TWICE SURPRISED.
During the whole of their journey through the woods, which did not come
to an end until long after four o'clock that afternoon, the negro guide
never once spoke to the boys unless he was first spoken to, nor did they
see any living' thing except a drove of half-wild hogs, which fled
precipitately at their approach. The plantation darkies, as a general
thing, were talkative and full of life, and this unwonted silence on the
part of their conductor finally produced an effect upon Tom Percival
who, when the noon halt was called, took occasion to give the man a good
looking over. He was not very well satisfied with the result of his
examination.
"How much farther do you go with us, boy?" said he.
"Not furder'n Mr. Truman's house, an' dat aint above ten mile from
hyar," was the answer.
"Truman," repeated Tom. "He's all right. I was told to stop on the way
and call upon him for anything I might need. Hurry up and take us there;
and when you do," he added in a whisper, to Rodney, "we'll say good-by
to you. You were right; he's treacherous. He's a red-eyed nigger, and
when you see a nigger of that sort you want to look out for him."
There was no need that they should "look out" for their guide now,
because there was no way in which he could betray them secretly. The
danger would arise when they stopped for the night or after they parted
from him the next morning. Then he would be at liberty to go where he
pleased, and as he was acquainted with every Union man for miles around,
it would not take him long to spread among them the report that there
was a Confederate stopping at Mr. Truman's house in company with a young
Missourian who did not want his name spoken where other folks could hear
it. If such a story as that should get wind, it would make trouble all
around--for Mr. Truman as well as for themselves; for Truman's neighbors
would want to know why he gave food and lodging to a Confederate when he
claimed to be a Union man himself. The longer Rodney thought of these
things, the more he wished himself safe back in Louisiana.
At half-past four by Tom Percival's watch the negro stopped his mule
beside a rail fence running between the woods and an old field, on whose
farther side was a snug plantation house, nestled among the trees. That
was where Mr. Truman lived, and where Merrick had told them to stop for
the night.
"And I suppose you will stay also, won't you?" said Tom, speaking to the
darkey who bent down from his mule and threw a few of the top rails off
the fence so that the boys could jump their horses over into the field.
"Who? Me? Oh no, sar," answered the guide, with rather more earnestness
than the occasion seemed to demand. "Marse Merrick done tol' me to be
sure an' come home dis very night, an' I 'bleeged to mind him, sar."
"I'll bet you don't mind him," thought Tom, as he and Rodney rode into
the field and waited for the negro to build up the fence again. "There's
a bug under that chip and I know it."
The appearance of three horsemen riding up to the back door in this
unexpected way created something of a flutter among the female portion
of Mr. Truman's family, and even the farmer himself, who presently came
to the door of one of the outbuildings, seemed to be a little startled;
but when a second look showed him that one of Mr. Merrick's negroes was
of the number, he came up to the pump near which the boys had
dismounted.
"This is Mr. Truman, I believe," said Tom.
"Well, yes; that's my name, but I don't reckon I ever saw you before,"
replied the man cautiously.
"Do you know this boy who has been acting as our guide?"
"Oh, yes. I know all of Merrick's boys, so it must be all right. But you
see in times like these--"
"I understand," Tom interposed, for Mr. Truman talked so slowly that the
boy was afraid he might never get through with what he had to say. "In
times like these you don't know whom to trust. That's our fix, exactly;
and we shouldn't have thought of stopping here if Merrick and Hobson had
not told us who and what you are. Go on, boy, and tell Mr. Truman who
and what we are, where we came from, where we want to go, and all about
it."
The negro was talkative enough now, and the boys had no fault to find
with the way in which he complied with Tom's request except in one
particular--he had too much to say regarding Rodney Gray's loyalty to
the Union, and his undying hostility toward everybody who was in favor
of secession. He dwelt so long upon this subject that Tom Percival,
fearing Mr. Truman's eyes would be opened to the real facts of the case,
thought it best to interrupt him.
"Yes; we passed the night in company with Mr. Hobson and five of his
friends who have been compelled to go into hiding," said he, "and while
we were eating supper in Mr. Merrick's kitchen, some of Thompson's men
came to the gate and asked for him."
"I reckon it's all right," said Mr. Truman, who did not believe that his
friend Merrick would have taken these two young fellows into his house
if he had not had the best of reasons for thinking that they could be
trusted. "What did you say your names might be?" he added, beckoning to
one of his darkies and indicating by a wave of his hand that the horses
were to be housed and fed.
While the guide was telling his story he had not mentioned any names. He
had simply referred to the boys as "dese yer gentlemen." designating the
one of whom he happened to be speaking by a nod or a jerk of his thumb.
Tom waited until the horses were led away and then said, in a low tone:
"My friend's name is Gray, and as you have already heard he is from
Louisiana. The Secesh were too thick there to suit him and so he came up
here, hoping to find everybody Union."
"Humph!" said Mr. Truman.
"He has found out his mistake," continued Tom. "Ever since he has been
in the State he has been dodging rebels, and has traveled more miles in
the woods than he has on the highway. Do you know Justus Percival?"
"Do you?" asked Truman in reply.
"I ought to. He's my uncle, and Percival is my name; but I wish you
wouldn't address me by it unless you know who is listening."
"But when you left Cedar Bluff landing you were riding a roan colt and
had no boots on," said Mr. Truman, first looking all around to make sure
that there was no one near to catch his words. "I was sorter on the
watch for such a fellow, for I thought maybe he'd need help."
"Great Scott!" said Rodney, who was very much surprised. "Has that man
Swanson been through here? It can't be possible. His crowbait of a mule
couldn't carry him so far."
"I don't know anybody of that name, but I know about the roan colt that
wasn't stolen from Pilot Knob," replied the farmer. "Let's go in and see
if the women folks can't scare up a bite to eat."
"One moment, please," Tom interposed. "Do you know anything about
Merrick's boy? Is he Union or Secesh?"
"Union and nothing else. The niggers all are, but of course they are
afraid to say so."
"That boy has got red eyes," said Tom. "And you know as well as I can
tell you that a darkey of that sort is always treacherous. We don't like
the way he has been listening to our talk ever since we left Hobson's
camp. Couldn't you make some excuse to keep him here till morning?"
"Job!" yelled the farmer; and when he had succeeded in calling the
attention of the darkey who was attending to the horses, he went on to
say: "Tell Merrick's boy that he mustn't go off the place to-night. The
patrols are picking up everybody who shows his nose on the road after
dark, white as well as black, and Price's men burned two houses last
night not more'n five miles from here."
"Is that a fact?" inquired Tom, who for the first time since Rodney met
him began to show signs of uneasiness.
"It's the gospel truth, more's the pity, and we in this settlement don't
know how soon we may be called upon to defend our lives and property.
There are not many of us and we are not organized; but we're tolerable
active and know how to shoot. Now let's go in."
As Rodney Gray afterward remarked, Mrs. Truman "seemed to know without
any telling just how the thing stood," for the welcome she gave them was
very cordial and friendly.
"We can give you plenty to eat," she said, extending a hand to each,
"but I am not sure that you would be safe in accepting lodging if we
were to offer it to you. Mr. Truman has no doubt told you that Price's
men were quite close to us last night. We saw the fires they lighted
shining upon the clouds, and wondered how long it would be before some
of our friends would stand and watch our burning houses."
Mrs. Truman continued to talk in this strain while the supper was being
made ready, and Tom Percival now and then glanced at his companion as if
to ask him if he thought Mr. Merrick's Secession wife was the only brave
woman there was in Missouri. The calmness with which she spoke of the
troublous times she saw coming upon the people of the nation, was in
direct contrast to the behavior of her excitable husband, who more than
once flew into a rage and paced up and down the floor shaking his fists
in the air. Rodney had often seen Confederates lash themselves into a
fury while denouncing the "Northern mudsills," but he had never before
seen a Union man act so while proclaiming against the demagogues who
were bent on destroying the government. It showed that one could be as
savage and vindictive as the other, and gave him a deeper insight into
the nature of the coming struggle than he had ever had before. Good
Confederate that he was, he began asking himself if it wouldn't be money
in the pockets of the Southern people if they would rise in a body and
hang Jefferson Davis and his advisers before they had time to do any
more mischief. In the days that followed, Rodney Gray was not the only
one who wished it had been done.
When darkness came on there were no lamps lighted to point out the
position of the house to any roving band of marauders who might happen
to be in the vicinity. The front door was thrown open, and Mrs. Truman
sat just inside the room to which it gave entrance, so that she could
see the road in both directions. She explained to the boys that there
had once been shade trees in the yard and flowering shrubs growing along
the fence, but they had been cut away for fear that they would afford
concealment to some sneaking Secesh who might take it into his head to
creep up and shoot through the window. Mr. Truman had gone out to see
that everything was right about the place, and to shut up the boys'
horses, which had been turned loose in the stable-yard. He wanted the
animals where they could be easily caught when needed, for he did not
think it prudent for Tom and his companion to remain under his roof
during the night. They would have a better chance to take care of
themselves if they were camped in the woods. This was the way he
explained the situation when he came back to the house, and then he went
on to say:
"There's something in the wind, and I wish I knew what it is. I don't
like the way Merrick's boy has acted. I told him positively not to leave
the place before morning, and now he's gone, mule and all."
"_By_ gracious!" thought Rodney. "That means harm to me. I was afraid I
said too much in his hearing, and when I found that he had red eyes I
was sure of it. He is going to put some Union men on my trail before
daylight, and I must get out of here. He knew that if he spoke to Truman
he would have to face me, and that was something he was afraid to do."
"How long has he been gone?" inquired Tom, who was as impatient to leave
the house and take to the woods as Rodney was.
Mr. Truman couldn't say as to that; probably two hours at least. That
was long enough for him to tell a good many Union men that there was a
Confederate in Truman's house, and the boys began to be really alarmed.
"This shows that there is no dependence whatever to be placed upon the
darkies," declared Tom. "They are divided in sentiment the same as the
whites. Some side with their masters and some don't. Of course I am not
sure that this boy's absence means anything, but still I think we had
better get out while we can."
But they had already delayed their departure too long, as they
discovered a moment later. When Tom ceased speaking he got upon his
feet, and just then there was a slight commotion outside the house, and
Mrs. Truman uttered an ejaculation of surprise and alarm as a couple of
dark figures bounded up the steps and stood upon the gallery. At the
same instant a back door opened and heavy boots pounded the kitchen
floor. The house had been quietly surrounded, but by whom? It was too
dark to see.
"Don't be frightened, Mrs. Truman," said one of the men at the door.
"You know us, and you know that we wouldn't harm you. We want a word or
two with those young fellows who have come here trying to impose upon
you and all of us."
"Then why couldn't you come to the door and say so like a man, instead
of sneaking up like a cowardly Secession bushwhacker?" demanded Mr.
Truman, angrily. "Get out of the house and come in in the proper way."
"Softly, softly," said one of the three men who had entered by the
kitchen door. "Harsh words butter no parsnips, and in times like these
one can't stand upon too much ceremony. We don't mean to intrude, but we
do mean to get hold of that Secesh and the other chap, who for some
reason of his own, is befriending him. Strike a light, please."
"You have certainly made a mistake," said Mrs. Truman, going across the
room to a table to find a match. "Our guests are both Union."
"Then there's no harm done," replied the man at the door. "We understand
that one of them claims to be some relation to old Justus Percival. If
he is, he can't have any objections to riding over to Pilot Knob with
some of us and proving his claim."
The boys trembled when they heard these ominous works. A ride to Pilot
Knob meant death to Tom Percival at any rate, and perhaps to his friend
Rodney also. This was the darkest prospect yet, and it looked still
darker when the lamp had, been lighted, and its rays fell upon the set,
determined faces of the armed men who, with heavy shot-guns, covered all
the avenues of escape. Rodney thought they must be men who had suffered
at the hands of their secession neighbors, for they looked as savage as
Mr. Truman had acted a while before.
"Which is the traitor?" demanded the largest man in the party, who
seemed to be the leader.
"Neither one," replied Tom, settling back in the chair from which he had
arisen when the men first appeared.
"Which one is Union then, if that suits you better?" was the next
question.
"I say we both are," answered Tom. "I am Captain Percival, and I am now
on my way home after having offered the services of myself and company
to General Lyon. Justus Percival, of whom you spoke a moment since, is
my uncle."
"And who is this friend of yours?"
"He is a schoolmate who left his own State because things didn't go to
suit him, and who intends to enlist the first chance he gets."
"On which side?" inquired the leader, squinting up both his eyes and
nodding at Tom as if to say that he had him there.
"Do you imagine that he would make a journey of almost a thousand miles
for the sake of enlisting in the Confederate army when he might have
done that at home?" asked Tom, in reply. "You must be crazy."
"Not so crazy as you may think," said the leader, who seemed to be sure
of his ground. "We have the best of evidence that he is secesh."
"What sort of evidence?"
"His own word."
"Is the man who heard me say that outside?" asked Rodney, who thought by
the way Mr. Truman and his wife looked at him that it was high time he
was saying something for himself. "If he is, bring him in and let me
face him. You have no right to condemn me until you let me see who my
accuser is."
"That's the idea," said Tom. "Fetch him in."
The boys played their parts so well, in spite of the alarm they felt and
the danger they knew they were in, and looked so honest and truthful
that the leader was nonplussed, and Mr. Truman and his wife were firmly
convinced that their visitors had made a mistake. There were reasons why
the latter could not produce Rodney's accuser, and for a minute or two
some of them acted as though they might be willing to let the matter
drop right where it was. But there is always some "smart man" in every
party who thinks he knows a little more than anybody else, and it was so
in this case; and when he spoke, he "put his foot in it."
"Didn't you say to-day in the presence of--of--"
"Merrick's red-eyed nigger," Tom exclaimed, when the man paused and
looked about as if afraid that he might have said more than he ought.
"Why don't you speak it right out? What did I tell you, Mr. Truman?
Didn't I say that boy would bear watching? Now, what I want to know of
you is, are you going to take that darkey's word in preference to
mine?"
This was bringing the matter right home to the visitors, every one of
whom was a slaveholder, and would have taken it as an insult if any one
had so much as hinted that their evidence was not as good as a black
man's.
"Don't get huffy," said the smart man before alluded to. "We haven't
played our best card yet. One of you two was riding a roan colt when you
came to Merrick's, and there aint no such horse in Truman's stable."
"Did Merrick's nigger tell you that?" asked Tom.
His self-control was surprising. He sat up in his chair and boldly faced
his questioner, while Rodney, wishing that the floor might open and let
him down into the cellar, told himself more than once that he never
would hear the last of that roan colt the longest day he lived.
"No matter who told us," was the reply. "We know it to be a fact. The
roan was taken into Merrick's woods, and he wasn't brought out this
morning. Did you make a trade with Merrick, or with some of Hobson's
friends?"
"If you want to know you had better ask them," answered Tom.
"That's what we intend to do; and we intend, further, that you shall
stay with us till we get to the bottom of this thing. There is something
about you that isn't just right and we mean to find out what it is."
"I can tell you all about that horse," Rodney interposed.
"It isn't worth while for you to waste your breath, and besides this is
a dangerous place to stay, with Price's men scouting around through the
neighborhood," said the leader, who now showed a disposition to resume
the management of affairs. "It won't take more than two or three days to
ride back to Merrick's and from there to Pilot Knob, and straighten
everything out in good shape."
"But we are in a hurry. We don't want to go back," exclaimed Tom; and it
was plain to every one in the room that the bare proposition frightened
him.
"I don't suppose you do want to go back," said the leader, in a
significant tone, "but we can't help that. It's time you Secesh were
taught that you can't go prowling about through the country imposing
upon Union men whenever you feel like it. We have stood enough from such
as you, and more than we ever will again, and I believe we should be
justified in dealing with you here and now. As for you," he added,
shaking his fist in Tom's face and fairly hissing out the words, "you
are no more the man you claim to be than I am. You're traitors, the pair
of you."
The man was working himself into a passion, and it behooved the boys to
be careful what they said. He was in the right mood to do something
desperate, for when he ceased speaking and stepped back, breathing hard
from the excess of his fury, he worked the hammer of his gun back and
forth in a way that was enough to chill one's blood.
"You'll be sorry for this and quite willing to acknowledge it," was what
Tom said in reply. "We don't want to go back for we have had trouble
enough getting here; but since we must, I hope--"
Tom did not have time to say what, for while everybody's gaze was
directed toward him, and no one thought of giving a look outside to see
that all was right there, a couple of new actors appeared upon the
scene, glided into the room off the porch as quickly and almost as
silently as spirits. They were Confederate officers in full uniform, and
each one carried a drawn sword in his hand. At the same moment two
windows on opposite sides of the room were shivered into fragments, the
curtains were jerked down and the black muzzles of a dozen carbines were
thrust in. It was like a thunder-bolt from a clear sky, and it was all
done so quickly that no one had a chance to move. The five Union men
were as powerless for resistance as though they had held straws instead
of loaded guns in their hands.
"Don't move an eye-lash," said the older of the two officers, lifting
his cap and bowing to Mrs. Truman. "No explanation is necessary, for we
understand the situation perfectly." And to the infinite amazement of
the two boys, though not much to the surprise of the other occupants of
the room, the speaker, when he put his cap on his head again, turned
toward Rodney and Tom and gave them a military salute.
"What do you think of that, Mr. Truman?" said the leader of the Union
men, whose courage did not desert him even if his face did change color.
"Are you satisfied now that these are not the Union boys they pretended
to be?"
"I am," answered Mr. Truman, while his wife looked daggers at them. "If
they are not Secesh, how does it come that their friends recognize them
so quickly? I suppose you are Price's men?" he added, turning to the
officer.
"Lieutenant, send in two or three fellows to take these guns and sound
the prisoners. Yes, sir, we belong to Price."
"And you came here expecting to find these two boys?"
"Right again," answered the officer. "If we hadn't known they were here
we shouldn't have come."
Of all the occupants of the room there were none so thoroughly
bewildered and dazed as Tom and Rodney were. Was the officer telling the
truth or cooking up a story for reasons of his own? If he really
expected to find them in that house, he was certainly mistaken in
supposing, as he evidently did, that they were both Confederates. Tom
had never set eyes on him before, and hoped from the bottom of his heart
that the officer did not know anybody in or around Springfield. He
hoped, too, and trembled while the thought flitted through his mind,
that no one in the room would speak his name, for it was his turn to
sail under false colors now.
Having sent his subordinate after some soldiers to disarm the men of
whom he had spoken as prisoners, the officer dropped the point of his
sword to the floor, came to "parade rest," and looked about the room
"With such a face of Christian satisfaction
As good men wear, who have done a virtuous action."