THE PRESIDENT'S ACTION
An expression of surprise appeared upon the face of Dennis which quickly
changed to one of consternation. Every one in the little band was
silent, watching the young Irishman. What at first had been looked upon
simply as a rough and not altogether good-natured joke, now seemed to be
taking upon itself certain other phases that interested every one
present. Even Levi was speechless in his rage. Several times he made as
if he was about to flee from the spot, but every time he came back,
either fascinated by the action of Dennis, or eager to secure the paper
which the young Irishman was holding in his hand.
"Here, sergeant," said Dennis at last, "I think 'tis likely this is for
you."
"What is it?" replied the officer as he advanced.
"It looks as if it might be mighty important. 'Tis my opinion that the
little spalpeen has been seein' some things he ought not to see and is
reportin' what no Johnnie ought to know. Just look at that, will ye!"
and Dennis placed the tip of his huge forefinger upon some figures which
were written upon the paper.
Taking the sheet from Dennis's hand the sergeant looked keenly at it,
and in a moment it was seen that he was as startled and alarmed as had
been the young Irish soldier.
Turning quickly about, he saw that Levi manifestly was aware of what was
going on in the mind of the officer and was stealthily working toward
the woods in the distance.
"Stop that fellow!" ordered the sergeant. "Don't let him get away, not
for a minute!"
"Shall we try to catch him?" inquired Noel.
"No, there will be men enough without you. You go after him," he added,
turning to some of the others in the band.
Instantly obeying the command a half-dozen men started in swift pursuit
of the little sutler, who now was running at his utmost speed. The
pursuit was not long continued, however, for just before Levi gained the
refuge of the woods he stumbled and fell to the ground. Before he could
rise his pursuers were upon him, and in spite of the efforts of the
biting, kicking, striking, howling little sutler he was picked up
bodily and carried back to the place where the other members of the band
were awaiting their return.
"I suspict," said Dennis, as he tauntingly grinned at the helpless
prisoner, "that the little spalpeen has some other papers somewhere
about him. Maybe he has put thim in the heel of his boot. 'Tis my
opinion that he ought to be sarched from head to feet."
"We'll attend to that," said the officer, as he thrust into his pocket
the letter which Dennis had secured and at once gave the word to return
to the camp.
It was manifest to Noel that the test which had been made of the skill
of himself and Dennis, had been a source of deep satisfaction to the
chaplain, who now was advancing by his side. Naturally the officer did
not make any comment, but his face was beaming, and it was plain that he
was almost as pleased as were the boys themselves.
When the party arrived at the guard-tent, and Dennis was free to express
his opinions once more, he was not slow to embrace the opportunity.
"'Tis no use at all, at all," he said, "in kapin' Noel and mesilf here.
Think of a little spalpeen like Levi Kadoff comin' into the camp and
gettin' all he wants to find out and goin' back with it among the
Johnnies!"
"That's what he was doing," said Noel. "I wondered what Levi could have
to do with Sairy Ann's brother-in-law. He made no bones of the fact that
he was a spy, but I never suspected Levi of doing anything of the kind
from his own wish. We knew he would sell anything he possessed, whether
it was information or clothes, but I never believed that he would go
back and forth between the armies and carry news from one to the other."
"I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the little imp had been bringing
information here, too."
"Of course he has!" said Noel. "He got paid at both ends of the journey
and he wasn't very slow to make much of the chance. I wonder how much he
had."
"He hasn't had as much as he will get!" said Dennis positively. "Just
listen to that, will ye!"
The roar of great guns in the distance again was distinctly heard, and
so threatening was the sound that it did not seem possible to the
startled listeners that the men who were engaged in the combat could be
far away.
"Listen to that!" repeated Dennis. "That means that we're goin' to be
busy just as soon as they take us out of this guard-house."
"I think I would rather be there than here," said Noel, "although I
confess that ever since Malvern Hill I have not been eager to go into
the sharpshooters' pit."
"You'll be in no sharpshooters' pit here. They don't know enough to
count you for what you're worth. If we're fortunate enough iver to get
back to the --th, where we belong, there we'll pass for just exactly
what we are. The most I want here is just to get out of the guard-tent.
I think I can take care of the rest of it mesilf."
The conversation of the young soldiers continued in spite of the
repeated sounds of the distant firing. Two hours or more had elapsed,
and still no word was brought them, nor had the chaplain returned.
Eagerly the boys had talked over the possibilities of Levi being a spy,
Dennis firmly contending that there was not "spunk enough in the little
spalpeen to do anything for himself." Noel, however, claimed that the
former sutler was not without a form of courage of his own.
"There comes the chaplain," said Dennis, after a few minutes more had
elapsed. "From the look of him I think he has got something he would
like to say to us."
Nor was the young Irishman disappointed. When the chaplain entered the
tent his face was beaming and his satisfaction over what he was about to
say was so manifest that every one of the inmates was confident good
news of some kind had been brought.
"We have just heard from Washington!" said the chaplain eagerly. "We
sent a message to President Lincoln informing him just what had been
done here,--the number of deserters, who had been hanged, and who had
been shot, and how many were on hand, and asked what we should do next."
"Did you tell him about us?" broke in Dennis.
"Yes, we told him about you and the others, too."
"Well, what word did you get? Why don't you out with it, yer Riverence?"
The kind-hearted chaplain laughed and said, "I was just about to say,
when you interrupted me, that after we had sent our message to
Washington we did not expect to receive word in reply so soon. But the
message has just come that the President has received our communication
and--"
"The Saints presarve us!" broke in Dennis. "Won't you please tell us
what's happened?"
"That's what I am telling you," continued the chaplain. "If you wouldn't
interrupt me so frequently you would find out what I have come to say."
"Well, tell us, then!" said Dennis. And although every inmate was
silent, the face of every one gave evidence of the eagerness with which
he was waiting for the visitor's word.
"We have just received our message," began the chaplain once more, "and
I confess that I have a feeling toward the President such as I never
cherished before."
"But what did he say?" broke in Dennis.
"Be silent and I'll explain," said the chaplain. "We were not looking
for an answer for several hours yet, but to our surprise the messenger
has returned and has brought us word that President Lincoln has decided
to--"
As the chaplain paused again, Dennis impatiently broke in, "For the love
of the Saints in heaven tell us what he has decided to do! I can't stand
much more o' this. It isn't the spache we want. It's to know what the
Prisident said."
"He has decided to pardon every one of you."
A shout went up from the guard-tent. In their enthusiasm several were
for leaving the place at once.
"Hold on," warned the chaplain. "I have no right to let you go. I was
permitted to come and bring you the word. You will have to wait until
orders come from the colonel before you will be free. It won't hurt you
very much to wait a little while because you know you will not have to
stay long. It's a great message and I'm glad I am the one to bring it to
you. Are you pleased, both of you?"
"In course I'm pleased," said Dennis.
"And how is it with you, Noel?" asked the chaplain keenly as he turned
to the other young soldier.
"I didn't want any 'pardon'," declared Noel quietly. "I haven't done
anything for which I ought to be pardoned. I have been charged with
being a deserter, by a man whose word was taken instead of ours, and,
too, he is now said to be a spy. I don't feel like taking a pardon
because I haven't done anything which deserves a pardon."
"Don't be foolish, lad," suggested the chaplain. "This matter will all
be straightened out. If there is time you may be sent back to the
division where you belong, but if there isn't and we have to advance
now, there will be plenty of work for you to do before many hours have
passed. Don't stand on a little thing like that."
"I don't want to," said Noel, "and perhaps I shall not stay in the
guard-tent. I am not made of the stuff of which they used to make
martyrs. I appreciate what President Lincoln intended to do, but at the
same time I don't want to stay here as one who has been pardoned for
something which he never did."
"That will be fixed all right," said the chaplain soothingly. "And just
as soon as you receive word from the colonel that you are free, I hope
you won't stay here any longer."
"Niver a bit will we stay here any longer," declared Dennis. "You watch
me, if you want to! You'll see some dust, but not me nor me feet when I
get word to lave this tent."
True to the promise of the chaplain, word was brought in a brief time
that a message from the President had been received and that all the
deserters had been pardoned on the condition that every man should
resume his place in the army and do his duty.
Nor had they been long released before another and more startling
experience came. The heavy firing of cannon in the distance had now
increased, and it was manifest throughout the camp that preparations for
an advance were rapidly being made.