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 alarming situation, and Deck was more than glad to hear the hoof-strokes of horses approaching. He felt the horsemen must be Confederate cavalrymen, but just now anybody was to be preferred to nobody, to step between himself and the cold-blooded spy. "Get up and pass behind yonder bushes!" ordered Captain Brentford, hastily, for he, too, had heard the sounds on the road. Deck arose, but did it very slowly. A long look up the narrow highway brought to view eight cavalrymen, riding at top speed toward them. "Did you hear what I said? Get behind yonder bushes!" cried the spy, impatiently. "I heard what you said," answered Deck, and all the while he was doing a tremendous deal of thinking.