d hardly drawn to a close when Colonel Lyon's orderly dashed
up, to learn from Deck how things were going.

"They have surrendered," answered the major. "Their loss is very heavy
and ours is likewise considerable--due entirely to their pig-headed
leader, who kept on fighting when he should have saved his men and
surrendered," he added, with perhaps more bitterness than was necessary.
He was thinking of poor Artie.

"We have taken about half of the men in the swamp, and the battle is
over there, also," said the orderly. "The remaining troops escaped into
the timber, and Captain Knox's company has gone after them."

"Tell Colonel Lyon that Captain Artie Lyon is either dead or badly
wounded," said Deck, and rode off, to learn the truth concerning his
cousin and foster-brother's condition.

CHAPTER XXXIV

MAJOR LYON MAKES A DISCOVERY AND DELIVERS A MESSAGE

Deck found Artie lying in a sheltered spot, on a hastily constructed
couch of pine boughs. Over the wounded young man stood Surgeon
Farnwright, binding up a ghastly wound in the shoulder.

"What do you think of this, Surgeon?" asked the major, anxiously.

"Your brother is in a bad way, Major," was the grave response. "The
bullet has shattered the shoulder blade and gone into the back."

"What are his chances of recovery, in your opinion?"

"Not the best, to be candid. They would be better if he could be removed
immediately to some house where he would not be disturbed. In such cases
as these, sudden jarrings are ofttimes fatal."

"I will see what can be done for him," went on Deck. "In the meantime,
do your best for him."

"I always do my best in all our cases, Major," returned the surgeon, and
turned away to aid some others who were wounded.

In a few minutes Colonel Lyon rode up and was taken to Artie's side. The
poor fellow was now conscious, and on seeing them he tried to smile, but
the attempt was a sickly one.

"Don't talk, Artie," said the colonel, as he saw the young captain make
the attempt. "We will do what we can for you, and your recovery depends
upon your keeping quiet."

"If you will relieve me from duty, I will try to find some house to
which Artie can be taken," put in Deck. "I am afraid the field hospital
is too far off."

"The trouble is, if we take him to a private place he will have no
doctor's care," answered Colonel Lyon. "Surgeon Farnwright must remain
with the others that are wounded."

At this announcement Deck's hope