Abe Bolton stepped forward impulsively to shoot the Rebel, missed his footing, and slid down the hill, landing in the road with such force as to jar into unintelligibility a bitter imprecation he had constructed for the emergency.

He struck in front of the Sergeant, who instantly fired at Aunt Debby's mare, sending a bullet through the faithful animal, which sank to her knees, and threw her rider to the ground.

Without waiting to rise, and he was not certain that he could, Abe fired his musket, but missed both man and horse.

He scrambled to his feet, and ran furiously at the Rebel with raised gun.

The Sergeant fired wildly at him, when Bolton struck the animal a violent blow across the head.