omething else about you which might prove of far more value
to me than money."

"And that is--" began Deck, hesitatingly.

"Information. Now do you understand?"

The cat was out of the bag, and the major drew a long breath. At the
same time a look of deep scorn came into his loyal eyes.

"So you wish me to buy my liberty through what information I may be able
to give you concerning the Union troops and their proposed movements?"
he said slowly.

"I did not put it that way."

"You suggested it, then."

"We will let it stand at that." Captain Brentford's face took on a sharp
look. "What do you say to it?"

"I say, Captain Brentford, that you are a scoundrel to suggest such a
thing to me."

"A scoundrel!"

"Yes, a scoundrel. Perhaps, were you placed as I am placed, you would
barter your very soul to gain your liberty; I am made of different
stuff--and I thank God for it!" answered Deck, with all the fervor of
his patriotic heart.

"Don't get on a high horse, Major, it will do you no good."

"I mean what I say, and I shall stick to it. Try your best, you'll get
no military information out of me."

"You forget that your very life is in my hands."

"I forget nothing," Deck replied, but a cold chill crept down his
backbone, as he looked into those black eyes, now blazing like those of
a snake. "I do not doubt but that you would kill me, as you killed that
officer at General Rosecrans' headquarters, if you saw fit to do so."

"I would kill you if I thought it in the line of my duty. I was sent
forth by General Bragg to obtain certain information, and to obtain it
at any cost. I propose to obey orders. As a major in the Union cavalry
you must know certain things, and you have got to tell me--or take the
consequences. We will finish this business before we stir another step,"
answered Captain Brentford, and again took up his pistol, which he had
allowed to drop into his lap.

For the instant Deck knew not how to reply. A nameless dread took
possession of him, as he realized how helpless he was, unarmed, and with
his hands tied behind him. He looked up the road, and just then the
sounds of rapid hoof-strokes reached his ears.

CHAPTER XXX

A FRIEND IN NEED

Captain Brentford had tried to bribe Major Deck Lyon into telling all he
knew concerning the Union army's proposed movements, and had failed. He
now proposed to wring the information out of the major at the point of
the pistol.

It was an ala