Rosebel said she wanted no pay. "You were a
friend to my brother," were her words; "that is sufficient."

For two days the colonel had lain unconscious, and Surgeon Farnwright
and the doctor called into consultation with him had given Deck but
small hope. "Poor Artie's case was bad enough, Major," said the surgeon.
"Your father--" and he finished with a shake of his head.

"The trouble is," said the doctor, later on, "the colonel is suffering
for some medicine we cannot obtain in Chattanooga. We have a good
general supply here, but there are certain things which I know would do
your father a great deal of good. And they would do your brother good,
too."

The announcement that certain drugs which were so sorely needed were not
procurable in Chattanooga made Major Lyon feel very bad. He got the
doctor to write down a list of the missing articles for him, and started
out on a personal hunt, visiting every druggist he could find, and
offering large sums of money, even for small quantities.

"Can't be had," said one druggist. "You will have to wait until this
siege comes to an end and we get in some new supplies."

"I can't wait. My father and my cousin may die in the meantime,"
answered Deck, and continued his search on foot. For several days he had
not ridden Ceph, deeming the poor beast too weak from lack of food to
bear such a burden.

General Rosecrans had been considering the advisability of making a
determined effort against the enemy, but in the midst of this he was
relieved of his command. The Army of the Cumberland was placed in a new
military division, to be known as that of the Mississippi, under General
Grant, and General Thomas was ordered to fill General Rosecrans's place.
General Grant at once ordered Thomas to "hold Chattanooga at any cost,"
and added that he would come on as soon as possible and see what could
be done.

General Grant, the leader of all leaders, the man of iron will, arrived
on October 23. The plans made by Rosecrans and slightly changed by
Thomas were approved, and movements were made to put them into immediate
execution.

In the meantime, General Sherman had been engaged in opening up the
Memphis and Charleston railroad eastward, hoping by this means to effect
a communication with Chattanooga through Huntsville. But Grant had
ordered him to cross the Tennessee at Eastport, and this was done, and
Sherman then united with the right wing of what was now Thomas's
command. Hooker had