d the creek must be located.

Presently a gleam of light reached his view, coming from a small hollow.
He crept forward noiselessly until he reached a fringe of bushes
bounding the hollow. From this point he beheld half a dozen Confederate
soldiers sitting around a small camp-fire, broiling a chicken spitted on
a bayonet. They were a merry crowd, and cracked many a joke in a low
tone as they waited for the dainty morsel to become done.

Deck did not view this scene long. Instead, he made a detour and
continued on his way until he came to a small brook. Here he stopped for
a much-needed drink. The brook was almost stationary, but a chip thrown
into the water showed him in which way it was flowing, and, taking it
for granted that the watercourse emptied itself into the Chickamauga, he
decided to follow its fairly straight direction.

He was proceeding along with increased confidence, when suddenly a negro
voice sounded upon his ear, coming from a road which crossed the brook.
A colored man was coming along, bringing with him half a dozen cavalry
horses that needed watering. The fellow seemed free from care and sang
"Dixie" with rare musical ability.

Not having time to cross the road before the colored man arrived, the
major drew back, thinking to make another detour, behind or in front of
man and animals. He wished very much that he had one of the horses, but
to gain one by force, he felt might lead to discovery and capture.

The horses were very thirsty, and crowded for the brook in a bunch.
There were several black chargers, one of white, and one of gray. As
they came closer Deck could not help but notice that they were all in
first-class condition, quite in contrast to many Confederate mounts he
had seen.

"Ceph! By all that's wonderful!"

The words burst from the major's lips ere he had time to realize the
injudiciousness of his remarks. He had caught sight of his own precious
animal, Ceph, who had been stolen from him while he was up in a tree at
the battle between the rocky defile and the swamp in Alabama. For the
moment he could scarcely credit his eyesight.

But if he wanted extra proof that it was really Ceph he was gazing upon,
the noble steed furnished it himself. At the sound of Deck's voice he
pricked up his ears and raised his head. Then he left the bunch of
horses and rushed straight for the young major and rubbed his soft nose
affectionately upon Deck's neck.

"Good, faithful old Ceph!" Deck cou