"Keep off! keep off!" cried the man as he stepped onto the porch. "I don't want any soldiers around here." "So it would seem," answered the tall Kentuckian, dryly. "Who are you?" "Eh?" queried the man, who was a bit deaf. "Stand still and tell us who you are." "That's my business. You clear out!" "Rather guess it's our business just now," laughed another of the cavalrymen. "A man's house is his castle, and I want you to leave me," stormed the man with the shot-gun. "You are nothing but Yankees!" "That is true," returned Life. "What have you in your house?" "Eh?" "Most awfully deaf, he is," grunted another of the party. "Have you got many provisions on hand?" he added, in a louder key. "Eh?" and the man with the shot-gun leaned forward. "Did you say provisions?" "Yes; have you any?" joined in Life. "Enough for myself. Ain't got none for you--I can tell you that!" "Reckon you have got something for us," grinned the tall Kentuckian. Another of the party, Sandy Lyon, had, in the meantime, slipped behind the house. He now appeared at the edge of the porch and suddenly leaped upon the elderly man. Utterly off his guard, for he had not heard Sandy approaching, the deaf man proved an easy victim, and in a twinkle his gun was taken from him. "That was a good move, Sandy," said Life. "Now sit down and behave yourself, sir," he added, to the man, whose name was Gessel, and forced the deaf one to a seat on the porch. Having overcome the only inhabitant of the house, the cavalrymen made an inspection of the premises and found over a score of boxes and barrels, filled with provisions intended for a Confederate force encamped in the vicinity of Rover. Orders were at once sent to the quartermaster to take possession of the prize, and Colonel Lyon was notified of the Confederate detachment mentioned. Realizing that the matter would brook of no delay, a consultation with the general of the command was held, and this resulted in Deck being sent off with his battalion to locate the Confederates, if possible, and engage them. CHAPTER VIII THE ENGAGEMENT NEAR SPRING HILL The course of the first battalion of the Riverlawn Cavalry was along a path scarcely wide enough for four horsemen to ride abreast. It was through a thicket of dwarf trees, the limbs of which took off many a hat and scratched hands and faces. At several points the riders came to hollows, filled with icy water, and here detours had to be made, for fear the animals might become stuck in the stiff soil beneath. As was his usual habit, Deck rode at the head of his command, with Captain Abbey, of the first company, beside him. Several scouts had been sent out and with them had gone Artie Lyon, by special permission of the major.