The Young Sharpshooter at Antietam
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Title: The Young Sharpshooter at Antietam
Author: Everett T. Tomlinson
Release date: April 18, 2012 [eBook #39473]
Language: English
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THE YOUNG SHARPSHOOTER AT ANTIETAM
by
EVERETT T. TOMLINSON
Boston and New York
Houghton Mifflin Company
The Riverside Press Cambridge
1914
Copyright, 1914, by Everett T. Tomlinson
All Rights Reserved
Published September 1914
[Illustration: THEY WERE FALLING BY SCORES]
PREFACE
This story has been written with no desire to revive or even to keep
alive the spirit of the struggle between the States.
Nevertheless the facts which have made our history and the forces which
have entered into the making of the life of our country ought not to be
ignored or forgotten. The effect of the conflict was too great for that.
The Civil War is now far enough away to enable us to see the heroic,
dramatic, and even romantic elements that composed it; and all these,
too, free from the bitterness which naturally was characteristic of the
times.
To-day each side understands the other better, and with a more complete
knowledge is able to see more clearly the sterling qualities of both
contestants.
The appreciation of the importance of Lee's first attempt to invade the
North is necessary if one is to understand the struggle which followed.
The dash, spirit, and skill of the great Southern leader, as well as the
energy and the daring of his lieutenants, are seen to-day more clearly
than in the times when his effort was made. What the consequence would
have been if General Lee had succeeded, all can appreciate. The battle
of Antietam was almost a pivot of the great Civil War.
That my young readers may gain a more complete knowledge of the daring
advance of the great Southern general and the result which followed when
his army was turned back into Virginia, I have written this story. My
hope is that it will lead to a careful study of the conflict, and that
boys, North and South alike, may be led into an increased knowledge of
and interest in our common country.
EVERETT T. TOMLINSON.
ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.
CONTENTS
I. THE IRISHMAN AND HIS PIG 1
II. THE SUTLER'S GOODS 13
III. INTERCEPTED 27
IV. THE V IN THE FENCE 38
V. THE PLAN OF GENERAL LEE 47
VI. LONG JOHN 54
VII. CAUGHT 63
VIII. UNDER GUARD 72
IX. THE PLOT 83
X. INTO THE STORM 93
XI. NICK 102
XII. THE GIANT 113
XIII. FRIENDS OF THE UNION 124
XIV. THE SUTLER AS A GUIDE 135
XV. WARLIKE BEES 146
XVI. A HELPER 154
XVII. THE GUEST ROOM 166
XVIII. THE FIRE 177
XIX. AT THE FORK 188
XX. THE STACK OF STRAW 198
XXI. THE CARPET-BAG 207
XXII. A MYSTERY 217
XXIII. THE GUARD-HOUSE 227
XXIV. A FRUITLESS INTERVIEW 236
XXV. THE EXECUTION 248
XXVI. THE TEST 260
XXVII. THE SHARPSHOOTERS 270
XXVIII. THE PRESIDENT'S ACTION 280
XXIX. THE BATTLE 290
XXX. THE FOLLOWING DAY 302
XXXI. ANTIETAM 311
XXXII. CONCLUSION 323
ILLUSTRATIONS
THEY WERE FALLING BY SCORES (PAGE 303) _Frontispiece_
"DEY SAY YO' HAB HAWNS" 58
NOEL HEARD THE BULLET AS IT WHISTLED PAST 152
"WHO'S IN THERE?" 200
_From drawings by George Avison_
THE YOUNG SHARPSHOOTER AT ANTIETAM
CHAPTER I
THE IRISHMAN AND HIS PIG
"You're too noisy, Dennis."
"What's the harm?" replied Dennis O'Hara as he stopped a moment and
looked all about him. "There are no Johnnies around here."
"You don't know whether there are or not," retorted Noel Curtis sharply,
as he too glanced in either direction along the dusty road over which
the two young soldiers were tramping that September day in 1862. Both
were clad in the uniform of the Union army, and the manner in which they
carried their rifles gave evidence of the fact that both young soldiers
were well known in the army of General McClellan for their skill as
sharpshooters.
"'Tis nothing I'm afraid of now," said Dennis gleefully, as he shifted
from one shoulder to the other the body of a small pig which he had
secured in his foraging expedition with his companions.
The day was one to stir the souls of both young men, who were thoroughly
wearied by the routine of the camp life at Harper's Ferry, where they
had been stationed with about eight thousand other Union soldiers. There
was a haze in the distance that covered the summits of the hills and
even the waters of the near-by stream seemed to be subdued as they
rushed on their way to join the Potomac.
"'Tis a fine day," exclaimed Dennis; and at once he began to sing,--
"My rations are S.B.,
Taken from porkers three
Thousand years old;
And hard-tack cut and dried
Long before Noah died,--
From what wars left aside
Ne'er can be told."
"What do you mean by 'S.B.'?" laughed Noel.
"Sometimes 'tis said to mean 'salt bacon,' and then again maybe 'tis
'salt beef,' and sometimes we call it 'soaked beans.' Whatever it is I
have had my fill of it. Shure, Noel, me boy, it's you and I that will be
feasting ourselves on some roast pork before to-morrow mornin'."
"Look at those pickaninnies!" exclaimed Noel, as he pointed to a little
hut from which a stream of black-faced urchins appeared, who were
rushing to join their companions in the road and watch the two
approaching Union soldiers.
"Wait 'til I sing them a song, too," exclaimed Dennis; and once more he
began to sing,--
"Ole massa run, ha! ha!
De darkies stay, ho! ho!
It must be now dat de kingdom's comin'
And de year of Jubilo."
In addition to the crowd of dusky-faced children several older negroes
now joined the group to watch the passing Union soldiers. The boys in
blue were still such a novelty to many of the slaves that their
appearance usually served to summon speedily a band of the admiring
dusky spectators.
Dennis, unfamiliar with the colored people and their ways, had never
ceased to express his dislike of them. Many a time in the camp when the
soldier boys had wanted to have a little sport they would call upon
Dennis to "cuss the niggers," by which term they described Dennis's
oratorical efforts. Standing upon the head of a barrel, or mounting some
box near the quarters of the sutler, with his ready tongue Dennis
promptly poured forth a steady stream of almost meaningless words that
were supposed to be descriptive of his feeling of antipathy toward the
people for whose liberty he was fighting.
In the company of negroes at this time assembled to watch the passing of
the two young soldiers there was one woman, manifestly an old
field-hand, whose size was so immense as to be impressive. The
admiration with which the woman gazed upon Dennis was returned in the
expression of astonishment with which the young Irish soldier stared at
this huge negress.
"Shure, Noel," he exclaimed to his friend in a loud whisper, "'tis not
an ounce liss than four hundred pounds she weighs."
Noel laughed and did not reply as he looked again at the strange woman.
Her cheeks hung down almost to her shoulders, and her immense lower lip,
which appeared to be nearly an inch in thickness, and her hair, which in
appearance was not unlike the tail of a horse after the animal has been
feeding in some field where cockles abound, increased the weird
expression with which she beamed upon the approaching boys.
All of the negroes by this time were becoming more and more excited.
Their eyes seemed almost to protrude from their faces. They soon began
to sing and dance, and mingled with the strange noises were the wild and
weird shouts they occasionally uttered. The huge negress was the wildest
of all.
Neither of the approaching soldiers looked at the spectacle with any
other thought than that of curiosity. To both of them up to the time of
their enlistment a negro had been a rare sight. Since they had entered
the army, of course they naturally had come frequently in contact with
the dusky slaves. And the contrabands also on many occasions had flocked
into the camps, confidently expecting to be sent North by their soldier
friends.
Suddenly the huge negress abruptly started toward the young soldiers.
Swinging her arms as she ran, she swiftly approached the boys, who had
stopped abruptly when they first discovered her action.
"Bress de Lor'! Bress de Lor'! Yo's de ones we's been prayin' fo' dese
fo' yeahs! Lor' bress ye, honey! I lub ye! I lub ye!" she added in her
excitement, as she lunged toward Dennis, who was the particular object
of her attack.
For a moment the startled young Irishman gazed in mingled disgust and
fear at the huge negress, who was rapidly approaching. Then without a
word of explanation Dennis O'Hara, who on the battle-field had been
brave almost beyond the power of description, abruptly turned and fled
from the excited negress. A wild shout from the assemblage followed his
unexpected departure, and even Noel was compelled to laugh when he saw
the huge woman start in swift and awkward pursuit of the fleeing
soldier.
Unwilling to let go his hold upon the pig, which he had secured in his
foraging, Dennis was greatly hampered in his flight. With long strides
the black woman gained rapidly upon him. Once Dennis emitted a loud
whoop of terror or warning, Noel was unable to decide which.
The excitement of the negroes became more marked as it was seen that the
efforts of Dennis to escape were unavailing. Nearer and nearer came the
excited black woman, and in a brief time she flung her great arms about
Dennis, who was helpless to protect himself, as he still was unwilling
to let go his hold upon his prize.
"Lor' bress ye, honey!" shouted the woman as she clasped the unwilling
soldier in her arm. "Bress de Lor'! Bress de Lor'! We hab bin prayin'
fo' yo' dese fo' yeahs! M--m--m--"
Her grasp evidently became more vigorous and her enthusiasm more marked
as the plight of the helpless soldier became more manifest. The watching
negroes, almost hilarious by this time, started toward the place where
the exciting scene was being enacted.
What the outcome might be now began to trouble even Noel, who rapidly
advanced to the side of his friend, and shouted to the approaching
blacks, "Keep back! Keep back!"
The negroes, however, either were too excited or were unwilling at first
to heed the request, and in a screaming, laughing, shouting mob they
still pressed forward.
The negress, as has been said, apparently a field-hand, was possessed of
great physical strength, and it was plain that Dennis was unable to
protect or even release himself as long as he held to the body of the
pig.
As Noel approached, Dennis shouted excitedly to him, "Take the porker,
Noel, me boy! Take me gun, too! Help me out o' this!"
"Bress ye, honey! We hab bin waitin' fo' yeahs fo' yo' to come! We's
been prayin' all de time and when I hear yo' singin' about 'Ole massa
run, ha! ha!' and 'De darkies stay, ho! ho!' den I des know de kingdom
was come shore 'nuff and de yeah of Jubilo was right yere!"
Too angry to respond, Dennis waited until Noel had relieved him of his
gun and the pig, and then with one violent effort freed himself from the
grasp of the excited black woman.
When she made as if she was about to approach him once more and renew
her expression of delight over the coming of the boys in blue, Dennis
suddenly seized the little pig that Noel was holding and swinging it
with all his strength struck the woman with it upon the side of her
face.
The effect of his effort, however, was plainly not more than to cause
the huge mass of flesh to stop a moment, but not to abandon the efforts
in which the negress was engaged. Again Dennis drew back the little pig
and again struck at his tormentor. His second effort, however, like his
first, was unable to check the fervor of the powerful woman. The
remaining negroes now were almost upon the struggling pair. The fear in
Noel's heart that some harm might come to Dennis or to himself became
real.
"Stand back there!" he shouted. "Don't come any nearer!"
At his word the crowd halted and, quickly taking advantage of the
interval, Noel said, "This woman says you have been praying for four
years for us to come."
"Yas, suh! Yas, suh! We shore has! Dis yere is de Jubilo, shore 'nuff!
Shore 'nuff! Ole massa goin' to run, and de darkies goin' to stay!"
"Do you know that song?" inquired Noel.
"We shore does! Yas, suh! Yas, suh! We knows it!"
"Then I want you to stand up by the side of the road and sing it while
we march back to camp."
Laughingly the dusky crowd arranged themselves in lines along the
roadside according to Noel's bidding. Even the huge negress, after some
persuasion, reluctantly took her stand at the head of the line on the
right.
"Now, then, everybody sing!" called Noel, after he had whispered to
Dennis, "Take your gun and pig and start out of this, but don't try to
be in too much of a hurry."
"All right," he called loudly, as he passed the negress. There was a
laughing response and instantly Noel and Dennis, as they quickly
advanced began to sing,--
"Ole massa run, ha! ha!
De darkies stay, ho! ho!
It must be now dat de kingdom's comin'
And de year ob Jubilo."
Glancing neither to the right nor left the two soldiers steadily moved
forward and in a brief time passed beyond the strange assembly on the
roadside.
"Is she after me, lad?" whispered Dennis loudly, glancing anxiously
behind him.
"I don't think so," replied Noel, "but I shan't look back just yet. I
don't hear anybody coming and they are singing like mad back there yet."
"Just listen to them, will you!" he added as there came from the crowd
an increased volume of sound, which was somewhat indicative of the
excitement that possessed the assembly.
"I guess we 're all right now," Noel said a few minutes later when they
had turned a bend in the road and their admirers no longer were to be
seen.
"Now, Noel, me boy," said Dennis, "I want ye to promise me something."
"What's that?" inquired Noel quizzically, although he was confident that
he understood what the request of his companion was to be.
"I want ye to promise me that ye'll kape what happened here a sacret.
'Tis just between you and me, me boy."
"Oh, but, Dennis," suggested Noel, "think what fun the boys in the camp
will miss if we don't tell them what the black woman did."
"Shure, you won't tell on me!" Dennis pleaded as he stopped a moment and
gazed anxiously at his companion.
"I shall have to think about that," replied Noel mockingly.
The expression of consternation that appeared for a moment on the face
of his companion caused the young soldier to laugh heartily.
"Why don't you tell them about it yourself, Dennis?" he asked abruptly.
"Niver!" replied the young Irish soldier. "'Tis one of the sacrets I
shall niver tell, not aven to me mither. But I want to feel that you
will help me to kape the sacret."
"I'll agree not to tell it to-night," said Noel at last.
"Well, I suppose I'll have to be contint wid that, thin," responded
Dennis. "But let me tell ye wan thing, Noel Curtis. If I find the story
ever does lake out, I shall know where it came from and the fellow that
tells on me will want to go to the surgeon to be put together. Indade
an' he will that!"
"He won't if he gets that black woman here to help him," laughed Noel.
"Now, how are you going to get that pig into the camp? You know what the
colonel said about foraging, and what he told us would happen to the boy
who tried it, after such strict orders had been given against it."
"Shure, and I'll give the colonel a piece o' the rib o' me pig. When he
once swallows that he'll forget all about his orders."
"I'm not so sure about that," said Noel good-naturedly. "But here we are
almost back to camp, and you'll have a chance to try it out in a little
while."
CHAPTER II
THE SUTLER'S GOODS
The appearance of the two soldiers in the camp at once attracted the
attention of their comrades. It had been long since any of them had
tasted fresh meat and the sight of the pig which Dennis still was
carrying upon his shoulders aroused the desire of every beholder to
share in the repast which was to follow. There were many laughing calls
to be invited to the feast, to all of which Dennis responded
good-naturedly, but without in any way committing himself unduly to the
increase of the numbers of those with whom he intended to share the
change in the camp diet.
"Hello, Levi," called Dennis, as he and Noel passed the sutler's tent.
Levi Kadoff, one of the sutlers, who, by some strange methods, had
obtained the privilege of selling the soldiers from his stock which was
displayed in a tent not far from the center of the camp, looked hastily
up as he was greeted. His love for pork was not strong, but apparently
was the only limit to his desires. At exorbitant prices he had been
selling his wares, and he had interfered in so many ways with the camp
life and had been so disagreeable to most of the soldiers that at the
time he was the most detested man in Harper's Ferry. He had used every
artifice in inducing the boys in blue to buy from him, and many of the
sales which he made were called robbery by those who had been persuaded
to buy.
"Vere you haf been?" demanded the sutler, as Dennis and Noel halted in
front of him.
"Been out foraging," answered Dennis loudly. "We have a pig here. If you
will come up to my tent after dark, I'll give you a slice o' spare rib."
The expression of disgust which appeared instantly upon the face of Levi
caused Noel to laugh heartily, but the countenance of Dennis was
unchanged, as he stared at the angry sutler.
"What's the matter, Levi?" he said. "Don't you like pork?"
Again an expression of disgust appeared upon the face of the sutler, but
he made no direct reply to the question.
"How much are you charging for milk this mornin'?" inquired Dennis.
"Twenty-five cents a glass."
"Is that all?" demanded Dennis. "Shure, it was twinty cints when I left
camp, and you have not put it up over five cints since the mornin'! I
thought you would have it up to fifty cints shure by this time. Levi,
have you a bit of a conscience at all left yet?"
"I vas all consciences," replied Levi, spreading out his hands as he
spoke. "I don't think how I shall be able to do business here much
longer. Dese things gets me--"
"Of course you won't do business here much longer," broke in Dennis.
"You won't have to. Before you go, some of the boys will have to come
down and give you a good send-off."
"No! No!" protested Levi excitedly. "They must not do dat. I haf been
der very goot friend. I have made leedle, very leedle money."
"Don't be scared, Levi. We know just how much money you have made. Some
of the boys have been kapin' tabs on you. If we should take whativer you
have here, you would still be rich enough, and the boys would feel that
they were only gittin' even with you for the way you have treated them."
The eyes of the angry sutler snapped, as he turned sharply upon the
young soldier. "If I choose I can reports to der colonel vat you have
been doing."
"What have I been doin'?" demanded Dennis innocently.
"You know dere vas strict orders against foraging. I think now I shall
report to the colonel."
The young soldiers remained no longer at the sutler's tent.
"I believe that fellow will report you to the colonel," Noel said to his
companion.
"To be shure he will. He's likely to do that, and if he does he's likely
to get somethin' more."
The reports were current in the camp that orders had been reissued
against any foraging on the part of any of the men.
Whether or not it was due to the feast which Dennis and Noel prepared
that night when their pig was roasted, or to the monotony of the camp
fare to which the soldiers still irreverently referred as "S. B.," is
not known, but at all events the temptation to find fresh food, and
especially fresh meat, outside the boundaries of the camp proved to be
too strong for many of the boys in blue.
It was not long afterward when Dennis with others was tempted beyond
his power of resistance and again was found among those who were
foraging in the regions adjacent to the camp.
A dozen or more were in the company and, as the soldiers believed,
through the reports of Levi Kadoff, the colonel had been informed of the
escapade. Consequently when the men returned to the camp the angry
colonel, taking a position near the guard, ordered the entrance of the
men singly or in pairs, and then demanded of every one that he should
disclose what he had obtained in this foraging, against the strict
command which had been issued.
Shamefacedly and with many threats against the little sutler, the
returning soldiers showed what they had secured, oftentimes through hard
labor.
Meanwhile the pile upon which the colonel had commanded every soldier to
cast whatever he had obtained grew steadily. Chickens, an occasional
ham, various vegetables, and other articles composed the greater part of
the rapidly increasing heap.
Most of those who had been engaged in the forbidden occupation had
already returned to camp, when Dennis O'Hara at last appeared. This
time, however, Noel Curtis was not with his friend.
As Dennis drew near the guard he discovered the presence of the colonel,
but if he was alarmed by his discovery, his feeling was not betrayed by
any change in the expression of his face. And yet apparently Dennis was
the most guilty of all the men. Inside his coat was something which
caused the garment to protrude in such a manner as to reveal, and yet at
the same time to conceal, whatever Dennis had secured.
Demurely the young Irish soldier approached the waiting colonel and, as
the officer sharply ordered him to halt, Dennis and a few watching
soldiers were aware that the colonel's patience was entirely exhausted.
He was not only angry that his commands had been disobeyed, but
manifestly the indifference of the young soldier increased his feeling
of irritation.
"What have you inside your coat?" demanded the irate colonel.
"Yis, sor! Yis, sor!" retorted Dennis, saluting as he spoke.
"What have you inside your coat?" repeated the angry officer.
"Nothin' of any value, sor."
"I don't believe what you say! A man who will disobey orders will lie
about his disobedience! Unbutton your coat, sir, and show me what you
have!"
"Indade, sor," protested Dennis, "'tis nothin' I have which will
interest the likes of you, Colonel Rathbun. 'Tis nothin' of any value
at all I have."
"Unbutton your coat, sir, and throw what you have stolen on to this
pile, where the rest of your thievish comrades have placed what they
stole!"
"Indade, sor," protested Dennis once more, "'tis nothin' of any value. I
didn't rob anybody, sor! I--"
"Do as I tell you!" demanded the angry colonel, "or I will order you to
be taken to the guard-house!"
"Yis, sor! Yis, sor!" responded Dennis promptly, as he began to fumble
at the buttons of his jacket.
The garment, however, had been drawn so tightly about him to cover the
object he was trying to conceal that it was with great apparent
difficulty he obeyed.
Watching the awkward attempts of the young Irish soldier to comply with
the demand of the colonel, many of the men of the regiment were
crowding about the place. Curiosity as to the prize which Dennis had
secured and suspicion that his sober face belied the feeling in his
heart, and the general knowledge that Dennis O'Hara was one of the worst
practical jokers in the camp, combined with other motives that steadily
increased the number of the spectators.
After several attempts Dennis succeeded in unbuttoning the upper buttons
of his jacket, and then again he paused and facing the colonel said,
"'Tis nothin' that will interest you, Colonel. I haven't taken anything
of value--"
"Not another word from you, sir!" shouted the angry officer. "Do as I
tell you! Unbutton your coat and show what you have stolen and throw it
on the heap where the other things are piled!"
"Yis, sor! Yis, sor!" said Dennis, speaking almost sadly, as he resumed
his occupation and in a brief time succeeded in unbuttoning his jacket.
As he did so a small block of wood fell to the ground. For a moment the
men stared blankly at Dennis's "prize" and then broke into loud and
prolonged laughter.
The colonel's face flushed slowly when he discovered the true
possession of the young Irishman, and then in a good-natured way he
struck the block of wood with his sword and turning to his men said,
"Sold! I have been sold, and shall have to own up to it. You young
rascal," he said, once more addressing Dennis, "I have half a mind to
send you to the guard-house on general principles. You had no business
to play such pranks as that."
"But, Colonel," protested Dennis demurely, "I didn't want to play it. I
did my best not to, but you ordered me to, so you see I had to. I was
just bringing in a present."
"A present?" demanded the colonel, as the men laughed again. "A present?
To whom were you going to give that block of wood?"
"Shure I was going to give it to the sutler," replied Dennis. "I had an
idea that it would match his head."
The boys dispersed, pleased that the colonel had been so lenient with
them and that their only punishment had been the loss of the articles
which they had secured in their expedition.
When the two young soldiers were again in their tent, Dennis said to
Noel, "That little sutler, Levi, is to blame for all this trouble. He
thought the boys would be after buyin' not so much of him. He's the
first of all the men who put us on hard tack that was 'cut and dried
long before Noah died.'" And Dennis began to sing noisily,--
"My rations are S.B.,
Taken from porkers three
Thousand years old;
And hard-tack cut and dried
Long before Noah died,--
From what wars left aside
Ne'er can be told."
"I'm afraid the colonel won't be so easy next time," suggested Noel.
"Don't you worry about that," said Dennis. "The next time there won't be
any Levi to carry tales to him. I have got it all fixed up in me mind.
We're going to make Levi a good soldier."
"You can't do that," laughed Noel, "unless you begin at his feet."
"That's where we propose to begin."
"What are you going to do?"
"Noel, me boy," whispered Dennis, "I can't tell you all the details, but
we're goin' to have a sham fight here between the Forty-sixth and the
Fifty-first, and I shouldn't be one bit surprised if Levi Kadoff's
supplies were somewhere near the middle of the battle-ground."
Noel laughed and thought no more concerning the statement of his comrade
until the following day when to his surprise he discovered that there
was, indeed, to be a sham battle between some of the men of the two
regiments to which Dennis had referred.
An interested spectator he watched the two regiments when they formed in
line near the tent of the sutler, Levi Kadoff. Nor was he the only
spectator, for near by were assembled many of the men, all apparently
aware that something of unusual interest was about to occur.
At last, when everything was in readiness, the Forty-sixth charged their
opponents and with little effort drove them back. The Fifty-first,
however, rallied, and then began to press their foes back to their
former position. In the midst of all the efforts there was wild
excitement and loud cheers among the spectators, whose numbers increased
with every passing moment.
When the Fifty-first re-formed, it was directly in front of Levi's tent
of supplies. A few minutes later, the bugle sounded and the Forty-sixth
charged again.
Down came the laughing boys like a whirlwind, every one yelling as
loudly as his lungs enabled him.
Apparently the sight of the charge of the noisy soldiers brought dismay
to the hearts of the re-formed regiment, and before a word had been
spoken they began to fall back. The applause and laughter among the
spectators increased as the howling, laughing mass of soldiers ran
swiftly forward driving their "enemies" before them.
Unfortunately for the sutler, his tent and supplies were directly in the
way of the retreating Fifty-first. No one afterward could explain how it
had been done, but the ropes of Levi's tent somehow were cut, and in a
trice the stock of the little sutler was scattered over what seemed to
be a half-acre of ground. There were few of the soldiers who did not
have some articles in their hands. The battle itself seemed to have been
forgotten, and in a brief time all the goods had disappeared, either
into haversacks or into secret pockets of the thoughtless soldiers.
Levi, almost like a madman, was fighting to save his property. At one
time he seized a cheese-knife and with it strove desperately to strike
some of the boys. He was quickly disarmed, however, and as he was pushed
from one to another he not only found no place upon which his feet could
secure a resting-place, but no other weapon came within his grasp. At
last, when he was released by the howling mass of soldiers, he was at
least five hundred yards from the place where his ruined store had been
located.
It was manifest now that every soldier understood the purpose of the
sham battle. The very location had been selected with the thought to
bring dire troubles upon the unpopular sutler, who so often had taken
advantage of the boys in their purchases of his supplies.
By this time, however, orders had come from headquarters which speedily
dispersed the disorderly mob, and in a brief time the camp resumed its
former appearance, save for the loss of the sutler's stores and tent.
It was at this time that Noel unexpectedly came upon the little sutler.
The man was almost beside himself with anger and grief.
"I vill haf the law on them!" he shouted. "They shall be shot, efery
one! I vill haf mine goots vonce more!"
Not untouched by the suffering of the man, Noel said to him, "I don't
think the boys meant anything very bad. They thought you had been
charging them too much for what they have been buying."
"I haf not! It vas cheap! It vas all cheap! But I vill tell you. Dat
fellow Dennis O'Hara, he it is who has made all dese troubles. I vill
gif him no rest. He shall pay me back efery cent vat I haf lost. I shall
gif him no rest."
Noel laughed lightly as he turned away, not for a moment taking the
threats of the angry man seriously, and if he had been told at the time
that the very lives of himself and his companions would depend upon a
word of the little trader, he would not have believed the prophecy.
CHAPTER III
INTERCEPTED
In spite of the strict orders which had been issued for preventing
foraging, either the memory of the feast for which the pig that Dennis
had secured had provided the main course, or the restlessness due to the
monotony of camp life, caused the practice to be renewed by some of the
more restless spirits. Among these was Dennis O'Hara.
A few days afterward Dennis said to Noel, "Come on, lad, we'll take a
walk over these hills."
"What for?" inquired Noel suspiciously.
"Shure, and 'tis to see the scenery."
"I want the walk," said Noel promptly, "and if you'll promise to behave
yourself and not get either of us into trouble with any of your pranks,
I'll go with you."
Accordingly, early in the afternoon leave was obtained and the two young
soldiers departed from the camp at Harper's Ferry.
As yet they had no fear of an immediate approach of the Confederates. It
was well known that General Lee, after his success in preventing
General McClellan and his great army from advancing up the Peninsula to
take Richmond, and his success in the second battle of Bull Run, or
Manassas, had decided to cross the Potomac into Maryland. General Pope
had been relieved of his command and General McClellan had been
reinstated as the leader of the Northern armies.
The action of General Lee in deciding to invade the North produced a
consternation that was followed almost by a panic. There were
expectations that if he was successful he might not only take
Washington, the capital of the nation, but also that he might move
against Philadelphia and other Northern cities.
The soldiers of the Southern army were following Lee with a devotion and
enthusiasm that at the time were without a parallel in the armies of the
North. General McClellan doubtless was a more able engineer than General
Lee, but his lack of prompt decision and quick action was known to his
opponent, for both were graduates of West Point. Either his knowledge of
the lack of decision on the part of General McClellan, or his desire for
the armies of the North to withdraw from the vicinity of Richmond,
because its defenders might not be able to withstand a well-directed and
concerted attack, or both reasons, may have influenced him in his
daring, not to say dangerous, attempt.
It was not until later in the war that a man was developed who commanded
the confidence of the North and the enthusiastic loyalty of the Northern
troops.
At this time, in 1862, there were divisions and jealousies among the men
and almost a total lack of preparation among the bodies of troops.
With McClellan in command again there was a prompter action on his part
than had been manifest throughout his Peninsula campaign. It was a
critical time for his army and himself, and a time of peril for the
cities of the North not far from the border.
Early in the preceding spring Noel and Frank Curtis, twin brothers,
whose home had been on the shores of the far-away St. Lawrence, had
enlisted, and had been assigned to the army of McClellan. Since they had
been little fellows they had been familiar with the use of the rifle and
had acquired such skill that both, soon after they had joined the army,
were assigned to the sharpshooters.
In the battle of Malvern Hill, Noel had been wounded and sent home for a
time. His brother Frank also had been home on a furlough. At the
beginning of the fall campaign, Noel, now having recovered from his
wound, and Frank were both ordered to rejoin the army.
For some reason, which Noel did not fully understand, his brother had
been assigned to a different corps, while he, together with eight
thousand of his comrades, had been assigned to the holding of Harper's
Ferry. Another small division had been stationed at Martinsburg and at
Winchester.
It was not known among these garrisons that General Lee had expected,
upon his advance into Maryland, that these troops would quickly be
withdrawn. It is now understood that General McClellan had written
General Halleck to recall these men and attach them to the Army of the
Potomac; but Halleck had decided to retain the garrisons in the Valley,
and his decision has been sharply criticized on the ground that he
violated every principle of sound strategy.
Among the friends that Frank and Noel had made there was young Dennis
O'Hara, a bright, happy young Irishman, about twenty years of age, just
two years older than the twin brothers.
The friendship had been strengthened and the intimacy increased after
the brothers had been separated. Dennis and Noel now were not only
tent-mates, but almost inseparable companions.
As yet there had been slight call for their labors at Harper's Ferry. It
was not known that the Confederate army was near, and in their sense of
security most of the men were becoming somewhat careless in the
observance of their duties.
"There's one place," said Dennis, when the two young soldiers had gone a
mile or more from their quarters, "where I don't want to go to-day."
"Where's that?"
"'T is where that fat nager woman lives."
"But she said she was one of the best friends you had."
"'Friends'!" snapped Dennis. "'Friends'! I think she's the first cousin,
and maybe she's the sister, of ould Satan himself. You don't catch me
goin' anywhere near that place again. If she thinks I came down here to
set such nagers as she free, she's very much mistaken. No, sor! Niver
again! If she should run after me any more, she'll only reach me
through me dead body."
"But suppose, Dennis," laughed Noel, "that you found another pig
somewhere. Which would you do, drop the pig or keep off the fat darky?"
"I'd keep off the darky, anyway, though I don't think I should let go me
pig. 'T was good of you, Noel, to give me your word that you would niver
tell anybody in the camp about it."
"About what?" inquired Noel innocently.
"About what took place the other day when that nager woman chased me."
"When did I promise?"
"Shure, you promised right there where we were whin I got away from
her," said Dennis, as he stopped abruptly and looked into the face of
his companion.
"But I don't remember making any such promise," said Noel slowly.
"Indade, an' you did," declared Dennis. "You gave me your word, and your
word is better nor your bond. You haven't breathed a word of it to a
livin' soul."
"How do you know I haven't?"
"Because if you had whispered it even to the sutler 't would have been
all over the camp in no time. I knew I could rely on you, me boy."
"But I tell you," protested Noel, "I don't remember making any such
promise."
"You shure did, and if you didn't you'll give it to me now."
"How do you know I will?" protested Noel, whose opportunities of teasing
his joke-loving tent-mate were not numerous.
If there was any mischief in the camp every one by common consent
declared that Dennis O'Hara had a share in it, if he was not the prime
mover. But like all practical jokers, Dennis, so fond of playing pranks
upon others, was usually easily angered when he himself was made the
victim of the pranks.
"Shure, Noel," he begged, "you'll give me your promise now? Just think
what it would mane for me. Ugh!" he added, as he closed his eyes and
shuddered at the recollection of the "attack" of the huge field-hand.
"But, Dennis," protested Noel, "she was simply trying to show her love
for you. She said she had been waiting years for you to come down here.
Indeed, she declared that with you here the year of Jubilee had nothing
to offer."
"She didn't!" spoke up Dennis promptly. "Indade, an' she said nothin'
of the kind! If you won't mind, Noel," he added, "I think I'll make a
deetour about that cabin yonder," as a little log cabin in the distance
was seen.
"What's the matter now, Dennis?" laughed Noel. "You aren't afraid there
will be more field-hands there?"
"I don't feel like takin' great chances. I tell you, Noel, one such
chase is enough to last a man a lifetime."
"I don't know, Dennis, whether or not we had better go much farther,"
said Noel, hesitating as he stood on the hillside and looked anxiously
about him. "We must be five or six miles from camp now and we ought to
get back long before sunset."
"What's scarin' ye, Noel?" demanded Dennis.
"Nothing is scaring me," answered Noel; "but I don't want to get a
reprimand for being late in the camp. We wouldn't get leave to be away
again very soon if we did."
"There are no Johnnies around here, anyway."
"You don't know that," said Noel positively.
"We haven't seen any."
"That doesn't mean that General Lee has not sent some division over
this way. He has a trick of doing that, you know, and making his men
show up where they aren't always expected."
"I don't mind the Johnnies," said Dennis boldly, "if we can only keep
away from the nagers. Did you mind, lad, the cockle-burrs that were in
the wool of that ould field-hand that tried--"
Dennis stopped abruptly, and turning sharply listened to the sounds
which had apparently come from the valley below them.
"What's that?" he whispered.
"That sounded like a rifle shot," said Noel seriously. "I tell you,
Dennis, we must get back to camp. I don't want to take any chances of
being cut off, and it would be mighty easy for some Johnnie to get
between us and the picket. I don't like the sound of that shot."
"No more do I," agreed Dennis. "I'm with you, lad, we'll start for the
camp."
More anxious than either of the young soldiers was willing to admit to
his companion, Noel and Dennis started hastily down the hillside, on
their way back to the garrison at Harper's Ferry.
Even thoughts of foraging apparently were ignored or forgotten by
Dennis. Success had not crowned their efforts that day. Not a pig had
been seen, and if there were any chickens in the region they had been
successfully hidden by their owners. A few withered beets and a bunch of
onions comprised the entire stock which Dennis had secured with all his
efforts.
"Look yonder, will ye!" exclaimed the excited young Irishman in a loud
whisper, pointing as he spoke to a small body of men in gray who could
be seen not far away in the road before them.
"We'll have to hide," whispered Noel. "It may be that they have seen us
already, but if they haven't we might stand a chance of getting past
them. Come on!" he added as he seized his companion by the arm and drew
him to the roadside.
The discovery which the two young soldiers had made was doubly
threatening because the road now was not near any woods.
The partly cleared fields were inclosed by rude fences of rails. Hastily
leaping over the fence, Noel and Dennis crouched on the ground behind
the rails.
Before they had taken their position Dennis whispered hoarsely, "They
have seen us, lad. There must be twinty men in that band. If we try for
the woods yonder, they'll get us both."
"We'll have to stay right where we are, Dennis, and do the best we can
to defend ourselves."
"The odds are only tin to one," said Dennis, chuckling as if the fact
was more of a joke than a peril. "They're comin', too," he added as he
pointed toward a small body of men who could be seen advancing up the
side of the hill.
CHAPTER IV
THE V IN THE FENCE
The prophecy of Dennis that a small body of men were approaching up the
winding road was in part fulfilled.
The men advanced until both the crouching soldiers were able to see
distinctly that they were clad in the uniform of gray. This fact
confirmed their suspicions that somehow the small body of men had come
between them and the camp at Harper's Ferry. Just what this meant or how
much it implied, neither was able to conjecture.
The afternoon sun was low in the western sky. As Noel glanced behind him
he became aware of this fact, and with it also came a hope that if the
advancing party might be kept off until the sun had set, the darkness
would provide a shelter under which he and his companion might be able
to retrace their way to camp.
"They're stoppin', lad!" whispered Dennis excitedly.
"So they are," replied Noel "If they will only stay there we may be
able to get away from here after all."
"But they have seen us," protested Dennis.
"I know it," answered Noel. "But they may not be able to see us now."
"There's one thing," said Dennis; "they don't know how many there are
here. If they have seen only two, it may be they think we're part of a
big company. We'll do all we can to lave them believe that. We don't
want any closer acquaintance with any of thim Johnnies."
It was manifest that the party had halted in the road, and whether or
not there was any prospect of an advance was something which the boys
could not determine.
Behind him Noel saw that the field sloped towards some woods that were
not more than one hundred yards away.
Once within the shelter of the trees, safety for a time at least might
be secured, but in passing across the open field, even on the slightly
sloping ground, they would be exposed to the fire of the men in the
road.
Suddenly Dennis exclaimed, "Look yonder, me boy! Is that a spade, or do
me eyes deceive me?"
Glancing quickly at the corner in the fence Noel saw a spade resting
upon the ground, where it plainly had been abandoned by some one who had
been repairing the fence.
"Be careful, Dennis. You'll be seen if you try to get that."
"Niver fear, me lad. That spade is worth its weight in gold, and I'm the
boy that is goin' to try for it."
Instantly acting upon his own suggestion Dennis crawled slowly through
the grass and stubble and carefully attempted to gain the implement.
Noel meanwhile anxiously watched his friend, fearful every moment that
the report of guns in the distance would be heard. His fears, however,
were relieved when in a few minutes Dennis returned with the spade.
"There, now!" he exclaimed. "We'll be ready for the Johnnies in a jiffy.
Just watch me!"
It was marvelous to see what he was able to accomplish with his spade
and still without exposing himself to the possible fire of the enemy,
who were not moving from the position where they had halted some
distance up the road.
As soon as a slight excavation had been made, both Noel and Dennis
leaped into it. A few fence rails were also secured and piled upon the
fence in front of them.
"You see now," said Dennis, "we're ready for almost any kind of an
attack."
Noel smiled, though he made no reply. The full seriousness of the peril
in which he and his companion now found themselves was plain. They were
confronted by a band which had seen them scurrying across the road, and
though the gray-clad soldiers had halted some distance down the road the
young soldier was aware that they knew of the presence of the two boys
in blue. Why they had not advanced he did not understand.
He was afraid to make the attempt to gain the woods in his rear, as he
believed his enemies were still watchful and that any effort to escape
would meet with a quick fire.
Meanwhile Dennis had succeeded in digging a ditch along the two sides of
the V-shaped rail fence.
"There," he exclaimed, with a sigh of relief. "That will keep out the
Johnnies, I'm thinkin'."
"Not very long," said Noel quickly.
"But they don't know how many there are of us," declared Dennis. "If
they try to attack us there will be a couple of thim what shurely will
nade the sarvices of the surgeon."
"We may need the services of the undertaker."
"Not yet, sor!" said Dennis with a laugh.
It was apparently impossible for the young Irish soldier to realize the
seriousness of the position in which he and his comrade now found
themselves.
"We'll wait a while, anyway," said Noel, "before we do anything. If they
don't attack us, we'll not make any trouble for them."
"I'm not so shure o' that," said Dennis.
"We won't yet, anyway," said Noel quietly, fearful that his impulsive
friend, if the attack should be delayed, would become impatient and with
difficulty would be held back from firing at the men who were so near.
Glancing again at the band of Confederates, Noel was still more puzzled
by their inactivity. Apparently they had broken ranks and were sitting
or lying about on the ground near the road, though guards had been
stationed in front and rear.
The moments dragged slowly on, and the confidence of Noel that an attack
was not to be made upon them gradually became stronger.
The afternoon sun now was not more than a half-hour above the horizon.
If they should be left free for another hour, he was hopeful that they
might make their way to the near-by woods and by a wide detour be able
to return to the camp at Harper's Ferry.
"Shure!" said Dennis, after a few more minutes had elapsed, "we can't
lave the Johnnies like this."
"You had better let sleeping dogs alone," warned Noel.
"Shure, an' I will that," said Dennis. "I'm not goin' to harm any one of
thim. They seem to me to be aslape and I want to give thim somethin' to
wake 'em up."
"What are you doing?" demanded Noel, as his companion drew an empty
cartridge from his box and filled it with powder from his flask.
"I'm riggin' up somethin' to wake up thim boys," replied Dennis soberly.
Noel said no more and continued to watch his companion, who, after the
shell had been filled with powder, adjusted the percussion cap in such a
manner that it was placed upon the powder and within the covering.
"There's one of thim," exclaimed Dennis, looking with pride at his
workmanship. "Now I'll make another one."
A second "shot" like the first was soon made, and then, handing one to
Noel, Dennis proceeded very carefully to place his own in the muzzle of
his gun.
"What are you going to do?" demanded Noel. "That isn't much more than a
blank cartridge you have got there."
"Niver you mind that," said Dennis confidently. "We'll start these
fellows on the run."
"It depends upon which way they run," again said Noel. "We don't want
them coming in our direction."
"I'm not so shure about that," said Dennis, whose respect for the enemy
had fallen because of the long silence which had prevailed after their
arrival, "I'm not so shure of that," he repeated. "'Most anything is
better than nothing. Now, then, Noel," he explained, "you see that big
oak tree just beyond the place where the Johnnies are lyin'?"
"Yes," replied Noel, as he glanced at the huge tree in the distance.
"Do you think you could hit it?"
"A blind man could do that," said Noel.
"Well, then, I'll fire and then you fire."
"At the tree?" demanded Noel in surprise.
"That's it. That's it, exactly."
"What good will that do? It will only expose us and our shots won't do
any damage."
"We'll see about that in a minute or two," laughed Dennis. "When these
strange bullets of ours strike the tree they are goin' to make that
percussion cap explode and then the powder will go off and there will be
a big noise right behind the Johnnies. They'll think somebody's firin'
at thim from the other side."
"That's no joke, Dennis," said Noel positively. "If we do what you say,
they will think they are being attacked on the other side, and if they
retreat they will come straight toward this place where we are now."
"Shure, but they won't retreat," said Dennis. "It's positive I am that
they will be puttin' straight for the place where they think these guns
are bein' fired."
"Then that will give us a chance to get away."
"Which may be right, my boy."
"Yes, I am right," said Noel hesitatingly. "Although I confess I don't
like your scheme very much."
"We'll not fire together," said Dennis. "I'll fire first, then you fire
directly after me. Be sure you don't miss that tree."
Dennis raised his gun to his shoulder, took careful aim and fired. After
a brief interval Noel followed his example, though his better judgment
still protested against the action as perilous.
True to the aim of the young soldiers the strange shots struck the tree
just as Dennis had believed they would. An explosion followed each shot
that was so loud that even the report of the guns from the V along the
line of the rail fence sounded feeble.
In a moment the little Confederate band was thrown into confusion, as
the men hastily arose and glanced in consternation first up the road and
then in the opposite direction. They had heard the report of the guns of
the two young soldiers, but, as Dennis had prophesied, the louder
reports had come after the caps had been exploded when the great oak
tree had been struck by the strange missiles.
Eagerly Noel peered between the rails to discover in which direction the
little band would start.
The consternation and confusion apparently lasted only a moment. In a
brief time the men formed and at the word of their leader started
hastily up the road in the direction of the hiding-place of Noel and
Dennis.
CHAPTER V
THE PLAN OF GENERAL LEE
In order to understand more clearly the predicament in which the two
young soldiers found themselves at the close of the preceding chapter,
it is necessary for us to review briefly the events which led up to that
time after the second battle of Bull Run when the Union forces again
were defeated. The failure of General Jackson to strike the troops of
General Pope on their line of retreat had enabled the latter with his
men to regain the shelter of the fortifications at Washington.
Meanwhile the Confederate commander, Lee, gave his troops rest only for
a day. As has been said, he was aware that it was impossible for him at
this time either to invest or to attack the lines of Washington. In
spite of his success he was convinced that only two courses of action
were open to him. One of these was to remain in Virginia and try to
defend the capital of the Confederate States from possible attacks by
his enemies, and the other plan was to cross the Potomac and enter
Maryland. There he might strike, or at least threaten to strike, some of
the Northern cities that were not far from the border, and prevent
General McClellan from carrying out his cherished desire to attack
Richmond.
Besides, General Lee was aware that, if he merely tried to defend the
capital of the rebellion, it would leave his enemy with full power to
assume the offensive and make attacks wherever it was decided, after the
spirits of his army had been restored and the ranks once more had been
filled.
There were many who believed that General Lee displayed great keenness
of vision when he decided to enter Maryland with his army. Such an act
on his part would enable the distressed farmers of the South to gather
their crops and harvests. Especially was this true in the beautiful and
fertile Valley of the Shenandoah.
In addition to these advantages, the presence of the Confederate army in
Maryland would bring many recruits, it was believed, and at the same
time would confuse the Northern army by the possibility of the trouble
that might be created there. And every day of delay was of especial
advantage to the Confederates, who were working zealously to erect and
complete the fortifications of their capital.
Another thought that is said to have been in the mind of Lee was that
the people of the North, if the war should be transferred to their
territory, would thus obtain a more intimate knowledge of its horrors,
and this personal experience would arouse a desire to bring the contest
to a close. Indeed, it is said that General Lee was confident at this
time that he could accomplish the end of the struggle, which now had
been fiercely fought for nearly a year and a half.
General Lee's first plan was to move rapidly into southern Pennsylvania,
and by compelling his enemies to follow him, as he was confident they
would do, he would draw them so far away from any defenses such as Pope
had recently secured in Washington after the second battle of Bull Run,
that if he should then plan for a battle it would be impossible for
McClellan's troops to escape surrender as well as defeat. So confident
were the Southern leaders now that they were filled with the thought
that if the desire for peace could be strengthened in the North by a
battle fought on Northern soil, and at the same time if the powers of
Europe should agree to secure their cotton from the Southland, the
results at the same time would put added pressure upon the Government at
Washington and terminate the bloody struggle.
Keen as was the plan of General Lee, he was aware that his army was in
no condition for an enlarged or energetic campaign. No small part of his
men, as they marched over the sandy soil, were leaving bloody marks of
their bare feet. It had been impossible to provide many of his soldiers
with shoes. The provisions, too, were not sufficient, and in the days
that had followed the battle many had been suffering from disease. As a
consequence it is said, by those who are competent to judge, that not
more than fifty-five thousand men were in the army of the brilliant
Southern general when he crossed the Potomac River.
Much as the men were suffering, the animals of the camp were in no
better condition. The horses were weakened by lack of food and by the
hardships of the recent days. As if these facts were not sufficient to
make the general hesitate, it is said that his supplies of ammunition
also were deficient, and that he was as seriously troubled by this last
fact as by both of the others combined.
But, like every successful man, General Lee decided not to think so
much of what he did not have as of what he did have. Whatever might
befall his attempt, he was confident that he would be able to make the
Northern armies remain so long and so far from the protection of their
defenses that he could draw out the campaign and there would be no fresh
attempt to take Richmond before the following spring. This opportunity,
as we know, would be seized by the defenders of Richmond to strengthen
their defenses.
At this time Lee was not expecting to receive any reinforcements, as the
campaigns in Tennessee and Kentucky demanded all the men that could be
spared.
Between the 4th and 7th of September (1862) the Confederate troops were
crossing the Potomac. On the last-named day General Jackson occupied
Frederick city and speedily was followed by another division. Then the
dashing cavalry of Stuart spread out in the State in such a manner that
most of the attempts of the Union generals to gain information
concerning the plans of their enemies were frustrated.
Meanwhile, as we know, the Federal soldiers were holding three fortified
places in or near the Shenandoah Valley which was the chief reliance of
General Lee for his supplies. About eight thousand men had been
stationed at Harper's Ferry, and there also were small garrisons at
Martinsburg and at Winchester.
As has been said, General McClellan urged General Halleck to recall
these men and attach them to the Army of the Potomac. This is exactly
what General Lee believed would be done, because it was what he himself
would have decided upon if he had been in his opponent's position.
When General Halleck decided to leave these garrisons in the Valley, Lee
instantly decided that they must be taken, and he believed also that
they could be captured easily.
It was essential for the plans he had formed that his own communications
with his base of supplies should not be threatened by such a large
garrison as had been placed in Harper's Ferry.
Acting promptly, as he usually did, General Lee now decided to divide
his army and reunite the divisions west of the mountains before a
decisive battle could be fought.
With this purpose in his mind the commander of the Confederate troops
issued his orders on the 9th of September, and on the following day
General Jackson, in command of three divisions, after he had crossed
the mountains, was to ford the Potomac at some place west of Harper's
Ferry and then move upon the little garrison at Martinsburg.
His companion, General McLaws, with two divisions was to take possession
of the heights which overlooked Harper's Ferry and the Potomac, while
another division under General Walker was to cross the Potomac east of
Harper's Ferry, and secure the Loudon Heights. This last-named position
would enable the Confederate soldiers to command Harper's Ferry from the
east bank of the Shenandoah. By this plan the little body of troops in
Harper's Ferry would be surrounded and absolutely cut off from every
hope of escape because General Jackson, just as soon as he had obtained
possession of Martinsburg, was to march swiftly toward Harper's Ferry
and block every road that led westward.
CHAPTER VI
LONG JOHN
Startled by the change in the attitude of the band of Confederates, Noel
in a loud whisper said to Dennis, "Come, we must get out of this right
away!"
"Not yit, sor," said Dennis.
"But we must!"
"Not before I drop one of the Johnnies."
"Don't do that!" cried Noel, as he grasped the barrel of his companion's
gun. "Don't do it! We must n't let them know any more about us than they
do now. We've got to take our chances and run down the hill to the
woods! I don't believe they will follow us if we once can get inside the
border. It's going to be a hard chase for us, though, to cover those
yards ahead of us. I would give every dollar I own if I was only there."
"Niver you fear me, lad. 'Fortune favors the brave.' Have you niver
heard that?"
"I have," answered Noel, as he glanced again at the men who were seen in
the distance. "The sooner we start the better. Come on, Dennis!"
Acting upon his own suggestion, the young soldier led the way, and
crouching low ran swiftly toward the shelter of the woods. His heart
seemed to be beating so loudly and rapidly as almost to interfere with
his efforts. He was afraid, but his fear only served to increase his
speed.
Part of the distance had been covered before the flight of the two young
soldiers was discovered by their enemies. At the sight there was a loud
cry which served to increase the speed of both fugitives.
"Spread out!" whispered Dennis hoarsely. "Spread out!"
Instantly acting upon the suggestion, as far as it was possible for two
to "spread out," Noel ran swiftly toward a low oak tree, which stood on
the border of the woods, while his companion with equal speed was
striving to gain the shelter of another tree, the name of which Noel did
not know, which stood conspicuously about twenty yards distant from the
one that he was seeking.
Before the boys could gain the shelter, the report of guns was heard,
but fortunately neither of the young soldiers was hurt.
To Noel it seemed as if the few intervening yards were almost endless.
His feet seemed to be held back, as if heavy weights were attached to
them. His feeling was not unlike that which he had experienced when he
had suffered from an attack of nightmare.
In spite of these things, however, both young soldiers were making
excellent time, and in a brief interval successfully gained the refuge
they were so eagerly seeking.
Instantly dodging behind the protecting tree, Noel peered out at the
approaching men. The dusk was rapidly deepening, and the outlines of the
approaching band could be only indistinctly seen.
He was tempted to act upon the suggestion which Dennis had made and fire
at his enemies, but his fears for his own safety were so strong that he
hesitated. In a brief time he decided to abandon the attempt, in order
not to reveal his exact hiding-place.
Strong in the hope that the men would not venture to follow within the
woods, Dennis crept speedily toward the tree which his comrade had
gained, and for a moment was startled when he beheld a man also
approaching him. It proved, however, to be Noel, and then, acting upon a
common impulse, both turned and ran farther within the sheltering
woods.
As they advanced, their progress became more difficult. The ground
beneath their feet was soft and yielding. It was manifest that they were
approaching a swamp.
Noel wondered if his enemies were aware of the character of the land. If
they were the pursuit might be continued, as they would be certain to
catch the fugitives between the swampy ground and the border where they
had entered.
"Here!" suddenly called Dennis; "here's a road." As he spoke the young
Irishman ran swiftly toward what seemed to be a road, as he had said,
and as Noel followed him he soon discovered that Dennis was correct. A
rough and partly decayed corduroy road had been made years before, but
now it provided no very secure footing. Though they were unaware where
the road might lead, both entered upon it and even increased the speed
at which they were running.
Not a word was spoken until several minutes had elapsed, and then to the
consternation of both, a man was seen not far before them, who plainly
was approaching.
Abruptly leaping from the road into the swampy ground at its side both
boys strove to hide themselves behind the protecting vines and trees.
Only a few moments had passed, however, before they were aware that the
approaching stranger was a negro. He was of unusual height and his long
strides were indicative of his haste. As the black man came still
nearer, Noel thought he never had seen a taller man. In the dusk his
long figure appeared to rise almost to the lower branches of the
overhanging trees.
Lost as they were, or at least ignorant of the region, Noel suddenly
decided to hail the approaching negro.
"Sambo, is that you?" he said as the negro came opposite the place where
he was hiding.
Instantly the negro halted, and even in the dim light his terror was
manifest to the young soldier.
"No, suh! No, suh! I isn't Sambo. I'se Long John."
"Is there anybody with you?"
"No, suh! No, suh! I'se all alone."
Confident that he might rely upon the statement, Noel instantly returned
to the corduroy road and approached the waiting black man. To Noel the
eyes of the startled negro seemed almost to protrude like saucers. For
an instant it was plain that he was tempted to flee from the spot,
but as he glanced behind him, Noel suspected that he was in greater fear
of what threatened from that direction than he was at the discovery of
the strangers who had hailed him.
"Who's yo'? Who is yo' all?" he asked, unable to prevent his teeth from
chattering as he spoke.
"We are a couple of Union soldiers, Long John, and we want your help."
"Yas, suh! Yas, suh! Bress de Lor'! I'se heerd a heap 'bout yo' all. Dey
say yo' hab hawns. Ole mass' done say dat yo' be'rd com' clar down to
heer." As he spoke the negro placed one of his big hands upon his right
hip. "Dey shorely is so feared o' yo' dat if dey heer yo' name er
hundred miles away, dey's scared des' de same."
[Illustration: "DEY SAY YO' HAB HAWNS"]
In his dilemma Noel turned once more to the colored man and hastily
said, "Where are you going?"
"Noware. Noware, suh."
"But the rebel soldiers are ahead of you."
"Dey's mo' o' 'em behind me," declared Long John promptly.
"Do you know the way out of this swamp?"
For a moment the tall negro gazed intently down at Noel. In spite of his
indifference, Long John was possessed of more intelligence than a first
impression warranted. Noel was made somewhat uneasy by the intentness of
the negro's inspection.
Apparently satisfied by what he had discovered in his own way, Long John
said, "Yas, suh! I reckon I knows dis yeah swamp."
"Do you know where this corduroy road leads?" Noel inquired, as he
pointed in the direction from which the negro had come.
"Yas, suh!"
"How long is it? How far shall we have to go before we can be out on the
firm road again?"
"I reckon it's a right sma't way," replied Long John slowly. "And if
dere's some ob the rebel sojers up ahead, dere's certainly mo' ob dem
back yonder," he added, nodding his head to emphasize the strength of
his conviction as he spoke.
"Have you seen any?" inquired Noel, as he once more glanced behind him
to discover whether or not there were any signs of continued pursuit.
"Yas, suh! I'se done seen some."
"How many are there?"
"I recken dere's a right sma't lot ob dem."
"Are they infantry or cavalry?"
"Yas, suh."
"Which are they?" demanded Noel.
"Dere's some sojers on horseback. I see Massa Little Ben Fowler--"
"Are there twenty of them?" broke in Noel impatiently.
"Yas, suh."
"Where are they?"
"Dey's right by de end on de cord'roy road. I recken dey was goin' toe
follow me, but dey all des' shouted and laughed. Dey say I can beat de
Yanks at runnin'."
"Dennis," said Noel, turning to his companion, "don't you believe that
these men have been stationed there to cut off anybody who might come
through here on this road?"
"That's it, me lad! Yis, sor! That's it," replied Dennis.
"Then we can't go ahead and we can't turn back. We're caught right here
between these two bodies. What can we do, Dennis?"
"I recken I know what yo' all 'll have to do," spoke up Long John in a
whisper, as he spoke peering intently in the direction from which the
two young soldiers had recently come.
Noel glanced in the direction indicated by the negro and in a brief
time he, too, was convinced that some men were approaching. Even Long
John was alarmed, and for a moment appeared to be on the point of
darting into the swamp.
CHAPTER VII
CAUGHT
Sharply bidding the black man remain where he was Noel again peered into
the road behind him and listened intently. There was no disguising the
fact that men were approaching. Doubtless a part of the force which had
been stationed in the road were aware of the corduroy way and had
ventured to follow the fugitives, confident that they could find no
escape from the place.
The venture on the part of the Confederate soldiers was one that tested
their courage. The darkness had deepened, and it was well-nigh
impossible to distinguish the body of a motionless man from the trunk of
one of the near-by trees. There were strange noises in the swamp, too.
There was the flapping of unseen wings and the scurrying and calls of
unseen birds, but in spite of all these things there was no doubt now in
the mind of Noel Curtis that some men were approaching from the rear.
"Dat's de only way," whispered Long John excitedly. "Dere's no oder way
outen de swamp. We des' got toe go back. Maybe Massa Little Ben Fowler
isn't dere any mo' now."
Influenced by the positive manner of the grotesque negro, without a
protest both Noel and Dennis followed him as he led the way in the
direction from which he himself recently had come.
Striving to move noiselessly, at the same time the young soldiers did
their utmost to advance rapidly. Occasionally some decayed log broke
under their feet, but there was no other sound to reveal their presence.
Repeatedly the three fugitives glanced behind them, and then fearful of
what might be before them glanced frequently in that direction. Long
John was the only member of the band who apparently was unmoved by the
excitement, a fact which was difficult for Noel to understand, inasmuch
as when first he had seen the tall, awkward slave, it was the terror of
the black man at his unexpected presence that had most impressed him.
The flight had continued not more than ten minutes before the young
soldiers arrived at the end of the road.
"There's somebody here," whispered Noel, as he grasped Dennis by the
arm and all three fugitives halted.
"Yis, sor, that's true for shure," replied Dennis in a whisper so loud
that Noel warningly again grasped his arm.
It was too dark to enable the boys to determine just how many were in
the waiting band. It was believed, however, that there were at least
twenty. Perhaps there was another little force also approaching. The two
boys in blue were caught between the two bands, and their only way of
escape was through the swamp. A hasty inspection, however, convinced
both boys that escape in that way was impossible. Even in the dim light
they were able to see the water which covered the soft ground, and it
was plain that if either of them should step upon the perilous footing
he might be in greater danger than he would be compelled to face if he
should be caught between the two little bands of their enemies.
Abruptly the lanky negro broke in upon the silence by calling loudly,
"Is dat yo', Massa Little Ben Fowler?"
There was silence for a moment, and then the reply came from some one
whom the boys could not distinguish from the body of the men. "Is that
yo' all, Long John?"
"Yas, suh. Yas, suh."
"Are yo' alone?"
"No, suh. No, suh. Dere's two gen'lmen with me."
"Bring them out."
"Yas, suh. Yas, suh," repeated Long John, though he made his way so
speedily to the more solid road that under other circumstances Noel
might have laughed.
As it was, however, both boys were aware, or at least they now
suspected, that the negro had been sent out by the rebels either to gain
information or to serve as a decoy for any of the straggling soldiers.
There was, however, apparently no way of escape. In front of them was
the band of which Little Ben Fowler undoubtedly was a member; while from
behind was approaching part of the force which had followed them into
the swamp after the two young soldiers had gained the corduroy road.
Noel heard a smothered exclamation of anger from Dennis and he knew that
the feeling of his companion was not unlike his own. However, it was
impossible now, after the loud warning which Long John had given, for
them to expect to escape.
Suddenly some one called to them from the border of the swamp, "Come
out of there, Yanks! There isn't any use in trying to get away. The
corduroy is the only safe spot you'll find on either side of the road;
so come out and give yourselves up."
"All right," responded Noel, although, as he spoke, Dennis grasped him
roughly by the shoulder as if he was protesting against the surrender.
"You keep still, Dennis," whispered Noel to his companion. "You leave
this to me and I'll see what can be done. We can't get away, and we
might as well make the best of a bad bargain. We're coming," he again
called aloud.
"Don't try any of your Yankee tricks here," called the voice which had
spoken before.
Noel made no response, and in silence the two young soldiers advanced
and in a brief time found themselves in the presence of a score of men.
They saw that every one was clad in uniform, but it was impossible at
first to determine to which side the men belonged. However, Noel was
convinced that the words of Long John had explained who the men were,
and in spite of the treachery of the negro he at once decided that he
and Dennis must give themselves up.
"Who are you, Yanks?" demanded a man, speaking in a voice which the
boys recognized as the one by which they had been addressed before.
"Step up yere and give an account of yo'selves."
Obediently, Noel and Dennis advanced, and even in the dim light they
were able to see that the man who addressed them wore the uniform of an
officer.
"We are two boys who belong to one of the New York regiments."
"Glad to see you," said the young officer laughingly. "I wish you were
back home where you belong, but as you're down here, I'm glad you met
us. We'll see that you go with the rest of the Yanks, and that you don't
do any more damage to our country. I'm surprised the Yankee soldiers
don't fight better."
The tone in which the officer spoke was almost bantering. Noel's anger
was aroused, but by an effort he restrained himself and said in a low
voice, "You talk very bravely! You'll get over your surprise pretty
soon."
"It will have to be 'pretty soon,' I reckon," said the officer
good-naturedly. "The Yanks have been running so fast and so far that
they haven't gotten their breath yet. About all we have to do nowadays
is to chase the Yankee soldiers. They didn't make a stand at Manassas
either time. They ran from General Lee on the Peninsula, and now, though
they have been running after him up here, they will dodge and run in the
other direction the minute he turns around."
Noel Curtis was unable to reply to the bantering of his captor. It was
true that thus far in the struggle the Army of the Potomac had not
covered itself with glory. In Tennessee and Kentucky, too, at the time,
the Federal forces were meeting with disaster after disaster, and to
many of the faint-hearted supporters of the North it seemed almost as if
the end had come.
"We sure are going to march straight to Philadelphia, and then you won't
be able to stop us before we get into New York and Boston. If we ever
get inside Boston, we'll show some of those fellows a trick or two that
will teach them some things they don't know now. If it hadn't been for
that city I don't believe there would have been any war."
"You don't?" demanded Noel, and in spite of his predicament, he was
interested in what the young officer was saying.
"No, sir! No, sir! There certainly would not have been any war. The
trouble was that Boston thought she not only could attend to her own
business, but that she could direct the business of all the rest of us.
It's a great thing, my son, for a man or for a city to be able to mind
its own business. That's what I say; the cocksureness of the Yanks is so
great that they think they can tell all the rest of the world how to
act."
Noel was listening only in part to the words of the leader of the little
band, from which already wild thoughts of escaping had presented
themselves.
As neither of the young soldiers had been asked to give up his gun,
there were thoughts in Noel's mind of suddenly darting to one side of
the road and trying to flee before the men were aware of his attempt.
But the folly of such an effort was so marked that Noel abandoned every
such suggestion.
"You'll come with us," said the young officer at last, his voice still
not unfriendly.
Under other circumstances Noel knew that he would have been strongly
attracted to the young officer, whom Long John had called "Massa Little
Ben Fowler."
That officer now turned to three of his men, and in a voice so low that
Noel was unable to hear what was said gave them instructions as to what
was to be done with the prisoners. Then, turning once more to the young
soldiers, the leader said, "We'll have to have yo' guns, Yanks. Yo' all
are our prisoners, yo' know, and I cannot permit yo' to retain yo'
weapons. Yo' 'll follow these men," he added, indicating the three who
had been detailed for the duty, "and they'll take yo' where yo' all will
be safe for the night, anyway. The rest of us will stay right yere by
the corduroy road and see if we can't catch some more Yanks in our
trap."
Without a word Noel and Dennis, obediently giving up their rifles,
turned and followed the men who had been detailed to conduct them to
what the young officer had described as a "place of safety."
CHAPTER VIII
UNDER GUARD
Directly back to the road over which the young soldiers had come their
conductors led the way. Both Noel and Dennis were silent, and the
disappointment which had seized upon the young Irishman was so manifest
that even in the dim light Noel was aware of the depression of his
comrade.
Deprived of their weapons and conducted by three armed men, there was no
chance likely to be given for escape, although wild thoughts of trying
to break away were still in the mind of each of the prisoners.
Not a word was spoken by their guard until about a quarter of a mile had
been covered, when one of the Confederates halting, said to the boys,
"We'll turn in here."
As he spoke he pushed some bushes apart, and in a brief time Noel was
able to see that a corduroy path, or roadway, narrower than the one over
which they recently had come was before him. One of the guards now
advanced, while the other two took a position in the rear, and as soon
as the directions were given the entire band began to make its way over
the rough pathway.
Once more silence returned, not to be broken until what Noel assumed
must have been a half-mile had been covered and again they were
approaching more solid ground.
A rough stretch of land lay before them, which was without trees and
apparently without a roadway. Without hesitation their conductors at
once led the boys across the intervening sandy stretch and soon arrived
at a low house, whose walls gleamed almost ghostly in the moonlight.
Whitewash had been applied to the exterior of the rude building and also
had been used upon the farm buildings and the fences that inclosed them.
Advancing to the low, covered piazza, which extended across the entire
front of the house, the approach of the band was speedily discovered by
the inmates, and in a moment a dozen or more soldiers came running out
of the building.
Noel was able to see that every one was clad in the Confederate uniform
and also was armed. At first the house seemed too small to contain so
many men, but when several more emerged from the interior he suspected
that there might be accommodations in the little building which did not
appear upon the surface.
"Here we are, Captain!" called one of the leaders. "We've got two."
"Is that all?"
"Yes, sir. But we'll soon have more. We've got a trap down in the Hedge
Swamp road. It's the only way the men can get through the swamp, and we
have stationed a few of the cavalry at the farther end. Some of the boys
are on the watch on the other side of the swamp, and are doing their
best to drive what Yankees there may be hiding anywhere around here on
to the corduroy road and then they feel safe to leave them. The poor
fools keep right on the road and run directly into the trap Lieutenant
Fowler set fo' them. He is waiting there with about twenty men."
"Is this the first batch you have taken?"
"Yes, sir. We have sent out Long John to help draw the Yankees into the
trap."
The Confederate officer was unaware of the gleam which appeared for a
moment in the eyes of Dennis, and he said lightly, "We'll be ready for
all you can bring us, Tom. We'll put these two fellows in the pen until
we have enough to make it worth while to send them on to Libby."
As he heard the name of the well-known prison in Richmond, Noel's heart
was heavy. Stories were current of the sufferings of the Union prisoners
who had been confined in the famous old warehouse, which had been
transformed early in the war into a prison for the Northern soldiers.
There had come many a tale of daring attempts to escape as well as of
the almost indescribable sufferings of its inmates. Perhaps it was all a
part of the struggle, and yet with the bitterness of the time so keen,
few were in a condition to look with calmness upon the sufferings of the
prisoners of either side in the struggle.
To be sent to Libby Prison! For a moment Noel's thoughts ran back to his
home on the banks of the far-away St. Lawrence. He could see the little
house sheltered by the overhanging maples. There were the red barns just
beyond, and for an instant Noel seemed to catch a glimpse of the line of
cattle slowly moving up the lane toward the barnyard. In the distance
occasional glimpses of the waters of the St. Lawrence, gleaming in the
light of the afternoon sun, were had. His mother was moving quietly
about the kitchen preparing the evening meal. Frank was lying as he
was, when he had last seen him, on the couch in the room where his
mother was busy. His father, perhaps, was singing at his task as he
milked the cows. Even the thought of the stirring words and tunes which
his father best loved to sing failed now to find any response in the
mind of Noel. It was one thing to sing of the glory of war, but it was
another and far different thing to be held as a prisoner in southern
Maryland and to be threatened with confinement in the old prison-house
at Richmond.
However, there was no possibility of evading, at least for the present,
the problem which must be confronted. Soon both Noel and Dennis were
searched and every loose possession was taken from them, to be held
until such a time as the war should cease or the prisoners should be
exchanged. There was another alternative in the thoughts of Noel, but he
did not refer to it. What that was became manifest after several days
had elapsed.
As Noel now glanced about him he was able to discover that very few
negroes were in the house. He was eager to discover the presence of Long
John, but he soon concluded that the treacherous black man had retraced
his way over the corduroy road, and doubtless now was trying to lead
some others of the unfortunate Union soldiers into the same trap in
which he and Dennis had been caught.
A half-hour after they had entered the house, Noel and Dennis were
conducted to a room on the first floor and thrust into it. The evening
was warm and the door was left open, but the guard was stationed
directly in front of it, so that any attempt on the part of the
prisoners to escape would be instantly known.
Noel looked cautiously out of the window in the room, and was aware that
a full guard had been established to patrol the place. At least four of
the Confederate soldiers were assigned to this task, and each one was
responsible for only one side of the house.
The guard that was inside and had charge of the door was good-natured
and looked at his Yankee prisoners with undisguised interest. It was
plain that he did not have any fear of the young prisoners attempting to
escape. Such an effort would be worse than useless, for at least twenty
men were in the band, and the prisoners themselves now were unarmed.
"Whar yo' from?" inquired the guard.
"From New York State," answered Noel quietly.
"I always heard that was a right sma't State. How many Yanks might there
be in it?"
"Enough to put an end to this war if they all would turn out," said
Noel.
"That can't be so, sir," said the guard solemnly.
Noel in the dim light looked more closely at the soldier. He was more
than usually stout and his good nature was apparent, not only in the
tones of his voice, but in the friendly way in which he regarded his
charges.
"Daggone! I don't believe the Yanks can fight, and yet I saw one the
other day who was a great sight and had all gone to pieces."
"Who was he? What about him?" inquired Noel, aware that he was expected
to follow up the implied question of the good-natured guard.
"Why, he had lost one hand; one leg had been shot away; he had only one
eye; he had broken some bones, and a part of his liver had been cut out
of him, and yet he was ready to fight to the last."
"I should n't think he would know who he was," said Dennis. "Faith! An'
ye say he had only one arm, one leg, one eye? An' how about his ears?"
"They were both all right," replied the guard. "His nose looked, though,
as if he dragged it along the ground."
"How did it all happen?" inquired Noel.
"Why, he had been in two battles, and the surgeons had been at work at
him. What our men did not do the surgeons thought they would finish. The
poor chap had to leave the army, but he was game all the way through.
What do you suppose will happen to him in the Resurrection?"
"I haven't looked quite as far ahead as that," said Noel.
"'Tis strange," broke in Dennis, "how much a man can lose of himself,
and still be the same man. Faith! I wouldn't know, if I lost me arm and
me leg and me head and me eyes, whether I was Dennis O'Hara or somebody
else."
"The fellow was game all through, as I said," continued the guard. "I'm
a sharpshooter," he added abruptly.
"Are you?" inquired Noel quickly, though he endeavored to conceal his
interest in the simple statement. Did the man know anything concerning
the skill of Dennis and himself with the rifle? His gun, of which Noel
had been exceedingly proud, had been taken from him. Whether or not the
guard had any suspicions concerning his skill, the fact remained that
without any kind of a weapon those suspicions mattered little.
"Yes," continued the guard. "I was in the pit firing at some Yanks over
there on the Peninsula one time last June. There was a fellow firing
away at me, and he was so good that he made me keep out of sight, too,
most of the time. I thought I had him at the same minute when he thought
he had me. We fired at the same time, and what do you think happened?"
"You both missed?" suggested Dennis.
"No, we didn't; at least both of us didn't miss. The strangest thing
happened."
"What was it?" inquired Noel, apparently still more eagerly.
"Why, would you believe it?" said the soldier, "the bullet of that
Yankee sharpshooter had gone right down the muzzle of my gun. It struck
perfectly square and went into the muzzle the whole length of it."
"And did your bullet do the same thing with his rifle?" inquired Dennis
solemnly.
"I don't know. I never have heard. I did not know but that you might
have heard something about the affair and could tell me what happened
to that Yank. Were you ever down on the Peninsula?"
"Yes, sor," said Dennis promptly.
"Maybe you were down there helping McClellan get away as fast as his
legs could carry him. You made good time!" laughed the guard.
"Faith, and we did," said Dennis, "but not as good as we might have made
if the Johnnies had followed us up. They were so afraid that we would
turn on them and take their little tin capital away from them that they
ran as fast as they could go back to Richmond."
"We weren't running in that direction," said the soldier, unmoved by the
bantering of Dennis. "Don't forget about Manassas. And now we have all
yo' Yanks bottled up right here in Maryland."
"How's that?" asked Noel.
"Why, we'll soon have the garrisons of Harper's Ferry, Martinsburg, and
every other body except McClellan's army, and we have thrown out
Stuart's cavalry so that there won't be a Yank able to get through
either way. It won't do him any good even to try."
"Wait a little while before you say that," suggested Noel, aware that
Dennis was pulling him by his sleeve.
"Whist," whispered Dennis in one of his most penetrating tones. "Don't
talk anymore with the Johnnie. I have something to say to ye that is of
a good deal more importance."
"I'm not interested," replied Noel. "I haven't had any supper, and I'm
hungry, and I want to sleep. Are we going to be fed here?" he asked,
turning to the guard.
"I reckon you will be. When I am relieved I'll see what can be done."
Conversation for a time ceased between the prisoners and their guard,
but the excitement of Dennis was not to be repressed.
When at last he had induced his companion to withdraw from the door, he
drew him into one corner of the room and renewed his whispering. At his
companion's request his voice at last was lowered so that the guard was
unable to hear what was said, and then, in spite of his weariness, in a
moment Noel was eagerly listening to what the young soldier was telling
him.
CHAPTER IX
THE PLOT
"Whist!" said Dennis. "I'm tellin' ye, lad, we must get out o' this
place."
"That's very easy to say."
"Faith, and it's almost as aisy to do."
"Don't talk so loud, Dennis."
"'T is only whispering I am."
"Yes, but you're whispering like a steam-engine letting off steam."
In the dim light the actions of the young soldiers were not clearly seen
by the good-natured guard. In spite of the easy-going manner of the
Confederate in charge of them, Noel was aware that the utmost care must
be used. The man himself had said that he was one of the sharpshooters,
and that he would quickly act if an attempt to break away was made, he
had no doubt.
"'T is silent entirely I am," said Dennis, for a moment dropping his
voice lower. "But have you noticed what there is in the wall above us?"
"No," replied Noel. "What is it?"
As he spoke he looked quickly in the direction indicated by his
companion, but his action was abruptly ended when Dennis roughly seized
him by the shoulder and said almost savagely, "What are you doin', lad?
Don't look there, whatever else you do! Kape your eyes on the floor.
Now, listen to what I am sayin' to ye. In the ceilin' there's a small
slide, leastwise I think it's a slide, though I'm not sure. It may be a
trapdoor that will lift up or somethin' of that kind."
"Yes! Yes! Go on," said Noel eagerly, as his companion stopped a moment.
"Me own thought," continued Dennis, after he was satisfied that the two
prisoners were not observed by their guard, "is that it won't be long
before we'll have a chance to go up into that loft. We'll push back the
door, or the slide, or whatever it is, and if we can do that without
makin' any disturbance, we'll drop it back into place and hold it so
that nobody can get up there. Probably they won't think we have gone up
above, anyway." Dennis laughed lightly as he spoke.
"Just where is that door, Dennis?" inquired Noel.
"Shure, and it's right above your head."
"How are we going to get through it? I mean how will you open it?"
"That remains to be seen," answered Dennis, "but it's shure I am that it
will be aisy."
"But how will you do it?" demanded Noel once more.
"When the time comes," said Dennis, "I'll inform you, but for a spell
we'll have to be careful not to wake the suspicions of the guard."
Walking abruptly from his companion, Dennis approached the soldier and
said lightly, "Aren't you goin' to feed your prisoners pretty soon? Why,
't is night comin' on and we haven't had a bite of any kind since
mornin'."
"I'll see what can be done when I'm relieved," said the soldier. "Now
don't talk to me any more and be on your good behavior, too. I don't
think it will be wise for you and the other Yank to do much whispering,
either. I'm always afraid of Yanks when they get off in a corner,
especially if it's in the dark."
"All right," laughed Dennis. "I'll put the lad over in the other corner
of the room and I'll stay right here by you."
"I don't care where you stay if you'll only keep still. You mustn't talk
to me, because if you do you are likely to get both of us into trouble.
When we get the room full of Yanks, then we'll enforce a little
different discipline."
It was dark when the guard was relieved, but soon after his place had
been taken by one of his companions he returned with some corn-bread and
some "coffee" made of toast. Humble as the fare was, it was eagerly
received by the young prisoners, and when the scanty meal was ended
Dennis said to the guard, "Shure, and you 're goin' to give us a blanket
or somethin' to sleep on, aren't ye?"
"Don't speak to me!" ordered the soldier.
"All right for yez," said Dennis good-naturedly. "If we have to slape on
the floor, we might as well begin to learn how to do the trick now as
any time. Come on, Noel," he called to his companion.
Convinced that their actions were keenly watched by the guard, Dennis
simply dropped upon the floor and bade his companion take his place
beside him. "'Tis hard slapin' here, Noel," he whispered, "but I'm
thinkin' that it won't be long that we'll have to tarry here. I'll tell
ye a bit more about me plans now."
"Don't let the guard hear you whispering," warned Noel.
"Niver a bit," said Dennis, his voice becoming so piercing that Noel
seized his companion's arm as a warning.
"I'm that still," continued Dennis, "that I can hear the mice holdin' a
pow-wow down under the floor. Now listen to me, lad. We can't do
anything to-night, but if the Johnnies don't put too many men in here
with us, it may be that to-morrow night or the night after that we can
begin our escape."
"How?" inquired Noel eagerly.
"Well, I was tellin' ye about the trapdoor, or the slide. I'm a bit
fearful o' this fellow on guard now, so that we won't try that out
to-night, but lave it to some other time. And I'm hopin' that to-morrow
night will be the darkest ever known. I'll get you to hold me up on your
shoulders, and then if you brace yoursilf against the wall, I'll see if
the door cannot be pushed back. I fancy that will be all we'll be able
to do the first night, but if I find that the thing works, then within a
night or two we can try it over again, and I'll push the door back with
me hands and then I'll climb up and hide in the loft."
"And leave me down in the room below, I suppose?"
"Not a bit of it, lad! Not a bit of it! I'll take hold of your hands and
lift you clear up where I am. Then we'll let down the door, and put it
back in its place and put a bar across it, or hold it with our hands, so
that no one can get up there, though I'm thinkin' no one will ever
suspect us of havin' gone up through the roof."
"What good would it do you to be in that room instead of in this?"
inquired Noel. "You won't be able to get away."
"Indade, an' I will, if the night is dark enough," said Dennis. "Did you
notice the magnolia tree growin' close to the side of the house?"
"Which side?"
"The one toward the barn."
"No. What about it?"
"Well, it's growin' close up, right under the eaves of the house. 'T is
big enough and strong enough to hold a man, and if the night is as dark
as we hope it will be, we'll slide out of the window, for there is a
window right by the tree, and if we are still enough we'll be able to
slip down it without disturbin' anybody."
"I'm afraid the loft will be the first place the men will search after
they find we are gone."
"Don't you belave it!" whispered Dennis positively. "I've got a bit o'
string in me pocket, an' if I can find a small sthick I'll fix the
window in the room here so that the sthick will let down the window an'
in the racket they will think we have gone straight through the bars."
Dubious as Noel was about the outcome of the proposed plan of escape, he
nevertheless was inclined to share in this project of his companion.
Whatever might be the peril, and that it would not be slight he was well
aware, it was to be preferred to being sent to Libby Prison.
Outside the windows were heavy oak bars that could neither be broken nor
removed. If the window was raised, so confident were the soldiers in
charge that their prisoners would not be able to escape, it might be
lowered in such a manner as Dennis had described, and the clatter which
would surely follow might distract the attention of the guard if the
loft once could be gained by the two soldiers.
The "sthick" to which Dennis had referred might be tied by a string that
he would attach to it and then drawn up to the loft before the door was
replaced, and before the guard was fully aware of what had occurred.
The same night two more prisoners were received and were placed in the
room in which Dennis and Noel were confined. The men, however, were
strangers to the boys, and Dennis declared that they could not be
sharers in his project unless the attempt necessarily should be delayed
several days. By that time they might be able to learn more of the
character of their fellow prisoners.
There were thoughts at times in Noel's mind that it might be well for
him or his companion to make the first attempt to escape alone. The
peril was so great and the chance of success so slight that to him it
seemed to be folly to divide the risk. If success should crown the
efforts of one, it would be a small matter for the other to follow. The
thought, however, that it would be impossible for any one without aid to
secure an entrance into the loft caused him to banish the suggestion
from his mind. By common consent the two new prisoners slept on the
opposite side of the room.
Dennis and Noel had retained the place which they at first took for
their resting-place, directly beneath the slide in the ceiling.
"To-night we must make a try of it," whispered Dennis on the evening
which followed the arrival of their companions. "I'll see what can be
done with that door, anyway."
There was no light in the room, but the dull glow that came through the
door opening into the hallway enabled them to see that the guard was
sitting quietly in his chair in a position from which he could, if
necessary, see much that was occurring within the room.
Cautiously withdrawing from the direct line of vision, Dennis and Noel
crawled nearer the wall. Dennis had removed his shoes before either of
the boys had stretched themselves on the floor for the night. Not a word
was spoken. Acting promptly Noel braced himself against the side wall
and assisted his companion to mount to his shoulders.
Dennis, who was a powerful lad, at once scrambled to the position, and,
hesitating only an instant to discover whether or not his action had
been seen, cautiously lifted his hands and tried the slide in the
ceiling directly above him.
In a moment the two young soldiers again took their position upon the
floor, each greatly excited and both relieved when after a few moments
had passed they were convinced that their actions had not been seen by
the guard.
"'T is all right, Noel," whispered Dennis. "The door up there slides
back. I can slide it open without any trouble. Now if we can find a
piece of sthick, we'll rig our trick for to-morrow night."
It was difficult for Noel, throughout the hours of the following day, to
repress the excitement under which he was laboring. His uncertainty at
times and his fears lest the guard should discover their attempts almost
caused him to decide to protest against the adventure. The thought,
however, of what freedom would mean was sufficiently strong to overcome
his fears and every time his decision became stronger.
With Dennis, there was no hesitation. Indeed, it almost appeared as if
the perilous attempt had no danger at all for the young Irish soldier.
He watched the clouds and beamed upon his companion when the guard was
changed, and said, "It looks like we're goin' to have a big rain
to-night. It's too early for the equinox, but I reckon we all will have
to take it when it comes. I reckon, too," he added, "that we all shan't
stay here much longer. We'll be sending you Yanks on to Richmond to join
your friends."
The prophecy of the guard in part was fulfilled as the day drew to its
close, and when the light disappeared the rain was falling heavily.
CHAPTER X
INTO THE STORM
When darkness fell over the land the violence of the storm increased.
The whistling of the wind and the swaying of the branches could be heard
within the building.
"This is just what we want," whispered Dennis.
"Yes," replied Noel, though his fears were not allayed by the confidence
of his comrade. "You must wait a while, Dennis," he added.
"Indade, and I'll wait," replied the young Irishman. "We want to be
shure that every wan is aslape before we begin."
As the hours passed and the fierceness of the storm increased, and the
sound of the pelting raindrops was heard as they struck the sides of the
building, the monotony of it all served as an inducement for sleep. It
was not long before the sounds which came from their fellow prisoners
convinced both the young soldiers that the men were sleeping soundly.
The guard in the hallway was plainly within sight seated in a chair
which was tipped back against the wall. A lighted candle was shining in
each end of the hall, and though the light was dim every movement of a
person near by could be plainly seen.
Fortunately the light of the candles did not fall directly upon the
ceiling in the room where the prisoners were confined.
"It must be eliven o'clock," whispered Dennis. "Don't you think so,
Noel?"
"Yes."
"It's time for us to begin."
"Yes," again assented Noel.
"Kape still now, while I take off me shoes again. You'd better take
yours off, too."
"We'll want them if we ever get out of this place," suggested Noel.
"That's right. Shure we will. You'll have to pass them up to me after I
have climbed into the loft."
Noel made no further protests, and Dennis at once prepared to carry out
the plan which he had so carefully devised.
Silently both young soldiers removed their shoes, and then, without
delaying a moment, as soon as Noel had braced himself against the side
of the wall, Dennis clambered to his shoulders and then waited a brief
instant to discover whether or not the guard was aware of any unusual
activities among his prisoners.
The silence was unbroken, and Dennis, as soon as he was convinced that
the suspicions of their guard had not been aroused, slowly and
cautiously began to slide back the opening into the loft.
More time was consumed in this endeavor than either of the boys had
expected. Several times the door seemed to stick in its place, and only
by the utmost care was the young Irishman able to push it past the
obstacle without making any noise. At last, however, his effort was
crowned with success and a narrow opening above him was cleared.
To Noel, who was upholding his burden, the efforts of his friend
appeared to be unduly prolonged. It seemed to him that he could not
longer maintain his position and that he must let Dennis fall to the
floor.
Aware, however, that such an action on his part would certainly arouse
the guard, he braced himself once more and did his utmost to stand
steadily in his place.
His relief was great when Dennis, firmly grasping with a hand each side
of the floor above him, quickly raised himself and crawled into the
loft. Noel instantly stooped and taking the heavy shoes held them
toward the ceiling.
In the darkness it was with difficulty that Dennis at last was able to
see and seize them, and then, as soon as he had placed them carefully on
the floor of the loft, he reached down to grasp the uplifted hands of
Noel.
Securing a firm hold upon each of Noel's wrists, Dennis, bracing
himself, slowly and steadily lifted his companion. In a brief time Noel
was able to grasp the sides of the floor and thereby assist his
companion. The slightest noise might mean the death of either of the
escaping soldiers, and yet, dire as was the peril, Noel's heart seemed
somehow almost to be numb at the time. He did not even consider the
possibility that confronted him. His main endeavor was to clamber into
the loft noiselessly and thereby avoid arousing the Confederate guard.
At last Noel was standing beside Dennis, and with the utmost caution the
latter at once pushed back the slide into its place.
The falling of the raindrops on the roof, which was directly above them,
helped drown any noise that the guard might make below. The whistling of
the wind as it swayed the branches of the near-by tree was weird. Even
the beating of their hearts seemed to sound so loudly that each was able
to share in his companion's feelings.
Both young soldiers were listening intently for any disturbances that
might be made in the room below them. A faint light entered the room
through the one window, which was near the tree. This, however, was
sufficient, after the lapse of a few minutes, to enable both boys dimly
to discern the outlines of the room in which they were standing.
"Whist!" whispered Dennis. "They haven't heard us. 'T is a fine day for
us."
"Wait," said Noel.
"No, I'm not goin' to wait," retorted Dennis. "What we want to do is to
lave at once. The more we wait, the longer we'll have to stay. Every
minute here means a month in Libby Prison."
The window was closed, but one of the small panes was broken, and
without much difficulty the boys succeeded in removing the sash.
A heavy downpour of rain and a fresh shriek from the storm served to
cause both boys to pause once more and listen for further sounds of
discovery from the room below. Apparently, however, their escape had
not as yet been discovered, and eagerly both prepared to descend by the
way of the tree to the ground.
In order to gain a more secure foothold and at the same time avoid
making any noise, each of the boys had tied his shoes together and hung
them about his neck.
Dennis first peered out of the window, and when he withdrew his head he
whispered to Noel, "I cannot see the guard anywhere. I guess the
Johnnies don't like the rain and have gone in out of the wet."
Noel was too excited to respond to the suggestion and eagerly said, "Go
on, Dennis! Go ahead! Don't wait a minute."
"Here I go, then!" said Dennis, as, leaning from the window, he grasped
the extended branches of the tree which reached to within a few inches
of the side of the house.
Noel breathlessly watched his companion, at the same time seeking to
discover whether the descent of Dennis was known to any one below. The
young soldier had no conception of the minutes that passed, but it
seemed to him a long time before the young Irishman at last disappeared
from sight, evidently having successfully gained the ground.
Without hesitating longer, Noel instantly prepared to follow. As he
seized the extended branch his hands for a moment slipped, and it was
only with difficulty that he retained his hold and prevented himself
from falling to the ground. The branch creaked ominously and the alarm
of the young soldier was increased by his fear that it would fail to
sustain him. Noel was strong and nimble, however, and soon secured a
firmer grip, and convinced that his departure from the building as yet
had not been discovered, he rapidly made his way to the ground, and then
without delaying a moment ran swiftly in the direction of the barn.
All the time he was fearful of a shot from the guard in or about the
house. Perhaps fear gave him additional speed. At all events, in a brief
time he gained the shelter he was seeking, and at once, keeping well
within the lee of the barn, peered anxiously at the place from which he
had fled.
The noise of the storm was the only sound to be heard. The faint light
that was shining from the window of the hall where the guard had been
stationed was the only bright spot in the midst of the surrounding
darkness. There were no indications of pursuit and no sound which
indicated that his flight had become known.
But where was Dennis? For the first time Noel became aware that he and
his friend had not made any plans as to their meeting in case both were
successful in escaping from the house.
Eagerly the boy looked all about him, but there was no sign of his
friendly comrade. For a moment Noel was undecided. Should he remain
where he was and wait the possible coming of Dennis? Or should he at
once depart from the place, now that he had succeeded in gaining the
shelter of the barn, and strive to make his way as best he might to the
road which joined the one that led through the swamp?
Noel Curtis was too highly wrought up to hesitate long. Safely making
his way toward the opposite side of the barn, he then started swiftly in
the direction in which the longed-for road was to be found. He had only
a faint recollection of the direction, however, and the night was too
dark to enable him to discover any familiar signs.
Before he had fled twenty yards he was drenched with the downpour. That
fact, however, was of minor consequence, and in his eagerness, although
he frequently was slipping and sliding as his feet failed to gain a firm
foothold in the slippery mud, it was not long before Noel found himself
at the place he was seeking. He had believed that no guard would be
stationed there in such a night. Not only was the storm so violent as to
make it well-nigh impossible for a man and his horse to remain outside,
but the darkness would enable any Northern soldiers who might have
crossed the corduroy road to escape the vision of the waiting
Confederate.
Noel's surprise and pleasure were great when he discovered that the road
over which he was running was a plank road. When he had fled about one
hundred yards, almost breathless he halted to discover whether or not
there were any signs of pursuit.
Convinced that his escape as yet was unknown, the lad seated himself on
a plank in a small bridge and donned the shoes which he had been
carrying about his neck. Then he resumed his flight through the driving
storm.
CHAPTER XI
NICK
The brief respite had so restored the strength of the young soldier that
he ran swiftly over the loose planks until he had gone several yards
from the place where he had stopped.
Compelled then to slacken his pace, he glanced anxiously about him as he
moved on through the unfamiliar country. The storm was still severe,
though heavy, broken clouds now were to be seen in the darkened sky.
Noel was fleeing through a country with which he not only was not
familiar, but which also provided many perils of its own. Fortunately,
as he believed, there were few people whom he was likely to meet at such
a time and in a pouring rain. The thought of Stuart's cavalry, however,
caused him to be doubly watchful, for he knew of the report that
horsemen had been thrown out to intercept any stragglers that might be
striving to make their way to the army of General McClellan.
An hour or more elapsed, and as yet Noel had not discovered any one on
the old roadway. Once when he had passed a humble cabin the barking of
the dogs had caused him to hesitate. He was defenseless and was unaware
of the sympathies of the inmates of the little house. The uncertainty,
however, caused him to resume his flight, although he still was ignorant
of his destination.
His chief thought was that, by placing the greatest possible distance
between him and the enemies whom he had left behind him, he might then
be able to obtain help or find a place in which he could hide throughout
the day and resume his flight when night again came. Even in his alarm
and perplexity, he smiled as he recalled the statement of Dennis, when
the young Irishman had outlined his plan for escape, "that he didn't
know where he was going, but he knew he wanted to go there mighty quick,
and he wanted to go mighty bad."
The night now was almost gone. Noel was aware of this from the slight
change that appeared in the eastern sky. There was as yet no promise of
the passing of the storm, though its violence had markedly decreased.
It was strange, the young soldier thought, that all through the hours of
his flight he had not discovered any of his enemies. At that moment,
however, Noel saw coming from a lane at the left of the road a man who
was carrying a burden in each hand. Around his neck hung a yoke the
cords of which were attached to bundles.
It was too dark to enable Noel to determine whether or not the man was a
soldier. He halted abruptly, and, prepared to flee instantly if occasion
should demand, eagerly watched the approaching stranger. As yet he
apparently was unaware of the presence of Noel in the road. Suddenly,
however, he glanced in the direction of the young soldier.
The man's alarm was so manifest at his discovery that under other
circumstances Noel would have laughed heartily. The light was
sufficiently strong to enable him to see now that the man was not a
soldier, and a moment later, when the stranger spoke, the young
soldier's fears were relieved when it became manifest that he was a
negro.
"Who dat? Who dat?" asked the colored man as he stopped abruptly.
"Where did you come from?" demanded Noel, striving to speak sternly.
"Yas, suh! Yas, suh!" replied the negro. "Is yo' all come from--"
Whatever the place from which the negro thought he came, he did not
complete his sentence, and consequently Noel was left in ignorance.
"Who lives here?" demanded Noel.
"Massa Hilton."
"Is he home?"
"No, suh. Yas, suh. I don' jest 'member whether he's home or not,"
stammered the negro.
Noel's experiences with Long John had made him somewhat suspicious of
the colored people of the region. He decided that he would be extremely
cautious, and at once said, "In which direction are you going?"
"Yas, suh! Yas, suh!" replied the negro.
"Come on, then," said Noel. "I'm going in the same direction."
The colored man hesitated a moment, and then as he moved nearer he was
convinced that he did not need to fear the young stranger and obediently
joined him.
As soon as they had advanced beyond the point in the road which hid the
little house from their sight, Noel turned to his companion and said,
"What are you doing--leaving home at this time of night?"
"I don' lib dar," replied the negro promptly. "I b'long to Massa Frost."
"Where does he live?"
"Fo' or five miles up yonder," replied the negro, pointing ahead of him
as he spoke.
"What are you doing down here, and what are you leaving at this time in
the night for?"
"Is yo' all a Union sojer?" asked the negro abruptly.
"Do I look like it?"
"Yas, suh; though yo' clothes is so covered with mud I dess can't tell
'xactly what you are."
"What would you say if I was?"
"I want to know whether yo' is or yo' isn't befo' I answers dat ar
question."
"All right," laughed Noel, who was convinced now that in no event should
he have to fear his colored companion.
The house had been safely passed and the negro apparently was
inoffensive and harmless. Noel was still watchful for the appearance of
any of Stuart's men, for whom he entertained a feeling of most wholesome
respect.
"What's your name?" he asked again as he turned to his companion.
"Yas, suh! Yas, suh!" replied the negro. "My name's Nick."
"Are you related to 'Nicodemus, a slave, of African birth,' and did you
call your friends to 'meet you down by the swamp and wake you up for
the great jubilee'?" The young soldier was speaking in apparent
seriousness and his companion stopped abruptly and stared at the man who
had asked him these strange questions.
"No, suh," he said. "I never kno' nuthin' 'bout no swamp. Wha's dat yo'
all is tellin' 'bout anyway?"
In a low voice Noel began to sing the song which was familiar even in
his far-away home on the St. Lawrence,--
"Nicodemus, the slave, was of African birth,
And he died years ago very old.
Wake me up was his plea--"
"Yas, suh," said the negro, "but it's not dis yere Nick. Dat's some oder
Nick. I know milliums of darkies named Nick."
"Nick," demanded Noel abruptly, "do you know any men around here who are
friends of the Union?"
"Yas, suh. I sho'ly does," replied the negro, so promptly that the young
soldier at once decided that he might rely upon his friendship.
"Are any of the men at home now?"
"Yas, suh. Yas, suh. Massa Hilton, back yonder; I reckon he mought be er
Union man."
"Is your master?"
"Yas, suh. Massa Hilton's brother Sam, he's fo' de South. I reckon it
almost comes to blows when dey talks about de war."
"Isn't either of them in the army?"
"Yas, suh; Massa Sam Hilton, he's in de 'fed'ate a'my."
"But this Mr. Hilton who lives back in the house we passed, he's not a
soldier, you say?"
"No, suh. No, suh."
"You're sure he's a good friend of the Union men?"
"He sho'ly am."
"Then I'm going back there," said Noel, stopping as he spoke and turning
abruptly about.
Nick in surprise also stopped and looked at his companion. "Is yo' all a
Union sojer?"
"I am, and I want to go where I can find somebody who will be good to me
for a day or two. You say you're sure Mr. Hilton will be glad to see
me?"
"I can't jes' say as how he will be glad to see yo'," replied the negro,
shaking his head slowly.
"But you said he would," interrupted Noel.
"No, suh; 'scuse me. What I done say was dat he would be good to yo'. I
don' know as Massa Hilton will be _glad_ to see a Union sojer des'
now."
"Why not?"
"Dar's some special reasons what I don't recomember," replied Nick,
speaking in such a manner that Noel's suspicions again were aroused.
"But you say he's a Union man?"
"Yas, suh. Yas, suh, he sure am."
"Why won't he be glad to see me?"
"I done tell yo', suh, des' now dat dere's all dis yere trouble what am
goin' on. I reckon dey isn't nobody what's glad to have a sojer come to
his house des' now."
"Oh, I see," said Noel slowly; "but if I do come he will take care of me
for a day or two? Then I'm going back there. What have you got in your
bundle, Nick?"
"Nothin' much. Des' some stuff what Massa Frost done tol' me fo' toe git
at Massa Hilton's."
"Why do you call for it in the night? Why don't you go out in the
daytime?"
"I'se feared some of the sojers mought see me if I start after sunup--"
"You're more afraid they will take away from you what you have in those
bundles."
"Dere ain't nuthin' in dis yere bundle. I mus' be goin' on," Nick added
excitedly. "I mus' git toe Massa Frost's befo' sunup."
"Well, good luck to you," laughed Noel. "I hope you won't fall in with
any of Stuart's cavalry, and I hope a good deal more that I shan't, but
I'm going back to that house."
The young soldier was aware that he was incurring great risk in his
venture, but he was wet and weary, and it had been long since he had
tasted food. He might be hidden about the place somewhere and fed for a
day or two, when matters might so shape themselves that he would be able
to join the main army of McClellan, which he knew could not be very far
away.
Acting at once upon his decision, Noel rapidly retraced his steps and
soon arrived at a place from which he was able to see the house and the
few low outbuildings that were in the rear. He stopped a moment and
listened intently. The rain had almost stopped, though the air was heavy
with mist. Not a sound broke the silence.
Cautiously approaching the house, Noel turned from the roadside and
started toward the building. He was watchful, for not only was there
peril from men who might be within, but also from the huge dogs which
he knew were common in the region.
When at last he approached the grounds of the house he stopped once more
and again listened intently. Still the silence was unbroken and there
was no appearance of danger.
He decided to go to the door, which he believed would be in the rear of
the house and that opened into the kitchen. Perhaps he might there find
a shelter or some place of refuge which would protect him in a measure
from the night. If such a place should be found, he planned to wait
there until daylight before making his presence known to the inmates of
the house.
To his great delight Noel discovered a lean-to or shed in the rear of
the house. The floor was of brick, and though it was too dark to enable
him to see what was inside, the fact that no dogs had challenged his
coming encouraged him to enter. Stepping inside, he turned to look once
more out into the night and make certain that his movements had not been
seen.
The young soldier was startled when, appearing around the corner of one
of the low buildings, he saw a man, who in the dim light seemed to loom
head and shoulders above the height of an ordinary human being. At first
Noel almost believed that it was the negro, Long John, by whom he had
been led into the trap set by the Confederate soldiers. Certainly the
man was as tall as the negro, but there was something in his movements
which convinced the watching boy after a brief interval that this man
was not colored.
Suddenly it occurred to him that the proprietor of the place, the man of
whom Nick had spoken as "Massa Hilton," might be the one who was
approaching, though why he should be out of the house at such a time and
in such a night the lad could not understand. Boldly advancing from his
hiding-place, Noel approached the startled stranger, and in a low voice
hailed him.
CHAPTER XII
THE GIANT
"Who's that? Who's that?" demanded the man in a voice which did not
betray any alarm. Indeed, the huge form seemed to loom even larger
before Noel in the dim light. It was plain that the man was not in any
fear, and his deep, guttural voice produced a peculiar effect upon the
listening young soldier.
Noel glanced hastily about him, somehow fearful now of others
approaching from the barns. He had heard numerous stories concerning the
bowie-knives with which it had been reported many of the Southern
soldiers were armed. To the imagination of the young soldier not only
did the size of the man who had halted before him seem to increase, but
now he was fearful of enemies approaching from the rear. With all his
heart he wished that he had never listened to the words of Nick. In his
alarm it seemed almost as if his cap was being lifted by his hair and
cold chills were passing up and down his spine.
The strange man slowly advanced, and in a manner which still betrayed
more of curiosity than of fear came closer to the frightened young
soldier and looked intently into his face.
"Who are you, sir?" he demanded coolly. "What are you doing out here at
this time of the night?"
"That's just what I was going to ask you," spoke up Noel, determined to
be as bold as circumstances permitted.
"Oh!" the giant replied in unchanged tones. "I thought I heard some
disturbance among the cattle and I came out to see if anything was
wrong."
When the man spoke, he advanced as if he was about to pass the young
soldier and enter the house. He was walking with a slow, calm, and
almost measured stride.
He had, however, gone but a few yards before he halted once more, and
turning again toward the young soldier remarked in an indifferent way,
"'T is a pretty evening, sir."
Noel was well aware that the evening was being far from "pretty." The
darkness still was intense and the dampness which had followed the storm
had produced a chill under which the lad was shivering.
Taken aback by the cool assurance of the giant, when the man resumed
his walk, he had advanced halfway to the house before Noel again hailed
him. "Look here, my friend," he called; "I'm sorry to detain you, but
the captain might wish to see you."
"Well?" inquired the giant in a drawling tone.
"Who lives in this house?" demanded Noel.
"I do."
"Is this house frame or brick?"
"I don't know why it concerns you, but it's a frame house, not a brick."
"Are you the owner of this house?"
"I reckon I am."
"What are you doing out here this time of night?"
"I told you, sir, that I went out to quiet a disturbance among the
cattle."
"Can you tell me where Mr. Hilton lives?"
"Yes, sir."
"Where does he live?"
"He lives here."
"Are you Mr. Hilton?"
"I reckon that's what my neighbors sometimes call me."
"Are you a Union man?"
"How does that concern you?" demanded the man, still without betraying
any signs either of fear or interest.
"Because I'm a Union soldier myself."
Still the interest of the man apparently was not aroused. Calmly he
asked, "And what may you want of me if you're what you say you are?"
"If you'll take me into the house I'll explain to you." Noel glanced
about as he spoke, for the fear of men stealing upon him through the
darkness was still strong upon him.
"I reckon we can talk where we are," said the man at last.
"Well," said Noel, determined, now that he had revealed his identity,
that he would venture to tell the rest of his story. "I came through the
valley from Harper's Ferry and was taken prisoner by some of the
Johnnies, but managed to get away. I have been traveling all night long
and am soaked through and tired and hungry, and if you're what I
understand you are, a friend of the Union cause, I hope you'll take me
into your house and let me dry my clothes and give me something to
eat--"
"And bring a dozen bands of Confederates around me like hornets," broke
in the man, though still he was not excited and was speaking in the
calm, deliberate tones which he had before used. "I have had trouble
enough with my secesh neighbors. How do I know who you are or that you
are what you tell me you are?" he demanded once more.
"You can see for yourself when we go where there is a light."
"I reckon you can come in," said the man at last; and eagerly Noel
followed him as he led the way into the house.
As soon as they entered, the stranger seated himself near the door and
bade Noel take a chair near him. A candle had been lighted and placed
upon a rude table, and its beams enabled the young soldier to see more
clearly the strange man before him. In spite of his apparent
indifference Noel was suspicious that he was more excited than he cared
to have his visitor know.
"What's all this rumpus?"
Noel looked up as he heard the words shrilly spoken and saw a woman
standing in the doorway of a room which adjoined the kitchen.
"Who's this yo' have brought home, Jim?" she asked of Noel's host. Her
words plainly were disturbing. She was a short, stout woman. Her hair
was hanging down her back, and around her shoulders was a shawl which
reached almost to her knees.
Startled as Noel had been by the sound of her voice, he hastily
concluded, as soon as he was aware of the response which the tall man
made to her words, that if he was supposedly the head of the house,
evidently she controlled the head.
"That's just like yo'," she said tartly. "I've got all the mouths I want
to feed now, and yo' keep bringing people in here--"
"Sh-h-h, Sairy Ann. This yere man is a Union soldier--"
"How do yo' know he is?"
"He told me so."
"Yo' can't believe everybody," said the woman. "Ever since all this
trouble with the secesh began, nobody can trust his best friend. If I
had my way about it, I would put somebody in command of the Union
soldiers that would do something. They wouldn't be runnin' at Bull Run
the way they did, and I reckon Pope led the way, too, and probably made
better time than any of them. Before McClellan gets his eyes open, I
reckon the whole o' Maryland and Harper's Ferry, too, will run to join
Lee's army. Pretty kind of men we have fighting for the Union! How do
yo' know he is a Union soldier?" she repeated.
"If you'll hold the candle you can see for yourself, if there's any of
the cloth of my uniform that will show through the mud," said Noel
good-naturedly.
In spite of her apparent harshness, the young soldier was convinced that
she was not so unfriendly as her words at first implied.
Taking him at his word, the woman advanced, and holding the candle above
her head looked keenly at the intruder. "Yo' don't look so dreadful
deceitful," she admitted, "but a body never can tell. Fine feathers
sometimes make fine birds, and maybe yo' put on those clothes because
yo' want to get into our house. Jim has the name of being a friend of
the Union, but he's just about as lively as McClellan. I had to make him
go out to see what was the matter with the cattle. They are all right,
are they, Jim?" she demanded, turning once more to the man who plainly
was her husband.
"Yas, Sairy Ann," he replied; "I reckon they got a bit restless endurin'
the storm."
"Yo' didn't see any signs of men being around?"
"This is the only man I saw."
"Well, they will be here pretty quick, I reckon," she declared. "If the
secesh find out that there is a cow left on the place they will come for
it. I reckon they have been here already. Jim isn't much of a
protection, except to look at," she added, turning again to her visitor.
Under other circumstances Noel would have laughed at her words, for the
huge Jim plainly was in full subjection to the little woman who was
talking so volubly.
"What did yo' stop here for?" she abruptly demanded.
"I have been running almost all night," explained Noel, "and I found a
negro out here. He said that Mr. Hilton was a friend of the Union. I
thought morning would be here pretty soon and I didn't know just where
to go. I'm a stranger in this part of the country."
"Whare yo' from?" asked the woman.
"New York State."
"I reckon that's a right sma't way from here. Well, I won't turn yo' out
if yo' are the first cousin to Beelzebub such a night as this. Are you
hungry?"
"I am. But I won't disturb you. If you'll let me lie down here on the
floor, I'll wait until you have your breakfast."
"Yo'll do nothin' of the kind," said the woman brusquely.
"Do you want me to leave now?"
"Who said anything about your leavin'?" she demanded sharply.
"I did," said Noel.
"Well, I'm goin' to dry yo' out first. Yo' 're one mass of mud from head
to heels. Yo' all go into that room," she added, pointing as she spoke
to another little room that opened out of the kitchen, "and put your
clothes outside the door. I reckon I'll have to bake 'em, before I ever
can get 'em clean."
The woman's friendliness was so manifest that in spite of his suspicions
Noel promptly decided to obey.
"Don't yo' be afraid," continued the woman, when Noel at last had
carried out her directions, and had thrown his soaked and muddy uniform
outside the door, as she had suggested. "I'm goin' to look out for yo'.
Yo' aren't much more 'n a baby, anyway. I wonder that your mother should
ever let yo' come so far away from home. Much good yo' can do, fighting
these secesh! Now, yo' get into bed and when I have your breakfast
cooked I'll set it here by the door. Yo' can help yourself then, and
after yo' have had all yo' want, yo' get back into bed an' stay there
until I tell yo' to get up. I'm thinkin' the bed is about as safe a
place as yo' can find in these days. It's been nothin' but soldiers
marchin' up and down, back and forth, in and out, to and fro, for the
past week! They seem to be goin' about like old Satan and roarin' like a
lion seekin' whom they may devour."
The tall host whom Noel had followed into the house had remained seated
near the door throughout the interview. In spite of his indifferent
manner, the young soldier was startled when several times he was
suspicious that the man was listening for the approach of some one. He
glanced frequently toward the door, and there was an air of anxiety or
expectation in every movement he made. However, Noel had been so tired
and now was so refreshed by the simple food which the woman soon
provided for him that he dismissed his fears from his mind and soon was
sleeping soundly.
He was awakened by the sound of voices in the adjoining room. It was
daylight now and his bedroom was flooded with sunshine. It was, however,
the conversation in the kitchen that chiefly interested the young
soldier, and in a brief time he was keenly excited by what he heard. He
looked about the room for his uniform, but it was nowhere to be seen.
Meanwhile from the parts of the conversation which he overheard, he was
convinced that the visitor was a soldier in the Confederate army.
CHAPTER XIII
FRIENDS OF THE UNION
Noel's excitement gave place to alarm as he listened to the conversation
in which the two men were engaged.
The lack of his uniform prevented him from trying to leave his room, and
as yet he was uncertain whether or not the visitor even was aware that a
young soldier of the Union was in the house.
For a time Noel listened intently, striving to discover something which
would give him the information he desired; but the words of the visitor,
whose part in the conversation was much greater than that of his tall
host, did not imply that he was suspicious.
There were moments when snatches of the conversation almost convinced
Noel that the man was a spy. It was plain that he was more or less
familiar with the conditions existing in the Union army, but how he had
obtained such detailed information was something the listening young
soldier was unable to explain.
"Where is McClellan now?" inquired Jim.
"Up near Frederick City."
"What's he doin' there?"
"What has he been doin' ever since he has been made commander?" laughed
the visitor. "He's waitin', that's what he is, and if he keeps it up a
little longer he won't have any more waitin' to do."
"Why not?"
"Because our army will snap him up between its jaws. I reckon there
weren't many men in the whole army of General Lee who thought it was a
good thing to divide his forces as he did when he sent McLaws and Walker
after Martinsburg and Harper's Ferry. Why, man alive, Lee split his army
right in two, and then put a good bit of distance between the two parts!
If McClellan knew enough about it, and if he is very much of a general
he would know, he would throw his whole force against either of these
divisions and smash it to pieces, before the other could come to its
help. As it is, he's still tryin' to make up his mind, I reckon, and the
result is that he's goin' to be caught between these two divisions just
like a mouse is caught between the jaws of a cat. We have got him just
as shore as you are born."
"I don't believe it," said Jim slowly.
"It doesn't make any difference whether you believe it or not, that's
what's going to happen," laughed the visitor.
"Now you say that Stuart's cavalry has been thrown out in such a way
that little Mac can't get any information about what Lee's plans are?"
"That's true enough, and yet, if McClellan had even a few men like those
that are gettin' information for General Lee, he ought to know about
it."
Noel fancied he could detect an importance in the words just spoken
which confirmed him in his belief that the man in the other room was a
spy from Lee's army. His excitement increased as his conviction gained
in power, and he almost groaned as he realized how helpless he was.
Deprived of his uniform, without any weapon of defense, he was powerless
to interfere with the man or his plans.
"I reckon Little Mac will give a good account of himself befo' long,"
said Jim positively.
"He'll have to make haste about it, then. He left Washin'ton with an
army of nearly eighty-five thousand men. He ought to do something with
such a body as that. Why, only last night, if he had made a night
march, he mought have got in possession of both Gaps--"
"What Gaps?"
"Why, Crampton's Gap and Turner's. He's lost his chance, though."
"You know a right sma't lot, don't you?" inquired Jim.
"That's my business."
"Well, I haven't any curiosity about this thing," said Jim, shaking his
head slowly as he spoke. "I'm satisfied to stay right here and be true
to the old flag. There comes Sairy Ann," he added, as Noel heard the
sounds of the voices of women approaching from the stairway, which the
night before he had seen was on the opposite side of the room. It was
manifest now that Sairy Ann also had her visitor, and as the two women
entered the room both men became silent.
"I done tole yo' how it is," Sairy Ann was saying. "I've said to yo'
many times, 'Liza, that I wouldn't stand for no sech foolishness. I don'
like the secesh. I never did and I never shall, and if yo' 're
determined to be secesh yourself, then yo' 'll have to take the
consequences! I don't mind tellin' yo' all as how I hev made my will."
"Hev ye?" inquired the other woman, the tones of her voice implying
that she was at once deeply interested.
"Yes, I hev, and instead of leaving yo' all the money I promised yo',
I've willed yo' a pair o' my shoestrings."
"I don' believe yo' hev done any sech thing, Sairy Ann!" protested the
other woman.
"I don't care whether yo' believe it or not. That's jest exactly what I
hev done. I hev set it down pertic'lar,--'To my oldest sister, 'Liza, I
give, bequeath and leave and likewise devise one pair of shoestrings.'"
"Well, I'd rather hev a pair of shoestrings and be loyal to my State
than I would to hev all your money and be a Yank."
"Of course, _you_ would, 'Liza," snapped Sairy Ann. "That's because yo'
don't know no mo'. If yo' knew mo', yo' wouldn't talk sech nonsense."
Whether or not the woman's argument was deemed sufficient, at all events
the conversation abruptly ceased when the visiting man said, "Now, I hev
come fo' yo' yere, 'Liza, and I don't intend to stay very long. You hev
got to make up your mind right sma't whether yo' 're goin' to come with
me, or whether yo' 're going to stay here with your sister."
"That's right," sobbed Eliza. "That's right. First Sairy Ann picks on me
and then my own husband he picks on me, too. I'm jest distracted. I
don't want to stay and I don't want to go."
"Yo' 're as bad as McClellan," broke in her husband. "I've come ten
miles out o' my way just toe get yo' and take yo' home, if yo' don't
want toe stay yere. If yo' think yo' 'll be safer along with these
Yankee sympathizers, why jes' say so and stay yere. It doesn't matter
very much toe me either way. The only Yanks I can put up with are Jim
and Sairy Ann, and I wouldn't put up with them very long if we all
weren't members of the same family."
"I expect to be shot by the secesh, anyway," broke in Sairy Ann, "and I
hope yo' 'll go because I don't want to get shot by any o' my folks."
"We're goin' toe go," said the man.
To Noel's great relief preparations for departure were at once made.
It was not until the man and his wife had left, however, that the
mistress of the house brought the waiting young soldier his uniform.
Tossing it inside the room, she called out in a voice, which in spite of
its sharpness was not unfriendly, "There's yer soldier clothes. Yo' all
can put them on and come out and get your breakfast."
Only a brief time had elapsed before the summons had been obeyed by
Noel, and refreshed by the rest of the night and the clothes which Sairy
Ann had made thoroughly presentable, he entered the kitchen.
The tall form of the gaunt head of the house seemed to Noel to be even
taller than when he had first seen it in the dim light of the preceding
night. The expression of the man's face was so doleful that the young
soldier felt a fresh sympathy for the sharp-toned woman for whom her
husband's slow and undecided ways were a constant source of irritation.
As for Sairy Ann herself, Noel saw that her hair was of the tinge which
is sometimes associated with certain warlike propensities and also that
she was cross-eyed. Indeed, the young soldier decided that never before
had he seen any one whose eyes to all appearances might each serve the
duty and the place of the other. He was uncertain when she spoke to him
whether or not she was looking at him, and he was somehow aware that the
woman was keenly aware of the impression which she made upon him.
However, his feeling of hunger was now supreme, and as soon as he was
bidden to take his place at the table, he began to do ample justice to
the simple fare which was provided. The manifest curiosity of the woman
was to have no occasion for gratification until the meal was more than
half done. Then, unable longer to restrain her feelings, she abruptly
inquired, "Now, then, what yo' all doin' here?"
"Just now I'm doin' my best to get ready to leave."
"Did yo' all hear any voices this mornin'?" inquired Jim slowly.
Aware that the interest of the woman in his reply was keen, Noel said,
"Why, I heard some talk. Was there anything of special interest?"
"Naw. I reckon nothin' what would be interestin' to yo' all," said Jim.
"Hey!" exclaimed Sairy Ann suddenly. "Here comes the Jew peddler. He was
here day before yesterday. I told him then I didn't want anything, and I
don't see what for he comes around here pestering us again."
Noel looked up quickly as she spoke, and saw the peddler standing in the
doorway of the kitchen.
Instantly he recognized the trader as Levi Kadoff, the sutler whose
experiences in the camp had been of such a trying nature that he had
departed with many threats for the mischievous soldiers who had
tormented him.
He was positive that the peddler also recognized him, although not a
word was spoken by either.
Entering the room, Levi whiningly begged the woman to make some
purchases.
"I don't want nothin'," declared Sairy Ann. "I told yo' so yesterday and
day befo' when yo' were here. Yo' ought to take better care of yo'self
than to be here where there's so many soldiers so near. Suppose yo' got
caught right in the middle of the fight?"
"Dere vill be no fight," said Levi positively.
"How do yo' know there won't?"
"Because dere vill not be any."
"But how do yo' know?" protested the woman.
"Dot is vat der men says."
"What men?"
"All kinds of men. Now, please, mine goot voman, let me show you vat
fine spectacles that I have?"
"What do you mean by that?" demanded Sairy Ann, abruptly rising from
her seat and facing the little peddler. "Yo' ain't gettin' personal, be
ye? What makes yo' think I need glasses?"
"Spectacles is all der styles now. I sells more glasses to young vimmins
than I do to der old vimmins."
Appeased by the explanation, the hostess resumed her seat, and a few
minutes later, when the little Jew displayed certain ribbons in his
wares, Sairy Ann hesitated and was lost, much to the disgust of the
elongated Jim. She invested some "real Yankee money" in several strips
of bright yellow ribbon, doubtless selecting this particular color
because she fancied it would match both her hair and her eyes, for now
Noel was aware that even her eyes shared in the tawny color of her hair
and skin.
By the time the trading was completed, Noel had finished his breakfast
and was eager to be gone. He was desirous also of having some
conversation with Levi, when later the little peddler, after one
searching glance at the face of the young soldier, left the place and
Noel abruptly decided to go with him.
Thanking his hostess for her kindness in receiving and caring for him,
he shook hands with her and her husband and taking his cap left the
house.
Calling to Levi to wait for him to join him, he soon was in the road
where the sutler was standing. Advancing to his side, Noel prepared to
accompany the little peddler on his way, a decision which within a short
time he had cause deeply to regret.
CHAPTER XIV
THE SUTLER AS A GUIDE
"Vat you do here?" inquired Levi suspiciously as the two departed down
the road.
"That's just what I was going to ask you."
"You see. You see for yourself," repeated the sutler, pointing as he
spoke to the pack which he was carrying upon his back.
"What have you in that pack?"
"Somedings to sell."
"What?"
"Many dings."
"I shouldn't think you would have anybody to sell these things to, now
that both armies are so near."
"It is von beeg drouble," said Levi, shaking his head. "Dere vas no
chance. Eferybody cares not for mine laces--"
"'Laces!' I should think this would be the last place in the world where
you could sell such things as that," broke in Noel. "What do people down
here want of laces, especially when they are likely to be caught between
the two armies any time?"
"I lose money efery day," said Levi, disconsolately.
"Why do you stay, then?" demanded Noel. "If you cannot make any money,
you certainly don't stay here for pleasure, do you?"
"But," protested Levi, spreading both hands as he spoke, "a man has to
live, ain't it?"
"Levi, I believe you have lots of money," said Noel soberly.
"Nein! No! Not von penny."
"Then how can you live if you are losing money every day? You must have
something on which to draw."
"But I must live," protested Levi. "I must get some money. Perhaps I
don't got it to-day, maybe I gets it to-morrow."
"Where have you been, Levi, since you left camp?"
"I haf been just vere you sees me. I haf been to efery house, but nobody
buys mine laces. I dinks vot I haf to go North pretty soon. Nobody here
has any money."
"Have you seen anything of Stuart's cavalry?"
The quick side glance which Levi gave him, although the eyes of the
little Jew were instantly turned away again, was not lost upon Noel.
Always suspicious of the little sutler, he had now become sure that
there were more than suspicions upon which his fears rested.
"Who vas Stuart's cavalry?"
Noel laughed, but did not reply to the question.
"Haf you seen somedings of dot Irishmans?" inquired the peddler.
"What Irishman?"
"Dot young Irishmans vot tormented me. He upsets mine tent. He makes der
poys turn over mine trunks. He steals vot is mine, vot is mine!"
The fierce anger of the little Jew was almost pathetic, and despite his
declaration, Noel was aware that much justice, perhaps, was in his
complaint, in spite of the fact that he had charged the boys of the
regiment exorbitant prices for his poor and cheap supplies.
"Do you mean Dennis O'Hara?" asked Noel quickly.
"Dat vas it. Dat vas his name,--Dennis. Haf you seen him maybe?"
"No, I haven't. Have you?"
"How should I see him?" inquired Levi. "I haf leave der camp. I haf
nodings more to do mit der soldiers. I goes now from house to house."
"Have you seen him?" again asked Noel.
"I'm telling you," protested the sutler. "I don't go vere de Yankee
soldiers be."
"If you don't look out the Yankee soldiers will come where you are."
Noel spoke indifferently, but he was keenly watching the face of his
companion. The quick, shifting glance which Levi instantly gave him
somehow served to strengthen the conviction in the heart of the young
soldier that the little peddler was playing a suspicious if not a double
part.
"You didn't tell me," he said, "whether or not you have seen Dennis
O'Hara anywhere."
"I vould like mooch to see him. I vould like to see him mit a rope
around his neck. I vould like to be der von to pull on der rope. I vill
do so to him," he added in his excitement, as he stretched forth both
hands and pulled vigorously upon an imaginary rope.
"Here, where are you going?" demanded Noel abruptly, as his companion
turned from the road to enter a lane which led toward a house partly
concealed by magnolia trees far back from the road.
"To der house," answered Levi. "To der beeg house."
"Why are you going in there?"
"I vill sell somedings."
"It doesn't look as if anybody is home," suggested Noel.
The young soldier was striving to lead his companion on and draw from
him information which he suspected the little Jew possessed. As he spoke
he was keenly observant of the house and grounds, but as yet had not
seen any signs of life about the place.
"Der vas only vimmins dere."
"How do you know?"
"Because I vas dere de oder day. Dey vas tolt me dey vill buy somedings
ven I comes back. So now I'm comes back and I shall sell somedings."
"You say there are no men there?"
"Der men vas all gone mid der army."
"Which army?"
"How should I know?" demanded the peddler irritably. "I sells to der
vimmin."
"Do you want me to go with you?"
"Yes. You come. It vill interest der vimmins. You come mit me and I vill
go on mit you and show you der way to Frederick City."
Noel was unarmed, but he saw no reason to doubt the words of his
companion. If the place was deserted by the men he would be in no
danger, and, on the other hand, he might be able to obtain some food,
even if the women were sympathizers with the Southern cause. He was
aware that from many such people the sight of a man clad in the uniform
of the Union army was not likely to bring a cordial response. On the
other hand, he was unknown, and it might be that he could obtain food
and supplies that would help him through the day. He was confident that
if he went much farther on his way, he might have experiences that would
compel him to remain in hiding part of the time.
Slowly the two young men approached the great house. The house itself
was not so large, but the expression was one which was applied to many
homes, perhaps to distinguish the dwelling-place of the master from the
quarters of the negroes.
As he drew near, Noel saw in the rear of the house the quarters of the
servants. There were little huts that had been whitewashed, and about
the place were several little pickaninnies, whose presence indicated
that some of the blacks at least were at home.
The approach of the boys was apparently unobserved, and even when they
followed the winding pathway toward the rear of the house no one greeted
them.
Suddenly, however, Noel stopped, and looked in consternation at the
sight before him. Tied to the hitching-rail in the rear of the house he
saw a half-dozen horses.
Every horse was saddled and bridled, and in an instant Noel was aware
that he had come upon a small band of cavalry.
Startled as he was by his discovery he instantly stopped and, after
listening intently, turned back over the road which he and Levi had
come. As he did so, Levi suddenly dropped his pack and seizing the young
soldier by his coat began to shout in his loudest tones.
Frightened by the unexpected attack, Noel struck desperately at his
tormentor, and did his utmost to free himself. The little Jew, however,
apparently unmindful of the blows, clung desperately to his coat, and
before Noel was able to escape he saw a half-dozen men run out of the
house and start swiftly toward him.
One glance was sufficient to convince the desperate boy that he was in
the presence of some of the rebel cavalry. The men were armed, while he
himself was powerless to make any defense.
"What's this, Levi?" demanded the leader.
"Who is this man with you? Didn't I tell you not to let any one come
here?"
"Dis man is von Union soldier. He helps tear mine tent. He vas von vat
steals mine goots. He vas bad. I dinks dat you vill be glad to haf a
Yankee soldier here, maybe?"
"We'll take all the Yanks we can lay our hands upon," said the man with
a laugh.
It was plain that he was relieved by the discovery that there was only
one soldier near and he only a boy. The impression, however, produced on
Noel's mind by the action of the man was that there were Union soldiers
not far away. And yet, he thought bitterly, what advantage would that be
to him now? He was here, helpless to defend himself and really a
prisoner in the hands of the rebel cavalry. There were momentary visions
of Libby Prison, which he knew was the destination of most of the Union
soldiers taken by the Confederates in their recent campaigns.
The leader now turned to one of his men and good-naturedly said, "Tom,
we don't want to take this fellow into the house. I am afraid he would
scare the babies. I'll leave him out here with you. Don't let him get
away from you."
It was useless to protest, and Noel obediently followed his guard as he
led the way to the rear of the house near the place where the horses
were tied. The young soldier looked hastily about him to discover what
had become of the little sutler, but could not see him anywhere. Levi
must have entered the house, he concluded.
Noel's thoughts were bitter as he recalled how easily he had been
trapped. The sutler, without doubt, was in the employ of the
Confederates. Whether or not he had been, at the time when he held his
place in the Union camp at Harper's Ferry, Noel had no means of knowing;
but it was plain that he himself had been led by his guide into a place
from which apparently there was no escape.
When the soldiers reentered the house Noel seated himself on the ground
with his back against the post that upheld the rail to which three of
the horses were tied. In spite of his fear he looked with interest at
the mounts of the men. Every horse manifestly was fleet-footed, and in
better condition than one naturally would expect such horses to be at
such a time.
Little black faces began to appear, as the pickaninnies, led on by their
curiosity, slowly and cautiously advanced from their quarters to
discover for themselves what the meaning of the excitement was. At
another time Noel would have been interested, but now he gave slight
heed to his approaching visitors.
About fifteen feet from the place where he was seated there was a row of
beehives. The warmth of the September day had caused the busy little
creatures to resume their labors of the summer.
The sight of them recalled to the mind of the troubled boy the beehives
near his father's house and his thoughts naturally wandered from bees to
the people who were in the far-away home. He wondered if Frank had yet
returned to the army. He had been assigned to a different corps, and it
might be that he already was with McClellan. Would he see him at
Frederick City? The question received its own answer when Noel glanced
about him and saw the guard and the horses waiting for their riders.
There was slight prospect that he would see his brother very soon. Libby
Prison doubtless was to be his destination.
A half-hour had elapsed since Noel's arrival, and in spite of his fear
the droning of the bees sounded so monotonously in his ears that it
would not have been difficult for him to close his eyes and fall asleep.
Abruptly he sat erect and, facing his guard said, "How long are these
men going to be here?"
"I reckon yo' 'll have to ask the lieutenant, sir."
"How long have they been here?"
"I can't just say, sir."
"Do you know where they are going?"
"No, sir, I don't."
"Do you know what they will do with me?"
"I reckon I might suspect, sir. There have been a right sma't lot of
Yanks who have had free transpo'tation to Richmond. I reckon there will
be some mo', and it may be yo' will have a chance to ride along with
them, sir. It won't cost you a cent, sir. No, sir, not one cent."
"Do you belong to Stuart's cavalry?" asked Noel.
"I wonder what's the matter with the Yanks. They seem to be so full of
questions that the minute one of them opens his mouth they begin to pop
out the way corn pops in a popper."
Noel abruptly ceased his questioning, but, as he glanced once more about
the quarters, suddenly a scheme suggested itself to him, by which he
might be able to escape from his captors. If the plan was to be tried,
he must act at once, he decided, and, striving not to arouse the
suspicions of the guard, he slowly arose.
CHAPTER XV
WARLIKE BEES
Slowly, and striving to appear indifferent, although he was keenly
observant of every action of his guard, Noel began to pace back and
forth behind the row of horses. He was well aware that, in spite of the
apparent carelessness of his guard, he was watching his every action.
Any attempt on the part of the young prisoner to escape would at once
bring a shot from the soldier.
However, the guard did not interfere with the actions of his prisoner,
and a half-dozen or more times Noel slowly paced back and forth as if he
was simply striving to relax his muscles and was ignoring his
surroundings.
Not more than twenty feet away from the rail was the row of beehives to
which reference has been made. Several times the young prisoner stopped
and watched the busy little insects that were buzzing about the hives.
Glancing each time at the guard, he was convinced that any suspicions of
any plan his charge might have in mind as yet had not been aroused.
Apparently the soldier was so confident in his ability to meet any
sudden act that some of the time he was not even looking at the young
prisoner.
Noel's excitement became keener. He glanced toward the house to see
whether or not any of the Confederates who had entered were now to be
seen. Slowly he turned his head and looked once more at his guard. The
man was seated on the grass, and still to all appearances was
indifferent to the actions of his charge.
Suddenly Noel stumbled over the projecting root of a huge magnolia tree
and fell directly against the nearest hive in the row. With both hands
he struck and with such force that it was thrown against the hive next
to it.
"Better look out there!" called the guard, when Noel arose. "Some of
those bugs 'll bite you, if you don't watch out!"
Whether or not the "bugs would bite," the anger of the bees instantly
became manifest. In clouds they poured forth from the hives and the
sounds of their buzzing became louder.
Darting in every direction they soon discovered the disturber of their
dwelling-places, and, aware of their intentions, Noel hastily ran
toward the guard and the rail to which the horses were hitched. To all
appearances he had done this simply to avoid the pursuit of the little
tormentors. That he was acting on design, the guard did not even
suspect. The cloud of bees, however, did not all abandon the pursuit,
and as Noel halted near the horses, the furious little insects, without
rhyme or reason, began an attack upon the innocent animals.
Pandemonium instantly followed. The horses were rearing, plunging,
squealing, and kicking in every direction. The actions seemed to incite
the attacking insects to still greater anger. Nor was the guard himself
free from the onslaught. With muttered exclamations of anger and pain,
he was striving to ward off the little pests from his face or prevent
them from stinging him on his hands and wrists.
Noel was doing his utmost to bear up under the suffering he himself was
compelled to undergo. One bee had stung him on the very tip of his nose.
Another had attacked him under his right eye, while still another had
inserted his sting near a corner of the young soldier's mouth.
Noel could feel his face swelling, but he heroically strove to bear his
suffering, and, although he did his utmost to drive away his
tormentors, he nevertheless was relying upon the very attack that had
been made to assist him in the plan which he had formed.
In the midst of the confusion one of the horses broke loose, and with
many snorts of fear and rage started swiftly toward the lane.
The example was contagious and a moment later two more horses freed
themselves by breaking the straps by which they were tied and followed
in the direction in which the leader had disappeared.
"Catch them! Catch them! Help me! Catch them!" called the guard
excitedly. "Why don't somebody come out of the big house? I can't do
everything myself! Help me! Never mind the stings! Don't let those
horses get away! Rouse yourself, Yank!"
"I'll do my best," called Noel loudly, as he seized the bridle of one of
the remaining horses and apparently strove to quiet the terrified
animal.
The horse with which Noel was struggling was the one in the line which
he had noted as being undoubtedly the swiftest and best of them all.
"Whoa, there! Keep quiet! Be still, can't you?" he called as he slapped
the plunging horse on its neck and then on its flank as if he was
protecting it from the angry bees. Meanwhile, however, Noel had untied
the horse and was holding the animal by its bridle.
At that moment some of the Confederate soldiers, who had entered the
house, appeared at the door. Noel glanced anxiously at the men and then
looked at the guard, who was doing his utmost to prevent one of the
remaining horses from escaping.
The moment for which he had been waiting had arrived, the young soldier
decided, and whatever he did he must do instantly. There was no time to
be lost.
Looking once more toward the house, he saw the men call to those who
still were inside, and then turn as if they were about to run swiftly to
the place where the commotion was occurring. A single glance at the
guard showed him that the man's rifle had been laid upon the grass and
that he was still struggling with one of the frantic animals. Pulling
upon the bridle of his horse Noel quietly had worked the animal away
from its companions. His horse had been squealing and kicking more
frantically than any of the others. To all appearances Noel was having a
severe struggle to prevent him from breaking away and running in the
direction in which the other horses had disappeared.
The shouts of the men, who now were advancing from the house, increased
the confusion. Doubtless they were unaware of the source of the trouble
and might visit their anger upon him, thought Noel.
The time, however, did not permit of delay. He had now worked his horse
nearer the corner of the house. Suddenly the young soldier, placing one
foot in the stirrup, leaped lightly into the saddle, and shouting into
the ears of his horse, turned around the corner of the house before the
startled band were fully aware of what had taken place.
The bees were no longer in pursuit. The terrified animal, however, was
still making many frantic leaps, and Noel was compelled to exert the
utmost of his strength to retain his seat. His disappearance was
followed by a shout from the man, and only a brief time elapsed before,
glancing behind him, he saw that two of the men were mounted and now
were in swift pursuit.
His hopes now were dependent upon the speed of his horse and the
possible inability of his pursuers to shoot.
"Stop, you Yank!" called one of them. "Stop where you are! Stop, or
we'll shoot!"
Bending low upon the neck of his horse, Noel gave no heed to the demands
and continually urged the beast into greater efforts. With long and
powerful leaps the horse was bounding forward. The entrance from the
lane into the highway was now only a few yards distant. Out in the road,
Noel saw the horses which had already broken their halters and had fled
when the bees first had attacked them. He would have been glad to secure
either of them, but now his main purpose was to escape, and success
depended much upon the endurance of the horse he was riding.
As yet the men behind him had not shot at the escaping young soldier.
Grimly Noel thought they were more fearful of injuring the horse than
they were of harming him. However, there was inspiration in the thought
that thus far he had succeeded, and almost with a feeling of rejoicing
he turned into the road and urged his terrified steed into still more
frantic efforts. The pursuit was not abandoned, and he was aware that
the mounted Confederates evidently were as determined as was the fleeing
young soldier.
The speed of the running horse increased under the continued demands of
his rider. It was a powerful animal on which he was mounted, as Noel
was now aware, and if his endurance was equal to his strength there was
a possibility of escaping from the region.
A glance behind him showed that he was gaining upon his two pursuers, a
fact which was as manifest to them as it was to him. Suddenly one of
them fired. Noel heard the bullet as it whistled above his head.
[Illustration: NOEL HEARD THE BULLET AS IT WHISTLED PAST]
The pursuit, however, was not abandoned, and, leaning forward, Noel drew
himself closer to the neck of his panting steed, and then as he looked
hastily behind him he saw that both men were again about to fire.
CHAPTER XVI
A HELPER
The moment was critical in the flight of the young soldier. It seemed to
him as if his heart for a moment almost ceased to beat. Resolutely he
leaned still farther forward on the neck of the running horse, and
shouting into the ear of the animal caused the frightened beast to bound
to the opposite side of the road just as both of his pursuers fired.
Grateful as soon as he was aware that neither he nor his horse had been
hit, the young soldier gave his undivided attention for a moment to
controlling the terrified steed.
Noel's long experience on his father's farm on the banks of the St.
Lawrence River, where he and his brother Frank many a time as little
lads had ridden the colts bareback, now came in good stead. The saddle
was uncomfortable, but he had no difficulty in retaining his seat.
In a brief time the nervous animal once more was under control and was
speeding forward at a pace which the rider was confident would soon
leave his pursuers far behind him.
In his flight Noel hastily glanced over his shoulder to discover whether
or not the Confederate soldiers had abandoned the chase, or were still
determined to overtake him.
He plainly saw that they were not gaining upon him, although they still
held doggedly to the pursuit. Just why they should do this, now that
several miles had been covered, the young soldier was unable to
understand, nor was it until afterward that he came to know the reason
why the men, in spite of their failure to gain upon him, were unwilling
to turn back.
Noel was unarmed. His rifle had been taken from him when he had first
been made prisoner. Although he had a place, as we know, among the
sharpshooters of McClellan's army, it had not been until after his
return from his furlough that he had found himself fully able to do the
required work.
Now with all his heart he longed for a rifle. If it were only in his
hands he was convinced that the two men who were so doggedly hanging to
the pursuit would abandon their efforts.
The mud in places in the road was thrown up in lumps by the hoofs of his
horse as he thundered on his way. As yet the animal was not displaying
any marked signs of distress, and in the hope of wearing out his
pursuers, Noel still kept him at his full speed.
The splotches of mud and the heat of the warm September day soon made
the appearance of the young rider as distressing as that of the animal
upon which he was mounted. The great black flanks of the latter were now
reeking with sweat and discolored by the red-brown mud of the road. As
far as Noel himself was concerned, his most intimate friend might have
had difficulty in recognizing, in the perspiring, dirt-covered young
soldier the Noel Curtis whom they had known. Streams of perspiration had
poured down his face and left furrows in the coating of Maryland mud and
dirt. The exertion was telling upon the rider as well as upon the horse,
and he was well aware that such violent efforts could not long be
continued.
Glancing once more anxiously behind him, Noel was unable to see his
pursuers. He was aware, however, that it was only the bend in the road
that hid them from his sight and that not yet was he freed from his
peril.
Slackening the pace at which he was riding, the young soldier removed
his coat and folding it placed it in front of him on the pommel. The
relief was instant and again speaking encouragingly to his horse, which
now was breathing loudly, he continued his flight.
It became manifest in a brief time that the pursuit was still
maintained, although the distance between the young soldier and the two
Confederates comparatively was unchanged. Why they should continue to
follow him became increasingly a perplexing problem. There were no
prospects of his being overtaken, and now that five or six miles must
have been covered in his flight Noel was unable to understand why the
men did not turn back and join their comrades. He himself was not of
sufficient value to warrant their severe labors. Of that fact he was
well assured. Why, then, did they still follow him?
The mystery was unsolved, but there was no delay on the part of the
young soldier to meditate long upon possible explanations. The fact
remained that he was in a country with which he was unfamiliar, mounted
upon the back of a horse with whose ways he was unacquainted, although
he was aware of his many excellent points, and was being pursued
relentlessly by two men who doggedly held to their task.
Suddenly Noel, as he emerged from a small body of woods, beheld a group
of men directly in the road before him and not distant more than fifty
yards. Glancing keenly at the bank he saw that the men were repairing a
bridge over a little stream. A second look convinced him that the men
were all clad in the uniform of the Confederate soldiers.
For a brief moment Noel's courage seemed to depart. He could not turn
back without running directly into his enemies, while if he advanced it
was equally plain that there were many more still to be passed.
Unaware of the perplexing thoughts of his rider, his horse did not relax
his speed and with long and steady lopes was still advancing. Whatever
the young soldier was to do must be done quickly.
Almost before he was aware of what occurred Noel found himself close
upon the band. His coat, as has been said, was discolored and his
trousers were so covered with mud that their original color, in a
measure, at least, was concealed.
Suddenly the young soldier decided to try to make his way through the
band. He recalled an incident which he had read in the life of Mad
Anthony Wayne, who, with his men, in the swamp near Yorktown, found
himself face to face with a division of red coats that far outnumbered
his followers. The consternation produced by the discovery was banished
as Mad Anthony resolutely called to his men and dashed forward. The
daring man was relying upon the fact of his bold advance to convince the
enemy that there must be more men behind him. No man in his senses would
ever think of attacking such a superior force. After the British lines
had broken and fled, Mad Anthony turned and said to one of his comrades,
"The best way to overcome any difficulty is to drive straight through
it." This incident came back to Noel's mind as the trees and fields
seemed to be racing past him.
His confident approach, too, for he was waving his hand as he drew
nearer, seemed to confuse the band of Confederates. Instead of forming
across the road and stopping his flight, they divided and did not even
question him, although his appearance must have been such as to arouse
their curiosity at least.
Only partly checking the speed of his horse, Noel leaned low on his neck
and as he drew near the men, he shouted, "Don't stop me, boys! How far
ahead is the captain?"
Even as he asked the question Noel was aware that his own apparent
confidence had had its effect, for the men drew back from the roadside,
and one of them in reply to his query, shouted, "I reckon he's about
three miles up the road, sir."
"Good! That's fine!" shouted Noel in response. "There's some men coming
behind me and they'll stop to give you their message. They have a word
for you."
The ruse had succeeded, and the young soldier had accomplished more than
in his excitement he had dared to hope. He knew that his pursuers in a
very short time would be informed of his bold trick and perhaps would be
more determined than ever to secure him. But for a time, at least, he
had not been checked in his flight and he was not without hope also that
the two mounted men might be delayed long enough by the band, through
which he had successfully made his way, to enable him to gain still
more.
Noel had not advanced far beyond the sight of the bridge before his
sudden feeling of exhilaration vanished. He had been astonished at the
very success of the trick he had played. It was his first lesson that if
a man is to succeed he must be bold.
His rejoicing now abruptly departed, when, running and breathing
heavily, his horse suddenly stumbled and fell in the road. The young
soldier had been riding with too loose a rein and his moment of elation
had made him somewhat careless of the need of constant attention to his
steed.
Fortunately Noel was able to free his feet from the stirrups and was not
caught by the body of the horse as he fell. He was thrown to one side of
the road, but although he was bruised and for a moment almost stunned by
the sudden fall, he quickly rose.
Quick as his action was, however, that of his horse had been quicker.
After two efforts the fallen animal at last succeeded in leaping to his
feet, and, disregarding the frantic calls of its recent rider, started
forward, running even more swiftly than when he had been carrying the
young soldier.
In the midst of the fresh trouble which had arisen, Noel was aware that
his pursuers in a brief time would be upon him. Instantly turning to one
side of the road where some large trees were growing he darted into
their midst and soon discovered one tree sufficiently large to enable
him to hide behind it.
Scarcely had Noel succeeded in gaining his hiding-place before he heard
the sound of the approaching horsemen. Instead of two horses now,
however, there were five. The ruse which he had used upon the men at
the bridge had been discovered, and doubtless chagrin was added to the
natural desire to retake the daring man who had escaped through their
midst.
Would they pass the place or would they discover the mark in the road
left by his horse when it fell? Upon the decision of this question much
of his success depended. Breathlessly Noel watched the pursuing
soldiers, and a great sigh of relief escaped his lips when he saw that
they had not even glanced at the spot where the accident had befallen
him.
He deemed it unwise now to resume his flight in the road. He decided
that he would make his way from tree to tree, and as he peered out at
the road, which he could see extended far in the distance, he was
rejoiced to discover that the woods also spread out far on either side.
His plan was not to reenter the road until he had gone a distance which
would be sufficient to insure his safety from discovery by the men who
had recently passed him in their wild chase.
By this time the afternoon sun was low in the western sky. Not a
mouthful of food had passed the lips of the young soldier since his
early breakfast at the house of Jim and Sairy Ann. His strenuous efforts
also had wearied him, and thirst, as well as hunger, was now making its
demands felt.
An hour had elapsed when Noel, from another hiding-place far up the
road, saw the band of five returning. He was positive that he recognized
them as his recent pursuers from the fact that one of the horses was
strangely marked, a fact which he had noticed when he had first
discovered the animals tied to the rail in the rear of the house to
which the treacherous Levi had conducted him.
When at last the band had passed beyond his sight, and Noel, with fresh
courage, was about to reenter the road, he was startled when he saw a
young colored man approaching from the direction in which the riders had
disappeared.
Loud and long sang the negro and repeated the same stanza of the song
until Noel, who was interested as the black man came nearer, almost felt
that in spite of his difficulties he would join in the tune,--
"Then I sot right down and felt very blue--
Glory hallelujah, bress de Lord!
Says I, O Lord, what shall I do?
Glory hallelujah, bress de Lord!"
When the young black man came opposite the place where Noel was hiding,
the latter suddenly decided to hail him.
"Hello!" called the young soldier.
The negro stopped abruptly and peered about him in a manner which
betrayed to Noel that in intelligence he seemed to be far above the most
of his race.
"Who dat callin' me?" inquired the negro.
"I am," said Noel, as he stepped forth from his hiding-place.
The young soldier now was in his shirtsleeves, his coat having been lost
when he had been thrown from his horse. His uniform was so discolored by
mud that it was impossible for an observer to determine to which side he
belonged. However, convinced that his plight was so distressing that he
must trust some one, Noel had decided that he would cast in his lot with
the negro, and trust him to provide some way of escape.
"Have you seen any Union soldiers around here?" he called as he came
nearer.
Before he replied, the negro looked quickly into the face of Noel, and
then with a smile said, "No, suh. I wish I had. I would like toe be
inside the Union lines at dis bery minute. I reckon, too, yo' all would
like toe be in there, too."
"That's what I would!" said Noel enthusiastically. "And you'll have to
show me how to get there."
The black man hesitated a moment, and then said cordially, "The bes'
thing fo' yo' will be fo' me toe take yo' all toe Aunt Katie."
"'Aunt Katie'?" inquired Noel, as he glanced once more apprehensively up
and down the road. "Aunt Katie? Who is she?"
"Yo' come er long wif me and I'll done show yo'," replied the negro.
CHAPTER XVII
THE GUEST ROOM
The young negro at once led the way from the road, evidently fearing
more for the safety of his companion than for his own.
Noel followed obediently and did not speak until his guide had led him
far within the sheltering woods that were growing on each side of the
road.
The young soldier was not yet altogether convinced that his companion
was to be relied upon. His experience with Long John had made him
suspicious of the blacks. Throughout his boyhood he had never seen a
colored man, and it had not been long before the time of his enlistment
when he had beheld one for the first time.
The action of the powerful young negro with whom he was journeying,
however, in a measure relieved his fears, and his plight was so
desperate that he was aware that he must trust somebody for help. Night
would soon be at hand and in the darkness his perils might be greatly
increased.
At last, when a quarter of a mile or more had been covered by Noel and
his companion, the young soldier stopped, and said, "What's your name?"
"Nigger Sam."
"Did you ever hear of Long John?"
"Yas, suh!" replied Sam, glancing suspiciously at his companion as he
spoke. "What fo' yo' ask 'bout Long John?"
"I saw him back yonder."
"What fo' yo' see him?"
"Why, he led me into a trap. I thought I could trust him, but he took me
along a corduroy road to the very place where a lot of the rebel
soldiers were stationed."
"Yas, suh! Yas, suh!" said Sam, manifestly relieved. "Dat's des' what
Long John is er doin'. He's playing tricks on the Yankee soldiers all de
time. Little Ben Fowler des' used him lak I use de decoy when I shoots
ducks."
"How do I know you are not another one like Long John?"
"Because I'se a Yankee."
"You're a what?" demanded Noel.
"I'se workin' wif de Yankees. I des' made up my mind dey was de bes'
friends what I got. When a lot ob men leave home and come 'way off down
yere jes' toe set de niggers free, I done make up my min' dat I'd des'
do all I could fo' 'em."
"Where are you going now?"
"I reckon I'm goin' toe tote you toe Aunt Katie's."
"You know I'm a Union soldier, don't you?"
"I reckon I does. Leastwise I suspected so when I first heerd yo' talk.
If yo' all will tell me how yo' says de word ob dat animal what gibes
milk, den I'll sho'ly know."
"What do you mean?" inquired Noel sharply.
"I mean dat animal what we spell c-o-w. How yo' all done say dat name?"
Noel laughingly pronounced the word, and instantly his dusky companion
was satisfied with the claim which the young soldier had made.
"Yas, suh. Yo' all sho'ly is er Yankee. What I cain't understan', suh,
is what yo' all is doin' yere. The nearest place war dey is any Union
sojers is Frederick."
"How far is that from here?"
"Not so very far, but I reckon hit's too far away fo' yo' all toe try
fo' toe git dere to-night. De sojers is scourin' de country an'--"
"Do you mean Stuart's cavalry?"
"Yas, suh, and some mo' men besides dem. Hit's gittin' dreadfully hard
toe find yo' way in times like dese."
"Where are you going now?" suddenly Noel inquired.
"I'se goin' toe take yo' all toe Aunt Katie's an'--"
The young negro hesitated and again searchingly looked at his companion.
"What's the trouble?" inquired Noel quickly. "Are you afraid of me?"
"No, suh, I isn't 'fraid," grinned the negro. "Sho'ly not as long as I
hab a frind lak dis wif me," he added as he drew from a pocket inside
his coat a long narrow knife which was at least ten inches in length.
"Dis yere," grinned Sam, "is one ob de bes' friends what I got."
"What is it?" inquired Noel, extending his hand as he spoke.
"No, suh. I don' let dis friend of mine eber go out ob my hands. Not
eben fo' Gene'al Bu'nside."
"Where is General Burnside?" asked Noel.
"I reckon he isn't far 'way from Frederick City."
"Are you going to see him?" demanded the young soldier, suddenly
inspired by a new thought.
"Well, suh, I cain't jes' say 'bout dat," replied Sam as he thrust his
knife back into its receptacle. "I mought and then again I moughtn't."
"I believe you're going there," said Noel sharply.
"Dat's des' as may be," again responded Sam. "I mought and den I
moughtn't. Now, we hab been talkin' here long er 'nuff. If we all is
goin' toe get yo' toe Aunt Katie's we mus' be movin' along. I haven't
much time to stay yere any longer."
"How far is Aunt Katie's from here?"
"Not so very far," again responded the negro. "But I des' cain't lose de
time."
"Where did you come from?" abruptly inquired Noel.
"I des' came from down de road a spell."
"And you say you're going to Frederick City to report to General
Burnside?"
"No, suh. No, suh. I didn't say any such thing," replied Sam with a
grin. "I des' said that I mought see him."
"I believe you're taking word to him from some one down in this part of
Maryland."
Sam grinned, but made no reply.
The practice of using the blacks as spies or as means of obtaining
information was more prevalent than the young soldier was aware. Some of
the black men were keenly intelligent, and their stealthiness enabled
them to avoid many dangers to which the white soldiers were often
exposed. It was plain, too, that Nigger Sam, as he called himself, was
thoroughly familiar with the region; and he had said and done enough to
cause his companion to suspect that the purpose of his journey was more
than had appeared upon the surface.
Conversation ceased when the journey was resumed. Weary as Noel was by
the experiences of the day, it was with difficulty that he was able to
keep up with his companion, who swiftly led the way through the field
and across the occasional swamps.
The sun had disappeared from sight and darkness was creeping over the
land when at last Noel and his black guide arrived on the border of a
long stretch of woods.
"Yo' all stay right yere, suh," said Sam, "while I done go toe see if
Aunt Katie will take yo' in fo' de night."
"I don't want to stop at Aunt Katie's," declared Noel. "I want to go
with you. I'm sure you're on your way to Frederick City--"
"Hush!" said Sam sternly. "Yo' all don't know who may be hidin' in dese
yere trees."
The negro spoke in a whisper, but it was manifest to his companion that
his fears had been aroused and perhaps not without reason.
"Yo' all do des' what I says toe yo'," continued Sam. "Set right yere
behin' dis yere tree while I go toe see if Aunt Katie kin take yo' in
fo' de night."
There was nothing else to be done except to obey the directions of Sam.
Reluctantly Noel seated himself on the ground behind one of the large
trees, and the negro at once started across the field that intervened
between the woods and the little cabins, a faint outline of which could
be seen in the distance. Doubtless the little whitewashed structures
were the quarters of the negroes of the large plantation, Noel
concluded.
The weary young soldier leaned forward and watched the departing Sam as
long as he could be seen. In a brief time the young negro passed beyond
the nearest of the cabins.
A half-hour or more elapsed before Sam returned. Noel's anxiety
meanwhile had been increasing, and he was on the point of departing from
the vicinity, as he had become fearful that his guide might play him
false and report him to his enemies instead of to the colored woman to
whom he had referred as the friend of escaping whites and blacks alike.
The dim outlines of the approaching guide soon became more clearly
defined, and it was with a feeling of relief that Noel heard Sam say,
"Hit's all right, suh. Aunt Katie done say as how she will take yo' in.
Dere's one white man dere now, but she done say she can always find room
fo' one mo'."
When the two men approached the humble cabin, which Sam explained was
Aunt Katie's abode, there were no lights to be seen, and consequently,
when the black woman whispered to the guide, Noel was unable to
distinguish her face.
The whispering between the two continued several minutes, and then Sam
once more turned to Noel, who had been bidden to enter the cabin and
seat himself on a rude bench near the rear door, and said, "Is yo' all
hongry."
"Yes, I'm hungry," whispered Noel. "But never mind that. What I want is
to find some place where I shall be safe; that is, if you 're not going
to take me with you to--"
Noel abruptly ceased when he felt the grip of his companion on his arm
and was aware that he must not speak aloud concerning any of the men or
places he was seeking.
"Aunt Katie will feed yo' all an' then show yo' whar yo' kin stay 'til
mo'nin'. Yo' do des' what she done tells yo' toe do."
"I shall," whispered Noel; for his confidence in his dusky friends had
now been fully restored. He could not explain the change in his
feelings, but it had been manifest by the very tones of Aunt Katie's
voice that she was one upon whom he might depend.
"Yas, suh," continued Sam. "Maybe I'll done see yo' all some time soon."
Unaware of the direction in which Sam had departed, Noel's attention and
efforts were soon devoted to the corn-bread and molasses which his sable
hostess speedily provided.
Watchful as Noel was, his hunger nevertheless was so keen and he was so
busily engaged in the task of disposing of Aunt Katie's viands, that the
occasional chuckle of the black woman was wonderfully comforting. She
seldom spoke, but the young soldier was aware that his hostess was a
woman of ample proportions and capable of exerting herself physically if
occasion should require in a manner that would portend no good for her
enemies.
"Yo' all come 'long wid me and I'll take yo' toe de gues' room," said
Aunt Katie calmly, when her visitor's hunger had been appeased.
Puzzled by her words, Noel nevertheless followed the woman as she led
the way outside the little cabin. He was mystified by her actions and
was wondering where the "gues' room" might be. However, he wisely held
his peace, and cautiously following Aunt Katie soon was conducted to a
large stack of cornstalks standing near a corner of the barn.
Here the black woman stopped and, keenly peering about her to make sure
that their actions were not observed, turned to Noel and whispered,
"Inside dat er stack is whar yo' all is toe go. Dere am plenty ob room
in dere. Yo' all will find another sojer in dere, too, I reckon. I'll
show yo' all how yo' git in. Come er 'long."
Near the ground on the farther side of the stack Noel crawled into the
opening which Aunt Katie disclosed. In spite of the darkness he was
aware that the ground within was covered with cornstalks and that it was
possible for him to stand erect. Instantly he concluded that the stack
was more or less of a deception and was designed merely to cover and
conceal a small room.
His thoughts, however, were speedily interrupted by the voice of the
other occupant. In amazement Noel listened, scarcely daring to credit
the evidence of his own ears, and then convinced that he was not
mistaken, he instantly crawled toward the place from which the voice had
come.
CHAPTER XVIII
THE FIRE
"Dennis! Dennis! Is that you?" whispered the young soldier, as he gained
the place where the other occupant of the hiding-place was seated.
"Shure, and it's Noel! It's Noel, me lad!" exclaimed Dennis in high
glee.
"Hush! Don't talk so loud, Dennis! Somebody will hear us. What are you
doing here? Where did you come from? Are you going to try to go on to
the army to-night? Who brought you here? How long have you been here?"
"Listen to the lad!" exclaimed Dennis, delightedly, in one of his
loudest whispers.
Noel was more afraid of Dennis when he whispered than he was when he
spoke in a low tone. Accordingly he grasped his comrade's arm and said,
"Don't make so much noise, Dennis."
"Noel's the lad for me! He can ask more questions in a minute than any
man from the old sod could ask in five. Well, lad, I have been here
about two hours."
"Where did you come from?"
"You'll have to ask the people what brought me. I can't tell you, I'm
shure. I niver was in such a country and I hope I'll niver be again. I
wasn't so troubled about mesilf as I was about you, Noel, me lad. Tell
me about yoursilf."
"Hush!" repeated Noel. "Be still!" he whispered excitedly. "Do you hear
those voices?"
"Shure, I hear them."
"Well, keep still and see if we can find out what they are saying."
It was plain to both the listening young soldiers that a man, who, from
his tones and speech was undoubtedly white, was talking to a negro lad
standing near the stack within which the two young soldiers were hiding.
In a moment Noel recognized the voice of the little negro lad as that of
the son of Aunt Katie. The little urchin, not more than ten years of
age, had impressed the young soldier by the intensity with which he had
looked at him from the time of his arrival until he was conducted by
Aunt Katie to the place of his concealment.
Noel grasped fiercely the arm of Dennis as he heard the man outside
ask, "Have you seen any Yanks around here?"
"No, suh! No, suh!" said the small negro. "I ain't seen no Yankees
aroun' hyer."
"You are sure, are you?" repeated the man, not ill-naturedly.
"Yas, suh. Yas, suh."
"Do you think you would know a Yank if you should see one?"
"I shore would," replied the dusky child confidently. "Yo' all done tole
us dat de Yanks hab hawns. I ain't seen nary a man wif hawns 'round
yere."
"Have you looked for them?" laughed the man.
"Yas, suh."
"Well, if you find any you must be sure to report to me. Sometimes you
have to look right smart to find the horns on some of the Yankees."
"Does dey grow right out of dere haid like dis?"
"That's what they do, and their horns are sharp, too."
"Glory!" exclaimed the little negro. "I reck'n I don't want to see no
Yanks wif hawns. Is yo' all thinkin' dat dey is comin' yere sometime?"
"I think some of them have been here."
"What dey wan' hyer?"
"You ask Aunt Katie about that. I reckon she knows more about it than I
do. Are you sure, Little Jake, you haven't seen any Yankees that didn't
have any horns?"
"How would I know dey was Yankees if dey didn't hab any hawns? Yo' all
don' tole us dat de Yankees hab hawns, so when I sees a man what I don'
know I allus looks to see if he hab any hawns."
"If he does have horns, then you make up your mind he is a Yankee, do
you?"
"Yas, suh. Dat's what yo' all don' tole us, so I looks fo' de hawns."
"Well, the next time you find anybody in Aunt Katie's cabin whom you
don't know, you come and tell me, whether he has horns or not. I'm
expecting somebody to be in her cabin pretty soon. You're sure, are you,
there isn't anybody there now?"
"Yas, suh. You come 'long wif me," said the negro lad confidently, "and
I'll show yo' all dat dere ain't nobody in dat cabin 'tall, 'ceptin'
mammy."
"I'll take your word for it. Now, Little Jake, don't you forget to come
straight to the big house and tell me if you ever find any strangers
there, whether they have horns or not."
The conversation ceased, and with a sigh of relief Noel turned once more
to Dennis and said, "When do we move from here?"
"About midnight."
"Is Sam going to be our guide?"
"I don't know whether he is or not, but Aunt Katie told me that somebody
would come for us about that time."
"Do you know how far the Union lines are from here?"
"No, I don't," replied Dennis. "I think the best thing we can do is to
lie down here on these cornstalks and take a nap."
"But you haven't told me where you came from nor how you got here."
"'Tis a long story, lad, and I'm afraid to tell you here for fear
somebody outside will hear our voices."
"All right," responded Noel. "You can tell me after we leave. I think
we'd better do what you say."
Accordingly the boys stretched themselves on the earth which was covered
with cornstalks and in a few moments both were sleeping soundly.
Just how long Noel had been asleep he did not know, but he was awakened
by a vague feeling of uneasiness. Somehow he felt as if he were being
smothered, and for a brief time he was unable to decide just where he
was or why he was there.
The voice of Dennis in a hoarse whisper recalled to him the incidents
which had preceded the finding of the shelter within the strange
hiding-place.
"What's that?" whispered Dennis.
Noel saw that his Irish friend was alarmed, although as yet he was
unable to determine the cause.
"What is what?" responded Noel.
"'Tis smoke, I tell you!" said Dennis once more. "This place is on
fire."
"You have been dreaming," protested Noel, although even as he spoke he
was aware of the odor of burning wood.
"If I have been dreaming, I'm awake now," declared Dennis. "And the only
thing for you and me to do is to get out of this place."
"It isn't midnight yet."
"It's time to get up. The sooner we get out of here the safer it will be
for us both."
All this time Noel was sharing the alarm of his comrade. Not merely was
there an odor of burning wood, but there was no concealing the fact
that smoke was penetrating their hiding-place.
To add to his alarm, at that very moment there were sounds of men
running about near the shack, and then abruptly above the noise was
heard the voice of some one shouting, "Fire! Fire!"
The danger of meeting the owner of the plantation was not so great in
the mind of the young soldier at the time as that of being burned or
suffocated in the place where he and Dennis had been concealed.
"Come on, Dennis! Come on!" he called in a low voice, as instantly he
crawled toward the opening.
The place, however, had been closed after the entrance of the two boys
and in the darkness it was impossible at first for Noel to find the
exit. By this time his fears had been greatly increased and the sounds
of confusion outside were much more alarming.
Men were shouting and running about, and in the midst of it all were
heard the screams of the terrified children.
"Lad," whispered Dennis, "we can't wait to find the door. We must make a
break for it anywhere we can." As he spoke the young Irishman threw
himself with all his strength against the side of the little room.
Instantly the partition gave way and to the consternation of Noel the
entire structure collapsed. Both boys were buried beneath the
cornstalks, but it was only the work of a moment for them to free
themselves.
As they leaped to their feet they discovered that one of the little
whitewashed cabins, which they had seen the preceding evening, was on
fire. Surrounding it were crowds of colored people, and among them Noel
saw a tall white man, who he instantly concluded was the man whose voice
had been overheard by him and Dennis. Without question the man before
him was the owner of the plantation and the one who had warned Aunt
Katie's little boy against the "terrible Yankees with hawns."
Fortunately the collapse of the rude structure, within which a
hiding-place had been made for the escaping soldiers, apparently was not
noticed by the people on the plantation. It was evident by this time
that only the little cabin was doomed and that the fire without
difficulty would be prevented from spreading to the adjoining buildings.
Men in lines were passing buckets of water from hand to hand and the
flames promised to be under control in a brief time.
Convinced that there was no immediate danger now to be feared from the
spread of the fire, Noel turned to Dennis and in a low voice said, "We
must get away from this place before that chap sees us."
Even as he spoke, however, the man turned and instantly discovered the
presence of the two young soldiers.
As he advanced toward them both boys turned and fled from the place,
running swiftly, and hoping that the surrounding darkness would soon
hide them from the sight of the man whom they believed to be a friend of
the Confederate cause.
Unmindful of the direction in which they were running Noel and Dennis
fled at their highest speed, keeping well together until they came to
what seemed to be an abandoned cabin on the border of the plantation.
"We'll stop here and abide until mornin'," suggested Dennis, who was
laboring hard and breathing heavily under the exertion.
"No! No!" replied Noel. "We must not stop a minute. The only hope we
have is in getting as far away from the plantation as possible in the
shortest time."
"I can't go any farther," said Dennis; "I'm winded."
"What's that?" demanded Noel suddenly as he turned and looked toward the
plantation, which now was far behind them, but from which the glow of
the fires still could be faintly seen.
"'Tis nothin', lad. What is it you think you hear?"
"I thought I heard the dogs. If they set the dogs on us, we shall have
more troubles than we ever had before, Dennis," said Noel, speaking
rapidly and excitedly.
"I can't help it if they do set the dogs on us," muttered Dennis
sturdily. "I can't go any farther. My wind is gone, and my side is
thumpin' as if--"
"Here!" said Noel excitedly; "here's a well! I don't know whether
there's any water in it or not, but the thing for you to do is to hide
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