s as quickly as we can.
Carry the word to Major Belthorpe, and tell him to send Captain Ripley's
sharpshooters and your own in advance. The first and second companies
can come over here."

Away went Life Knox with the swiftness of the wind, realizing that
success depended upon speed, for it would take but a few minutes for the
Confederates to learn the truth concerning the ruse Deck had employed
against them.

As soon as the tall Kentuckian had gone, Deck advanced toward the trees
mentioned, rapidly but cautiously, for he had no desire to be picked off
by some concealed Confederate marksman. His course lay over a series of
rough rocks, but Ceph sprang from one to another with the lightness of a
mountain goat. Soon the shelter of the first row of trees was gained.

Deck was not particularly a woodsman, but as a boy he had climbed many a
maple-tree in New Hampshire, and later on, many a walnut in Kentucky. He
had not forgotten the art, and standing up on Ceph's back he leaped into
the branches of the tree above him, and climbed to the top in what Artie
would have called "jig time."

The tree was tall, and standing on an elevation, afforded a good view of
the surrounding territory for a mile or more on every side. Taking up
his glasses again he inspected the situation with care.

Captain Adairs had told the truth about having more companies than one.
There were three commands all told, each numbering probably seventy to
eighty men. One was on this side of the defile, and two were on the
opposite side. The men were scattered at convenient points for holding
the defile against almost any force.

While Deck was surveying the situation, the Confederate captain reached
his men, and orders were at once issued which took away half of the men
at the rocky pass, and sent them in the direction of the main road
beyond. This left but half a company in the neighborhood Deck was
reconnoitring.

"If we can't whip half a company, no matter what advantage they have
behind the rocks, we are not fit for the Union army," thought the major,
and began to descend the tree.

He had just stepped on the limb below him, when he heard a crashing
through the brush between the rocks. Wondering if it was friend or foe,
he paused, and tried to look down. But the thick leaves and heavy
branches cut off the view below completely.

"Git up thar, git up!" he heard, in a rough, heavy voice, as somebody
leaped upon Ceph's back. Then came a clatter o