pistol, aimed it at our friend's head.

But Lieutenant Fronklyn was in a line directly behind Deck, and he did
not intend that his commander should be shot down thus readily. As the
Confederate leader's pistol went up, Fronklyn's sabre came down, and the
firearm fell to the ground, carrying with it three of the fingers which
had clutched its handle.

"Good for you, Fronklyn!" cried Deck. "I owe you one for that!" And then
the tide of the contest carried them apart.

Fully half a hundred of the Confederate horsemen were as daring as their
leader, and, while the others fell back and into the hands of the second
and third battalions of the Riverlawns, these continued to press forward
desperately, hoping to force a passage by sheer might of will power.
Truly, their bravery was worthy of a better cause.

The shock of battle was one of the heaviest Deck's battalion had ever
received, and for several minutes it looked as if the four companies
must go to pieces. But the gallant major rallied his forces, and the
Confederates were hemmed in so closely that they could neither advance
nor retreat. Sabre blows fell thick and fast, striking fire in a dozen
spots at once, and fully a dozen horses and riders went down in less
than five minutes.

But the meeting, if sharp, was also short, and with himself and two of
his officers disabled, the Confederate leader surrendered and the
fighting stopped. Scarcely had Deck received word that the fight was won
than Sandy Lyon rode up, as a special messenger from Major Belthorpe.

"The infantry are in the lower end of the hemp field," said Lieutenant
Sandy. "Where is the colonel, please?"

"With Major Truman," responded Deck. "Does Major Belthorpe need
reenforcements?"

"He says he can take the infantry if he is given two more companies."

"All right; tell him I'll be over as soon as I can get there," was the
major's answer.

He turned to Captain Richland, in charge of the second division of the
first battalion, and left it to the third and fourth companies to take
charge of the prisoners, forty-two in number. This done, he took the
first and second companies with him, and rode with all speed in the
direction his cousin had pointed out to him.

His arrival came none too soon, for Major Belthorpe was having his hands
full with the infantry of the enemy, and it looked as if they might
slip through his fingers. Finding a good position near the rise in the
field, Deck managed to drive