e; or it might have been intended to startle, and thus delay the
fugitive.

Somers had listened to that battle yell too many times to be moved by it,
especially when uttered by a single voice; and, with all the speed of
which his limbs were capable, he fled to the arms of his friends. Joe was
not content to give up the battle; and, dropping his rifle, he drew his
long knife, and gave chase. They made a long run of it; and it was only
ended when Tom heard the demand of his faithful sergeant--

"Who goes there?"

"Friend," gasped Somers, utterly exhausted by his exertions.

"Lieutenant Somers? God be praised!" replied Hapgood, instantly
recognizing his voice.

CHAPTER XVI

RETURN TO THE CAMP

The moment Somers was recognized, Hapgood and his party rushed forward,
rightly judging, from the rapidity of his motions, that he was pursued.
The sharp eye of the veteran sergeant was the first to perceive the
ferocious Mississippian, who, undaunted by the appearance of the Union
soldiers, continued the pursuit as long as there was even a gleam of hope
that he could overtake his intended victim. He was only a few paces
behind the lieutenant when the latter was discovered.

Hapgood raised his musket and fired, just as the implacable pursuer
abandoned the chase, and turned his steps back to the rebel line. He
staggered for a few paces more, and fell just as a dozen other muskets
were leveled at him. He appeared to have been hit in the leg; for he did
not fall flat upon the ground, as he would if he had been struck in a
vital part, but sank down to a sitting posture.

The Union men rushed up to him, and found that the supposition was
correct; the ball had passed through the fleshy part of his thigh,
disabling, but not dangerously wounding him. The ruffian--we do not call
him so because he was a rebel, but he was naturally and by education just
what the term indicates--was as savage and implacable as before.

"Better leave me where I am, Yanks," said he; "'case, if I get well, I
shall be the death of some of you. You kin shoot me through the head if
you like."

"Don't consarn yourself about us, reb," replied Hapgood. "We'll take good
care that you don't hurt yourself, or any one else, while you are in our
hands."

"Mebbe you will, Yanks; but, just as sure as you was born, I'll hev the
heart's blood of that younker as fotched Tom Myers down."

"Who's Tom Myers?" demanded the veteran.

"The man that you Yanks ki