"Always a welcome sight, but more so now than usual," added the major, as he raised his field-glass and directed it to the flagstaff. "I see the tall form of Sergeant Knox at the halyards, and he has done this thing. I pray that it may be the herald of good news in regard to Dexter." "Do you suppose the flag means that he has found Deck, father?" asked Artie, as a flood of hope flashed through his mind. "It is impossible to tell what it means; but the sergeant seems to be climbing down the wall, and he will soon be here," replied the major. Artie started his horse, with the evident intention of going to the bridge; but the major called him back, and directed him to wait where he was till Knox joined them. "I may want you at any moment," said the father. "I have been using you and Dexter as my orderlies, and I appoint you to that position now." "Is there any news from up above, Major Lyon?" asked the wounded lieutenant, who had walked to the spot where the commander stopped his horse. "I heard a volley a little while ago; has there been another engagement?" "A very brief one," replied the major. "It was very soon decided, for Captain Dingfield retreated as soon as he had received our fire." "Captain Dingfield!" exclaimed the wounded lieutenant; "that is not at all like him." "It was the only thing he could do. He left eight of his men in the road, where they dropped from their horses; and of course he led away many others with bullets in their bodies. I should say that Captain Dingfield had been a very reckless commander, and I was almost sure I should find his body among the killed; but it was not there, and I suppose he is still carrying it with him." "We did not expect much of any difficulty in this expedition, and we were satisfied that we could ride over the Home Guards we heard had been sent here to protect the bridges," replied Lieutenant Makepeace rather languidly, for he had been severely wounded. "I have a squadron of United States cavalry under my command," said the major proudly. "So I discovered this forenoon; not that you had a squadron here, but that the troopers were regular cavalrymen; and I must say that no men ever fought better, for my command were beaten and driven off in less time than it takes to tell of it," added the prisoner with an attempt to smile. "But two full companies were sent over here, though I have not yet been able to find the other." "But the other company is here," said Major Lyon. "Where?" "There they are," answered the commander, pointing to the camp. "They are prisoners of war now." "That accounts for it." "That company were Home Guards in the first of it, but now they have become regular Confederate soldiers." "They have made a mess of this expedition." "I suppose you have a force over at the north end of the railroad bridge, lieutenant," said the major very quietly, and not expecting the prisoner would answer the question.