p-buggy, and I think that Colonel Ryder had no idea whither
she was leading him. Yet he yielded himself and his men to her guidance
with a confidence that few soldiers would have displayed. We had come
very rapidly until we turned out of the main road, and then we went
along more leisurely. This gave me time to overcome my natural
stupidity, for I finally realized that our rapid movements on the main
road were intended to place us beyond the reach of Forrest's advance
guard.

The by-way that we were now following appeared to be little used, yet
it was a wide road and a good one, and probably served as the means of
communication between isolated farms, or it may have led to some lonely
grist-mill which had been built for the convenience of that thinly
populated region. Though it was but little used, it was plain to the
eye, and I thought with a smile that if Captain Bill Forrest's company
should happen to have any leisure a dozen or more of them would be sure
to see where it led, in which event----

The smile faded away as soon it came, for I thought of the little lady
in the top-buggy who was driving ahead with so much confidence. She
would be safe in any event, but what would she think of me if her
brother should be captured or killed? I shrunk from facing such a
contingency; I shrunk without knowing why. Being a young fellow, and
feeling my importance as I have never felt it since, I imagined she
would hold me responsible. I had interfered with her plans in more ways
than one, and I felt that she owed me a grudge that would grow to
enormous proportions should any harm come to her brother.

I was suddenly recalled to the affairs of the moment by hearing the
screams of a woman, followed by a rifle-shot. I saw Jane Ryder urging
her horse forward, and, without waiting to see what Colonel Ryder
proposed to do, I put spurs to my horse, followed by Whistling Jim. The
scream of the woman had sent a cold chill all through me, and I was in
no humor for waiting to see what the others would do. I thought I heard
shouts behind me, but I paid no attention to them. I turned my horse to
the left and headed him in the direction from which the sounds had
come.

Keeping a sharp eye ahead, I soon came in sight of a cabin sitting
lonely and forlorn in the middle of a small clearing. I saw more than
this, for three men were engaged in a desperate effort to batter down
the door. My horse bore me past the little lady in a flash, although