“What shall we do to defeat them?”

“Keep cool, for one thing,” answered the major.  “But tell me all the particulars.”

Frank then recounted every thing that had transpired.  When he had finished, the major carelessly remarked: 

“The rascals played their parts pretty well; in fact, very well, indeed.  Now, the first thing to be done is to go back to the camp and secure those two fellows.  We’ll determine upon our plans afterward.”

They accordingly slowly returned to the cabin, and found their men engaged, one in sharpening his Bowie-knife, and the other cleaning his rifle.  The major walked straight up to one of them, and, seizing his musket, wrested it from him.  The other, comprehending the state of affairs in an instant, exclaimed “Betrayed!” and turned to run, when Frank grappled with him and threw him to the ground.

“What ish the matter here, any way?” exclaimed the captain, who was taken so completely by surprise that he stood riveted to the spot.

“Lend a hand here,” answered Frank, struggling desperately with his man, “and ask your questions afterward.”

The captain at once sprang to Frank’s assistance; in a moment, the rebel was disarmed, and his hands bound behind his back.  The major, in the mean time, having succeeded in securing his man, gave a hasty explanation of the matter, and ended by saying: 

“There is but one way for us to do, and that is to leave this place at once.  Tie those two rebels to some of these trees, and then we’ll be off.”

As soon as this was accomplished, and the major had satisfied himself that there was not the least chance for their escape, he said: 

“Now, we shall leave you here.  Your friends will probably be along at midnight and liberate you.”

The rebels made no reply, and the fugitives, after collecting their weapons, again set out, taking the lieutenant with them.  The major ordered George to lead them by the most direct route to Red River.  This was a desperate measure, but their case was also desperate.  The country on all sides of them had been alarmed, and, if Red River was closely guarded, the Washita was equally dangerous.

So anxious were they to put as long a distance as possible between them and the scene of their late narrow escape, that they traveled until the next morning—­stopping only to eat sparingly of some provisions which one of the soldiers had secured before leaving the island—­and then camped in the swamp, and slept soundly.

CHAPTER XIX.

Conclusion.

The next evening, as soon as it was dark, they again started out.  For three days they held their course straight through the woods, and, finally, releasing their prisoner, they bent their steps toward Red River, where, after many delays, they succeeded in securing a canoe.

They traveled entirely by night, and, in a short time reached Alexandria, where they landed just above the village, and went ashore to reconnoiter.  To their disappointment they found that the place was filled with soldiers, and that a pontoon-bridge had been thrown across the river, and was guarded at both ends.