ay will bring
forth some decided results."

"Yes, the two armies can't play hide-and-seek much longer," answered the
young major. "Listen! That was artillery below this creek. I shouldn't
wonder if we catch it all along the line."

"Those troops will try to come across here,--I don't doubt it for a
moment. But we--What is it, Life?" he asked abruptly, as the tall
captain of the seventh company dashed up from the timber on the left.

"We've spotted several companies of the enemy over in this direction,"
Life jerked his thumb toward the point to which Deck was marching.
"Major Belthorpe thought I had best give you the tip."

"Are they moving?" asked Deck, much interested.

"No,--looks to me as if they were retreating--but it may be a blind."

"How is it you are here?"

"The colonel sent my company after your battalion, and Major Belthorpe
is just coming up."

"What of Major Truman's command?"

"Two of the companies are over yonder, and the others are in the rear. I
thought--Creation! Get to cover, quick!"

Life drew his own horse back, and the others followed suit. A dozen
riflemen had opened upon them, putting a bullet through the mane of
Deck's horse. The first volley was followed immediately by another, and
Artie Lyon suffered the ruin of one of his shoulder straps. Before the
Confederates could fire again, all were safely out of range.

"We've developed 'em," was Life's dry comment. "Reckon I had best get
back to my command."

"Ask Major Belthorpe to request the colonel to send you over here with
part of your men, if he can spare you. I am half of a mind those men
over there are sharpshooters."

"I will do it, Major," answered the tall Kentuckian, and dashed away.

By this time the first three companies of the first battalion had fallen
back to a safe position, and here all of the companies were joined, in
ten minutes, by Life Knox, with half of his own company and half of
Captain Ripley's best marksmen. A cautious advance was now ordered, and
the sharpshooters advanced on their hands and knees in a huge
semicircle. To learn the true condition of affairs, Deck went with Life,
the two taking a course which soon brought them to where there was a
little cove. Beyond this cove the creek split in two for the distance of
thirty rods, forming a long island in the centre, one hundred and fifty
feet wide at the middle, and heavily wooded.

"Some of the enemy are on that island, that's certain," whispered Life