ut of the company of cavalry, and he
proceeded to thank Butters and his men for the very effective service
they had rendered. They had fought the battle and won it, and the
cavalrymen had done nothing to assist them. The lieutenant of the
company of Unionists expressed his opinion loud enough to be heard by
all the sharpshooters, that there was not another body of men in the
whole country that could equal them in the accuracy of their aim. He
should commend them in the highest degree to Major Lyon, and his report
would be transmitted in due time to the general in command.

"I will leave you and your men here, Lieutenant Butters, to watch the
enemy," continued Deck. "In about an hour or two send me a report of
anything that happens about here;" and he hastened back to the foot of
the by-road.

The battle had been fought and apparently won; for the Confederates
were out of rifle-range in a very short time. A vigorous cheer was sent
up about the time that Deck came in sight of the train, proving that
they realized their own safety and that of the train. But the young
lieutenant's brain was busy, though he ordered his command to return
the cheer of the escort.

The wagons, over a dozen in number, were safe from the hands of the
enemy; for they had enough to do in the vicinity of Logan's Cross
Roads, as the roar of the cannon in the battle was heard in the
distance. Deck was studying up some way to extricate the wagons from
their miry plight. If he could but procure a sufficient quantity of
boards or planks, he could get them to the hard ground. He asked Milton
if any could be procured, and was assured that none could be obtained
short of Jamestown.

He gave the order to march, and directed Life to go ahead, and select
the most favorable ground for the passage. The lieutenant followed him
at the head of his command, and reached the train in a short time; and
though some of the soldiers had sunk in the mud down to their knees,
they were pulled out of it. The lieutenant of the escort had renewed
his struggle to move the wagons forward when Deck saluted him as he
came out to meet him.

"Lieutenant Lyon of the Riverlawn Cavalry," said Deck, as he gave his
hand to the officer.

"I need not say that I am exceedingly glad to meet you, for you have
saved my men and the wagon-train," was the answer. "Permit me to
present myself as Lieutenant Sterling of the Ninth Ohio Infantry."

"You have had a hard march from the pike so f