u as Confederates. You are simply outlaws."

"'Tain't so; we--" The guerilla paused and began to think of the
instructions which had been given him. "Wot kind o' terms air you
calkerlatin' ter make, Major?" he asked, in a milder tone.

"I want all in the house to surrender, and if you do I'll simply hand
you over to the county authorities and they can do with you as they
think best. But each of you must swear to leave Riverlawn alone in the
future."

"The boys won't agree on thet--I know they won't."

"They can do as they please; you have my terms," returned Deck, curtly.

"Yer won't treat us as simple prisoners o' war?"

"No; for such you are not. Neither your captain nor your lieutenant
holds a commission signed by the Confederate authorities."

The guerilla paused as if to say more. Then tossing his shaggy head he
walked back to the mansion, while Deck joined his command at the
magnolias.

"Bowman, you can do a big thing for me if you will," he said, calling
the farmer aside, and he explained a little ruse which had just popped
into his head. The scheme made Bowman laugh heartily, and he at once
departed to carry it out, taking one of the negroes with him.

It was just growing dusk when the farmer reached the vicinity of the
creek bridge. Calling on Woolly, the negro, to march by his side, he
quickly crossed the roadway, in plain sight of the mansion. He passed
from one thicket to another, and as soon as he was out of sight turned
back and went through the same performance again. This he repeated a
score of times, sometimes going alone and again with Woolly. This
accomplished, he told the negro to move down the creek and show himself
at half a dozen different places just as quickly as the act could be
performed, he at the same time doing as much in the opposite direction.
Sometimes the pair showed themselves with their coats, sometimes
without, and they knocked their head coverings into all sorts of shapes.

The ruse succeeded admirably, for even Levi, at the fort, was led to
believe a dozen or more armed men had just arrived, and he was for a
while considerably worried, thinking they might possibly be
reenforcements for the enemy. Bowman's appearance opposite Fort Bedford
cleared up the matter, and the farmer came over to give the overseer the
particulars, thereby risking a shot which, fortunately, proved harmless.

"It certainly ought to bring them to terms," said Levi. "I'll wager they
will be out with