WE CAPTURE A COURIER
THE girl's light burst of laughter aroused me thoroughly to a sense of
our situation. “You seem to derive much amusement from a condition
of affairs almost intolerable to me,” I said bitterly. “I have always
valued most highly the friendship of Mrs. Brennan, but this unfortunate
occurrence will doubtless end it.”
She glanced up at me, her long lashes wet, but her dark eyes sparkling
with mischief.
“Oh, she won't care so far as you are concerned,” she exclaimed
indifferently. “But I suppose she will think I am perfectly horrid.
Well, I don't care if she does; she might have waited and learned the
truth first. Wasn't her face a study? And how shall I ever explain to
Arthur so that he will understand? I'm sure I have got the worst of
it. Oh, Captain Wayne, is my hair all ruffled up? I know I look like a
fright. You must come in now, and we will explain to Mrs. Brennan the
whole matter. She cannot help believing us both, while I know she would
be so cold and proud with me alone.”
I shook my head decisively. Perhaps it was better ended so; at least I
possessed no courage just then to face her indignation. She might but
deem we had concocted our explanation, and would very likely receive it
with all the scorn she felt it deserved. Besides, it was clear there
was nothing I could do to aid them. I should be now merely an unwelcome
intruder. An escort was to be there shortly to convoy them northward,
and for me to be found in their company by Brennan would only inflame
him and add greatly to the embarrassment of his wife's position. Much as
I might long for immediate vindication in her sight, the plain duty of
true love was to depart at once, and permit time to straighten out the
tangle.
“You must pardon me,” I hastened to say, standing hat in hand before
her, “but it would not be best for me to intrude upon Mrs. Brennan after
her late reception. I merely halted here in order to assure myself
of your presence and safety. My men are even now waiting for me a few
hundred yards away.”
“But I wish you to meet Arthur.”
“Oh, I think not, Miss Minor. I feel warm friendship for Lieutenant
Caton, but we wear different uniforms, serve under different flags, and
a meeting here, both with armed forces behind us, would naturally have
to be a hostile one. However the Lieutenant and I might consent to a
temporary truce, his superior officer, Major Brennan, would not likely
prove of the same mind.”
“Then you really must go?”
“Unless you specially desire to witness a cavalry skirmish in your front
dooryard, I certainly consider it best,” and I held out my hand. “Surely
we part as friends, and I may hope that you will intercede in my behalf
with Mrs. Brennan?”
She rose up impulsively.
“How ridiculous; how supremely ridiculous! Why, of course I will, though
I don't suppose Edith really cares very much, but she believed it would
be highly proper to be shocked. I don't think she likes you so very well
anyway, Captain Wayne, for she never will talk about you.”
With these cheering words ringing in my ears, and feeling thoroughly
defeated in every cherished hope, I strode savagely down the long hill
and mounted my horse. How roughly fortune had buffeted me, to be sure,
and how extremely small the inspiration left. Well, perhaps I deserved
it for ever permitting myself to love one whom I knew to be the wife of
another. Doubtless she had seized upon this slight pretext to be rid of
me, and was already rejoicing over its easy accomplishment.
In my agitation I forgot entirely the presence of Maria Bungay at the
house, and ordering my men into saddle prepared for departure without
giving a thought to the little fellow and his domestic troubles. I chose
the road leading toward the northwest, for although I had not asked the
question I conceived it highly probable that Brennan and his party would
ride from the Federal cavalry quarters at Colter's Church, and I had no
desire to meet them. They were upon an errand of mercy of far greater
importance than my revenge.
As we swung along through the heavily timbered land fringing our road,
Bungay pressed his mule into a trot and finally succeeded in ranging up
at my side. Even in my disturbed mental condition I was amused at his
unique style of riding, although I would not wound him by laughing.
“I say, Cap,” he said, jerking the words out to the mule's hard trot,
and grasping his saddle pommel desperately, “I sorter reckon as how
ther'll be some fun back thar afore long, 'less all signs fail.”
“Why?” I stared at him, now thoroughly aroused to the thought that he
had important news to communicate.
“Wal,” he explained slowly, “whin ye wint off, I sorter tuk a notion ter
look 'bout a bit. Used ter be an ol' stompin' ground o' mine. So Dutchy
an' me clumb thet big hill back o' whar we halted, an' by gum, down thar
in ther gully on t' other side thar's a durned big camp o' fellers.”
I reined up short, and with uplifted hand signalled the men behind to
halt.
“Why didn't you tell me this before?” I questioned sternly. “How many
were there? and what did they look like?”
He scratched the back of his head thoughtfully, and answered with
careful deliberation. “Durn it, I didn't jine ye till after ye'd
started, an' I reckon as how it took me all o' tew mile ter git this
yere blame muel up ter whar I cud talk. Thar's quite a smart bunch,
but they hed some pickets out, an' I cudn't git close 'nough ter tell
zackly. Dutchy thought thar wus nigh onter two hunderd o' 'em, but I
jist don't know. They wusn't dressed like sojers o' either army, an' I
reckon they're out o' ther hills.”
I glanced at my little handful of men, scarcely knowing what decision it
might be wise to make. Undoubtedly they would fight if occasion arose,
but the odds were terribly heavy; besides, if Brennan came, and his
party got away that same evening, as was planned for them to do, then
it might not be necessary for us to strike a blow. I was certainly in
no mood to expose my small command merely to save the empty house from
destruction.
“Ebers,” I said, turning toward the Sergeant, who sat his horse with
expressionless face, “you were with the guide when he discovered this
camp. How many do you think it contained? and who were they?”
“Vel, dere vos more as two gompanies, Captain, und dere vos some horses,
but dey vos dressed--vot you calls it?--all ober not der same.”
“Not in uniform?”
“Dot vos it.”
“Have any of the rest of you seen anything that looked suspicious?” I
asked, glancing around into the different faces.
“Maybe I did,” answered one of the troopers named Earl. “As we rode up
the first hill after leaving the house my horse picked up a stone, and
I had to stop and get it out. I reckon I fell behind a quarter of a
mile or more, and just as I started I looked back, and a party of ten or
twelve fellows was just riding in through them big gates onto the front
lawn. But them fellows was soldiers for sure; they rode regular like,
and all of them wore caps. It was so far off I couldn't tell the color
of their clothes, but them caps made me think they was Feds.”
I chose my course at once. This undoubtedly must have been Brennan's
party.
“Thank you, my man; it would have been better if you had reported that
to me at once,” I said. “However, I understand the situation much
better now. Sergeant, we will go into camp here. Post pickets in both
directions, but put your most careful men on that hill yonder. Let them
report promptly any signs of fire to the southeast, or any sound of
guns.”
We completed all our cooking before dark, and when the night finally
closed down about us it proved to be an exceedingly black one, although
the skies were clear. Sleep was an impossibility for me, as my mind was
in constant turmoil. I felt hampered, prisoned, shut in, unable to do
what I most desired. I wondered where she was--probably riding northward
beside her husband, and I bit my lip savagely at thought of it;
possibly she was even then laughing merrily in memory of my unfortunate
predicament in the garden. So she cared nothing for me, exhibited her
indifference clearly in presence of others, disliked even to hear my
name mentioned. Very well, I would take exceeding good care never again
to intrude myself upon her. Then my thoughts swerved to the big house
out yonder in the darkness. If signs of attack came to us, what should
I do? The question truly puzzled me, for I was unwilling to expose the
lives of my men merely to save property--Confederate soldiers were far
too valuable at that stage of the war. If I only knew positively that
the women were safely away, I would tarry no longer in the neighborhood.
But I did not know; I merely hoped.
Ebers was lying next me upon the grass, solemnly puffing at his huge
pipe, and I held my watch to the glow in its bowl in order to see the
time. It was nearly midnight.
“Those fellows ought to be at it before this,” I said to him, “if they
intend to accomplish anything to-night.”
“I dink so too,” he answered slowly. “I vill see dot der guard is
all right, an' den vill get some sleep, for I am pretty moch done op
already.”
He arose ponderously to his feet, and stretched out his short arms in
a prodigious yawn. As he stood there, his pudgy figure outlined against
the sky, there was borne to our ears the sound of a furious struggle
on the hilltop to the south--a shout, blows, a volley of cursing, then
silence. An instant later we were both running through the darkness
toward the scene of trouble.
“What is it, Sands?” I questioned breathlessly, as I came suddenly upon
the little group.
“A fellar on hossback,” was the answer. “He come up on us like a streak
out o' thet black hollor, an' he'd a sure got away of Mason hed n't
clubbed him with his gun. I've got the cuss safe collared now.”
“Who are you?” I asked sternly, striving in vain to see something of him
through the darkness. “Where were you riding?”
He maintained a sullen silence, and Sands kicked him.
“None of that,” I commanded. “Ebers, strike a match, will you, and let
me see this chap.”
I had scarcely spoken when our prisoner thrust Sands roughly aside and
took one hasty step toward me.
“My God, Wayne! Is it possible this is you?” he cried excitedly.
“Caton?” I exclaimed, as surprised as himself. “Caton? What is it? What
is wrong?”
“Am I to do dot?” asked the Sergeant, anxiously.
“No,” I answered. “I know this man, and we shall need no fire. Caton,
are you from the Minor house? Has it been attacked?”
“Yes,” he answered, panting yet from his exertion and excitement. “We
were to start North with the ladies at nine o'clock, but the house was
surrounded as soon as it became dark. Those devils supposed it to be
unguarded, and advanced without precautions. We fired and drove them
back. We had repulsed three attacks when I left at eleven, but three of
our men were already hit.”
“You were after aid?”
“I was striving to reach our advance pickets at McMillan. It seemed the
only possible chance, and none of the men would volunteer to make the
ride. One was killed trying it before I started. God knows how I hated
to leave them, but it had to be done. How many have you?”
“Only twenty; but if we could once get inside along with your fellows,
we might hold the house until reinforcements came.”
“Thank God! I knew you would!” he cried joyfully, grasping me again
fervently by the hand. “You are not one to hesitate over the color of a
uniform at such a time as this. I have been proud all through this war
to feel that we on both sides were of the same blood, and have felt like
cheering your gray lines more than once. Only, Wayne,” and he hesitated
an instant, “it is right I should tell you that Brennan is there, and in
command.”
“I know it, but those women must be saved nevertheless,” I answered
firmly, my mind settled. “This is no time for personal quarrelling, and
whatever color of cloth we wear those outlaws are our common enemies, to
be hunted down like wild beasts. I have seen specimens of their fiendish
cruelty that make my blood run cold to remember. The very thought of
those who are now exposed falling into such hands is enough to craze
one; death would be preferable a thousand times. How many fighting men
have you?”
“Seven fit for duty.”
“Will you ride forward, or go back with us?”
“We must send word,”--and the gallant fellow's voice shook,--“but God
knows, Wayne, I want to go back. If we both live I am to marry Celia
Minor.”
“I understand,” I said gravely. “Ebers, who is your best rider?”
“It vos dot funny leetle vellow Glen, Captain.”
“Glen, come here.”
The trooper, a mere boy, with freckled face and great honest gray eyes,
but wiry and tough as steel, pushed his way through the group and faced
me.
“Glen,” I said, “your Sergeant tells me you are the best rider in the
troop. I am going to intrust you with the most important duty of all.
The lives of every one of us and of four helpless women depend entirely
upon your riding. You will take two horses, kill both if necessary, but
stop for nothing until your duty is done. You are to carry a note from
me, and another from this gentleman, who is an officer in the Federal
army, and deliver them both to the commandant of the first military post
you find. Insist upon reaching him in person. It makes no difference
which army the post belongs to, for this is a matter of humanity. The
Federal outpost at McMillan is the nearest to us; make for there. You
understand?”
The boy saluted gravely, all mischief gone from his face.
“I do, sir,” he said. “But I'd a darn sight rather stay here and fight.”
“You will be back in plenty of time to take a hand, my lad. Now,
men,”--and I turned to the dark, expectant ring about me,--“this is
no ordinary duty of your enlistment, and I wish no one to accompany me
to-night who does not volunteer for the service. Seven Federal soldiers
and four women, three of them Virginians, are attacked at the house
we have just left by a large party of bushwhacking guerillas, the
offscourings of hell. Every one of you knows what that means. Will you
go with me to their rescue?”
No one seemed anxious to be first to speak. I could see them look aside
uneasily at one another.
“Bungay,” I said, “I feel sure you will go, for your wife is there.”
“Mariar?”
“Yes; Miss Minor told me this afternoon, but I had forgotten to mention
it.”
The little man sprang into the air and came down with a whoop.
“The bloody devils!” he cried excitedly. “Ye bet I'll go.”
“Come, Sergeant, speak up; what do you men say?”
“I like not to fight mit der Yankees,” he admitted candidly, “but der
vomens, py Chiminy, dot vos anoder ting. I vill go, Captain; mein Gott,
yaw.”
“We 're with you, sir,” spoke voice after voice gravely around the dark
circle, and then Sands added: “We'll show them thar Yanks how the Johnny
Rebs kin fight, sir.”
Ten minutes later Glen, bearing his two messages to the Blue and Gray,
was speeding recklessly through the black night northward, while my
little squad was moving cautiously back over the road we had so lately
traversed.