CONTENTS

CHAPTERPAGE
I.[Collecting a Bill by Force of Arms ]15
II.[Revelations of a Young Guardsman]27
III.[Something about the Lyon Families]39
IV.[The Day's March of the Squadron]52
V.[The Leader of the Scouting-Party ]64
VI.[A Very Obstinate Prisoner Captured]76
VII.[Preparing for Active Operations]88
VIII.[The Action by the Railroad Bridge]100
IX.[An Encounter with the Enemy's Scouts]112
X.[The Battle Begun at the Cross-Roads]124
XI.[A Desperate Charge on Both Sides]137
XII.[The Young Hero of the Battle]149
XIII.[The Perplexing Movements of the Enemy]161
XIV.[A Long Wait for the Enemy]173
XV.[The American Flag on the Bridge]185
XVI.[The Explosion on the Bridge]197
XVII.[The Confusion of the Day Explained]209
XVIII.[Introducing Mr. Brown Kipps]221
XIX.[The Conspiracy on the Bridge]234
XX.[The Operations of the Bridge-burners]246
XXI.[A New Disposition of the Forces]258
XXII.[A Desperate Deed Contemplated]270
XXIII.[The Skirmish on the Hill Road]282
XXIV.[Captain Dingfield's Strategy]294
XXV.[Sundry Flank Movements Arranged]306
XXVI.[The Enemy's Battle with the Mud]318
XXVII.[At the Camp-Fire near the Road]330
XXVIII.[A Mysterious Disappearance]342
XXIX.[The Riverlawn Cavalry changes Base]354
XXX.[The Magnate of Greeltop's Visit]366
XXXI.[Life Knox on the Mountain Road]378
XXXII.[The Skirmish in the Great Circle]390
XXXIII.[Captain Stinger the Fire-Eater]402
XXXIV.[The Re-enforcement for Plain Hill]414
XXXV.[Surrounded and Totally Defeated]426
XXXVI.[Captain Vinegold of the Guerillas]439

ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE
"[Be You Uns Soldiers, Mass'r?]"Frontispiece.
[Illustrated Title]
"[Help! Help! Shouted the Victim]"19
"[One of the Texans Tumbled from His Horse]"123
"[Sling Carbines! Charge Them!]"203
"[Halt where You are, Kipps!]"283
"[What are You Uns doing Here?]"315
"[The Ruffian seemed to be as Powerless as an Infant in his Grasp]"385

IN THE SADDLE

CHAPTER I

COLLECTING A BILL BY FORCE OF ARMS

"Help! Help!"

This call for assistance came from a small house, poorly constructed by those who had little skill in the art of carpentry. It stood near the Spring Road, in a field of about ten acres of land, under cultivation, though the rank weeds among the useful plants indicated that it had been sorely neglected.