e side of the road, and no one seemed to
be in charge of the team. But the sergeant halted his party at this
point; and, leaving the prisoners in charge of his men, he went to the
wagon.

"Major Pierson," said he; but no answer came to his question, and he
repeated it with no better success.

Then he mounted the seat in front of the wagon, and looked over into the
body of it. Then he reached over; and a moment later the form of a man
was seen to rise from a quantity of hay which filled the body.

"Is that you, Spottswood?" demanded the rising form.

"Yes, sir, I am here; and I have two prisoners. One of them is your
brother, and I don't know who the other is," replied the sergeant.

"Are you sure that one of them is my brother?" asked the major.

"I am as sure as I can be, for I heard the other fellow call him Percy
two or three times before I stepped in front of them."

"Don't you know who the other one is?"

"I haven't the least idea. I arrested him as you told me, but I did not
question him."

The major ordered him to put his prisoners into the wagon.

CHAPTER XVII

MAJOR PIERSON IS PUZZLED

Two of the soldiers were placed at the rear of the wagon, one took his
place on the hay with Percy, while the major and the sergeant seated
themselves on the cushion in front. Spottswood took the reins; and the
officer told him to drive on, without saying a word to the prisoners.

It was quite dark; and Christy had not the least idea where he was, or
where he was going. He could see that Major Pierson had sent this party
to arrest his brother, as Percy seemed to fear that he would do, and
had remained and slept away the time in the wagon himself. He had been
introduced to the major, and had been treated with "distinguished
consideration" by him. In view of the possible relations between him and
Florry, he did not feel much concerned about his own safety, though he
was sorry to have his father and sister worry over his absence.

"Then, it seems you have been in the army, after all," said he to his
fellow-prisoner, after they had gone some distance.

"I never belonged to the army," he replied decidedly.

"Did you put your name down?"

"Yes, I did; but I supposed I was to be a captain, or something of that
sort. When I found I must go as a common soldier, mixed up with all
sorts of people, I couldn't stand it. I applied for my discharge; but
they would not give it to me, and I went home without it."

"T