ing for their loved ones to return. These letters
reminded them of their own wives and mothers in the Northland, waiting and
praying for them.

Suddenly the Lieutenant spoke up: "Boys, we have been wasting time over
those letters. That fellow was making his way back to Kentucky. He has no
horse. What more natural than that he would try and obtain one at the
first opportunity? That old Rebel Osborne lives not more than a mile
ahead. You remember we visited him last week, and threatened to arrest him
if the railroad was tampered with any more. It was thought he sheltered
these wandering bands of Confederates who make it dangerous to step
outside the camp. If we push on, we may catch our bird at Osborne's."

"If not, it will at least give you a chance to see the pretty daughter,"
remarked the Sergeant.

"Shut up, or I will have you reduced to the ranks," growled the
Lieutenant.

The subject was rather a painful one to the Lieutenant, for during his
visit to the Osbornes the week before, when he tried to make himself
agreeable to the daughter, the lady told him in very plain words what she
thought of Yankees.

"It's nearly noon, too," continued the Lieutenant, after the interruption,
"and that spring near the house is a splendid place to rest our horses and
eat our dinners; so fall in." The Lieutenant slowly mounted Calhoun's
horse, for his fall had made him sore, and in none the best of humor, he
gave the command, "Forward!"

The plantation of Mr. Osborne was soon reached. It was a beautiful place.
The country had not yet been devastated by the cruel hand of war, and the
landscape, rich with the growing crops, lay glowing under the bright April
sky. The mansion house stood back from the road in a grove of noble native
trees, and the whole surroundings betokened a home of wealth and
refinement.

From underneath a rock near the house gushed forth a spring, whose waters,
clear as crystal, ran away in a rippling stream. It was near this spring
that Lieutenant Haines, for that was the officer's name, halted his
troops.

"Better throw a guard around the house," he said to Sergeant Latham, "for
if that Rebel has found his way here, he may make a sneak out the back
way. After you get the guard posted, we will search the house."

As the Sergeant was executing his orders, Mr. Osborne came out of the
house, and approaching the troop, to Lieutenant Haines's surprise, gave
him a cordial greeting.

"I cannot say I am rejoic