In the Saddle

ach of flying bullets. They had not become hardened to the whizzing, boring sound they make in their passage through the air, for they carried

or that we languish for weeks or months upon the couch of pain, we can only submit to the divine will; and all we have to do is faithfully to discharge our

rnestly devoted to the discharge of their duty; for principle generates courage when it is founded upon religious faith. It

f anxiety in regard to his brother, though he

h a smile; for the time had come for him to feel something of what had only be

as I can," added Artie, as he wheeled his h

the wound. The fond and devoted mother had provided each of them with a bandage and a handful of lint, and she had even practised them in d

I hope you will never have a worse one," sai

"That feels better, though it is still rather warm. But we have business on our hands, and we c

s vision to take in whatever might be seen in the direction from which the t

Deck. "Let's ride up the slope, and then w

ation. From their odd uniform we have a right to believe these two scouts belonged to that company. Very likely the captain of it is up to some mischief; and if a part of the f

king in the argument of his bro

to be seen, while you hurry back as fast as Ceph will take you

heeled his horse, while Artie galloped up the

side of the road; but Artie could not stop to do anything for his wounded enemy, though his heart was big enough to do everything in his power. He rode on at the highest speed of Dolly, as he cal

t object that attracted his attention was a horseman, riding at full gallop up a slope about a mile distant from him. He concluded that he was the scout whose companion had fal

ent for him to proceed alone. He sat upon his horse considering what he should do next. The only course left open to him was to return to the south ro

to detain them. On the other hand, the result of the morning's work would be all undone if the enemy should advance after the larger portion of the second company ha

y of the planter's house. He decided to compromise with the circumstances, and wait a reasonable time for some evidence of an advance on the part of the Texans. The two scouts had co

make out anything that looked like a road. But presently the moving object became more definite to his gaze. He wished he had his father's field-glass; but all he could do was to wat

not leave yet; for it was important that he should report the strength of the enemy, as well as his actual presence in the vicinity. The young cavalryman

s assured the officer in command that a force of Union cavalry was located near the bridge, and he was hurrying his men forward to meet it. Artie had seen enough to assure him of the approach of an en

He urged his steed forward at her best speed. He reached the cross-road just as Deck appeared there; for the information he brought perplex

d Artie, as soon as he was within

Deck, who had also remained, to have his wound properly

here now," replied Artie. "They are advancing with

ed Deck; and a minute late

s big news for you," said Deck, who appea

Artie," demand

suppose they are-will be here in ten or fift

ed the captain, with some

I estimated them, be

eport at the planter's house," said the officer

oad enough, and he had read in his military books that one in command of a force must use judgment and discretion. This was what he was thinking of wh

orders, the bridge will

face. "Less than fifty men, you say, Artie. I made up my mind, from what Deck said, that if there was a fo

our men in the whole company, be

eplied the captain,

Home Guards on the bridge. Then he ordered the rest of the men, about forty in number, to unsling their carbines, and formed them across the so

royed by another division of the Confederates. But they could not see the camp that had been established at the side of the structure, for it was on much lower

to attack was not long withheld. The officer in command led his men down the hill at full gallop, the men yelling like so many demons; for, at this early

s lungs. "These troopers are not Home Guards; and there will be fighting, and no chi

lf-a-dozen men in a rank, so that they were still clustered in a rather solid mass. In this condition they delivered their first volley. One of the Union men dropped from his

in the hands of the enemy, for they discharged at least twice as many shots. The report of the muskets had brought the