"Down in Tennessee, when you got away with Lieutenant Haines's horse so
slick."

Calhoun's face darkened. "Did you have anything to do with the persecution
of the Osbornes?" he asked, threateningly.

"Not I. That was the blamedest, meanest trick I ever knew Haines to do.
But he was dead gone on the girl. I half believe he would have turned Reb
if he could have got her."

"I saw Haines the other day," remarked Calhoun.

"Where?" asked the Sergeant.

"In Nashville. I had the pleasure of knocking him down."

The Sergeant chuckled. "Served him right. He threatened to have me reduced
to the ranks because I told him he ought to be ashamed of himself, the way
he persecuted that girl."

"Are you in his company now?"

"No; he is the captain of another company. Glad of it."

"Sergeant Latham, I would like to continue this conversation, but time
presses. Give me your parole, and I will be going."

"By gum, I won't do it!" exclaimed Latham, with energy. "If you want to
take me prisoner, take me. But do you think I am going sneaking back to
camp with the story that I let one Johnny gobble me? No, sir, not by a
jugful!"

"Latham, you are a character. Can you swim?"

"Never learned when a boy."

"Will your horse carry double?" asked Calhoun.

"No, he is a poor swimmer, he would drown us both."

"Latham, I am afraid I shall have to shoot you. I don't see any other way
to get rid of you."

Latham thought a moment, and said: "Let me ride the horse across and you
swim."

"A brilliant idea, declined with thanks."

Latham scratched his head as if for an idea. "Perhaps I can hang on by the
horse's tail," he remarked, hesitatingly.

"That's better. It's either a parole, the tail, or death. Which shall it
be?"

"I will take the tail."

"All right; but you must give me your word of honor that you will hang
on."

"Like grim death," answered Latham.

"Come, then, I have fooled away too much time already."

Marching his prisoner up to where his horse was tethered, Calhoun took
Latham's sword and carbine which hung to the saddle and pitched them into
the river after the revolver.

Mounting the horse, Calhoun said, "Now, no fooling. The slightest attempt
on your part to escape, and I shall shoot you without compunction of
conscience."

"I am not fool enough to run when there is a revolver at my head," growled
Latham.

"Nevertheless you will bear watching. I am of the opinion you are a
slippery customer. You just