BULL RUN.
THEIR first excitement over, the gallant Zouaves couldn't help looking
at each other in rather a comical way. To be sure, it was very
aggravating to have their country run down, and themselves assailed
without leave or license; but they were by no means certain, now they
came to think of it, that they had acted rightly in doing justice to the
little rebel in such a summary manner. Peter especially, who had
proposed the court martial, had an instinctive feeling that if his
father were to learn the action they had taken, he would scarcely
consider it to tally with the exercise of strict politeness to company.
In short, without a word said, there was a tacit understanding in the
corps that this was an affair to be kept profoundly secret.
While they were still silently revolving this delicate question, little
Louie Hamilton suddenly started violently, exclaiming, "Only listen a
moment, felloth! what a strange noithe! It sounds like thome wild
beast!"
"Noise? I don't hear any," said Freddy; "yes I do, though--like
something trampling the bushes!"
"There's nothing worse than four cows and a house dog about our place,"
said Peter; "but what that is I don't know--hush!"
The boys listened with all their ears and elbows, and nearly stared
themselves blind looking around to see what was the matter. They had not
long to wait, however, for the trampling increased in the wood, a
curious, low growling was heard, which presently swelled to a roar, and
in a moment more, an immense brindled bull was seen dashing through the
locusts, his head down and heels in the air, looking not unlike a great
wheel-barrow, bellowing at a prodigious rate, and making straight toward
the place where they stood!
"Murder, what _shall_ we do?" cried Louie, turning deadly pale with
terror, while the Zouaves, for an instant, appeared perfectly paralyzed.
"Why run! run for your lives!" shouted George, who was the first to
recover himself. "Peter, you lead the way; take us the shortest cut to
the house, and--oh!"
Not another word did George utter. He was saving his breath for the
race. And now, indeed, began a most prodigious "skedaddle;" the boys
almost flying on ahead, running nearly abreast, and their terrible enemy
close behind, tearing up the ground with his horns, and galloping like
an express!
On sped the gallant Zouaves, making off as rapidly from the scene of
action as their namesakes from Manassas, without pausing to remark
which way the wind blew, until, at last, they had skirted the grove, and
were on the straight road for the house. Here Peter stopped a moment,
"Because some of the men will be near here, perhaps," he pantingly said,
"and Master Bull will be caught if he ventures after us." Scarcely had
he spoken, when the furious animal was once more seen, dashing on faster
than ever, and flaming with rage, till he might have exploded a powder
mill! Now for a last effort! One determined burst over the smooth road,
and they are safe in the house!
Little Louie, who was only nine years old, and the youngest of the
party, had grasped hold of Freddy's hand when they first started; and
been half pulled along by him so far; but now that safety was close at
hand, he suddenly sank to the ground, moaning out, "Oh Fred, you must go
on and leave me; I can't run any more. Oh mamma!"
"No, no, Louie! don't do so!" cried Freddy. "Get up, little man! why,
you can't think I would leave you, surely?" and, stooping down, the
brave little fellow caught Louie up in his arms, and, thus burdened,
tried to run on toward the house.
The rest of the boys were now far beyond them; and had just placed their
feet upon the doorstone, when a loud shout of "help!" made them turn
round; and there was Freddy, with Louie in his arms, staggering up the
road, the horns of the bull within a yard of his side!
Like a flash of lightning, Will snatched up a large rake which one of
the men had left lying on the grass, and dashed down the road. There is
one minute to spare, just one! but in that minute Will has reached the
spot, and launching his weapon, the iron points descend heavily on the
animal's head.
The bull, rather aghast at this reception, which did not appear to be at
all to his taste, seemed to hesitate a moment whether to charge his
adversary or not; then, with a low growl of baffled fury, he slowly
turned away, and trotted off toward the wood.
The help had not come a minute too soon; for Freddy, his sensitive
organization completely overwrought by the events of the morning and his
narrow escape from death, had fallen fainting to the ground; his hands
still clenched in the folds of little Louie's jacket. Will instantly
raised him, when he saw that all danger was over, and he and some of the
others, who had come crowding down the road, very gently and quickly
carried the insensible boy to the house, and laid him on the lounge in
the library; while Peter ran for the housekeeper to aid in bringing him
to life.
Good Mrs. Lockitt hurried up stairs as fast as she could with camphor,
ice water, and everything else she could think of good for fainting.
"Mrs. Lockitt, where is papa?" asked Peter, as he ran on beside her.
"Gone to New York, Master Peter," she replied; "I don't think he will be
home before dinner time."
Our little scapegrace breathed more freely; at least there were a few
hours' safety from detection, and he reentered the library feeling
considerably relieved.
There lay Colonel Freddy, his face white as death; one little hand
hanging lax and pulseless over the side of the lounge, and the ruffled
shirt thrust aside from the broad, snowy chest. Harry stood over him,
fanning his forehead; while poor Louie was crouched in a corner,
sobbing as though his heart would break, and the others stood looking on
as if they did not know what to do with themselves.
Mrs. Lockitt hastened to apply her remedies; and soon a faint color came
back to the cheek, and with a long sigh, the great blue eyes opened once
more, and the little patient murmured, "Where am I?"
"Oh, then he's not killed, after all!" cried Louie, running to his side.
"Dear, dear Freddy! how glad I am you have come to life again!"
This funny little speech made even Freddy laugh, and then Mrs. Lockitt
said, "But, Master Peter, you have not told me yet how it happened that
Master Frederic got in such a way."
The eyes of the whole party became round and saucer-y at once; as, all
talking together, they began the history of their fearful adventure.
Mrs. Lockitt's wiry false curls would certainly have dropped off with
astonishment if they hadn't been sewed fast to her cap, and she fairly
wiped her eyes on her spectacle case, which she had taken out of her
pocket instead of her handkerchief, as they described Freddy's noble
effort to save his helpless companion without thinking of himself. When
the narrative was brought to a close, she could only exclaim, "Well,
Master Freddy, you are a little angel, sure enough! and Master William
is as brave as a lion. To think of his stopping that great creetur, to
be sure! Wherever in the world it came from is the mystery." So saying,
Mrs. Lockitt bustled out of the room, and after she had gone, there was
a very serious and grateful talk among the elder boys about the escape
they had had, and a sincere thankfulness to God for having preserved
their lives.
The puzzle now was, how they were to return to the camp, where poor Tom
had been in captivity all this time. It was certainly necessary to get
back--but then the bull! While they were yet deliberating on the horns
of this dilemma, the library door suddenly opened, and in walked--Mr.
Schermerhorn!
"Why, boys!" he exclaimed, "how do you come to be here? Fred, what's the
matter? you look as pale as a ghost!"
There was general silence for a moment; but these boys had been taught
by pious parents to speak the truth always, whatever came of it. Ah!
that is the right principle to go on, dear children; TELL THE TRUTH when
you have done anything wrong, even if you are sure of being punished
when that truth is known.
So George, as the eldest, with one brave look at his comrades, frankly
related everything that had happened; beginning at the quarrel with
Tom, down to the escape from the bull. To describe the varied expression
of his auditor's face between delight and vexation, would require a
painter; and when George at last said, "Do you think we deserve to be
punished, sir? or have we paid well enough already for our court
martial?" Mr. Schermerhorn exclaimed, trying to appear highly incensed,
yet scarcely able to help smiling:
"I declare I hardly know! I certainly am terribly angry with you. How
dare you treat a young gentleman so on my place? answer me that, you
scapegraces! It is pretty plain who is at the bottom of all this--Peter
dares not look at me, I perceive. At the same time, I am rather glad
that Master Tom has been taught what to expect if he runs down the
Union--it will probably save him from turning traitor any more, though
you were not the proper persons to pass sentence on him. As for our
plucky little Colonel here--shake hands, Freddy! you have acted like a
hero! and for your sake I excuse the court martial. Now, let us see what
has become of the bull, and then go to the release of our friend Tom. He
must be thoroughly repentant for his misdeeds by this time."
Mr. Schermerhorn accordingly gave orders that the bull should be hunted
up and secured, until his master should be discovered; so that the
Zouaves might be safe from his attacks hereafter. If any of our readers
feel an interest in the fate of this charming animal, they are informed
that he was, with great difficulty, hunted into the stables; and before
evening taken away by his master, the farmer from whom he had strayed.
Leaving the others to await his capture, let us return to Tom. He had
not been ten minutes in the smoke house before his wrath began to cool,
and he would have given sixpence for any way of getting out but by
begging pardon. That was a little too much just yet, and Tom stamped
with rage and shook the door; which resisted his utmost efforts to
burst. Then came the sounds without, the rushing, trampling steps, the
furious bellow, and the shout, "Run! run for your lives!" Run! why on
earth must they? What had happened? and especially what would become of
him left alone there, with this unseen enemy perhaps coming at him next.
He hunted in vain in every direction for some cranny to peep through;
and if it had been possible, would have squeezed his head up the
chimney. He shouted for help, but nobody heard him; they were all too
frightened for that. He could hear them crunching along the road,
presently; another cry, and then all was still.
"What shall I do?" thought poor Tom. "Oh, where have they gone to?
Please let me out, Freddy! do forgive me, boys! I'll f-fight for the
Union as m-much as you like! oh! oh!" and at last--must it be
confessed?--the gallant Secesh finished by bursting out crying!
Time passed on--of course seeming doubly long to the prisoner--and still
the boys did not return. Tom cried till he could cry no more; sniffling
desperately, and rubbing his nose violently up in the air--a proceeding
which did not ameliorate its natural bent in that direction. He really
felt thoroughly sorry, and quite ready to beg pardon as soon as the boys
should return; particularly as they had forgotten to provide the captive
with even the traditional bread and water, and dinner-time was close at
hand. While he was yet struggling between repentance and stomachache,
the welcome sound of their voices was heard. They came nearer, and then
a key was hastily applied to the fastenings of the door, and it flew
open, disclosing the Zouaves, with Freddy at the head, and Mr.
Schermerhorn bringing up the rear.
Tom hung back a moment yet; then with a sudden impulse he walked toward
Freddy, saying, "I beg your pardon, Colonel; please forgive me for
insulting you; and as for the flag"--and without another word, Tom ran
toward the flag staff, and catching the long folds of the banner in both
hands, pressed them to his lips.
"The chivalry forever!" said Mr. Schermerhorn, smiling. "That's right,
Tom! bless the old banner! it is your safeguard, and your countrymen's
too, if they would only believe it. Go and shake hands with him, boys;
he is in his right place now, and if ever you are tempted to quarrel
again, I am sure North and South will both remember
"BULL RUN!"