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.