ineer, on surveying Deck. "Them is
splenderiferous clothes you have got, Major."

"It is a very good suit, that's a fact, Sergeant."

"Don't call me sergeant, Major. I'm plain Tom Lum, from Dog-face
Mountain, down in Alabama. Them stripes was left behind by a man as
ain't got no further use fer clothin'. But you're a real major, I take
it."

"Let us change the subject, Tom Lum. What do you propose to do with me?"

"Take you back to headquarters, I reckon. You're a spy."

"If I am a spy then all of the others in this vicinity are spies. But,
Tom Lum, if you want to take my advice, you'll let me go, and save your
own bacon," went on Deck, earnestly. The mountaineer tossed his shaggy
head and combed his flowing beard with his crooked fingers. "Got a new
wrinkle to work off on me, have ye? Wall, it won't work. We-uns know a
thing or two. March!"

"Where to?"

"Back to--"

Bang!

The gunshot rang out before plain Tom Lum from Dog-face Mountain had
time to finish his sentence. With a groan the mountaineer threw up his
arms, staggered several steps, and pitched headlong into a hollow.

"Quick, Deck, or you'll never get away!" It was a cry from Life Knox,
who had come up beside the willow on the other side of the stream and
fired the shot, as Deck and the Confederate appeared through a small
opening. "Never mind your shooting irons!"

The shot amazed the major, coming so unexpectedly. But he was quick to
realize that a chance to escape had come and equally prompt to make the
best of it. Like a flash he turned, picked up his pistols, and ran for
the stream.

"This way, Deck!" continued Life. "The jig is up! The enemy are coming
up behind us!"

"Behind us?" repeated the major, in amazement. "What do you mean?"

"There has been a fight back of this woods, and several regiments of
infantry are retreating in this direction. If we are not sharp, we'll
catch it on both sides!"

Before Deck had a chance to digest this information, he caught it from
the rear. Another sharpshooter had espied him in the act of leaping
across the stream. As Deck went with a splash into the water, the fellow
fired, and the major felt a stinging sensation in the left arm, just
below the shoulder, where the ball had grazed him.

"Heavens I don't say you are struck, Deck," ejaculated Life, seeing him
stagger. "Take that for it!" he added, and fired at the Confederate who
had delivered the shot. Whether he hit his man or not he could not te