Part 45 (2/2)

”I am bound for the other sh.o.r.e to pick up some information.”

”Who are you?”

”Have you ever heard of Captain Brentford, of General Bragg's staff?”

”You bet I have,” was the quick return. ”If it's you, Captain, it's all right, and I wish you luck,” and then the picket relapsed into silence.

He had once met Captain Brentford personally, and was greatly pleased to have the supposed spy take him into his confidence.

Much relieved, Major Lyon continued on his way, and in five minutes the Chickamauga had been crossed and he was on his way to find his command.

Were it not for going too far into his confidence, we could state that he felt like hugging both himself and Ceph over their combined escape.

CHAPTER x.x.xII

THE SECOND DAY AT CHICKAMAUGA

”Deck!”

”Artie!”

And the two brothers rushed into each other's arms, while Colonel Lyon stood by, his face full of joy over the return of his son. Artie had told the story of Deck's capture, and both he and the colonel had felt almost positive that they would not see the major again for a long while to come, and perhaps never again.

”Yes, I've had a very fortunate escape,” said Deck, as he shook his father's hand. ”I wouldn't be here at all were it not for Tom Derwiddie.”

”Tom Derwiddie?” queried Artie.

”Yes. Don't you remember him--the Confederate soldier I a.s.sisted at the burning cotton mill?”

”And you met him?” put in Colonel Lyon.

”I did. I was placed in his charge for a few minutes, and he very accommodatingly gave me his pistol, freed my hands, and let me knock him down,” continued the major, with a laugh, and then told his tale in detail.

”Well, you are more than lucky,” said Artie, when he had finished.

”Finding Ceph was worth a good deal, eh?”

”It was worth as much as escaping,” answered Deck, and he stroked the n.o.ble steed affectionately. ”I wish you could tell your story, too, old boy!” And Ceph gave him a poke with that nose of his. It seemed as if the steed did most of his talking with that nose.

Others had gathered around, Captain Life Knox, Sandy Lyon, and Uncle t.i.tus, and Deck's story had to be retold to them. In the meantime he was served with a hot supper, and later on, given the means to change his wet clothing for dry.

”You ought to have something to tell the general,” said t.i.tus Lyon to him. ”Of course you kept your eyes and ears open while you were over there.”

”No, Uncle t.i.tus, I didn't. I promised the fellow who a.s.sisted me to say nothing, and I intend to keep my promise. But I wish I could have collared that Captain Brentford, and brought him along.”

The Riverlawns were encamped at the foot of a hill not far from Crawfish Springs. It was a fine place for a camp, and many of the privates were already sleeping soundly. Soon Deck and his relatives and friends retired, only the pickets being kept awake. In spite of his adventures, the major slumbered soundly, and did not arise until the Sabbath dawn was well advanced.

It was felt by both sides that the morrow would tell the tale of defeat or victory, and all night long Generals Rosecrans and Bragg were busy arranging their plans. The former could get no reenforcements worth mentioning; but to the Army of Tennessee were now added reenforcements under General Longstreet, who arrived shortly before midnight, to a.s.sume personal charge of the corps temporarily commanded by Hood. A rough estimate of the troops on both sides at this time places the number of Unionists at fifty-five thousand, as against nearly seventy thousand Confederates. But what they lacked in numbers, the Army of the c.u.mberland made up in position, for they occupied higher ground than their opponents--something of great strategic importance, as we will soon see.

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