_The Friends--The Proposal--The Rejection--The Fate._
'Tis sweet to die for one's country!--_Old Maxim._
The alarm caused by the firing of the gun had entirely subsided, as
nothing was discovered. Upon questioning the guard, he stated that he
was suddenly seized, and thrown violently to the ground. But, before he
could recover his surprise and fire, the form had disappeared among the
trees. Some believed that spies were lurking about camp, while others
attributed the alarm entirely to the imagination or fear of the guard.
The morning dawned, bright and beautiful. Hayward had entirely returned
to consciousness; but was unable to converse, and appeared to notice
nothing which transpired around him. He did not even speak to, or
recognize, his fair attendant, Alibamo. At times his words were of
home--his friends were called upon--and then he would remain silent.
The army took up its line of march. Hayward was transported as before,
and at each night was kindly cared for by Alibamo and the other
attendant, who still were permitted to remain with him. At last they
reached the grand prairie, west of Springfield, and encamped for the
night.
"Is Captain Hayward sufficiently recovered to converse?" asked Price of
Branch.
"Oh! yes; he is rapidly recovering. His wound is not so serious as at
first supposed. It is true he is quite weak from loss of blood, but
still strong enough to be dangerous. It is my advice that he be removed
from the main army, as his friends will spare no trouble to rescue him.
We are to have a battle very soon, I suppose, and we may lose him, even
if not defeated, as the body-guard will dash to the point where he is
held, and attempt his rescue; and you know, general, we might almost as
well attempt to meet lightning as that fanatical set of cut-throats.
They are, I am told, the choicest men out of a hundred thousand, and
fight for the mere love of the fun."
"Where can we remove Hayward, that he will be secure until he entirely
recovers?"
"From this point to Springfield, and thence through Arkansas to
Memphis."
"But he is a spy, and must hang!" replied Price.
"Such ought to be his fate, I confess. But policy dictates otherwise. He
is much beloved by the army, and their revenge would be terrible."
"Do you _fear_ their revenge, Captain Branch?"
"Not for myself, general, but for those of our army who might be taken
prisoners. The federals would hang a thousand of our friends in
retaliation. Besides, he is worth much more as an exchange than as a
corpse."
"Your argument is logical, Captain Branch; but Hayward insulted me
grossly, at one time, and my heart burns for revenge."
"True, but you can scarcely revenge yourself on such a man. Torture him,
and his lip curls as if in very scorn of pain. Threaten him with death,
and his proud eye flashes as he replies, 'My country will remember me!'
Taunt him--spit upon him--and he does not notice it, except by a haughty
air which seems to say, 'I despise you, and take nothing as an insult
from those I loathe!'"
"Is there no way to humble him?" asked Price.
"No way! His proud spirit cannot be broken!"
"I will see! I shall visit him in a few moments, and if he accedes to my
wishes, very well; if not, he shall be thrown into the dungeon, and
there left to rot and die. As you say, sudden death would have no
terrors to such a soul, but the damp and darkness of a prison cell will
curb that proud spirit. Let me finish this dispatch, and then we will
visit him."
Captain Hayward was sitting in his tent, his head bowed upon his hands,
apparently buried in deep thought.
"Alibamo," said Hayward, raising his head, "what think you will be my
fate?"
"I hope for a rescue!" replied the maiden.
"You are of a hopeful nature, my sweet girl, and I thank you for your
words of encouragement. Thank! That is a poor word, Alibamo, for
kindness such as yours. You have watched with me constantly, and, like a
bright angel, have ministered to my wants. Your presence has cheered me
in my sad hours, when pain and suffering had unmanned me. And I love
you, Alibamo, almost as much as I love my own darling sister."
"Your sister!" repeated Alibamo, with evident pain. "Yes--I know you
love her, for you have often spoken of her in your delirium."
"Have you received any word from our friends?"
"Not one word since that mysterious hand extended to me those words of
hope the first night after your capture."
"Nettleton," said Hayward, addressing his attendant, "have you heard me
spoken of among the soldiers?"
"Yes, captain, the darn skunks talk about you considerable."
"'What do they say?"
"Why, I heerd some on em say it was a darn shame that a bold feller
like you should be----"
"Hung up like a dog! Why don't you finish the sentence?"
"Well, that's just what they did say. But I heerd one what ain't very
far from you now, say, he'd be d----d if Captain Hayward should die any
such way, and when he had waited till the last minute, if no help came,
he would put a bullet right through your heart, and save you from the
darn rope, anyway!"
"Brave boy! You have a noble heart," said Hayward, grasping his hand.
"No I hain't. Don't say so, captain, cos when you do, I can't keep these
dam water-drops out of my eyes, cos I'm a darn skunk anyway, and ain't
worth any such words from you."
"Nettleton, how have you managed to remain with me so long without being
suspected?"
"O Lord! I'm such a darn skunk nobody would ever think of suspecting me!
They think I don't know any more than a half-grown calf. And I spose I
don't!"
"How did you get with me at all?"
"Why, after the fight was over I stood right still, and nobody noticed
me, except one feller who said, 'Git out of my way, greeney.' And so I
followed on after the rest of 'em, and managed to keep with you ever
since. And if I can only do you some good, I shall think I ain't quite
such a darn skunk after all."
"Nettleton, I wish you would not use that expression quite so often."
"What expression, captain?"
"Why, darn skunk!"
"Well I won't, captain, only I know that I am a darn skunk, any way."
"Captain," said Alibamo, "you spoke of your sister. Is she far from
here?"
"Not far--merely in Ohio."
"If by chance you are rescued and removed to the Union camp, do you not
wish her sent for?"
"No--not for the world!"
"She _would_ come if sent for, would she not?"
"Yes, if she _lived_ to get here. But, do not think of such a thing. I
shall never see her. But when I am dead, let her know it, but not _how_
I died. To know that I _am_ dead will break her heart."
Alibamo sobbed audibly.
"Why are you weeping, Alibamo."
"I was thinking of your sister?"
"I wish I could cease thinking of her, now that death is staring me in
the face. I do not fear to die, but I do fear to let her know that she
no longer has a brother. O Alibamo! if you could see her once, you would
not wonder that I love her! Why, she would hang upon my neck, and listen
to each word, as if her life depended on her hearing every sound. And
when I parted with her for the wars, it seemed as if her soul left with
me. She did not weep, but clung to me, while her little form trembled
like the lily torn by the tempest's blast. And her last words were,
'Heaven _must_ return to me my brother!'"
"And if earth should not, heaven _will_!" sobbed Alibamo.
"Well, I will talk no more of death. The grave looks cold and cheerless,
and I shudder as I approach it in this manner. Nettleton, I shall give
you some instructions which I know you will see faithfully carried out!"
"You may depend upon it, captain. But you ain't dead yet, and--"
"Major-General Sterling Price," was announced by an orderly.
Price entered the tent.
"Good evening, Captain Hayward. I am glad to see you so far recovered. I
trust you will soon be able to receive and wear your sword again!" These
words were spoken by Price in a tone of extreme kindness. Hayward looked
up surprised, and replied:
"I do not comprehend you, general!"
"That is because you deem me your enemy!"
"And are you not so? If I remember rightly, when we met at your camp on
the Osage, you expressed a desire to get Captain Hayward in your power.
You have him, now."
"I did not know the man then. He was my enemy, but I can scarcely be an
enemy to so brave a man. It is true I have much cause. You came to my
camp in disguise, you deceived my orderly and obtained possession of
important papers, you placed my scouts in the guard-house for your own
safety; you visited and conversed with my officers, gaining all the
intelligence you desired; you assisted a prisoner to escape, and meeting
a party of my scouts you killed six with your own hand before you were
shot down yourself. The papers which were on your person could not be
found, and therefore they must have been sent by you to your general.
All this was done with a boldness that wins my admiration, but still its
punishment is death."
"Which I expect to receive at your hands," replied Hayward, coldly.
"Your life _may_ be spared!" said Price.
"Not a great boon," replied Hayward.
"Do you not wish to live for your sister's sake?" asked Branch.
Hayward started, and a tremor ran through his frame. But in an instant
he recovered his self-possession, and said:
"I was conversing with General Price--not you, sir."
Branch bit his lips, but did not speak.
"Well, Captain Hayward, I must speak plainly, and I know you prefer I
should do so. It is a pity such a man as you should die, and by the
rope. I would much prefer to have met you on the battle-field, but it is
too late now. The sentence of your crime is death, and but one thing can
save you."
"You need not trouble yourself to name that one thing," said Hayward.
"I see, you understand me. But, the proposition I was about to make was
not intended to insult you. _I_ honestly believe that I am right, while
_you_ believe that _you_ are. Both of us have sense and judgment. One of
us _must_ be _wrong_. I believe I have thoroughly examined this matter,
and I can but feel that if you would do the same, impartially and
without prejudice, you would feel as I do. Understand, our interests at
the South are different from yours at the North. We do _not_ wish to
interfere with _your_ government or your interests. We only ask a
government of our own, and that you should not interfere with _our_
interests. We do not march our armies into _your_ territories, and we
feel that you have no right to march into _ours_. It will not damage the
great North to permit the Southern States to form a government of their
own, one that will correspond with their interests; and, so long as we
could derive great benefit from it, why should you object? The North is
prosperous, because its government is in accordance with its interests
and institutions. The South is _not_ prosperous, because the North,
governing the whole, has forced upon us a government antagonistic to our
interests and institutions. Why not give us a chance for ourselves? But
you will not; and so we are compelled to strike for our rights."
"If you truly feel as you speak, you are an honest enemy, at least. You
may tell me what the proposition is which you wish to make."
"You are a brave man, and I would like your services and influence in
our army and cause. I do not wish you to act against your feelings or
principles; but, I heartily wish you could view our cause as I view it,
and come with us. You shall have command of a regiment--perhaps of a
brigade!"
"General Price," replied Hayward in a mild tone, "I thank you for the
delicate manner in which you have made this proposition. I cannot deem
it an insult, as your manner is that of a man who makes an offer,
sincerely and in good faith, not as a bribe. But I cannot view this
matter as you do, and consequently cannot accept your offer or entertain
it for a moment. My country, my whole country, right or wrong, is my
motto. There is but one flag, and that is the Stars and Stripes, for
me."
"I regret it, as I really _do not_ wish to see so brave a man die so
young!"
"A truce to compliments, General Price. I have done that which I deemed
my duty. If you have a duty to perform, and the performance of it calls
for my blood, don't let 'my bravery' influence you!"
"Will you give your parole of honor never to take up arms against us
again, if I release you?" asked Price.
"No, sir!" was the firm but mild reply.
"You are proud, Captain Hayward!"
"That is not to the purpose, General Price. I shall do nothing,
excepting to escape if I can. I ask but one favor of you."
"What is that favor?"
"That you will tell me what is to be my fate!"
"I will do so. To-morrow you start for Springfield under a strong guard.
The next day you will be sent forward on your way to Memphis, through
Arkansas. At Memphis you will be imprisoned, and detained for the
present. There will be little hope of exchange, however, as you are a
spy, and must eventually suffer death."
"Why am I not at once executed?"
"Because the federal forces hold some of our prisoners, on whom they
would retaliate."
"Will I be permitted to communicate with my friends or send them word
where I have been taken?"
"That cannot be permitted," answered Price.
"Under whose charge am I to be sent?" asked Hayward.
"Under that of Captain Branch as far as Springfield. From there it is
left to the captain to make further arrangements."
Hayward had started to his feet, and his eyes met those of Branch. There
was lightning in that gaze, but it was met with equal sternness.
"Do you object to Captain Branch?" asked Price.
"Yes. I object to anyone who is so great a coward as to strike a
wounded, senseless man, merely to revenge himself upon a woman!"
"What do you mean?" asked Price.
"I will tell you. This woman prisoner hates Branch, and I do not wonder.
She taunts him, and what woman of spirit would not? He would strike her,
if he dare, and because he dare not, he took the noble method of
revenge, by striking me in the face with his sword-scabbard, when I was
senseless and tied on my horse. He thought _she_ would suffer, because I
did--the base, cowardly cur."
"Of this I knew nothing. Is it true, Captain Branch?" asked Price.
"It is _not_ true, but false as hell, and Hayward knows it is false?"
replied Branch, in a rage.
"Well, with this I have nothing to do. Good night, Captain Hayward. If
you should make up your mind to accept my terms, let me hear from you."
Price left the tent with Branch.
"Let us sleep, friends, and prepare for to-morrow. God knows what it
will bring for us. But still, let us hope. I am glad we go to
Springfield."