ecame rough and rocky, and their
progress was necessarily slower. Evans was in mortal terror lest the
half-hour would be up before they could reach the place.

"It is right down thar," he at length said, pointing down a ravine which
led to a stream.

The place was admirably adapted for concealment. On a small level place
surrounded by high cliffs stood a tumble-down house. It was shut in from
view from every point except the single one on which they stood.

"Leave the horses here," whispered Huffman, "I think I caught sight of
some one down there. We will creep up on them unawares."

Leaving the horses in charge of ten men, Captain Huffman, with the rest of
his force, silently crept down the gorge.

[Illustration: THEY SILENTLY CREPT DOWN THE GORGE.]

We will now turn to Calhoun. After he was captured and heard his men
cheering as they made the charge, his heart stood still, for he expected
they would all be killed. He was, therefore, greatly surprised when the
firing ceased, and his captors came running back, and hurried him through
the woods at a break-neck speed. The rapid pace was kept up for about
three miles, when finding they were not pursued, they adopted a more
leisurely gait. Of this Calhoun was glad, for he was entirely out of
breath. The leader of the gang, and another, probably the second in
command, had appropriated the horses, and Calhoun and Nevels had been
forced to walk, or rather run.

Once Calhoun ventured to ask the result of the fight, and was told that
all of his men had been killed. This he knew to be a lie, as his captors
would not have retreated so hastily if they had achieved so sweeping a
victory. He asked another question, but was roughly told to shut up.

When the rendezvous was reached Red Bill for the first time noticed his
prisoners closely. He started when he saw Calhoun, and then turning to his
gang, said, "I reckon we had better string these fellows up, and get them
out of the way."

"String us up," boldly answered Calhoun, "and I would not give a cent for
your worthless lives; Morgan would never rest, as long as one of you
encumbered the earth."

"Who is afraid of Morgan!" exclaimed Red Bill, with an oath. "He and the
rest of you are nuthin' but hoss-thieves an' yo' will all hang one of
these days. I know yo', my young rooster, you air the son of that ole
Rebil, Judge Pennington of Danville. I hev it in fur him."

"And I know you now," hotly replied Calhoun, forgetting