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 assisted 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?"