ady been successfully engaged?"

"Yes, General; we took several hundred prisoners."

"I am glad to hear it, for we need some go-ahead men here, or our
hospital will be taken and General Rosecrans' very headquarters at the
Widow Glenn's threatened. Keep a careful watch and report every movement
the Confederates make."

"I will do my best, General," answered Colonel Lyon, and saluting, he
galloped off on his steed.

There had been a lull in the firing, and now, when the Riverlawns took
the position assigned to them, not a sight of a Confederate was to be
seen. The stream at this point was lined with heavy brushwood. There was
a ford above and another below, and there were numerous spots where the
banks were high and rocky. In one place not far away there was a
waterfall in the shape of a horseshoe, where the stream made a direct
descent of five or six feet.

Half an hour went by, and all remained quiet. Deck had thrown himself
under a tree and partaken of some hardtack, some rather tough beef, and
a drink of black coffee. Artie was close by, and both were recounting
their experiences in a low tone.

"They have been fighting all along the line, that's certain," said
Artie. "We'll hear of some astonishing results, to-morrow, mark my
words."

"Well, I trust we whip them, that's all," replied Deck. "My! but I am
tired. I'll sleep like a rock to-night, no doubt of that."

"We'll all sleep--if the Johnnies let us," said his brother, laughingly.
"I think--Hark! that's pretty heavy firing, eh?" He had broken off as a
heavy cannonading reached their ears. Hardly had the cannons belched
forth than the rattle of musketry followed.

The firing grew heavier, and they leaped to their feet, as if expecting
the tide of battle would come their way. Then, of a sudden, Artie
pointed to a spot between themselves and the creek.

"Look! look! Deck, who is that?"

The youthful captain had detected the form of a man moving silently but
swiftly through the brush and deep grass. The man was dressed in a
clerical suit of black, similar to those worn by unattached chaplains
throughout the war.

"Whoever it is, he acts suspicious-like," commented Deck. "I don't like
that."

"No more do I; let's investigate," rejoined Artie, and they made after
the individual, who had passed in a direction leading from them.

A hundred feet were covered, before they caught sight of the man in
black again, and then he was squatting behind the rocks, a