o not think there is any danger. If I
see anything suspicious, I will signal to you." With these words Calhoun
with his companion rode away.

"There he goes as careless as if there was not an enemy within forty
miles," said Graham, looking after them, and shaking his head. "I tell you
the Lieutenant will get into trouble some of these days. He is altogether
too rash; never thinks of danger."

"Don't worry about the Lieutenant," lazily replied one of the men; "he
never gets into a scrape without getting out of it. He is a good one, he
is."

The Sergeant did not answer, but stood earnestly gazing after his chief,
who by this time was about a quarter of a mile away. Here Calhoun and
Nevels descended into a depression, which for a moment would hide them
from the watchful eyes of the Sergeant.

As Calhoun entered this depression, he noticed that a thick growth of
underbrush came up close to the side of the road, affording a splendid
place for concealment. For a moment a feeling as of unseen danger came
over him, but nothing suspicious could be seen or heard, and dismissing
the thought, he rode forward. Suddenly Calhoun's horse stopped and pricked
up his ears.

"What's the matter, Selim? What do you see?" exclaimed Calhoun, as he
gently touched him with the spur.

The horse sprang forward, but had gone but a few yards, when as suddenly
as if they had arisen out of the ground, a dozen men, with levelled guns,
arose by the side of the road, and demanded their surrender. Desperate as
the chance was, Calhoun wheeled his horse to flee, when before him stood a
dozen more men; his retreat was cut off.

"Surrender, or you are dead men," cried the leader. Calhoun saw they were
surrounded by at least twenty-five men, and a most villainous-looking set
they were. There was no help for it. To refuse to surrender meant instant
death, and Calhoun and Nevels yielded as gracefully as possible.

The Sergeant stood still looking up the road waiting for them to appear,
when he caught sight of the head of a man, then of another, and another.

"Boys," he shouted, excitedly, "something is wrong; the Lieutenant is in
trouble."

The little squad sprang to their horses, and without thinking of danger,
or what force they would meet, rode to the rescue, the Sergeant in the
lead. But when they neared the place, they were met with a volley which
brought three of the horses down and seriously wounded two of the men.

"Forward!" shouted the Ser