CHAPTER XI. A DESPERATE CHARGE ON BOTH SIDES 137 CHAPTER XII. THE YOUNG HERO OF THE BATTLE 149 CHAPTER XIII. THE PERPLEXING MOVEMENTS OF THE ENEMY 161 CHAPTER XIV. A LONG WAIT FOR THE ENEMY 173 CHAPTER XV. THE AMERICAN FLAG ON THE BRIDGE 185 CHAPTER XVI. THE EXPLOSION ON THE BRIDGE 197 CHAPTER XVII. THE CONFUSION OF THE DAY EXPLAINED 209 CHAPTER XVIII. INTRODUCING MR. BROWN KIPPS 221 CHAPTER XIX. THE CONSPIRACY ON THE BRIDGE 234 CHAPTER XX. THE OPERATIONS OF THE BRIDGE-BURNERS 246 CHAPTER XXI. A NEW DISPOSITION OF THE FORCES 258 CHAPTER XXII. A DESPERATE DEED CONTEMPLATED 270 CHAPTER XXIII. THE SKIRMISH ON THE HILL ROAD 282 CHAPTER XXIV. CAPTAIN DINGFIELD'S STRATEGY 294 CHAPTER XXV. SUNDRY FLANK MOVEMENTS ARRANGED 306 CHAPTER XXVI. THE ENEMY'S BATTLE WITH THE MUD 318 CHAPTER XXVII. AT THE CAMP-FIRE NEAR THE ROAD 330 CHAPTER XXVIII. A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE 342 CHAPTER XXIX. THE RIVERLAWN CAVALRY CHANGES BASE 354 CHAPTER XXX. THE MAGNATE OF GREELTOP'S VISIT 366 CHAPTER XXXI. LIFE KNOX ON THE MOUNTAIN ROAD 378 CHAPTER XXXII. THE SKIRMISH IN THE GREAT CIRCLE 390 CHAPTER XXXIII. CAPTAIN STINGER THE FIRE-EATER 402 CHAPTER XXXIV. THE RE-ENFORCEMENT FOR PLAIN HILL 414 CHAPTER XXXV. SURROUNDED AND TOTALLY DEFEATED 426 CHAPTER XXXVI. CAPTAIN VINEGOLD OF THE GUERILLAS 439 ILLUSTRATIONS. "BE YOU UNS SOLDIERS, MASS'R?" _Frontispiece._ ILLUSTRATED TITLE. PAGE "HELP! HELP! SHOUTED THE VICTIM" 18 "ONE OF THE TEXANS TUMBLED FROM HIS HORSE" 123 "SLING CARBINES! CHARGE THEM!" 207 "HALT WHERE YOU ARE, KIPPS!" 282 "WHAT ARE YOU UNS DOING HERE?" 317 "THE RUFFIAN SEEMED TO BE AS POWERLESS AS AN INFANT IN HIS GRASP" 383 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. Those familiar with the locality would have recognized it as the abode of one of those small farmers found all over the country, who were struggling to improve their worldly condition on a very insufficient capital. The house was hardly finished, and the want of skill was apparent in its erection from sill to ridgepole.