enough to arrange any plan for escaping, now the chance to
get away was presented. Up to the time Tom Derwiddie had spoken to him
so confidentially he had not dreamed that he had a friend so close at
hand and one who was willing to do so much for him. Saving the
Confederate's life at the burning cotton mill had been a generous action
that was bearing splendid fruit, of which the major was destined to reap
the full benefit.

Deck had no idea where the road he was taking led to, but he imagined
that it would take him into the forest some distance beyond, and the
shelter of this heavy growth of timber would be far more acceptable than
would be a pursuit in the open.

Fortunately, the three horses were used to travelling together, so there
was no hitch here, and the speed made by all three was very good. When
the corn-crib was passed, Deck found himself passing through a stubble
field, but this was less than two hundred yards in length.

But, short as was the distance, it was not yet fully covered, when
Messinger appeared at the doorway of the farmhouse and gave the alarm.
He could not see Derwiddie lying on the ground, but he could see Deck,
and without pausing to think twice, he raised his pistol and fired
several shots in rapid succession.

Had the distance been less, or had Deck been standing still, he might
have been seriously wounded, for the second shot glanced along his thigh
and struck the horse he was riding in the fore-quarter. The horse
staggered and fell, and it was only by a quick leap that the young Union
officer saved himself from being trampled under the beast's hoofs.

Alarmed by the injury to their mate, the remaining horses gave a snort
and a bound and started to run. Deck tried to hold them, but was taken
off his feet. Rather than be dragged along the ground, he released the
reins, and like a flash the two animals left him to his fate.

All this had taken less time than it takes to relate it. Seeing the
effect of his shot, Messinger yelled to Chador, and both ran forth from
the house on a dead run, straight for where Deck lay.

As the major sprang up, bruised and covered with dust, he realized that
a crisis was at hand and that he must do something or stand the chance
of recapture. Luckily he had retained hold of the pistol Derwiddie had
given him, and raising this he fired on Messinger, who was several yards
in advance of his companion.

As we know, Deck had practised a good deal with a pistol