of following him with certainty, considered the worst part of the danger
as past.

But he had to deal with those who could not be easily deceived. Colonel
Harrison, knowing that the only chance for escape was by the river, had
lined the banks with men, and, as Archie neared the woods, a voice
directly in front of him called out:

"It's all up now, Yank! Drop that shootin'-iron, or you're a gone
sucker!"

Archie's heart fairly came up into his mouth. He had little expected to
find an enemy in that quarter, but, without waiting an instant, he
turned and ran up the river again, hoping that he might soon be able to
get above the sentinels. The rebel, hearing the sound of his footsteps,
and knowing that he was retreating, shouted:

"Halt, Yank! halt! or I'll shoot--blamed if I don't!"

And he _did_ shoot, and Archie heard the bullet as it sung through
the air behind him.

The rebel, without stopping to load his gun, started in pursuit; but
Archie, who was running for his life, soon left him behind. As the
latter ran he heard shots fired on all sides of him, showing that he was
completely surrounded.

Escape seemed utterly impossible; and fearing that he might run into the
very midst of the guerrillas when he least expected it, he threw himself
behind a log in the edge of the woods, and awaited the issue of events