of the horsemen, should overpower them?  Frank had often read of the ferocity of these blood-hounds, and the thought of being pulled down and torn to pieces by them in those dark woods, and the knowledge that his mother and sister would forever remain ignorant of his fate, was terrible.  Suddenly, an abrupt bend in the path brought them to the banks of another of those narrow streams with which the country was intersected like a net-work.  What a cheering sight it was to Frank’s eyes!  He now saw some chance for escape; and, without hesitating a moment, he plunged into the water.  The others were close at his heels, and a few bold strokes brought them to the opposite shore.

“Here we are,” said the major.  “Our chance for escape is rather slim, but we will make a stand here.”

They had scarcely concealed themselves in the bushes, when one of the hounds appeared on the bank.  He was followed by another, and still another, until eight of the terrible animals were in sight.  They followed the trail of the fugitives down to the edge of the water, where, finding themselves at fault, they separated, and commenced beating up and down the bank, now and then looking toward the opposite shore, and uttering their bays, which sounded in Frank’s ears like the knell of death.

“I pelieve I shoots one of them dorgs, ain’t it?” said the captain; and he thrust his rifle cautiously through the bushes.

“No, no,” commanded the major, “save your ammunition.  The men will be here in a minute.  Here they come now.”  And, as he spoke, there was a loud crashing in the bushes, and four horsemen came in sight.

“Thunder!” exclaimed one of them, who wore the uniform of a colonel, “I was in hopes we should catch the rascal before he reached this place.  Here, Tige,” he continued, addressing a powerful white hound, “hunt ’em up, hunt ’em up!”

The hound ran down to the edge of the stream, and barked and whined furiously, but still hesitated to enter; for hounds are always averse to going into water.

“Hunt ’em up, sir!” shouted the colonel, angrily.

The dog, evidently, feared his master more than the water, for he plunged in, and commenced swimming toward the place where Frank and his companions were concealed; and the others, after a little hesitation, followed him.

“Ready, now, boys,” whispered the major.  “Captain, you shoot that white hound.  Frank, you take the colonel, and I’ll attend to the man just behind him.  Don’t waste your lead now.”

The three rifles cracked in rapid succession, and the colonel and one of his men fell heavily from their saddles.  The white hound gave one short howl of pain, and sank out of sight.  Every shot had reached its mark.

The remaining rebels stood aghast at this sudden repulse; and the smoke of the rifles had scarcely cleared away, when they wheeled their horses, and disappeared in the woods.

The death of the white hound produced no less consternation among his canine assistants, for they each gave a short yelp, and turned and made for the shore.