he knelt over the
prostrate body.

Life also came to the spot, and between them they raised the boyish
captain up. As they did this, he opened his eyes and gave a gasp.

"Water!" he murmured. "Water!"

Plenty of water was handy, and filling his canteen, Deck gave the
wounded one a drink and bathed his face, after which he started to bind
up the injured head with his handkerchief.

"It's no use, I'm going to die," gasped the Confederate, not able to
speak above a whisper. "Are you--you Southern men?"

"We belong to the Kentucky troops," answered Deck.

"Yes; but what side?"

"We are on the side of the Union."

At this the youthful captain gave a groan. "Then I--I can't expect
anything of you. Too bad! I wanted to send word to my sister--" A sudden
spasm of pain caused him to stop speaking.

"We are not enemies, Captain, saving on the battlefield," said Deck,
tenderly, for this case appealed strongly to his considerate heart. "You
can rest assured that I will do all that I can for you--within the lines
of my duty to the government."

"Will you? You--you look like an honest fellow--and you are young, like
me."

"The major is all right, Captain," broke in Life. "Trust him for
anything he promises."

"I come from Chattanooga, where I lived alone with my sister Rosebel.
She didn't want me to join the army, and we--we quarrelled--" The
captain gave something like a sob. "I joined the cavalry--ran away from
Rosebel--and we--we quarrelled so hard I got mad and took the money--hid
it away--down in the back cellar--in an iron pot--eight hundred dollars
in gold. If you will do a stranger and an enemy a kindness, go to
Rosebel,--or send word--ask her to forgive--ask her--tell her I am so
sorry--so sorry--" Again the captain broke off, and now his eyes closed.

"Let me give him a bit of liquor, Major," said Knox, and poured some
into his cup. The wounded youth took a swallow, and it gave him
temporary strength.

"Oh, Rosebel, if I could only see you again," he murmured. He looked at
Deck searchingly. "You will go to her--or send word?"

"I will."

"Don't forget to say how sorry I am--how ashamed I was when I got
away--not for fighting for my country--for the glorious stars and bars;
but because I--I treated her so. She was always so good, since mother
and father died."

"I will do all I can for you. But your name--I must have that," said
Deck. The captain had fallen back, and the eyes were becoming glassy.
"P