ravely since joining the
Riverlawns gave himself up for lost. Even to Deck it looked as if Sandy
was about to join his brother Orly as another victim of the grim Civil
War.

But the pistol snapped without going off, the weapon being an old one
and out of repair. "Hang the luck!" muttered the Confederate, and
readjusted the trigger.

But Deck was too quick for him, and as the major's weapon rang out, the
Confederate's arm dropped to his side and the pistol fell to the ground.
The major fired again, striking the second sergeant in the shoulder, and
a moment later both surrendered and were made prisoners.

"It was a good turn, Deck!" murmured Sandy Lyon, and he tried to rise.
But the pain in his wounded leg was too great, and he fainted. Calling
two privates, Deck had him carried to the rear, and he was, later on,
removed to the hospital at Crawfish Springs.

As expected, the Confederate regiment had, with the exception of two
companies, been driven down to the swampy ground, and here they tried to
take a stand. Their colonel had been wounded, one major was dead, and
the several companies were hopelessly mixed up. The two missing
companies had taken to the highway, thinking the others would follow.

"I think we have the fellows where we want them," said Colonel Lyon,
riding up to his son. "Dexter, don't you think you can follow those who
took to the road?"

"Certainly, I can," was the prompt reply from Deck, although he could
not help but wonder how bad that wound in the rib was. "How many
companies got away?"

"Not more than two. You might take three companies with you."

"All right, Colonel," replied Deck, and started to find the companies in
question.

Captain Abbey was busy down at the very edge of the swamp, but the
second, third, and fourth companies were somewhat in the rear,--for the
fierce hand-to-hand fighting had caused the battalion formations to
disappear, although the companies were still in uneven lines. In a few
words Deck explained to Captains Blenks and Richland, and his brother,
what was expected of them, and the three companies swung around and made
through the timber for the highway.

The Confederates had gone up the road a little beyond the rise. Here
their leader had halted them, and sent back several messengers to tell
of what he had done. The messengers were midway between the retreating
troops and the scene of the conflict when Deck's command came upon them.
There were three Confedera