In the Saddle

isoners. All of them had been engaged in the "Battle of Riverlawn," as it was called, when the mob had been driven away from the plantation. They wer

ers, and the major had an opportunity to inquire into the situation. He had reached the point to which he had been ordered. The region in the vicinity of the railroad bridge had been examined b

right of the road, Major Lyon had sent a couple of trusty men to examine the locality. These soldiers had crept cautiously into the woods, and found the force indica

and they had doubtless postponed the work of the expedition till the next morning. Though the major had never even heard the name of Mr. Barkland, the p

m; but he ordered Knox to bring another of the party engaged in the outrage to his tent. He had selected one who appeared to be a rea

encamped in the woods farther

here?" demanded the fellow, who seemed

on't answer them," replie

Guardsman with a capacious grin. "I don'

at," added Captain Gordon, who was present at the interview, and

' you want to know,

all about your compa

u ask me if I bel

you may take him away," called the major to th

you," grinned the fellow.

ou doing up

plantation had more money 'n he could manage,

s, you intende

he orders of the cap'n. If you want to know an

here?" asked the major, to whom Knox had report

p'n about that; for he did

ance to the tent a visitor was waiting, who proved to be Mr. Barkland, and he was promptly admitted. He expressed his obligations for t

hat you had your money concealed

e, and I had some money in the bank at Munfordville; but there are so many marauding parties about i

in these troublous ti

w; and I think some Secessionist connected with the bank spread the news about that I had withdrawn

as unfo

nted to get some supper, which I was willing to give them; for I never turn away any one who wants something to eat. The

y," added the major, who was thinking o

d me if I did not give it up," continued the planter. "As I said, I am a Union man, and I decided to let them hang me to a tree, as he threatened to do, rather than give up my money to a lot of trait

an uncommon one with Union me

de to him for the service; for he was a brave fellow, and managed the affair well, or he would h

sergeant, who had listened to the narrative

replied Knox, with a s

for

for what he had done. He desired to take him to his mansion, that his wife and daughter

body of troops in this vicinity?" asked the m

, Major Lyon," replied the plant

?" interpose

e others called him, or, at lea

nd, go on," replied th

a body of Texan Rangers, as they called them, as though th

of them since we t

erposed Deck. "He stopped a negro on horse-back, who was going for a doctor. He said there was a company of ca

s a considerable force in th

I will return to my house. If I can be of any service to you, cal

ulting when the guardsman was brought in. On it the major had made several crosses with a red pencil, indicating the location of the railroad bridge, which was believed to be the

is vicinity by to-morrow," said Captain Gor

just obtained some news, which he considered reliable, to the effect that an order had come up for the destruction of the railroad bridges," added Major Lyon, as he put his pencil poin

said Captain Gordon. "But we know where the enemy are, and that is half the battle under pr

e of the railroad, with half his company, and station the other half behind this knoll, so that neither of them can be seen from the main road,

ole of this company of Home Guards whil

ch will prove them to be the enemies of the government," replied the major. "I gave Truman the most explicit orders, and I

by which his brother had been called, for he e

ction will readily brin

up before them, though I believe they are better armed now than when they attempted to capture Riv

m is correct," added the captain. "It appears from their locality that they are

events which were expected the next day. At about midnight the sentinel awoke them, saying that the planter desired to see the commander. He was admitted, and reported th

eep again, satisfied that Buck Lagger