major and Life dismounted and
fastened the animals to a tree.

"Is that you, Bolder?" came in the voice of Lieutenant Blackrook, as the
scout came into a clearing near the centre of the woods and at a point
where there was a fair-sized inlet from the creek.

"Yes."

"All clear?"

"Not a soul in sight, Leftenant. I guess our boys are further up the
stream, and the Yankees are below."

"I don't care where the Yanks are--so long as they don't come here,"
muttered the Confederate officer. "Hurry up, or we'll be all night at
this job."

"Is the raft here?"

"Yes, under yonder bushes. Help Peters carry down the three boxes of
ammunition, and then the three of us can see what we can do with the
field-piece. I'm afraid it is pretty well stuck in the mud, and we may
have to use a log or two to budge her."

"How about hosses on the other side?" asked Bolder. "We can't drag the
gun by hand, even if she is light."

"We'll find horses, never fear. Come, get to work, and I'll take a hand
myself."

Deck was in hopes that the Confederates would bring forth their
ammunition and the field-piece without delay; but such was not the case.
They first went to work on the raft, a clumsy affair built of two logs
and a dozen rough two-inch hemlock planks. The raft had become wedged
in under the brush overgrowing the bank of the inlet, and the trio
tugged and strained at a rope to bring her away. Evidently, like many
other Southerners, they were not used to work, and the task proceeded
with many growls from all hands.

The raft brought over to the inner end of the inlet, the three
Confederates took a breathing spell and passed around a bottle which the
lieutenant carried. A plug of tobacco also went the round, each
whittling off a piece to suit himself, with his jack-knife. Then the
three started along a dry gully just above the inlet. A thrashing around
in some brush followed.

"Here we are!" cried the lieutenant. "What a pity we didn't have a
chance to use that gun and the canister against the Yanks!"

"Never mind, we'll use 'em another time," answered Peters. "Catch hold,
Bolder," and he began to handle one of the ammunition cases.

Deck had seen enough, and now he touched Life on the arm, and the two
retreated to a distance where it would be safe to talk. "We've spotted
the things," he said. "What do you advise as the next move to make?"

"That is for you to say, Major."

"See here, Life, don't major me so much. You use