soldiers or cavalry he might run across in the neighborhood.

As soon as Messinger and Chador fell in the stubble field, Major Lyon
turned and continued on his way to the forest. The timber was soon
reached, and, without loss of time, he made his way among the trees for
a distance of several hundred feet. Deeming himself now safe for the
time being, he sat down on a fallen log to catch his breath and consider
what would be the next best move to make.

The darkness of night was beginning to fall over the vast battlefield;
and under the trees with their dense foliage, but little could be seen.
Deck listened attentively, but the only sounds which reached his ears
were the shrill cries of the birds, who were terrorized by the
long-continued booming of cannons and sharp cracking of musketry.
Occasionally the roar of a battery could be heard, or a shot from the
creek; but these were gradually dying away altogether, for both armies
were worn out through fighting and because of forced marches over the
uneven ground, and they were willing to leave the remainder of the
contest for another day.

Deck felt that his position was very trying, for more reasons than one
would readily imagine. In the first place, the wood was large and
dense, and wild animals were still to be hunted there,--and they
occasionally did a little hunting on their own account. To meet a
wildcat or a bear, or even a rattlesnake, would prove far from an
agreeable experience.

The wood was large, but it was entirely surrounded by open fields, and
the major had every reason to believe that some Confederate troops lay
back of them. As a matter of fact, nearly the whole of Breckinridge's
command were encamped less than half a mile away.

The distance to Chickamauga Creek was between a quarter and a half of a
mile, and how much of shelter lay in that direction was a problem still
to be solved. One thing was certain; if he wished to get over the creek
and into the Union lines again, the attempt must be made that night, and
he must trust to luck to find his way, although, to be sure, the night
was fair, and Deck had some knowledge of the stars and how to read the
heavens.

Ten minutes passed in which time Deck made not the slightest sound. No
one had come after him, and he rightfully guessed that he was safe for
the time being. He waited a little longer and then placing the pistol
in his belt, advanced cautiously through the forest in the direction he
calculate