_The War Scout--The Discovery._
Softly--softly as the creeping panther.--_De Soto._
We left Fall-leaf, Margrave, and Johnson, as they were following the
party who had recaptured Hayward and Alibamo. As they descended the
mountain, the rear of the rebel army were in sight. At night-fall it
halted, and upon the broad prairie, near an oak grove, the camp was soon
formed.
"Can you distinguish the rebel general's headquarters?" asked Margrave.
"I was trying to do so," replied Johnson, and his eyes wandered from
point to point.
"Do you remember the style of his tent?"
"Perfectly. It is of the pattern known as the _wall-tent_, but of large
size. And near it should be about a dozen others of the same
description. There it is!"
"Those in the centre--near the grove?"
"Yes--don't you see the rebel ensign waving over it?"
"Very distinctly now. But I do not believe Alibamo, or the captain, will
be placed near headquarters. They are the prisoners of that fellow,
Branch."
"What shall we do, Johnson?" asked Margrave.
"We must enter their lines to-night, and ascertain where our friends
are, and listen to the conversation of the officers, and, if possible,
learn what is to be their fate," replied Johnson.
"And we must remember that Captain Hayward is not to be forgotten. He is
not dead, or he would have been left on the other side of the mountain,
and the drops of blood which we frequently saw along the line of march,
is evidence that some wounded person or persons are with the rebels.
This brave captain risked his life for my sister, and I shall risk my
life a thousand times for him."
"We must first creep near the sentinels, and when the nine o'clock
relief is marched out, we can listen, and gain possession of the
countersign. This will be of some assistance to us in case of
challenge."
"No--no! White brother stay here! Indian go--creep--softly!" said
Fall-leaf.
"No, my brother, you are suffering too severely with your wounds. We
cannot permit you to do this, while we remain inactive."
"Look out for the pickets. There is one of their fires," said Margrave,
as they approached the oak grove. The party verged their course, and, in
a few moments, were within a hundred yards of the camp, concealed almost
entirely by the thick wood through which they were passing. Here they
paused.
"The darkness favors us!" remarked Margrave. "The moon which was shining
so brightly last night, is now entirely obscured by thick clouds. We
must wait until after tattoo, and then enter the camp in different
directions."
"No--me alone!" replied Fall-leaf. "You--you--me, go--_all_ get kill--no
help Alibamo! Me go now! _I_ get kill--_you_ go. You get kill, _you_ go.
I no get kill, come back. I no come back, _you_ go!"
"The Indian means to express himself to the effect, that it is more safe
for one to go alone, and if he should get killed or taken, another could
go the next night, and another the next? or, that, if two of us should
be killed, the third could return and procure more assistance for
Alibamo, when he had learned their final destination. We will let the
Indian go first. I will write a few words upon a bit of paper, and he
may get an opportunity to give it to my sister."
The drums had beat the tattoo, and the relief had passed its rounds. The
party listened attentively, but failed to get the countersign, which was
given in a whisper. The camp became quiet, and the lights were mostly
extinguished.
"Me go now! softly--softly," said the Indian.
"Fall-leaf, give this paper to my sister if you can get an opportunity.
If you are discovered, and compelled to fly, we will all meet at yonder
rock."
The Indian, without replying, took the bit of paper, and started for the
camp. Softly as the creeping panther he worked his way along. He passed
the outer row of tents unperceived, and was now fairly within the rebel
camp. With cat-like stealth he crept along from tent to tent, listening
at each, but not a sound was heard save the deep breathing of the
sleepers within. At length the Indian reached a wide avenue, which ran
along before a better class of tents than those he had previously
passed, and from which were streaming lights. He listened, and could
plainly distinguish voices within, but there appeared here a difficulty.
Directly in front of the one he wished to reach, a sentinel was
stationed, and, if he attempted to cross the broad avenue at that point,
it could not fail to attract the watchful guardian's attention.
Just at that moment two forms emerged from the tent, and came directly
toward him. It was but the work of an instant for the Indian to conceal
himself in the long prairie grass, which fortunately had not been
entirely trodden down at this point. He was passed unobserved, and he
distinctly heard the name of "Hayward" spoken. He watched, and saw them
enter a tent, some twenty rods from that from which they had emerged.
The Indian crept cautiously along. About half-way between the two tents
to which his attention had been thus especially drawn, he found the
lights extinguished, and he succeeded in crossing the avenue unobserved.
He was now in the rear of what he supposed to be the general commanding
and his staff officers' quarters. He soon came near the tent into which
he had seen the two persons enter, and bending his ear to the ground, he
distinctly heard the voices of those within, but could not distinguish
the words spoken. He drew nearer, but saw that a guard was stationed on
every side, and that it would be impossible to approach nearer without
being discovered. He could now hear the voices plainly, and was not long
in discovering that both Alibamo and the captain were confined there.
Some stratagem must be resorted to, in order to attract the attention of
the guard in another direction. The Indian had already torn up the long
prairie-grass, and wrapped it around him in such a manner that he would
not easily be seen, so nearly did he resemble the earth around him. He
remained perfectly quiet for a moment, as if deeply thinking. At length
he commenced a search upon the ground around him. He raised a stone
about the size of a large apple, and hurled it toward the woods, in the
rear of the last row of tents. It struck against the tree-tops and then
fell to the ground, making considerable noise. The guard instantly
turned his attention in that direction. He listened, but hearing nothing
more, he started with cautious steps toward the wood, his gun at a
ready. The Indian at once took advantage of his absence from his post,
and darted unseen, close behind the tent. He prostrated himself upon the
ground, and drawing the grass around him, and the tent-flap partially
over his form, he was safe from detection so long as he did not move.
The guard discovering nothing, returned to his post, but the Indian
remained quiet, listening to all the conversation within. He became
convinced that Nettleton was a friend, and finally attracted his
attention, he being seated back of the couch upon which Hayward was
lying, and very near Fall-leaf. The Indian waved the paper in his hand,
and then let it fall upon the ground. In an instant he sprang to his
feet, and dashing the guard to the ground, darted for the woods. He
leaped the fence just as the sentinel fired upon him, but the ball
whistled by without harming Fall-leaf.
He made all haste to join his friends whom he found awaiting him. It was
decided to make no further attempts to enter camp, but they determined
to follow on, hoping the prisoners might be left at some point under a
small guard, which could be attacked and overcome.
On the morning the squad under the command of Branch left the main
army, our friends were well satisfied that their destination was
Springfield, and Johnson determined to hasten back to the Union army,
and try to procure assistance. Margrave and Fall-leaf followed on, and
saw his sister Alibamo and Captain Hayward, enter the rebel hospital. As
both were well known in Springfield, Margrave having escaped from that
place but a short time previous, assisted by the Indian, their situation
was by no means an enviable one. But they mingled with the loungers, and
soon learned that a _hanging_ was to come off the next day at three
o'clock. The great event was to take place in the Fair-Ground.