caused something of a mix-up, and before the Confederate colonel
could bring order out of chaos, Colonel Lyon was swooping down upon him
from the higher ground. The first and the third battalions were called
into this action, and the Confederates ran like sheep down the slope
toward the swamp.

As usual Deck was in the lead, and almost before he knew it he found
himself face to face with the Confederate captain who had commanded the
reserves. The captain was mounted like himself and fired at him with his
pistol, while the two were less than five yards apart.

[Illustration: HE FOUND HIMSELF FACE TO FACE WITH THE CONFEDERATE
CAPTAIN.

_Page_ 428.]

A lucky leap on Ceph's part saved Deck from serious injury, if not from
death, and in a flash captain and major came together, and sword met
sabre in strokes which brought forth flashes of fire. The captain was a
heavy-built man of twice Deck's age, and as their blades came together
the major realized that he had engaged an opponent worthy of his steel.

Since joining the army, Major Lyon had practised industriously upon the
sabre exercise, until he could handle that blad