ddening the water. The current swept many a steed and
rider down, and they were seen no more. A few there were who struggled
through to safety, and these were all that escaped of the thousands that
crossed the Ohio at Brandenburg.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE RIDE OF THE SIX HUNDRED.

What Morgan's thoughts were, what his hopes were, as he rode away from
that fatal field at Buffington Island, no one knows. With him rode six
hundred, all that were left of three thousand. He could have had no
thoughts of attempting to cross the Ohio anywhere near Buffington Island,
for he rode almost due north. It may have been he thought that he might
cross near Wheeling or higher up, and escape into the mountains of Western
Pennsylvania; or as a last resort, he might reach Lake Erie, seize a
steamboat, and escape to Canada. Whatever he thought, north he rode,
through the most populous counties of Ohio. And what a ride was that for
six hundred men! Foes everywhere; Home Guards springing up at every
corner; no rest day or night.

Close in his rear thundered the legions of General Shackelford, a
Kentuckian as brave, as fearless, as tireless as Morgan himself. But in
spite of all opposition, in spite of foes gathering on right and left and
in front, Morgan rode on, sweeping through the counties of Meigs, Vinton,
Hocking, Athens, Washington, Morgan, Muskingum, Guernsey, Belmont,
Harrison, Jefferson, until he reached Columbiana County, where the end
came.

At almost every hour during this ride the six hundred grew less. Men fell
from their horses in exhaustion. They slept as they rode, keeping to their
saddles as by instinct. The terrible strain told on every one. The men
grew haggard, emaciated. When no danger threatened, they rode as dead men,
but once let a rifle crack in front, and their sluggish blood would flow
like fire through their veins, their eyes would kindle with the excitement
of battle, and they would be Morgan's fierce raiders once more.

As for Calhoun, it seemed as if he never slept, never tired. It was as if
his frame were made of iron. Where danger threatened there he was. He was
foremost in every charge. It looked as if he bore a charmed life. The day
before the end came he was scouting on a road, parallel to the one on
which the main body was travelling. Hearing shots, he took a cross-road,
and galloped at full speed to see what was the trouble. A small party