"Then they mean to turn our left if they can," put in the third
signalman, who had not spoken heretofore. "What do you suppose General
Bragg will do?"

"He'll come out of Chattanooga and fight 'em, that's what he'll do,
Simpler. To my notion it was foolish not to offer them a fight right on
the bank of the Tennessee."

Speaking in this strain, the three signalmen turned in at the spot where
they had left their horses, and began to untie the animals. While they
were doing this, Life leaned over to Deck.

"Well?" he asked in a whisper.

"Do you think we can manage them, Life?"

"Why not? We have the drop of them, if we keep behind the trees."

"I should like to make them prisoners."

"Let us try it; I don't think we'll come off second best," answered the
matter-of-fact captain of the seventh company.

Deck raised his pistol and Life did the same. "I'll cover the fellow
beside the white horse," he explained.

"Correct; I'll cover both of the others," was Life's reply, as he
produced another weapon.

The next moment Deck called upon the three signalmen to surrender. His
command started the three very much, and they stopped their talk and
gazed around them in bewilderment.

"What's that?" questioned the captain, nervously.

"I call on you to surrender. Down with your arms or you are dead men."

"Who are you?"

"A major in the Union army, in command of a detachment of
sharpshooters," answered Deck, telling the exact truth.

"Stand ready to fire, boys," he continued, as if addressing a full
company behind him.

"We surrender," said the leader of the signalmen, promptly.

"Throw down your arms."

One after another the weapons of the Confederates were cast away.

"Keep them well covered, boys," said Deck, and going forward he gathered
the pistols up, also the captain's sword.

"Now march down the hillside in that direction," went on the major; "and
no treachery, or you'll be dead men inside of ten seconds." He raised
his voice. "Forward, boys! Captain Knox, take command!"

"All right, Major," answered Knox, gruffly. He turned around. "Forward,
boys, and keep them covered," and then as the Confederates moved off, he
also moved, making as much noise as a dozen men. The ruse was completely
successful, even more so than it had been at the time the cannon on the
raft was captured.

At the foot of the hill Clefton, the sharpshooter, was called up, and
sent to notify the others. Soon the detachment of seve