The young Confederate realized without much thought that he was in a perilous position. Six rifles were pointed at him, and the owner of each weapon seemed both willing to bring him to a speedy military death, and capable of doing so. “Do you surrender?” demanded one of the men, after an instant’s pause. “I don’t see that there is anything else to do, gentlemen,” replied Andy, with a smile, which, however, was rather forced. “You’re a sensible boy,” put in another. “Say, that’s a fine nag he rides, fellows. Let’s present it to Captain Mellick. He had his horse killed an hour ago.” “All right, Wombolt; you take the horse and the prisoner back. We can’t stop here.” “Are you going to rob me of my horse?” demanded Andy, his eyes flashing. “Oh, you can help ride him back to camp,” was the cool response of Wombolt. “I’ll sit with you. But first hand over that saber and your pistols.” There was no help for it, and Andy turned over the bright blade and the single weapon in the holster. He had another pistol in the pocket of his cavalry coat, but of this he said nothing. Having relieved him of the weapons mentioned, the Union soldier leaped up behind him. He held Andy’s pistol and cocking the weapon, placed it close to the youth’s neck. “Now, no funny work or you are a dead reb,” he said. “Move on straight ahead until I tell you to turn to the left.” “It’s a pretty bad road,” remarked Andy, trying to gain time in which to form some plan of escape. “I’ll have it paved for you as soon as the war is over, reb. Move now, or my finger may get nervous on this trigger.” Seeing there was no help for it, Andy spoke to Firefly, who instantly set off on a trot. This did not suit the Union soldier and he began to kick Firefly in the sides with the heels of his boots. “Git alang there, you lazy beast!” he cried. “Git now, or I’ll stave in your ribs!” “Look out, my horse won’t stand that!” came in a warning from Andy, and at the same time he gave Firefly a most cruel dig with his spurs. He would never have done this under ordinary circumstances, but a sudden idea had struck him and he acted on it on the impulse of the moment. The kicking and spurring did just what the young Confederate expected. Unused to such treatment, Firefly jerked viciously to one side, made a wild leap forward and started off on a run. As he made the leap Andy gave him the reins, held fast to the saddle with one hand and shoved the soldier violently with the other. There was a yell of alarm, a clutch into empty air, as Andy leaned far forward, and away went the Union soldier, tumbling over backward into the muddy road. The pistol was discharged, but the shot merely whistled through the trees.