ou are one of his
men, you should be hanged for betraying him, not for saving him." Then to
his men he said: "Boys, take off that halter; he is too brave and true a
man to be hanged."

Calhoun drew a long breath. He had appealed to the major's sense of honor,
and the appeal had not been made in vain.

The major kept Calhoun for three days, and during that time treated him
more like a brother than a prisoner. Calhoun never forgot his kindness. At
the end of the three days Calhoun was placed under a strong guard with
orders to be taken to Knoxville. He resolved to escape before Knoxville
was reached, or die in the attempt. Never would he live to be taken North
in irons, as he would be when it became known that he was one of Morgan's
officers.

At the end of the first day's journey the prisoners, of whom there were
several, were placed in the tower room of a deserted house. Three guards
with loaded muskets stood in the room, another was just outside the door.
Calhoun watched his chance, and when the guards inside the room were not
looking, he dashed through the door, closing it after him. The guard
outside raised his musket and fired. So close was he that the fire from
the muzzle of the gun burned Calhoun's face, yet he was not touched.
Another guard but a few feet away saw him running, and fired. The ball
tore its way through the side of his coat. But he was not yet out of
danger. He had to pass close to two picket posts, and as he neared them he
was saluted with a shower of balls. But he ran on unharmed. One of the
pickets with fixed bayonet took after him. He came so close that Calhoun
could hear his heavy breathing. Calhoun ran as he had never run before. A
turn in the road took him out of sight of his pursuers, and he sprang to
one side and began to climb the mountain. A squad of cavalry dashed by in
pursuit; they had missed him. With a thankful heart Calhoun saw them
disappear.

But darkness came on and he had to feel his way up the mountain on his
hands and knees. His progress was so slow that when morning came he had
only reached the top of the mountain. He could hear the shouts of the
soldiers searching for him. Near him was a growth of high grass. Going
into this he lay down; and here he remained all day. At one time the
soldiers in search of him came within twenty feet of where he lay.

It was the longest and dreariest day that Calhoun ever spent. Hunger
gnawed him, and he was consumed with a fierce thirst.