A little later, a mounted Confederate officer rode to this end of the line. He looked over the Southern company first, and asked to what regiment it belonged. Deck could not hear the reply in full, but only that it was a Tennessee regiment. Then he rode a little farther, and seemed to be somewhat astonished when he saw a force wearing the blue. "What is that force in the corner, Captain?" he asked of the officer to whom he had spoken before, while he continued to observe the body in blue. "It is a Yankee platoon of fifty men that we captured a mile or more from the breastwork," replied the Confederate captain; and it could be seen that his men smiled when he gave this reply. "To what regiment do these troopers belong?" "I don't know certainly, but I reckon it was a Kentucky regiment." "How happened you to capture half a company, and not the whole of it?" "Well, you see, Major, the Kentucky regiment had better horses than our Tennessee regiment, and they worried us a heap. We were retreating, for we had been flanked by a force four times as big as ours, and this regiment pursued us. Our regiment turned on them, and whipped them soundly. My company was fighting this platoon, and we surrounded them, and made them prisoners." "Was that Kentucky regiment of cavalry full?" asked the major, with a frown on his brow. "It was, Major, for I counted the ten companies," returned the captain without wincing. "This platoon fought like wildcats; but my men stood up to the work like heroes, as they are; and when we had surrounded them, they could not help themselves, and we drove them before us to the camp." "I have no doubt that you will be promoted to the rank of brigadier-general for your meritorious service; but my information differs somewhat from yours, for I have learned that the only Kentucky cavalry on the field was four companies of the First, four others being on detached duty on the Millersville Road." "But you see, Major, my informant may have given me incorrect reports," stammered the captain. "Who was your informant, Captain? You counted the companies of the Kentucky regiment yourself." "I may have been"-- "Probably you have been; but you have said enough. I have heard from your company before to-day," added the major, as he rode over to Lieutenant Lyon. "Did you surrender to Captain Staggers yonder?" "I did not!" replied Deck with abundant emphasis. "Did you hear what passed between him and me?" "Every word of it." "Was anything the captain said true?" "Not a word of it! And you will excuse me, Major, but I intend to cut my way out of this camp!" shouted the lieutenant, loud enough to be heard by all his troopers, and they straightened themselves up for the work. "Platoon--charge!" At full gallop the force started for the entrance, now not obstructed. CHAPTER XXII A LIEUTENANT AMONG THE "MISSING"