THE OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAINS
It was the second day after Lawrence had left the valley of La Belle,
and so far nothing of interest had occurred. Lawrence and Dan were
riding along side by side, when suddenly a stone struck in the road just
ahead of them, causing their horses to rear and plunge. The road ran
close to the bluff, and no doubt it was from the top of the bluff that
the stone was thrown.
A careful scrutiny of the bluff revealed nothing, and they were about to
ride on, when Lawrence suddenly exclaimed: "Hold on! there's a paper
wrapped around that stone." Springing from his horse, he secured the
paper. It proved to be a rude scrawl, telling them they were being
pursued by a hundred men, and that another hundred had been sent to head
them off.
"What do you think of that?" asked Lawrence, handing the scrawl to Dan.
Dan deciphered it, after some trouble, and then remarked: "A hoax,
probably."
"It's no hoax, Dan. We may as well be prepared."
"But where did the two hundred men come from?" asked Dan. "Even if those
fellows who were paroled turned back, they had no arms."
"It's a raiding party from the South, in all probability," answered
Lawrence, "and we left just in time to miss them."
"Whew! Why couldn't we have stayed a few hours longer?"
"What! And fought the two hundred?"
"Sure; we could have licked them easily."
"Well, I am not sorry we left. I am not aching for a fight against such
odds; but if they overtake us, we will show them what we can do. What
puzzles me is, who gave us the warning?"
"Give it up," said Dan.
Harry was now called, and told what had happened. "You take Jack and
Bruno and guard the rear. Don't let those fellows get close to us,
without our knowing it."
"No danger, as long as Bruno is alive," laughed Harry.
"What about the front?" asked Dan. "We may run into those fellows who
have gone to head us off."
"They haven't had time to head us off yet," said Lawrence, "and before
they meet us, I want to teach those fellows in the rear a lesson."
The horses began to show signs of weariness, and, coming to a settler's
cabin, around which grew a fine field of corn, Lawrence, concluded to
halt, rest and feed the horses, and allow the men to make some coffee.
There were some fine pigs running around, and two of these were
slaughtered. The owner of the corn and hogs made strenuous objections to
this appropriation of his property. He was a tall, gaunt mountaineer,
and his face showed that he was both cunning and crafty.
"Are you Union or Confed?" asked Lawrence.
After emptying his capacious mouth of an enormous quid of tobacco, he
drawled: "I don't know. Yo' uns be the first Yanks I hev seen. I allers
reckoned I was a Confed, but now that yo' uns hev tuk my cohn and hawgs,
I reckon I be Union. If I be Union, I get pay for my cohn and hawgs,
don't I?"
Laughing, Lawrence handed him ten dollars, saying, "I'll bet you a ten
against that one that you will be Confed before night. There's a band of
Confederate cavalry chasing us."
"Is thar? Then I won't bet," replied the fellow, grinning. "It's too
risky. They might p'int a gun at me, and make me yell for Jeff Davis."
"I reckon you wouldn't wait for the gun to be pointed before you
yelled," said Lawrence; "but you're welcome to the ten."
"Ought to be fifty," growled the fellow, as he turned and went into the
house, and they saw him no more.
That night Major Powell camped on his place, and made free with both his
corn and hogs, but he made no objection; neither did he hurrah for Jeff
Davis, for he was not there.
The Federals had not gone far from the cabin when the valley narrowed
down and the mountains arose steep and precipitous on each side.
"It's lucky," said Dan, "that these hills are not filled with
guerrillas, or they would be taking pot-shot at us. I will feel
safer----"
He did not finish the sentence, for there came the sharp crack of a
rifle from the hillside, and a piece of the crown of Dan's hat went
flying through the air. He pulled off his damaged headgear and, gazing
ruefully at it exclaimed: "A blame good hat spoiled; but my head is
safe."
"Charge the bluff!" shouted Lawrence; but there was no need of the
order. A half dozen troopers had already dismounted, and were scaling
the bluff to where a small wreath of smoke was seen curling. Before they
were half way up, there came the sound of another shot, but this time
the whiz of no ball was heard.
Soon the men reached the spot where the smoke had been seen, and their
exclamations of surprise were heard.
"What is it?" shouted Lawrence.
"Dead man up here. No signs of any live one."
"Well, look around sharp, and then come down," replied Lawrence.
The men soon returned, and told a strange story.
"We found," said the sergeant in charge, "whom do you think? Our friend
who sold us the corn and hogs. He was lying behind a rock; his gun,
loaded and cocked, was on the rock, and no doubt he was just going to
take another shot at us, when some one shot him through the head from
behind. He had just been shot, for the fresh blood was gushing from the
wound as we came up. But we neither saw nor could we find any trace of
the one who shot him. It's blame curious. I feel creepy. These mountains
must be haunted."
"If they are, the spirits who haunt them must be very friendly to us,"
said Lawrence; "but, as you say, it is a singular circumstance. I can't
make it out. Why doesn't the fellow show himself, if he is our friend?"
Many and various were the opinions expressed, but no satisfactory
solution was arrived at.
The day closed dark and gloomy; great clouds swept across the sky, and
the wind roared through the forest. It became so dark, and traveling so
difficult, that Lawrence decided to camp for the night, and risk the
chance of being overtaken. The place chosen to camp was a natural
amphitheater which ran back into the mountains. It was overhung by the
giant trees growing on the mountain.
Supper over, the men sat for some time around their little campfire,
talking over the events of the day; but gradually the camp became quiet,
and nothing was heard but the stamping of the horses and the roaring of
the wind.
It was nearly midnight when the soldiers were aroused, not by the guard,
but by Bruno, who came bounding into camp, growling fiercely, every hair
on his back erect. He was trembling violently, either from fear or
excitement.
"Why, what's the matter, Bruno?" cried Harry. "I never saw you act like
this before."
"I believe he is scared," said Lawrence. "Andrew Jackson! Bruno scared!"
"I never knew him to be scared," said Harry, "but I believe he is. See
how he trembles."
Before an investigation could be made, the horses began to rear and
plunge, and the sentinels called out they were breaking loose.
"See to the horses," shouted Lawrence.
The men were just in time, as several of the horses had broken their
halters. As it was, they had hard work to keep them from getting away.
"The horses are badly frightened. They are trembling like leaves," said
the men.
"It must be some wild animal," said Lawrence. "Men, stay by the horses;
Dan, Harry and I will investigate."
Lawrence took a burning brand from the fire, and all three, well armed,
started to find the cause of the trouble. Bruno at first hung back, but
when he saw Harry start, he followed; but it was noticed he kept close
to his master's side.
The dog kept looking to the cliff back of their encampment. A large tree
grew close to the cliff, and an animal could spring into it from the
cliff. Cautiously the three men advanced.
"See there," said Dan, pointing up in the tree.
Lawrence looked, and saw up in the tree what looked like two coals of
fire.
"Hold your brand where I can see the sights of my gun," whispered Dan.
Lawrence did so. Dan took a quick aim and fired. There came a terrible
scream, a crashing among the branches, and then a huge panther lay
struggling on the ground, tearing up the earth in his death agony.
Bruno seemed to have recovered from his fright, for he was about to
spring on the struggling animal, when Harry cried, "Back, Bruno, back!"
Still Bruno would have rushed to his fate if Lawrence had not struck him
a sharp rap over the nose with the burning brand.
At last the beast lay still.
"That was a good shot, Dan," said Lawrence. The ball had struck the
panther squarely between the eyes.
"What could have induced him to visit our camp?" asked Harry.
"The smell of the meat the boys roasted for supper," replied Dan. "You
know, we brought along some of those pigs we had for dinner."
Some of the soldiers insisted on skinning the beast and taking the skin
along as a trophy. As it was, there was little more sleep in the camp,
for the horses continued to be restless, and it was hard to keep them
quieted.
"The panther's mate may be around," said Dan. "It is well to be on the
lookout."
Bruno was of no more use, for he had become sulky and gone and lain
down. He could not understand that the blow Lawrence gave him had saved
his life.
If there was another panther around, he did not show himself, and at the
break of day the troop was once more on the way.
Along in the afternoon, Harry came rapidly riding from the rear, saying
the foremost of the pursuers had been sighted. Hardly had he made his
report when the faint sound of three or four shots was heard.
"Harry, you, with Dan and Bruno, now take the advance," commanded
Lawrence. "That is where we will have to look now for a surprise. Dan,
take command, and ride at a good pace. I, with ten men, will look to the
rear, and hold back the enemy."
"Why not stop and fight them?" grumbled Dan. "I don't like this idea of
running."
"Because I don't wish to have a battle here, if I can help it," replied
Lawrence. "If we fight, especially on anything like even terms, some of
the men will be sure to be killed or wounded. Think of leaving any of
the boys here in the mountains, wounded! It would be better for them to
be shot than left wounded, for they would be sure to be murdered by
guerrillas."
"Reckon you are right; but it is against my principles to run," sighed
Dan.
"Don't be downhearted, old fellow," laughed Lawrence. "I expect to give
them a fight; but I want to choose the ground and the manner of
fighting."
Dan's face brightened. "That's all right, Captain," he exclaimed. "I
might have known you were up to some of your tricks."
Lawrence now rode back to take charge of the rear. Major Powell, knowing
he had two men to Lawrence's one, eagerly pressed forward; but his
enthusiasm was a little cooled when his advance was driven back with a
loss of one killed and two wounded, and he began to be a little more
careful.
By taking advantage of every little inequality of ground, Lawrence was
able to hold the enemy well in check for some miles; but at length they
came to a place where the valley spread out, and flank movements were
easy, and it soon became a test of speed and endurance of the horses.
"This will never do," thought Lawrence. "I must find a place to stop and
fight them, and that soon."
Leaving the rear guard in charge of a sergeant, he rode rapidly to the
front.
"Horses getting winded," said Dan. "We will have to stop and fight."
"At the first favorable place, Dan. Tell the boys to keep up the pace a
little longer."
Lawrence now urged his horse to his utmost speed. He rode two or three
miles without finding a favorable place for an ambuscade, and was about
to halt and choose as good ground as possible and give battle. He had no
fears of the result--only that many of his men might be killed or
wounded. Just as he came to this conclusion, to his delight, he saw the
valley close in front of him. A great hill pushed into it, leaving only
a narrow gateway. Beyond this the valley turned, and the force would be
entirely concealed by the hill. It took Lawrence but a minute to form
his plan of battle. Just before the gateway was reached, the road ran
close to the base of the mountain, which was thickly wooded.
Dan, in command of the advance, now dashed up. "Captain, we must fight.
The horses are all in."
"Yes, Dan, it's fight now. Dismount your men, and have the horses taken
around that point, out of sight. One man can care for six horses.
Conceal the rest of your force in the brush along the base of the
mountain. Be quick. If I succeed in leading them into the trap, you will
know what to do." Thus saying, Lawrence clapped spurs to his horse, and
rode for the rear.
Lawrence found the rear guard hard pressed.
"Look out, Captain; they are flanking us, and you are in range," called
one of the men.
Just then three or four balls whizzed close to Lawrence's head. Wheeling
his horse, he shouted, "Follow me!" and the rear guard went down the
road as if in swift retreat. The enemy followed with wild cheers.
The rapid pursuit had strung out the Confederates, and Major Powell had
ridden back to hurry up the stragglers, leaving the advance in charge of
his senior captain. This officer, thinking the Yankees in full retreat,
and that he might gain some honor, pressed the pursuit with vigor.
Straight past where Dan and his men were concealed, Lawrence rode, but
he halted his little squad where the valley narrowed.
If the Confederates had not been so eager in the pursuit, they might
have seen the bushes tremble or caught the gleam of a gun barrel; but
they only had eyes for the flying Yankees. When they saw the Federals
had halted, they also halted, taking time to close up, and that was just
what Lawrence wanted.
Ordering his men to fire a volley, Lawrence again wheeled as if in
retreat.
"Forward!" shouted the Confederate captain. "Charge! Ride over them!"
Suddenly, from the side of the road, there came a crashing volley. The
destruction was awful; men and horses went down in heaps.
"Wheel and charge!" shouted Lawrence; and down on the terror-stricken
Confederates came Lawrence with his ten men. The panic became a rout.
The enemy thought only of getting away. In vain Major Powell tried to
stop his men; he, too, was borne back in the confusion.
Quickly as possible, Dan had the horses brought up, and he and his men
joined in the pursuit. For two miles it was kept up; then Lawrence
ordered a halt. He saw that Major Powell had succeeded in rallying some
of his men, and taken a position that could not be carried without loss.
All along the road lay dead and wounded men and horses, and where the
first volley was fired the road was filled with the dead and dying.
It was a sight that made Lawrence's heart ache; but he could not stop
even to give relief, for Harry and Jack came back with the startling
news that there was a large force in front, not more than three miles
away.
Lawrence rallied his men, and, to his intense relief, found he had only
three men slightly wounded. It was almost a bloodless victory. The
question was, what to do now. While debating, one of the men suddenly
exclaimed, "Look, there!"
On a rock on the mountain-side, some three hundred yards away, stood the
figure of an old man. A long white beard swept his breast, and he was
bent with age. He stood leaning on a staff, as if weary.
[Illustration: An old man leaning on a staff.]
When he saw he was seen, he beckoned for some one to come to him. Two or
three of the soldiers started, but he peremptorily waved them back.
Lawrence then started, and the old man stood still.
"Don't go, Captain," cried the men. "It may be a trap."
"I will be careful," replied Lawrence. "Shoot at the first sign of
treachery."
A dozen carbines covered the old man, but he did not seem to notice it.
When Lawrence was within about fifty yards of him, he motioned for him
to stop; then, in a high, cracked voice, exclaimed: "There is danger
ahead."
"I know it," replied Lawrence.
"A little ahead, close to that large tree, you will find a faint trail.
Take it. It will lead you over the mountain into another valley, where
you can go on your way in safety. Delay twenty minutes, and all will be
lost. Farewell."
The old man stepped from the rock and disappeared. Lawrence rushed to
where he had been standing. Nothing was to be seen. It was as if the
earth had swallowed him.
He returned and told what had happened, and the wonderment was great.
"No time to lose," exclaimed Lawrence. "I shall take his advice."
In single file, the men turned into the trail. The way was steep, but
not impassable, and soon the forest swallowed them up.
Not until they were over the mountain, was there any opportunity of
discussing the strange warning they had received.
"Can it be that old man has been our guardian angel all the time?" asked
Lawrence.
"Impossible," said Dan. "We received the first warning when we had
hardly left the valley of La Belle. We have come fast. How could that
old man have come over the mountains and got ahead of us?"
"And where did he go when he disappeared so suddenly?" asked one.
"And who shot the guerrilla?" questioned another.
"It's a secret only the mountains can tell. I have heard they were
haunted," said Dan.
"It's God's hand," said one of the men, a solemn, clerical-looking
fellow, whom the men called Preacher. Before he was a soldier, he had
been a Methodist class leader; and there was not a braver man in the
company.
Argue as they might, they could come to no conclusion. To them it was a
mystery that was never solved.
It was weeks before Lawrence fully knew of the danger from which the old
man had saved him. Captain Turner, in his swift ride to get ahead of
him, had fallen in with a scouting party of fifty Confederate cavalry;
not only this, but his force had been augmented by guerrillas until he
had fully two hundred men, well armed and mounted. Had Lawrence met this
force in the narrow valley, he could not have escaped defeat.
The horror and amazement of the advance guard of Turner's force may be
imagined when they came upon the scene of conflict. That the battle had
just been fought, was evident; the smoke of the conflict had not
entirely cleared from the field. What was more surprising, not an armed
man was in sight--neither Federal nor Confederate.
They listened, but could hear no sound of conflict. Captain Turner came
up. For a moment he gazed on the scene of carnage, and then cried:
"Great God! Major Powell ran into an ambuscade, and his force has been
annihilated. The dead are all our men. But where are the Yankees?"
"Doubtless in pursuit of the few of the Major's force that escaped,"
replied an officer.
"That is so," cried Turner. "Forward, men! Let our war-cry be: 'Powell
and Revenge!' Give no quarter! Let every one of the cursed Yankees die."
They rode nearly four miles before they came on to Major Powell and the
remnant of his force. They had continued falling back until they were
certain they were not pursued.
Of his hundred men, the Major had succeeded in rallying about forty. The
rest had been killed or wounded, or had fled. Some of them did not stop
until they reached the valley of La Belle, bringing with them the story
of the disaster, saying that of all of Powell's force they alone
escaped.
"Did you meet and exterminate the Yankees?" was the first question put
to Captain Turner by Major Powell.
"I have seen no Yankees," was the surprising answer.
Major Powell could only gasp, "Seen no Yankees?"
"No; not one."
"Then the mountains must have opened and swallowed them."
Full explanations were made, and the force returned to bury the dead and
care for the wounded. The only possible explanation they could make for
the disappearance of the Federals was that they had hid on the
mountain-side and let the force of Captain Turner pass, then come down
and resumed their flight.
As they debated, suddenly, above them, on the mountain-side, appeared
the figure of an old man, and his voice came down to them, loud and
shrill: "Woe, woe, woe to them who raise their hands against the flag of
their country!"
"Damn him! Fire!" shouted Turner.
A hundred rifles blazed. There came back to them a mocking laugh, and
the old man disappeared. The mountain was scoured, but not a trace of
him could be found.
A superstitious fear fell upon the whole force. The old man must have
been the devil, they argued, and he had helped the Yankees to escape.