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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/25886-8.txt b/25886-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2bc7e71 --- /dev/null +++ b/25886-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,10512 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Young Lieutenant, by Oliver Optic + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Young Lieutenant + or, The Adventures of an Army Officer + + +Author: Oliver Optic + + + +Release Date: June 23, 2008 [eBook #25886] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT*** + + +E-text prepared by Roger Frank, Juliet Sutherland, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) + + + +THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT + +Or + +The Adventures of an Army Officer + +A Story of the Great Rebellion + +by + +OLIVER OPTIC + +Author of +"The Soldier Boy," "The Sailor Boy," "Brave Old Salt," +"The Yankee Middy," "Fighting Joe," etc. + + + + + + + +A. L. Burt Company +Publishers :: :: New York + + + +TO +William A. Moulton, Esq. + +THIS BOOK +IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED + +BY HIS FRIEND +WILLIAM T. ADAMS + + + + + + +THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT +OR +THE ADVENTURES OF AN ARMY OFFICER + +CHAPTER I + +CAPTAIN DE BANYAN AND OTHERS + + +"I beg your pardon, sir; but I see, by the number on your cap, that we +belong to the same regiment," said an officer with two bars on his +shoulder-straps, as he halted in the aisle of the railroad-car, near +where Lieutenant Thomas Somers was seated. "May I be permitted to inquire +whom I have the honor of addressing?" + +"Lieutenant Somers, of the ----th Massachusetts," replied the young +gentleman addressed, as he politely touched his cap in return for the +salutation of the other. + +"Ah! is it possible? I am rejoiced to meet you. I have heard of you +before. Allow me to add in the most delicate manner, that you are a good +fellow, a first-rate soldier, and as brave an officer as ever sported a +pair of shoulder-straps. Permit me to offer you my hand; and allow me to +add, that it is a hand which was never sullied by a dishonorable act." + +"I am happy to make your acquaintance," replied Lieutenant Somers, as he +accepted the offered hand. "Won't you take a seat, Captain----" + +"Captain de Banyan, at your service," continued the officer, as he seated +himself by the side of the young lieutenant, who was completely +bewildered by the elegant and courtly speech of his new-found friend. + +If Lieutenant Somers needs any further introduction to the reader, we may +briefly add, that he was a native of Pinchbrook, a town near Boston, in +the State of Massachusetts. He was now entering his eighteenth year, and +had enlisted in the great army of the Union as a private, with an earnest +and patriotic desire to serve his imperiled country in her death-grapple +with treason and traitors. He had won his warrant as a sergeant by +bravery and address, and had subsequently been commissioned as a second +lieutenant for good conduct on the bloody field of Williamsburg, where he +had been wounded. The injury he had received, and the exhaustion +consequent upon hard marching and the excitement of a terrible battle, +had procured for him a furlough of thirty days. He had spent this brief +period at home; and now, invigorated by rest and the care of loving +friends, he was returning to the army to participate in that stupendous +campaign which culminated in the seven-days' battles before Richmond. + +Inspired by the hope of honorable distinction, still more by the +patriotic desire to serve the noblest cause for which the soldier ever +drew a sword, he was hastening to the post of danger and duty. As the +train hurried him by smiling fields, and through cities and villages +whose prosperity was mysteriously interlinked with the hallowed mission +which called him from the bosom of home and friends, his thoughts were +those which would naturally animate the soul of a young patriot, as he +journeyed to the battle-fields of a nation's ruin or salvation. He +thought of the bloody scenes before him, of the blessed home behind him. + +Only the day before, he had made his parting visit to Lilian Ashford, who +knit his "fighting socks," as he had called them since the eventful day +when he had found her letter and her picture in them. Of course, he could +not help thinking of her; and, as he had a thin stratum of sentiment in +his composition, it is more than probable that the beautiful young lady +monopolized more than her fair share of his thoughts; but I am sure it +was not at all to the detriment of the affection he owed his mother and +the other dear ones, who were shrined in the sanctuary of his heart. + +Lieutenant Somers was an exceedingly good-looking young man, which, as it +was no fault of his own, we do not object to mention. He was clothed in +his new uniform, which was very creditable to the taste and skill of his +tailor. On his upper lip, an incipient mustache had developed itself; +and, though it presented nothing remarkable, it gave brilliant promise of +soon becoming all that its ambitious owner could possibly desire, +especially as he was a reasonable person, and had no taste for +monstrosities. He had paid proper attention to this ornamental appendage, +which is so indispensable to the making-up of a soldier; and the result, +if not entirely satisfactory, was at least hopeful. + +The subject of our remarks wore his sash and belt, and carried his sword +in his hand, for the reason that he had no other convenient way of +transporting them. Our natural pride, as his biographer, leads us to +repeat that he was a fine-looking young man; and we will venture to say, +that the young lady who occupied the seat on the opposite side of the car +was of the same opinion. Of course, she did not stare at him; but she had +two or three times cast a furtive glance at the young officer; though the +operation had been so well managed, that he was entirely unconscious of +the fact. + +Inasmuch as this same young lady was herself quite pretty, it is not +supposable that she had entirely escaped the observation of our gallant +young son of Mars. We are compelled to say he had glanced in that +direction two or three times, to keep within the limits of a modest +calculation; but it is our duty to add that he was not captivated, and +that there is not the least danger of our story degenerating into a +love-tale. Lieutenant Somers thought she was nearly as pretty as Lilian +Ashford; and this, we solemnly declare, was the entire length and breadth +of the sentiment he expended upon the young lady, who was certainly +worthy of a deeper homage. + +She was in charge of an elderly, dignified gentleman, who had occupied +the seat by her side until half an hour before the appearance of Captain +de Banyan; but, being unfortunately addicted to the small vice of +smoking, he had gone forward to the proper car to indulge his propensity. +Lieutenant Somers had studied the faces of all the passengers near him, +and had arrived at the conclusion that the lady's protector was a +gentleman of consequence. He might be her father or her uncle; but he was +a member of Congress, the governor of a State, or some high official, +perhaps a major-general in "mufti." At any rate, our hero was interested +in the pair, and had carried his speculations concerning them as far as +theory can go without a few facts to substantiate it, when his +reflections were disturbed by Captain de Banyan. + +"Lieutenant Somers, I'm proud to know you, as I had occasion to remark +before. I have heard of you. You distinguished yourself in the battle of +Williamsburg," said Captain de Banyan. + +"You speak very handsomely of me--much better than I deserve, sir." + +"Not a particle, my boy. If there is a man in the army that can +appreciate valor, that man is Captain de Banyan. You are modest, +Lieutenant Somers--of course you are modest; all brave men are +modest--and I forgive your blushes. I've seen service, my boy. Though not +yet thirty-five, I served in the Crimea, in the Forty-seventh Royal +Infantry; and was at the battles of Solferino, Magenta, Palestro, and +others too numerous to mention." + +"Indeed!" exclaimed Lieutenant Somers, filled with admiration by the +magnificent record of the captain. "Then you are not an American?" + +"Oh, yes, I am! I happened to be in England when the Russian war +commenced. So, being fond of a stirring life, I entered as a private in +the Forty-seventh. If the war had continued six months longer, I should +have come out a brigadier-general, though. Promotion is not so rapid in +the British army as in our own. I was at the storming of the Redan; I was +one of the first to mount the breach. Just as I had raised my musket----" + +"I thought you were an officer--a colonel at least," interposed +Lieutenant Somers. + +"My sword, I should have said. Just as I had raised my sword to cut down +a Russian who threatened to bayonet me, a cannon-ball struck the butt of +my gun----" + +"Your gun?" + +"The handle of my sword, I should have said, and snapped it off like a +pipe-stem." + +"But didn't it snap your hand off too?" asked the lieutenant, rather +bewildered by the captain's statements. + +"Not at all; that is the most wonderful part of the story. It didn't even +graze my skin." + +"That was very remarkable," added Lieutenant Somers, who could not see, +for the life of him, how a cannon-ball could hit the handle of the sword +without injuring the hand which grasped it. + +"It was very remarkable, indeed; but I was reminded of the circumstance +by the remembrance that you were hit in the head by a bullet, which did +not kill you. I shouldn't have mentioned the affair if I hadn't called to +mind my own experience; for life yourself, Somers, I am a modest man; in +fact, every brave man is necessarily a modest man." + +"Were you ever wounded, Captain de Banyan?" + +"Bless you, half a dozen times. At Magenta, the same bullet passed twice +through my body." + +"The same bullet?" + +"Yes, sir--the same bullet. I'll tell you how it happened. I was in the +heavy artillery there. The bullet of the Russian--" + +"The Russian! Why, I thought the battle of Magenta was fought between the +Austrians and the French." + +"You are right, my boy. The bullet of the Austrian, I should have said, +passed through my left lung, struck the cannon behind me, bounded back, +and hitting me again, passed through my right lung. When it came out, it +hit my musket, and dropped upon the ground. I picked it up, and have it +at home now." + +"Whew!" added Lieutenant Somers in a low whisper. "It's quite warm +to-day," he continued, trying to turn off the remark. + +"Very warm, indeed." + +"But didn't you fall after the ball had passed through both your lungs?" + +"Not at all. I walked five miles to the hospital. On my way, I met the +Emperor Napoleon, who got off his horse, and thanked me for the valor I +had displayed, and conferred on me the medal of the Legion of Honor. I +keep the medal in the same bag with the bullet." + +"Then you have actually shaken hands with the Emperor of France?" cried +the amazed lieutenant. + +"Yes; and King Victor Emmanuel called to see me in the hospital, where I +was confined for five weeks. At Solferino, both their majesties shook +hands with me, and thanked me again for my services. Being a modest man, +I shouldn't want to say out loud that I saved the day for the French and +Sardinians at Solferino. At any rate, their majesties did the handsome +thing by me on that day." + +"I thought you were in the hospital five weeks after Magenta." + +"So I was; and well do I remember the little delicacies sent me by the +King of Italy while I lay there on my back. Ah! that Victor Emmanuel is a +noble fellow. At Solferino, he----" + +"But how could you have been at Solferino, if you were in the hospital +five weeks?" + +"I did not die of my wounds, it is scarcely necessary for me to remark. I +got well." + +"But the battle of Solferino was fought on the 20th of June, and that of +Magenta on the 4th of June. There were only twenty days between the +battles." + +"You are right, Somers. I have made some mistake in the dates. I never +was good at remembering them. When I was in college, the professors used +to laugh at me for forgetting the date of the Christian Era. By the way, +do you smoke, Somers? Let's go into the smoking-car, and have a cigar." + +"I thank you; I never smoke." + +"Ah! you are worse than a hot potato. But I am dying for a smoke; and, if +you will excuse me, I will go forward. I will see you again before we get +to New York." + +Captain de Banyan, apparently entirely satisfied with himself, rose from +his seat, and sauntered gracefully forward to the door of the car, +through which he disappeared, leaving Lieutenant Somers busy in a vain +endeavor to crowd five weeks in between the 4th and the 20th of June. The +captain was certainly a pleasant and voluble person, and Somers had +enjoyed the interview; though he could not repress a rising curiosity to +see the bullet which had passed twice through the body of the valiant +soldier, and the medal of the Legion of Honor conferred upon him by his +imperial majesty the Emperor of France. + +Some painful doubts in regard to the truth of Captain de Banyan's +remarkable experience were beginning to intrude themselves into his mind; +and it is quite probable that he would have been hurled into an unhappy +state of skepticism, if the train in which he was riding had not been +suddenly hurled down an embankment some twenty feet in height, where the +cars were piled up in shapeless wrecks, and human beings, full of life +and hope a moment before, were suddenly ushered into eternity, or maimed +and mangled for life. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE SENATOR'S DAUGHTER + + +A scene terribly beyond the power of description was presented to the +gaze of Lieutenant Somers when he recovered his scattered senses. The car +had been literally wrenched to pieces, and the passengers were partially +buried beneath the fragments. Our traveler was stunned by the shock, and +made giddy by the wild vaulting of the car as it leaped down the +embankment to destruction. He was bruised and lacerated; but he was not +seriously injured. He did not make the mistake which many persons do +under such trying circumstances, of believing that they are killed; or, +if their senses belie this impression, that they shall die within a brief +period. + +Lieutenant Somers was endowed with a remarkable degree of self-possession, +and never gave up anything as long as there was any chance of holding on. +He saw a great many stars not authenticated in any respectable catalogue +of celestial luminaries. His thoughts, and even his vitality, seemed to be +suspended for an instant; but the thoughts came back, and the stream of +life still flowed on, notwithstanding the rude assault which had been made +upon his corporal frame. + +Finding that he was not killed, he struggled out from beneath the wreck +which had overwhelmed him. His first consideration, after he had assured +himself that he was comparatively uninjured, was for those who were his +fellow-passengers on this race to ruin and death; and perhaps it is not +strange that the fair young lady who had occupied the opposite seat in +the car came to his mind. Men and women were disengaging themselves from +the shapeless rubbish. Some wept, some groaned, and some were motionless +and silent. + +He did not see the fair stranger among those who were struggling back to +consciousness. A portion of the top of the car lay near him, which he +raised up. It rested heavily upon the form of a maiden, which he at once +recognized by the dress to be that of the gentle stranger. The sight +roused all his energies; and he felt that strength which had fired his +muscles when he trod the field of battle. With desperate eagerness, he +raised the heavy fragment which was crowding out the young life of the +tender form, and bore it away, so that she was released from its cruel +pressure. + +She, poor girl! felt it not; for her eyes were closed, and her marble +cheek was stained with blood. The young officer, tenderly interested in +her fate, bent over her, and raised the inanimate form. He bore it in his +arms to a green spot, away from the scattered fragments of the train, and +laid it gently down upon the bosom of mother earth. By all the means +within his power, he endeavored to convince himself that death had not +yet invaded the lovely temple of her being. But still she was silent and +motionless. There was not a sign by which he could determine the +momentous question. + +He was unwilling to believe that the beautiful stranger was dead. It +seemed too hard and cruel that one so young and fair should be thus +rudely hurried out of existence, without a mother or even a father near +to receive her last gaze on earth, and listen to the soft sigh with which +she breathed forth her last throb of existence. He had a telescopic +drinking-cup in his pocket, with which he hastened to a brook that flowed +through the valley. Filling it with water, he returned to his charge. He +sprinkled her face, and rubbed her temples, and exerted himself to the +best of his knowledge and ability to awaken some signs of life. + +The task seemed hopeless; and he was about to abandon it in despair, to +render assistance to those who needed it more than the fair, silent form +before him, when an almost imperceptible sigh gladdened his heart, and +caused him to renew his exertions. Procuring another cup of water, he +persistently sprinkled the fair face and chafed the temples of his +charge. With his handkerchief he washed away the blood-stains, and +ascertained that she was only slightly cut just above the ear. + +Cheered by the success which had rewarded his efforts, he continued to +bathe and chafe till the gentle stranger opened her eyes. In a few +moments more she recovered her consciousness, and cast a bewildered +glance around her. + +"Where is my father?" said she; and, as she spoke, the fearful nature of +the catastrophe dawned upon her mind, and she partially rose from her +recumbent posture. + +Lieutenant Somers could not tell where her father was, and his first +thought was that he must be beneath the wreck of the shattered cars. For +the first time, he looked about him to measure with his eye the extent of +the calamity. At that moment he discovered the engine, with the forward +part of the train, backing down the railroad. Only the two rear cars had +been precipitated over the embankment; the accident having been caused by +the breaking of an axle on the last car but one. The shackle connecting +this with the next one had given way, and the broken car had darted off +the bank, carrying the rear one with it, while the rest of the train +dashed on to its destination. + +Of course the calamity was immediately discovered; but a considerable +time elapsed--as time was measured by those who were suffering and dying +beneath the _débris_ of the train--before the engine could be stopped, +and backed to the scene of the accident. Lieutenant Somers had seen the +lady's father go forward, and had heard him say he was going to the +smoking-car; he was therefore satisfied that he was safe. + +"He will be here presently," he replied to the anxious question of the +fair stranger. + +"Perhaps he was--oh, dear! Perhaps he was----" + +"Oh, no! he wasn't. The smoking-car was not thrown off the track," +interposed the young officer, promptly removing from her mind the +terrible fear which took possession of her first conscious moments. "Are +you much hurt?" + +"I don't know; I don't think I am; but one of my arms feels very numb." + +"Let me examine it," continued our traveler, tenderly raising the injured +member. + +He was not deeply skilled in surgery; but he knew enough of the mysteries +of anatomy to discover that the arm was broken between the elbow and the +shoulder. + +"I am afraid your arm is broken," said he cautiously, as though he feared +the announcement would cause her to faint again. + +"I am glad it is no worse," said she with a languid smile, and without +exhibiting the least indication of feminine weakness. + +"It might have been worse, certainly. Can I do anything more for you?" +added Lieutenant Somers, glancing at the wreck of the cars, with a +feeling that his duty then was a less pleasing one than that of attending +to the wants of the beautiful stranger; for there were still men and +women lying helpless and unserved in the midst of the ruins. + +The train stopped upon the road; and the passengers, though appalled by +the sight, rushed down the bank to render willing assistance to the +sufferers. Among them was the father of the young lady, who leaped +frantically down the steep, and passed from one to another of the forms +which the survivors had taken from the wreck. + +"There is your father," said Lieutenant Somers as he recognized him among +the excited passengers. "I will go and tell him where you are." + +"Do, if you please," replied the lady faintly. + +He ran to the distracted parent, and seized him by the arm as he dashed +from one place to another in search of the gentle maiden whose life was +part of his own. + +"Your daughter is out here, sir," said Lieutenant Somers, pointing to the +spot where he had borne her. + +"My daughter!" gasped the agonized father. "Where--where?" + +"In this direction, sir." + +"Is she--O Heaven, spare me!" groaned he. + +"She is hurt, but I think not very badly. Her left arm is broken, and her +head is slightly cut." + +"O God, I thank Thee!" gasped the father, as he walked with the +lieutenant to the place where the young lady was sitting on the grass. + +"I think you need not be alarmed about her," added our officer, anxious +to console the suffering parent. + +"My poor Emmie!" exclaimed the anxious father when they reached the spot, +while he knelt down upon the grass by her side, the tears coursing in +torrents down his pale cheeks. + +"Don't be alarmed, father," replied she, putting her uninjured arm around +his neck and kissing him, while their tears mingled. "I am not much hurt, +father." + +Lieutenant Somers had a heart as well as a strong and willing arm, and he +could not restrain his own tears as he witnessed the touching scene. The +meeting seemed to be so sacred to him, that he could not stand an idle +gazer upon the expression of that hallowed affection as it flowed from +the warm hearts of the father and daughter. + +"As I can be of no further service here, I will go and do what I can for +those who need my help. If you want any assistance, I shall be close at +hand," said he, as he walked away to the busy scene of woe which +surrounded the wreck. + +The wounded, the maimed, and the dead were rapidly taken from the pile of +ruins, and placed in the cars on the road; and there was no longer +anything for the young officer to do. He returned to the grassy couch of +her whom he could not but regard as peculiarly his patient. The father +had recovered his self-possession, and satisfied himself that Emmie was +not more seriously injured than her deliverer had declared. + +"My young friend, while I thank God that my daughter is still alive, I am +very grateful to you for the care you have bestowed upon her," said the +father, as he grasped the young officer's hand. + +"You may well thank him, Mr. Guilford," said one of the two gentlemen who +had followed the young officer to the spot; "for the first thing I saw, +when I came out from under the ruins, was this young man lifting half the +top of the car off your daughter." + +"I beg your pardon, sir, but I think we should convey the young lady up +to the cars; for I see they are about ready to start," said Lieutenant +Somers, blushing up to the eyes. + +"I thank you, young man," added Mr. Guilford with deep feeling. "I must +see you again, and know more about you. Emmie has told me how kind you +have been to her; and you may be sure I shall never forget it while I +live. How do you feel now, Emmie?" + +"My arm begins to pain me a little," she answered languidly. + +"We must put you into the car, and in a short time we shall be able to do +something for you." + +"I will carry her up to the train, sir," said the young officer. + +"I thank you, sir," said Emmie with a smile; "but I think I can walk." + +"Well," said the gentleman who had spoken before, "I saw him carry you +from the wreck to this place; and I am bound to say, I never saw a mother +handle her baby more tenderly." + +"I am very grateful to him for what he has done for me," added Emmie with +a slight blush; "and if I needed his services, I certainly should accept +his kind offer." + +She took the arm of her father, and walked very well till she came to the +steep bank, whose ascent required more strength than she then possessed. +Her father and Lieutenant Somers then made a "hand-chair," and bore her +up to the car, in which she was as comfortably disposed as the +circumstances would permit. The train started with its melancholy freight +of wounded, dead and dying. + +"I see, sir, you are an officer in the army," said Mr. Guilford as the +train moved off; "but I have not yet learned your name." + +"Thomas Somers, sir," replied our young officer. + +"I must trouble you to write it down for me, with your residence when at +home, and your regiment in the field." + +Lieutenant Somers complied with this request, and in return the gentleman +gave him his address. + +"I shall never forget you, Lieutenant Somers," said Mr. Guilford when he +had carefully deposited the paper in his memorandum-book. "I have it in +my power to be of service to you; and if you ever want a friend, I shall +consider it a favor if you will come to me, or write to me." + +"Thank you, sir; I am very much obliged to you. But I hope you won't +consider yourself under any obligations to me for what I have done. I +couldn't have helped doing it if I had tried." + +"Lieutenant Somers, you are in luck," said the gentleman who had +accompanied him before. "That is Senator Guilford, of ----, and he will +make a brigadier-general of you before you are a year older." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A FRIEND AT COURT + + +Lieutenant Somers sat down in one corner of the car, near the seats +occupied by Miss Guilford and her father. He was just beginning to be +conscious of the fact that he had done a "big thing;" not because he had +helped one of God's suffering creatures, but because she happened to be a +Senator's daughter. But he still had the happy reflection, that what he +had done had been prompted by motives of humanity, not by the love of +applause, or for the purpose of winning the favor of a great man who +could dispense the "loaves and fishes" when he should need them. + +He was rather sensitive. He was a young man of eighteen, and he had not +yet become familiar with the grossness and selfishness of this +calculating world. He was rather offended at the patronage which the +Senator had proposed to bestow upon him, and he even regretted that he +had so readily given him his address. + +Lieutenant Somers regarded himself as emphatically a fighting officer; +and the idea of working his way up to distinction by the favor of a +member of Congress was repulsive to him. He really wished the Hon. Mr. +Guilford had only thanked him for what he had done, and not said a word +about having it in his power to be of service to him. + +While he was meditating upon the events which had transpired, and the +Senator's patronizing offer, he saw Captain de Banyan enter the forward +door of the car through which the gentleman who had taken so much pains +to compliment the young officer had disappeared a short time before. The +distinguished captain walked through the car directly to the seat of the +lieutenant, who had not even yet ceased to blush under the praises which +had been bestowed upon him. + +"Somers, your hand," said he, extending his own. "I have heard all about +it, and am proud that our regiment has furnished so brave and devoted a +man. Oh, don't blush, my dear fellow! You are a modest man. I sympathize +with you; for I am a modest man myself. I didn't get over blushing for +three weeks after his imperial majesty, the Emperor of France, +complimented me for some little thing I did at the battle of Palestro." + +"I thought that was at Magenta," added Somers. + +"So it was. The fact is, I have been in a great many battles, and I get +them mixed up a little sometimes. But you are in luck, Somers," continued +the captain in a lower tone, as he seated himself by the side of his +fellow-officer. + +"Why so?" + +"They say she is the daughter of a Senator." + +"What of that?" + +"What of that! Why, my dear fellow, you are as innocent as a school girl. +Don't you see he can get you on some general's staff, and have you +promoted every time there is a skirmish?" + +"I don't want to be promoted unless I earn it." + +"Of course you don't; but every officer that earns it won't get it. By +the way, Somers, can't you introduce me to the old gentleman?" + +"I never saw him before in my life." + +"No matter for that. I'll warrant you, he'll be glad to make all your +friends his friends." + +"But I don't feel enough acquainted with him to introduce a gentleman +whom I never saw in my life till two hours ago." + +"You are right, my dear fellow; excuse me," replied Captain de Banyan, +looking very much disappointed. "I dare say, if I should show him the +autograph of the Emperor of France, he would be very glad to know me." + +"No doubt of it. At any rate, I recommend you to make the trial." + +"Yes; but the mischief of it is, I have left all those papers at home." + +"That's unfortunate," added Lieutenant Somers, who had some serious +doubts in regard to the existence of those papers. + +"So it is. If I had been lucky enough to have made the acquaintance of +that young lady, as you have, I would not let my aspirations stop short +of the stars of a major-general." + +"You need not as it is, if you do your duty." + +"Ah! my dear fellow, you are as sentimental as a girl of sixteen. I am a +modest man; but, in my estimation, there are ten thousand men in the army +as good as I am. They can't all be major-generals, can they?" + +"Certainly not." + +"Then, if you live a few months longer, you will find out how good a +thing it is to have a friend at court. You are a modest young man; but I +suppose you think there isn't another man in the army who is quite your +equal, and that your merit and your bravery will make a brigadier of you +in less than a year. It's a good thing to think so; but----" + +"I don't think so. That would be modesty with a vengeance." + +"I was a sentimental boy like you once, and I was just as certain that I +should be made a field-marshal, and have the command of the French army +in the Crimea----" + +"I thought you were in the English army in the Crimea," interposed the +young lieutenant, eager to change the subject. + +"Certainly, in the English army; that's what I said," continued the +gallant captain, entirely unmoved by the interruption. "I was just as +sure of having the command of the British army in the Crimea as you are +of becoming a brigadier by the time we get into Richmond. But I have no +friends at court as you have now." + +"I never thought of such a thing as being a brigadier," protested Somers. +"I never even expected to become a second lieutenant." + +"It isn't much to be a brigadier. I served with 'Old Rosey' in West +Virginia for a time. We had a captain there who didn't know any more +about military than a swine does about Lord Chesterfield's table +etiquette. He went into action with a cane in his hand, hawbucking his +company about just as a farmer does a yoke of cattle. That fellow is a +brigadier-general now; and there's hope for you and me, if we can only +have a friend at court." + +"I am higher now than I ever expected to be, and I wouldn't give a straw +for fifty friends at court." + +"That's because you are sentimental; but you'll get over that." + +"Lieutenant Somers," said Senator Guilford, who had risen from his seat, +and approached that occupied by the two officers, "I shall leave the +train at the next stopping-place, in order to procure proper medical +attendance for my daughter. I desire again to express my thanks to you +for the signal service you have rendered to my daughter." + +Our hero blushed again, and stammered out some deprecatory remark. + +"When you are in Washington, you must call and see me. You must promise +this for Emmie's sake, if not for mine," added the Senator. + +"I should be very happy to call," replied the young officer. + +"My friend Lieutenant Somers is as bashful as a maiden of sweet sixteen," +interposed Captain de Banyan. "I beg your pardon, Mr. Guilford; though +your name and fame are familiar to me, I have not the honor of your +personal acquaintance; but, under the circumstances, I shall make it part +of my duty to see that my friend does not neglect your reasonable +request." + +"Thank you, sir," replied the Senator. + +"Captain de Banyan, at your service," added the modest officer who had +served in Italy and the Crimea. + +"Thank you, Captain de Banyan. I see you are in the same regiment with +Lieutenant Somers." + +"Yes, sir, I have that honor; and I assure you there is not a nobler and +braver young officer in the Army of the Potomac. He reminds me very much +of a splendid fellow I served with in the Crimea." + +"Ah! you were in the Crimea?" + +"I was, sir; and he looks very much like Captain de Waite, whom I saw +made a major on the field of Magenta, for the most daring bravery, by the +Emperor of France." + +"You have seen service, captain," added the Senator. + +"A little, sir." + +"You must speak with my daughter, lieutenant, before we part," continued +Mr. Guilford. "Her gratitude has no limit." + +Lieutenant Somers was astounded by the effrontery of his military +companion, who had claimed to be his friend, and forced himself upon the +acquaintance of the powerful man on the strength of that intimacy; had +even brought to his notice the fact--if it was a fact--that he had been +at Magenta and in the Crimea. The simple-minded young man had seen no +such diplomacy in Pinchbrook, or in the course of his travels in Maryland +and Virginia; and he was fearful that the audacious fellow would dare to +address the daughter as he had the father. + +"Be seated," said the Senator, as he pointed to the seat in front of Miss +Emmie. + +She was pale, and appeared to be suffering from the pain of her broken +arm; but she bestowed a sweet smile upon him as he took the proffered +seat. + +"Lieutenant Somers, after what I have heard from Mr. Holman"--that was +the gentleman who had spoken so handsomely of him--"I feel sure that I +owe my life to you." + +"I think not, Miss Guilford," replied the lieutenant, very much +embarrassed. "I only pulled you out from the ruins; I couldn't have +helped doing it if I had tried; and I hope you won't feel under any +obligations to me." + +"But I do feel under very great obligations to you, and I assure you I am +happy to owe my life to so brave and gallant a soldier." + +Somers felt just as though he was reading an exciting chapter in a +sensational novel; though he could not help thinking of Lilian Ashford, +and thus spoiling all the romance of the affair. He made no reply to Miss +Emmie's pretty speech; it was utterly impossible for him to do so; and +therein he differed from all the heroes of the novels. + +"I want to hear from you some time, and even to see you again. You must +promise to call and see me when we get to Washington." + +"I may not be able to leave my regiment at that time." + +"Oh! my father will get you a furlough any time you want one." + +Lieutenant Somers thought he would like to see himself asking a furlough +to enable him to visit a young lady in Washington, even if she was a +Senator's daughter; but he promised to call at Mr. Guilford's whenever he +happened to be at the capital, which was entirely satisfactory to the +young lady. Though Emmie was by this time suffering severely, she managed +to say several pleasant things; and among them she hinted that her father +could make a brigadier as easily as a tinker could make a tin kettle. + +The train arrived at the stopping-place; and Mr. Guilford, with the +assistance of Lieutenant Somers, placed his daughter in a carriage. +Captain de Banyan was very anxious to assist in the operation; but the +sufferer declined. They parted with a renewed promise on the part of the +young officer to visit her in Washington, whenever his duty called him to +that city. The cars arrived in New York two hours behind time--too late +to connect with the train for Philadelphia. Captain de Banyan proposed, +as they were obliged to remain in the city over night, that they should +stop at the "Fifth Avenue," declaring that it was the best hotel in New +York. Somers objected; hoping that he should thus escape the society of +the captain, who appeared to be altogether too "fast" for his time. + +De Banyan was accommodating; and, when the lieutenant mentioned a small +hotel downtown, he readily agreed to the proposition, and Somers found it +useless to attempt to get rid of him. The captain, for some reason or +other, appeared to have taken a decided liking to our officer. Perhaps he +hoped to share with him the powerful patronage of Senator Guilford. + +After supper, Captain de Banyan proposed that they should go out and see +the "elephant;" but Somers, having no taste for the study of this +description of natural history, positively declined to see the +metaphorical monster. + +"We must go somewhere," persisted the captain, taking up a newspaper. +"Here's a 'Lecture on the Battle of Bull Run, by Lieutenant-Colonel +Staggerback, who participated in that memorable action,'" he continued, +reading from the paper. + +"I was in that battle myself; I don't object to that," replied Somers. + +"Good! Then we'll go." + +They walked up Broadway till they came to one of those gaudy saloons +where rum and ruin are tricked out in the gayest of colors. + +"We are early for the lecture, Somers. Let's go in here, and see what +there is to be seen." + +"No, I thank you; I don't care about going into any of these dens of vice +and sin." + + "'Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, + As, to be hated, needs but to be seen,'" + +repeated the captain with dramatic force. + + "'But seen too oft----' + +You needn't see it but once. Don't you want to see the lions of the +metropolis?" + +"Don't object to the lions; but, in my opinion, you will find only the +donkeys in there." + +"Let us see, at any rate." + +"I will go in for a moment," replied Somers, who did not like to seem +over-squeamish. + +They entered this outer gate to ruin. There was a bar at the end next to +the street, while at the other end a band of music was playing the +national airs. It looked like a very pleasant place to the young +lieutenant, who had never entered one of these saloons before. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE FIRE OF TEMPTATION + + +Captain de Banyan sauntered gracefully up the saloon, with Somers at his +side. He appeared to be perfectly at home, and to have all the ease and +finish of a thorough man of the world. His movements were calculated to +make a sensation; and, as he passed along, old topers and gay young +bloods paused to glance at him. If the captain had been in command of the +Army of the Potomac, his elevated position would hardly have justified a +more extensive flourish than he made. + +Lieutenant Somers was duly impressed by the magnificence of his +companion, though the surroundings of the place created some painful +misgivings in his mind. The captain sat down at one of the little tables +where the frequenters of the saloon who were disposed to prolong the +enjoyment of their drams discussed "juleps," "cobblers," and other +villainous compounds. + +Somers could not do less than seat himself at the other side of the +table. He was ill at ease, even while he was endeavoring to seem +indifferent and at home. I am sorry to say he was haunted by that +abominable bugbear which often takes possession of the minds of young men +when they find themselves in the presence of those who are adepts in the +arts of vice--a fear of being thought "green," "verdant," or being +measured by some other adjective used in fast circles to caricature the +innocence of a soul unsullied by contact with the vices and follies of +the city. He half expected that some of the dissolute young wretches who +were drinking, swearing, and pouring the filth of a poisoned mind from +their lips, would ask him if "his mother knew he was out." He tried to +maintain his self-possession, and to seem at home where ruin was rioting +in the souls of young men. If he did not entirely succeed, it was all the +more to his credit. + +"What will you take?" demanded Captain de Banyan, after they had sat at +the table long enough to examine the prominent features of the saloon. + +"Take a walk," replied Lieutenant Somers. + +"No, no! What will you drink?" + +"Nothing, thank you. I've just been to supper, and don't want anything." + +"Yes; but people who come in here, and listen to the music, are expected +to patronize the establishment. I'm going to have a brandy smash: shall I +order one for you?" + +"No, I thank you." + +"But I can't drink alone." + +"I never drink." + +"Nonsense! A lieutenant in our regiment, and not drink! I see! You +haven't learned yet; but it won't take you long. Your case is exactly my +own. I was about your age when I went to the Crimea, and didn't know wine +from brandy. After the battle of Balaclava, where I did some little thing +which excited the admiration of the nobs in command, Lord Raglan sent for +me, and invited me to take a glass of wine with him. Of course, I could +not refuse his lordship, especially as he was in the very act of +complimenting me for what he was pleased to call my gallant conduct. I +drank my first glass of wine then. It was Sicily Madeira, and light, +sweet wine; and, my dear fellow, you shall begin with the same, and we +will drink the health of Senator Guilford and his fair daughter. Waiter, +one brandy smash and one Sicily Madeira." + +"Really, Captain de Banyan, you must excuse me," stammered Somers, +completely bewildered by the eloquent and insinuating manners of his +brilliant companion, who had spoken loud enough to attract the attention +of a dozen idlers greedy for excitement of any kind, and to whom the +latter part of his remarks seemed to be addressed, rather than to the +timid young man in front of him. + +Captain de Banyan appeared to have a point to carry; which was nothing +less than to overcome the conscientious scruples of the young officer. He +had spoken loud enough to attract the attention of these miserable +tipplers, that Somers might be over-awed by their presence, and +intimidated by their sneers, and thus compelled to taste the intoxicating +cup. The squad of fast men who had taken positions near the table were +interested in the scene, and impatient to see the pure soul tumbled from +its lofty eminence. + +"Here's the nectar!" almost shouted the captain as the waiter placed the +drinks upon the table. "Wine for you; brandy for me. You will be promoted +to brandy one of these days, my boy, when your head is stronger and your +nerves stiffer. Lieutenant Somers, here's to the health of the patriot +statesman, Senator Guilford, and his lovely daughter;" and the captain +pushed aside the straw in the vile compound, and raised the glass to his +lips. + +Somers was embarrassed at his position, and bewildered by the dashing +speeches of his companion. A dozen pair of leering eyes were fixed upon +him; a dozen mouths were wrinkled into sottish smiles, called up by his +sufferings at that critical moment. He reached forth his hand, and +grasped the slender stem of the wine-glass; but his arm trembled more +than that of the most hardened toper in the group before him. He had been +trembling in the presence of that squad of tyrants--those leer-eyed +grinning debauchees, who seemed to be opening the gate of hell, and +bidding him enter. + +"Tom Somers," said the still small voice which had spoken to him a +thousand times before in the perils and temptations through which he had +passed, "you have behaved yourself very well thus far. You have been +promoted for bravery on the battlefield; and now will you cower in the +presence of this brilliant brawler, and these weak-minded, cowardly +tipplers? What would your mother say if she could see you now, with your +shaking hand fastened to the wine-cup? What would Lilian Ashford say? +Dare you drink the health of Emmie Guilford in such a place as this? You +should have smote the lips that mentioned her name in such a presence!" + +He drew back his hand from the glass. His muscles tightened up, as they +had on the bloody field of Williamsburg. Tom Somers was himself again. + +"Come, Somers, you don't drink," added the captain sarcastically. + +"No, I thank you; I never drink," he answered resolutely, as he cast a +steady glance of pity and contempt at the bloated crew who had been +reveling in his embarrassment. + +"You won't refuse now?" + +"Most decidedly." + +"Lieutenant Somers, I took you for a young man of pluck. I'm +disappointed. You will pardon me, my dear fellow; but I can't help +regarding your conduct as rather shabby." + +"I never drink, as I have said before, and I do not intend to begin now. +If I have been shabby, I hope you will excuse me." + +"Certainly I will excuse you, when you atone for your folly, and drink +with me." + +The spectators laughed, and evidently thought the captain had made a +point. + +"Then I can never atone for my folly, as you call it," replied Somers, +his courage increasing as the trial demanded it. + +"What would Lord Raglan have said if I had refused to drink his Sicily +Madeira?" + +"Very likely he would have said just what you said; but there would have +been no more sense in it then than now." + +"Bully for young 'un!" said a seedy dandy, whose love of fancy drinks had +made a compromise with his love of dress. + +"I will leave it to these gentlemen to decide whether I have not spoken +reason and good sense." + +"I will leave you and these _gentlemen_ to settle that question to suit +yourselves, and I will bid you good-evening," said Somers, rising from +his chair. + +The unpleasant emphasis which he placed upon the word "gentlemen" created +a decided sensation among the group of idlers; and, as he stepped from +behind the table, he was confronted by a young man with bloodshot eyes +and bloated cheeks, but dressed in the extreme of fashion. + +"Sir, you wear the colors of the United States Army," said the juvenile +tippler; "but you can't be permitted to insult a gentleman with +impunity." + +Lieutenant Somers wanted to laugh in the face of this specimen of +bar-room chivalry, for he forcibly reminded him of a belligerent little +bantam-rooster that paraded the barnyard of his mother's cottage at +Pinchbrook; but he was prudent enough not to give any further cause of +offense. Bestowing one glance at this champion of the tippler's coterie, +he turned aside, and attempted to move towards the door. + +"Stop, sir," continued the young man, who plainly wanted to make a little +capital out of a fight, in defense of the dignity of his friends. "You +can't go without an apology, or--or a fight," added the bully, shaking +his head significantly, as he placed himself in front of the young +lieutenant. + +"What am I to apologize for?" asked Somers. + +"You insulted the whole party of us. You intimated that we were no +gentlemen." + +"I haven't spoken to any of you since I came in," protested Somers. "I +never had anything to do with you, and I don't know whether you are +gentlemen or not." + +"You hear that, gentlemen!" added the bully. + +"I think I have said all that is necessary to say; with your leave I will +go," said Somers. + +"Stop, sir!" snarled the young ruffian, putting his hand on the +lieutenant's collar. + +"Take your hand off!" said he sternly. + +The fellow complied. + +"This thing has gone far enough, sir," said Captain de Banyan, stepping +between Somers and his assailant. "Lieutenant Somers is my friend; and, +if you put the weight of your little finger upon him, I'll annihilate you +quicker than I did a certain Austrian field-marshal at the battle of +Solferino. Gentlemen, permit me to apologize for my inexperienced friend +if he has uttered any indiscreet word." + +"He must apologize!" blustered the young ruffian. "He says we are no +gentlemen. Let him prove it." + +"You have proved it yourself, you little ape," replied the captain, as he +stepped up to the bar, and paid his reckoning, bestowing no more +attention upon the ruffled little bully than if he had been a very small +puppy; which perhaps he was not, by a strict construction of terms. + +"I demand satisfaction!" roared the flashy little toper. "Apologize, or +fight!" + +"Neither, my gay and festive lark," said the captain with abundant good +humor, as he took Somers's arm, and sauntered leisurely towards the door. +"Now, my dear fellow, we will go and hear what Lieutenant-Colonel +Staggerback has to say about the battle of Bull Run. I was in that +action, and rallied the Fire Zouaves when Colonel Ellsworth was killed." + +"Colonel Ellsworth! He wasn't killed at Bull Run!" exclaimed Somers, +astonished beyond measure at the singular character which his companion +was developing. + +"You are right; he was killed at Ball's Bluff." + +"I think not; but were you at Bull Run?" + +"Certainly I was. I was on General Frémont's staff." + +"Were you, indeed? Whew!" + +"What may be the precise meaning of that whistle? Do you think I was not +there?" + +"Well, I don't remember to have seen you there?" + +"Very likely you did not; but you will call to mind the fact, that things +were rather mixed up in that action. But never mind that: we will talk +those things over when we get down upon the Peninsula, and have nothing +else to think about. Do you really mean to say, my dear fellow, that you +never drink at all?" + +"I do not." + +"Well, I have heard of a man climbing up to the moon on a greased +rainbow; but I never heard of an officer before that didn't drink." + +"I'm afraid you haven't been very careful in the choice of your +companions. I know a great many that never taste liquor under any +circumstances." + +"It may be so; and I am willing to confess that I have found one. I +wouldn't have believed it before if I had read it in the Constitution of +the United States. I owe you an apology, then, for letting on in that +saloon. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, my dear fellow; but I +thought you were joking." + +"I hope you will not repeat the experiment, then; though I shall consider +myself fair game if I ever enter another rum-shop," replied Somers. + +They proceeded to the place designated for the lecture; and Captain de +Banyan betrayed his interest in that memorable battle, where he had +served on the staff of General Frémont, by going to sleep before the +eloquent "participant" had got half-way through the exordium. Lieutenant +Somers listened attentively until he was satisfied that Colonel +Staggerback either was not in the battle, or that he had escorted "Bull +Run Russell" off the field. + +When the lecture was finished, Somers awakened his edified companion, and +they returned to the hotel; though the captain hinted several times on +the way that the "elephant" could be seen to better advantage in New York +than in any other city in the Union. The young lieutenant had an utter +disgust for the elephant, and took no hints. Before he retired that +night, he thanked God, more earnestly and devoutly than usual, that he +had been enabled to pass unscathed through the fires of temptation. He +was still in condition to look his mother in the face. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +ON THE SKIRMISH LINE + + +In the morning our travelers resumed their journey, more refreshed and in +better condition for service than if they had spent the evening in +chasing the "elephant" from one to another of the gilded dens of +dissipation with which the metropolis abounds. In spite of his errors and +sins, Somers could not help liking his dashing companion. He was a +dangerous person; but his enthusiasm was so captivating, that he could +not close his heart against him. But, while he liked the captain, he +hated his vices. + +They stopped in Philadelphia only long enough to dine, and in Baltimore +only long enough for supper; arriving at Washington in the evening. +Captain de Banyan again proposed to "go round;" which, rendered into +unmistakable English, meant to visit the drinking-houses and +gambling-saloons of the city, to say nothing of worse places. Lieutenant +Somers had grown wise by experience; and no amount of persuasion could +induce him to leave the hotel. It was horrible to him to think of +spending even his leisure time in the haunts of dissipation, when his +country was bleeding from a thousand wounds; when his gallant comrades in +the Army of the Potomac were enduring peril and hardship in front of the +enemy. He had no taste for carousing at any time, and every fiber of his +moral nature was firmly set against the vices which lured on his reckless +companion. + +Lieutenant Somers stayed at the hotel that evening, listening to the +conversation of the officers who had been at the front within a few days. +The great battle of Fair Oaks had been fought during his absence, and +there was every prospect that the most tremendous operations of the war +would soon commence. He listened with the deepest interest to the +accounts from the army, and needed none of the stimulus of the bar-room +or the gambling-saloon to furnish him with excitement. He was soon to be +an actor in the momentous events of the campaign; and the thought was +full of inspiration, and lifted him up from the gross and vulgar tastes +of his companion. + +Before noon the next day, somewhat against the inclination of Captain de +Banyan, the two officers were on board a steamer bound down the river. +After some delays, they arrived at White House, on the Pamunkey River; +and then proceeded by railroad nearly to the camp of the regiment, at +Poplar Hill, in the very depths of White Oak Swamp. + +"My blessed boy!" shouted Sergeant Hapgood when Lieutenant Somers +appeared in the camp. + +The veteran rushed upon him, and, not content to shake his hand he +proceeded to hug him in the most extraordinary manner. + +"I am glad to see you, Hapgood! How have you been since I left?" said +Somers. + +"First-rate! Bless my withered old carcass, Tom, but I thought I never +should see you again. Why, Tom, how handsome you've grown! Well, you'll +be a brigadier one of these days, and there won't be a better-looking +officer on the field. Dear me, Tom---- Beg pardon; I forgot that you are +an officer; and I mustn't call you Tom any more." + +"Never mind that, uncle," added Somers, laughing. "It would hardly be +good discipline for a sergeant to call an officer by a nickname; but we +will compromise, and you shall call me Tom when we are not on duty, and +there is no one within hearing." + +"Compromise! Don't never use that word to me. After we fit the battle of +Bull Run, I gouged that word out of my dictionary. No, sir! You are a +leftenant now; and I shall allus call you Leftenant Somers, even if there +ain't nobody within ten mile of us." + +"Just as you please, uncle; but, whatever you call me, we shall be just +as good friends as we ever were." + +"That's so, Leftenant Somers." + +"Precisely, Sergeant Hapgood." + +"Now, what's the news in Pinchbrook?" asked the veteran. + +But, before Somers had a chance to tell the news from home, he was +welcomed to the camp, and cheered, by officers and men; and his account +of what had transpired in Pinchbrook during his thirty days' furlough was +eagerly listened to by a large and attentive audience. He received in +return a full history of the regiment during his absence. Though the +narrative of sundry exciting events, such as forays upon pig-sties, +poultry-yards, and kitchen-gardens, was highly amusing, there was a tale +of sadness to tell--of deaths by disease and on the battlefield. + +Many cheerful hearts that were beating with life and hope a few weeks +before, were now silent in the grave--the soldier's mausoleum in a +strange land. But soldiers have no time to weep over a dead past; they +must live in the hope of a glorious future; and when they had dropped a +tear to the memory of the noble and the true who had fallen on the field +or died in the hospital, victims of the pestilential airs of the swamp, +they laughed as merrily as ever, careless of Death's poised arrows which +were always aimed at them. + +Captain de Banyan took his place in the regiment, where Somers found that +he was prodigiously popular, even after a few hours' acquaintance with +his new command; but who he was, where he came from, and how he had +procured his commission, was a mystery to officers and men. He told +tremendous stories about the Crimea and the Italian war; and now for the +first time intimated that he was the only survivor of the company which +led the advance at the storming of Chapultepec, in the Mexican war. +However much the officers enjoyed his stories, it is not probable that +all of them believed what they heard. + +Lieutenant Somers was perfectly familiar with the company and battalion +drill; and, having quick perception and abundant self-possession, he was +competent at once to perform his duties as an officer. He had no vices to +be criticized by the men, who respected him not only for his bravery on +the battlefield, but for his good moral character; for even the vicious +respect the virtues which they practically contemn. Being neither +arbitrary nor tyrannical, he was cheerfully obeyed; and his company never +appeared better than when, by the temporary absence of his superior, it +was under his command. + +He was, however, allowed but a short time to become acquainted with the +routine of the new duty before he was summoned to participate in those +tremendous events which have passed into history as at once the most +brilliant and disastrous operations of the war; brilliant in that our +gallant army was almost invariably victorious, disastrous in that they +were the forerunners of the ultimate failure of a hopeful campaign. The +victory at Fair Oaks had raised the hopes of that brave, thinking army. + +The picket-lines were within a few miles of Richmond, and the soldiers +were burning with enthusiasm to be led against the enemy in front of +them. They were ready to lay down their lives on the altar of their +bleeding country, if the survivors could grasp the boon of peace within +the buttressed walls of the rebel capital--peace that would hurl to the +ground the defiant traitors, and insure the safety and perpetuity of free +institutions. The notes of victory, those thinking soldiers believed, +would reverberate through the coming ages, and point an epoch from which +America would date her grandest and most sublime triumphs. + +But not then was the great rebellion to be overthrown; for not yet had +the leaven of Liberty leavened the whole lump; not yet had the purposes +of a mysterious Providence been accomplished; and the brave men who +sighed for victory and peace in the swamps of the Chickahominy were +doomed to years of blood and toil, of victory and defeat, as they marched +on, alike through both, to the consummation of a nation's glorious +triumph, not over paltry armies of arrogant traitors, but over the +incarnation of Evil, over Heaven-defying institutions, whose downfall +established forever principles as eternal as God Himself. + +Lieutenant Somers was filled with the spirit of the army. He felt that +the salvation of his country depended upon the valor of that army; and, +impressed with the magnitude of the interests at stake, he was resolved +to do his whole duty. With cheerful alacrity he obeyed the summons which +brought Grover's brigade into line of battle on the morning of the +eventful 25th of June. What was to be accomplished was not for him to +know; but forward moved the line through the swamp, through the woods, +through the pools of stagnant waters up to the hips of the soldiers. + +Impressed by the responsibility of his position, Lieutenant Somers +encouraged the weak as they struggled through the mire on their trying +march, and with fit words stimulated the enthusiasm of all. After a march +of about a mile, a heavy skirmish line was thrown out, which soon +confronted that of the rebels. + +"Now, Somers, my dear fellow, the concert is about to open," said Captain +de Banyan. "By the way, my boy, this reminds me of Magenta, where----" + +"Oh, confound Magenta!" exclaimed Somers. + +"Why, my dear fellow, you are as petulant as a belle that has lost her +beau." + +"You don't propose to tell us a story about Magenta at such a time as +this, do you?" + +"Well, I confess I have a weakness in that direction. Magenta was a great +battle. But I'm afraid you are a little nervous," laughed the captain. + +"Nervous? Do you think I'm a coward?" demanded Somers. + +"I know you are not; but you might be a little nervous for all that." + +At that instant, the sharp crack of a single rifle was heard, and Somers +observed a slight jerk in the brim of the captain's felt hat. + +"Bravo!" exclaimed Captain de Banyan as he took off his hat, and pointed +to a hole through which the rifle-ball had sped its way. "I'll bet a +month's pay that fellow couldn't do that again without making a hole +through my head. But that's a singular coincidence. That's precisely the +place where the first bullet went through my hat at Solferino. At +Magenta--ah! I see him," added the captain, as he took a musket from the +hands of one of his men. "I'll bet another month's pay that reb has fired +his last shot." + +As he spoke, he raised the gun to his shoulder, and fired up into one of +the trees. A crashing of boughs, a rattling of leaves followed; and a +heavy body was heard to strike the ground. + +"You owe me a month's pay, Somers," continued Captain de Banyan, as he +handed the musket back to the soldier. + +"I think not," replied the lieutenant, trying to be as cool as his +companion. "I never bet." + +"Just so. I forgot that you were an exceedingly proper young man." + +The skirmish-line, which had paused a moment for an observation to be +taken, now moved forward again. The rebel skirmishers were discovered, +and the order was given to fire at will. The enemy's sharpshooters were +posted in the trees, and they began to pour in a galling fire upon a +portion of the line. + +"Steady, my men!" said Somers, when the firing commenced. "Gunpowder's +expensive; don't waste it." + +"Not a single grain of it, Leftenant Somers," added Sergeant Hapgood. + +"There, uncle!--up in that tree!" said Somers, pointing to a grayback, +who was loading his rifle, about twenty feet from the ground. + +"I see him!" replied the sergeant as he leveled his piece, and fired. + +The rebel was wounded, but he did not come down; and the captain of the +company ordered his men to move forward. From the thunder of the +artillery and the rattle of musketry, it was evident that heavy work was +in progress on the right and left. + +"Forward, men!" said Somers, repeating the order of Captain Benson. + +The men were scattered along an irregular line, and firing into the +bushes, which partially concealed the rebel skirmishers. Somers's platoon +advanced a little more rapidly than the rest of the line, being favored +with a few rods of dry ground. He had urged them forward for the purpose +of dislodging three sharpshooters perched in a large tree. + +"Come down, rebs!" shouted Somers, as he reached the foot of the tree, +and told half a dozen of his men to point their guns towards them. + +"What d'ye say, Yank?" demanded one of them. + +"Will you come down head first, or feet first? Take your choice quick!" +replied the lieutenant. + +"As you seem to be in arnest, we'll come down the nateral way." + +They did come down without a more pressing invitation, and were disarmed, +ready to be sent to the rear. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE REBEL SHARPSHOOTERS + + +"Lieutenant Somers, I don't think I can stand it much longer," said +Phineas Deane, a private, who had joined the regiment a few days before +the battle, as he saluted his officer. + +"Can't stand what?" + +"The fact on't is, lieutenant, I'm sick. I haven't felt well for two or +three days. I come out here to fight for my country, and I want to do +some good. I might help take them prisoners back, if you say so." + +"Sick, are you? What's the matter?" + +"I've got a bad pain in the bowels," replied Phineas, as he placed +himself on the right side of a tree, and glanced uneasily in the +direction of the rebel skirmish line. "I'm subject to sich turns, but +allus git over 'em if I have a chance to lay down for a few hours." + +"Oh, well, you can lie down here!" added Somers, who understood the case +pretty well. + +"What! down here in the mud and water? Wal, that would be rather steep +for a sick man," said Phineas, with a ghastly smile, as he glanced again +towards the enemy. + +"I will get some medicine for you. Here, uncle, let me have one of your +powders," continued the lieutenant, addressing old Hapgood. + +"Sartin; they've done me heaps of good, and I'm sure they're just the +thing for that man." + +Somers took one of the powders, and opened the paper. + +"Now, my man, open your mouth, and let me give you this medicine," he +added. + +"What kind of medicine is it?" + +"It'll make you kinder sick to the stomach; but it'll cure you in less'n +half an hour." + +"Well, lieutenant, I don't know as I want to take any medicine," answered +poor Phineas, who was not prepared for this active treatment; though he +would have taken it quick enough if he could be sent to the rear. "I +guess I don't keer about takin' on it." + +"You needn't, if you don't want to get well." + +"I only want to go back to camp, and lay down for a spell." + +"We can't spare you just yet, Phineas; but, if you don't stir yourself, +you will lie down here somewhere, and never get up again," added Somers, +as a shower of bullets passed over their heads. "Forward, boys!" + +The captain detailed a couple of men to conduct the prisoners to the +rear, and the company pressed forward. The rebel sharpshooters were +dislodged from the trees; a few prisoners were captured; but the heavy +fighting and the heavy losses fell upon other portions of the line. The +rebels had been forced back, and the movement seemed to be a success. +Half the regiment moved out of the woods, while the rest remained under +the trees; when a halt was ordered. Somers found himself near an old +house, behind which a number of rebel sharpshooters had concealed +themselves for the purpose of picking off the Union soldiers. + +The firing in the immediate vicinity had diminished, though the din of +battle resounded on both sides. The boys were rather nervous, as men are +when standing idle under fire; but it was the nervousness of restrained +enthusiasm, not of fear, unless it was in the case of invalid Phineas, +and a very few others whose physical health had not been completely +established. + +"Well, Somers, my dear boy, how do you get on?" asked Captain de Banyan, +as he sauntered leisurely up to the lieutenant, whose command stood next +to his own. + +"First-rate; only I should like to have something a little more active +than standing here." + +"It takes considerable experience to enable a man to stand still under +fire. When I was at the battle of Alma, I learned that lesson to a charm. +We stood up for forty-two hours under a fierce fire of grape and +canister, to say nothing of musketry." + +"Forty-two hours!" exclaimed Somers. "I should think you would all have +been killed off before that time." + +"In our regiment, only one man was killed; and he got asleep, and walked +in his dreams over towards the enemy's line." + +"Captain, you can tell a bigger story than any other man in the army," +said Somers, laughing. + +"That's because I have seen more of the world. When you have been about +as much as I have, you will know more about it." + +"No doubt of it." + +"I should be very happy to be more actively employed just now; but I am +very well contented where I am." + +The position they occupied enabled the two officers to see some sharp +fighting along the line. Through an opening at the right, they saw a +rebel regiment, wearing white jackets, or else stripped to their shirts, +march at double-quick, in splendid order, with arms at "right shoulder +shift," to the scene of action. It was probably some volunteer body from +Richmond, whom the ladies of the rebel capital had just dismissed, with +sweet benedictions, to sweep the "foul Yankees" from the face of the +earth. They were certainly a splendid body of men; and the ladies might +well be proud of them. They went into the field in good style, with the +blessings of the fair still lingering fondly in their ears. But one +volley from the veterans of the Army of the Potomac was enough for them, +and they gave way, running off the field in wild disorder, threading +their way in terror through the bushes, every man for himself. It is not +likely that they were welcomed back from the gory field by the frothy +feminine rebels of Richmond. + +"That's just the way the Russians ran at Palestro!" exclaimed Captain de +Banyan, as he watched the exciting scene. + +"The Russians at Palestro!" added Somers, "I think you have got things a +little mixed, captain." + +Before this difficult question could be settled, Captain de Banyan was +ordered to take a sufficient force, and drive out the rebels who were +skulking behind the old house. + +"Somers, you shall go with me," said he, when he had received his orders +from the colonel. "We'll do a big thing, if there is any chance." + +"I am ready for anything, big or little, captain," replied Somers +heartily. "What shall I do?" + +"March your men over by that little knoll, and come round on the other +side of the house; I will move up in another direction, and we will bag +the whole squad. But mind you, Somers, the enemy are round that way; +don't let them gobble you up or lay you out." + +"I will do the best I can, captain." + +"Angels could do no more." + +The lieutenant advanced, with the men detailed for the purpose, towards +the hillock. By taking a circuitous route, he avoided the observation of +the rebels behind the house, and reached the other side of the knoll, +where, behind the friendly shelter of a clump of bushes, he was enabled +to survey the ground. Not more than a quarter of a mile distant he +discovered the rebel breastworks. It was about the same distance to the +house. + +Between the knoll and the house there was a small patch of wheat, which, +by some chance, had escaped the havoc of foraging parties. Though the +grain was not full-grown, it would afford concealment to his men. In +order to reach it, he must expose his men to a volley from the +rifle-pits, or from any body of rebels which might be posted in the +vicinity. He could not afford to lose a single man, and he was perplexed +to determine how he should overcome the distance between the wheat-field +and the knoll. + +It seemed to him very singular that he had not already been fired upon; +and he concluded that it was because his party had been mistaken for +rebels, or because some of their troops were between him and the Union +lines. Whether the enemy had been deceived or not, he was fully +determined to afford them no further information in regard to his +politics, if any of them had seen him. He therefore ordered his men to +take off their coats, which some of them had done before they started on +the expedition. The blue trousers could not be so easily disposed of; but +as some of the boys had straw hats, some felt, and some caps, it would +have been hard to determine what they were at the distance of a quarter +of a mile, especially as some of the Confederates wore the plundered +clothing of the Union army. + +After instructing his force in regard to their future conduct, he marched +them boldly into the open space. To assist the deception, he directed one +of his men to halt occasionally, and point his musket in the direction of +the Union pickets. Not a shot was fired at them; and when the young +lieutenant reached the wheat-field he fancied that he was clever enough +for any brigadier in the rebel army. + +It was desirable that the rebel sharpshooters at the house should not be +alarmed; and, when his men reached the grain, Somers ordered them to get +down upon their hands and knees, and creep cautiously towards the point +to be assailed. The lieutenant, like a good officer, led the way himself, +and had advanced about half the distance to be accomplished, when he +heard a rustling noise in the grain before him. It was an ominous sound, +and he paused to take an observation. He could not see anything without +standing up; and, as he was within twenty rods of the house, it was +necessary to avoid exposing himself. + +From whatever source the sounds proceeded, it was just as safe to advance +as it was to retreat; and he decided to go forward. With the utmost +caution, he continued to creep along through the wheat; but he was +careful to assure himself that his men's muskets and his own revolver +were in condition for instant use. After he had gone a few rods farther, +the sounds were more apparent; and, with no little consternation, he +heard voices, rich with an unmistakable Southern accent. + +"I tell you, more of our fellers is coming through the grain. You mought +hear 'em, ef you weren't deafer'n a dead nigger." + +"I heerd 'em. You kin bet yer life they're some of our pickets. +Howsomever, I'm gwine to see." + +"Hush, my men! don't speak a word!" whispered the young lieutenant. "Lie +flat on the ground." + +The rebels were nearer than he had supposed; for, as he turned from his +men, he discovered a wiry grayback, with the chevrons of a sergeant on +his arms, trying to stare him out of countenance. The fellow did not look +wholesome; and Somers was in doubt whether to blow his brains out, or let +things take their natural course. + +"Who mought you be?" demanded the grayback, exhibiting more curiosity +than of fear in his dirty face. + +"One of the people," replied Somers, disposed to avoid a direct issue. +"Who are you?" + +"I'm one of the people too," grinned the rebel. + +"I see you are; and I suppose you belong to the army, don't you?" + +"Bet your life I do." + +"Of course you won't object to telling me which army you belong to, as +there may be some difference of opinion between us." + +"'Tain't no use to ask a officer dressed in blue, and lookin' as spruce +as you be, whar he kim from. I say, Yank, what are you uns doin' in +hyar?" + +"Only taking a look." + +"You're as civil as a Mobile dancin'-master; and I axes yer, very +perlite, to surrender." + +"How many men have you got, reb?" demanded the lieutenant, as he put his +hand on his revolver. + +"See hyar, Yank; play fair. You uns allers cheat playin' poker. Don't +tech yer shooter yet," replied the grayback coolly, as he thrust the +muzzle of his gun in the lieutenant's face. "Two kin play at that game, +and your wife or mine will be a lone widder quicker'n a coon kin wink at +the moon. I've got seven men," he added. + +"I have twenty-three," said Somers. + +"Then yer kin whip us if yer be Yanks; for three of you uns can just lick +one of we uns." + +"That's good logic. Will you surrender, or fight?" demanded Somers. + +"Let me count your men. I surrender," he continued, after he had stood +up, and counted the Union soldiers. "Here's my shooter; fair play, even +with Yanks." + +Leaving a guard of eight men with his prisoners when they were disarmed, +Somers hastened forward to complete his mission. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +AN EXPEDITION IN FRONT + + +The affair in the wheat-field had been conducted very quietly, and +apparently had not attracted the attention of any of the rebels in the +vicinity. During the brief parley, the thunder of the battle had sounded +on the right and left of the parties. The enemy were in force in their +works, and it was believed that there were squads of pickets in every +place of concealment which the ground afforded. + +Somers was very much surprised to find that he was not molested, and made +all possible haste to carry out the programme with which he had been +intrusted by Captain de Banyan. Followed by the balance of his men, he +crept carefully towards the house till he had reached the end of the +grain-field. He could see about a dozen rebels skulking behind the +building, all of them so intent upon getting a shot at the Union +soldiers, that they paid no attention to the events transpiring in the +rear of them; probably deeming it impossible for an enemy to approach in +that direction. + +The lieutenant had but fifteen men left to execute his part of the +scheme, and there seemed to be double that number of graybacks lurking in +and about the house. Everything depended upon his effecting the requisite +junction with the force of the captain. As his superior had but a short +distance to march, it was probable that he was already in position to +support him; and he decided to make the attack without permitting any +delay to rob him of the chances of success. + +"Now, double-quick, forward!" shouted Somers, as he rose from the ground, +and led the way to a position where he could intercept the retreat of the +rebels. + +Agreeably to the instructions previously given, his men stretched out +into an extended line, and commenced firing at will upon the luckless +graybacks who were in sight. It did not take them long to find out that +they were assailed by a fire in the rear. + +"Surrender!" shouted Captain de Banyan, who at this moment appeared at +the head of his men. + +The rebels were not disposed to accept this polite invitation, but began +to fall back from the house in good order. They discharged their pieces +at the force in front, and then started at a run to effect their escape +in the opposite direction. They forgot for the moment that they had been +fired upon from the rear, or else thought that the fire had been directed +by some of their own people at the Yankees who had so suddenly attacked +in front. + +"Surrender!" shouted Lieutenant Somers, as the retreating rebels +approached his line. + +They halted at this unexpected summons. The officer in command of them +took a hasty survey of the situation, and then ordered his troops to cut +their way through the thin line between them and the rebel field-works. +The commander of the rebel pickets was a gallant fellow; and, drawing his +sword, he rushed towards the spot where the lieutenant was stationed. +Discharging his pistol with the left hand at Somers, he dashed forward +like a festive horse. + +Both parties had discharged their guns, and there was no time to reload +them. Some of the rebels had bayonets, and some had not; and, with the +fury of their brave leader, they attempted to break their way through the +line. A sharp but very irregular conflict ensued, the rebels clubbing +their muskets or grappling with the Union soldiers, each according to his +individual taste. As they were two to one of the Federals, they would +certainly have won the field if Captain de Banyan had not promptly come +to the rescue. + +The excited rebel officer manifested a most persistent desire to revenge +his misfortunes upon Lieutenant Somers. After he had fired his pistol +twice, and one of the balls had passed through his opponent's cap, the +latter, by a sudden dash, knocked the weapon from his hand with his +sword. He then attempted to use his own sword, and, if Somers had not +been a "master of fence," would probably have run him through the body. +Some hard blows were struck with these weapons, and the age of chivalry, +when men fought hand to hand with trusty blades, seemed to be revived. +But the sword of the rebel officer was not so trusty as it ought to have +been. It was not a regulation sword; and, while its owner was flourishing +it most valiantly, the blade flew away from the handle. + +"Now, surrender!" said Somers, out of breath with the violence of his +exertions, as he drew from his belt the pistol which, being so hard +pressed, he had not been able to use before. + +"Never, sir! I don't surrender! I was sent here to fight, and not to +surrender!" replied the officer, as proudly as though he had been in +command of a beleaguered fortress, instead of a squad of two or three +dozen men. + +Somers had him at his mercy, and it seemed but little better than murder +to shoot him in his defenseless state. + +That was a bad mistake on his part; for the rebel officer at once +proceeded to prove that he was no effeminate character, who depended upon +a sword, pistol, or other weapon, to fight his battles with, but could, +if occasion required, defend himself with his naked arm. He sprang upon +Somers with the ferocity of a tiger. The latter fired; but the sudden +movement of the former impaired his aim, and the ball whistled harmlessly +over the head of the rebel. The desperate officer attempted to gain +possession of the pistol; but Somers, now thoroughly aroused to a sense +of his own danger, sprang at the throat of his antagonist, and, by the +fierceness of the dash, bore him to the earth. His victim struggled to +escape; and, being a stronger man than the other, would certainly have +succeeded, if Somers had not picked up his pistol, which lay on the spot +where they fell, and struck a blow with the butt of it on the temple of +the rebel. This effectually quieted him; but the lieutenant's little +force were falling back before the furious assaults of the graybacks. + +He had only time to get up before the rebels were upon him. At this +interesting and critical moment, Captain de Banyan came up with his large +force; and the enemy, finding themselves pressed in front and rear, gave +up in despair. They were disarmed; and, those from the wheat-field being +brought forward, the whole squad were marched in the direction of the +Union line. + +About one-half of Somers's men were wounded, though some but slightly. +These were sent back. The rebel officer lay insensible upon the ground; +but Somers, satisfied that he was only stunned, desired to carry him off, +not only as a trophy of his prowess, but because such a desperate fellow +would be less dangerous in a prison-camp than in the lines of the rebels. +He directed two of his men to bear the insensible form to the house, +whither they were followed by the remainder of the force. + +"Somers, my dear fellow, give me your hand," said Captain de Banyan, as +soon as the pressing business of the moment had been disposed of. "You +have covered yourself with glory." + +"Pooh!" replied Somers, trying to look indifferent. "I have only done my +duty, and obeyed my orders." + +"That's very true; but, if you had been weak in the knees, you couldn't +very well have obeyed orders. Somers, you have done a big thing; and, in +my judgment, you ought to be promoted." + +"Promoted for that?" + +"In the battle of Magenta----" + +"Oh, confound the battle of Magenta!" exclaimed Somers, interrupting him. +"I will give you a handsome present if you will never say Magenta to me +again." + +"Don't be petulant, my dear boy! You have got a sweet temper naturally, +and I hope you won't spoil it." + +"I am afraid you will spoil it for me." + +"I was only saying pleasant things to you, and you fly off and roll +yourself up in your dignity like a little hedgehog. By the way, Somers, +don't you suppose that Senator Guilford will hear of this affair?" + +"I hope not." + +"Nor that little lady we left all used up with a broken arm?" + +"I don't care whether she does or not." + +"Or that other little lady who knits socks for soldiers that don't run +away in battle?" + +Somers blushed like a maiden, and his experienced companion saw that he +had touched the tender spot in his heart. Very likely the captain would +have said something more on this interesting subject, if the conversation +had not been interrupted by their arrival at the old house. Here they +were met by a messenger from the colonel, ordering the detachment to +hasten back; for orders had come for the brigade to retire to their old +position. + +The wounded and the prisoners were conducted safely back to the line in +the woods, where our party were warmly congratulated upon their decided +success. The brigade fell back, but were immediately ordered forward +again, and held the advanced position which had been so gallantly won. It +was not a very comfortable place; for the soldiers stood over shoes in +the water. Late in the evening, our regiment was relieved by another, and +ordered back to the breastworks in the rear. It had lost but few men, +though torrents of loyal blood had flowed on that eventful day. + +The action of that day was the initial conflict of the seven-days' +battles. General McClellan actually commenced his long-deferred +operations against the city of Richmond. But the favorable moment had +passed by, and even then the battalions of the rebels were gathering in +readiness to be hurled upon our devoted army. While the regiment, whose +fortunes have been more intimately connected with our story, was retiring +from the pestiferous swamp, the commanding general received information +of the approach of Stonewall Jackson. These proved to be sad tidings; for +the anticipated triumphal march into the rebel capital was changed into a +bloody but glorious retreat. The battles which were to be fought for a +victorious advance were made to cover a disastrous defeat--disastrous to +the campaign, though not to the army. + +Fatigued, hungry and chilled by the night damps of the swamp, the +regiment threaded its way through the intricacies of the woods towards +the breastworks in the rear. It was a dark and gloomy hour, though the +_prestige_ of victory dwelt in the souls of the gallant soldiers. The +officers were not familiar with the ground; and with difficulty they +found their way back to the old line. + +"Well, Somers, how do you feel?" asked Captain de Banyan when the +regiment was dismissed. + +"I'm all worn out. I haven't got toughened to this kind of work yet," +replied Somers. + +"Don't give it up yet, my boy. We shall be in Richmond in less than a +week, and then we will take rooms at the Spottswood House, and have a +good time." + +"Do you believe we shall ever get into Richmond, captain?" + +"Certainly I do. Everything is working to my entire satisfaction. You +feel a little blue, my boy; but it is only because you are tired. You +will feel better in the morning." + +"I am tired, but I am not blue. I am ready to do my duty, in victory or +defeat. There has been an awful roar of guns all day, and no one can tell +what the result of a battle will be." + +"An awful roar of guns! 'Pon my word, I like that," laughed the captain. +"Why, at Magenta----" + +"Magenta again!" sneered Somers, who was heartily sick of that word. + +"Yes, at Magenta! If you could only have heard the guns there! Why, there +were seven thousand two hundred and forty-six pieces rattling away like +mad on our side alone; and I believe the Russians----" + +"Russians at Magenta again! I don't believe you were at the battle of +Magenta any more than I was!" exclaimed Somers desperately. + +"Do you mean to tell me that I lie?" asked the captain gravely. + +"Go on with your story," said the lieutenant, fearing that he had said +too much. + +"Answer my question, if you please. You gave me the lie; did you not?" + +"No; I didn't use that word." + +"You said you didn't believe I was at the battle of Magenta." + +"To be perfectly candid with you, I don't believe it; but I am tired, and +want my supper," answered Somers, wishing to escape the issue which he +had provoked. + +"Fair play, my boy. You charged me with lying--indirectly--but not the +less offensively on that account. Don't dodge the question." + +"I haven't dodged it. I gave you my candid opinion that you were not +present at Magenta; and I don't think there is an officer in the regiment +who believes you were there." + +"Isn't the word of an officer and a gentleman to be accepted?" + +"Certainly, if he keeps within the bounds of reason; but when you talk +about the Russians at Magenta, and over seven thousand cannons in a +single army, we know that you are either 'drawing the long-bow,' or +laboring under some strange delusion. Supper is ready." + +"We can eat and talk too." And they did. "May I be allowed to ask, +Lieutenant Somers, if you deem my statement inconsistent with reason?" + +"To be sure I do. We have six guns to a battery; seventy-two hundred guns +would make twelve hundred batteries. We have about one hundred and fifty +men to a battery, which would make one hundred and eighty thousand men in +the artillery arm alone; which is positively ridiculous. You said +Russians----" + +"Of course, that was a slip of the tongue. I meant Prussians," added the +captain, entirely overwhelmed by the lieutenant's arithmetic, as well as +by the laughter of Captain Benson and Lieutenant Munroe, who belonged to +the mess. + +"Worse yet," said Somers. "They were Austrians. Now, captain, you are a +brave man, and a splendid fellow; but I think it is a great pity you +should tell such abominably great stories." + +"I accept the apology," laughed Captain de Banyan. "We will call it +square, and turn in; for I think that we shall have hot work to-morrow." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +AN ORDER FROM HEADQUARTERS + + +While Captain de Banyan and Lieutenant Somers were asleep, the commanding +general received the intelligence of a movement on our right by the +famous Stonewall Jackson. The position which had been gained by the +advance at Oak Grove was abandoned, and the troops returned to their old +line. The next day was heard the roar of the guns at Mechanicsville; and +on that succeeding was fought the battle of Gaines's Mills--the only +defeat in the field sustained by the Union army during that battle-week. + +General McClellan then decided to change his base of operations; which, +rendered into plain English, meant that he had been flanked, and was +obliged to make the best move he could to save his army and material. The +troops fought all day, and ran all night, till they reached the James +River, where they were protected by the all-powerful gunboats. In the +battles of Savage's Station, Glendale and Malvern Hills, they were +victorious, and fought as no troops had ever fought before. As a retreat, +it was successful; but it was the sad and inglorious end of the +Peninsular campaign. + +The whole brigade to which Lieutenant Somers belonged went on picket +every third day. While the tremendous operations to which we have briefly +alluded were taking place on the right, the soldiers on the left were +leading their ordinary military life. But they were thinking men, and, +while they were firm in their devotion to the good cause, they were +disturbed by doubts and fears. They knew not, as they listened to the +booming guns, whether they were in the midst of victory or defeat. +Occasionally, they were shelled behind their breastworks; apparently for +the purpose, on the part of the rebels, of keeping our forces from +interfering with the work on the right. + +The brigade went on picket, and here the troops were face to face with +the enemy. Lieutenant Somers, by the illness of the captain and the +absence of the first lieutenant, was in command of his company. But there +was no chance to do anything to distinguish himself, except that steady +and patient attention to duty which is the constant opportunity of every +good officer. + +"Well, captain, was there anything like this at Magenta?" asked Somers, +as he met De Banyan. + +"This is tame, Somers. Magenta was a lively scene." + +"I fancy it will not remain tame much longer. We shall either be in +Richmond as victors or prisoners within a few days." + +"Don't croak, Somers. It will all come out right in the end." + +"I have no doubt of that; but I feel just as though some big thing was +going to happen." + +"So do I; and I felt so just before the battle of Solferino. By the way, +on the night before that battle, I captured a whole brigade with my +single company, while I was out on picket-duty." + +"Indeed!" laughed Somers. + +"I'll tell you how it was." + +"Don't take that trouble, captain; for I shall not believe you if you +do." + +"Do you mean to doubt my word, even before I utter it?" demanded the +captain, apparently much hurt by the insinuation. + +"Captain de Banyan, I wish I could persuade you to speak the truth at all +times." + +"Come, Somers, that's rather a grave charge; and, if it came from any +other man than yourself, I should challenge him on the spot," added the +captain, throwing back his head, and looking dignified enough to be the +commander-in-chief. + +"You may challenge me if you please; but let us be serious for a moment." + +"I am serious, and have been all the time." + +"You are a first-rate fellow, captain; I like you almost as well as I do +my own brother." + +"You are a sensible young man, Somers," replied De Banyan, slightly +relaxing the rigid muscles of his face. + +"You are a brave man, and as brilliant as you are brave. I have only one +fault to find with you." + +"What's that?" + +"You will draw the long-bow." + +"In other words, I will lie. Somers, you hurt my feelings. I took a fancy +to you the first time I ever saw you, and it pains me to hear you talk in +that manner. Do you think that I, an officer and a gentleman, would stoop +to the vice of lying?" + +"You certainly do not expect any one to believe those wretched big +stories you tell?" + +"Certainly I do," replied the captain with dignity. + +"But they contradict themselves." + +"Perhaps you don't believe there ever was such an event as the battle of +Magenta." + +"Come, come, my friend; just slide off that high horse." + +"Lieutenant Somers, my word has been doubted; my good faith maligned; my +character for truth and veracity questioned." + +"Yes, I know all that very well; but answer me one question, captain. +Seriously and solemnly, were you at the battle of Magenta?" + +"I decline to answer one who doubts my veracity. If I answered you in the +affirmative, you would not believe me." + +"I don't think I should; but, if you should answer me in the negative, I +should have full faith in your reply." + +"I cannot answer on those terms. Somers, I am offended. I don't know but +that I am in duty bound to challenge you. Just after the battle of +Magenta, I felt compelled to challenge a young officer who cast an +imputation upon my word. We fought, and he fell. His brother challenged +me then, and I had to put a bullet through his head. The family were +Corsicans, I believe; and one after another challenged me, till they got +down to fifth cousins; and I laid out fifteen of them--I think it was +fifteen; I don't remember the exact number, but I could tell by referring +to my diary. You are so precise and particular, that I want to give you +the facts just as they are." + +"You haven't the diary with you, I suppose?" + +"Of course not; I couldn't carry a volume like that around with me. I +only mention this circumstance to show you the sad results which +sometimes follow in the wake of a duel." + +"But I'm not a Corsican; and I don't think you need fear any such results +in my case, if you should conclude to challenge me," answered Somers with +abundant good nature. + +"Now, seriously and solemnly, Somers, this doubting a comrade's word is a +vicious habit. It shows that you have no confidence in what I say." + +"That is precisely the truth; but I think you are responsible for the +fact, not I. If you would only tell the truth----" + +"Tell the truth! My dear fellow, you keep making the matter worse, +instead of better." + +"So do you; for, instead of abandoning your bad habit, you tell me an +absurd story about killing fifteen men in a series of duels!" + +"I told you I couldn't fix the exact number. You are too critical by +half." + +"I am not particular about the number; for I don't believe you killed +even a single person in a duel. You are too good a fellow to do anything +of the sort." + +"Somers, I have been laboring to keep my temper; but I am afraid you will +make me mad, if you keep on. I think we had better suspend this +conversation before it leads to any unhappy results;" and the captain +rose from the ground, and glanced in the direction of the enemy's +pickets. + +"The most unhappy result I could conceive of would be your continuing +this bad practice of telling big stories," replied Somers, standing up by +the side of his companion. + +"No more; you add insult to injury, Somers." + +"Really, captain, you injure yourself by this habit, and----" + +Captain de Banyan, at this point of the conversation, suddenly turned +round, and sprang upon the lieutenant, bearing him to the ground before +the latter could even make a movement in self-defense. Together they +rolled upon the earth, at the foot of the tree whose sheltering branches +had protected them from the intense heat of the sun. Somers, as the +reader already knows, was bold and belligerent before an attack; and, on +the impulse of the moment, he proceeded to repel the sharp assault of his +companion. + +"If you fight a duel in that way, I am ready to take part in it," said +he, his face red with anger. "Let go of me!" + +"With pleasure, my dear boy," replied De Banyan, edging away from him. + +"What do you mean by pitching into me in that way?" demanded Somers +angrily. + +"I have been trying this half hour to teach you a useful lesson; but you +don't know who your best friends are." + +"I think I do. Some of them tell the truth sometimes." + +"Somers!" said the captain sternly. + +"Captain de Banyan!" replied the lieutenant firmly. + +"Do you see that hole in the tree?" continued Captain de Banyan, pointing +to a fresh bullet-mark. + +"I do." + +"I only pulled you down to keep that rifle-ball from going through your +head. I saw a rebel picket through the trees, ready to fire at us. The +ball struck the tree before we struck the ground." + +"Forgive me, captain. I did not understand the movement," replied Somers, +extending his hand. + +"With all my heart," replied the captain, taking the proffered hand. "We +don't always know who our best friends are." + +"Perhaps not; but I know that you are one of my best friends. You have +just given me another reason for wishing you did not----" Somers +hesitated, not thinking it exactly fair to reproach his companion for his +vile habit, after he had rendered him such a signal service. + +"Lie," added De Banyan, finishing the sentence. + +"Perhaps it isn't exactly lying; you don't mean to deceive any one. At +the worst, they are only white lies. Now, captain, don't you think you +exaggerate sometimes?" + +"Well, perhaps I do; my memory is rather poor. I don't carry my diary +with me." + +"Don't you think it would be better if you could confine yourself to the +exact truth?" added Somers, who really felt a deep interest in his +associate. + +"I think it very likely it would; but things get a little mixed up in my +mind. My memory is poor on details. Just after the battle of Magenta, +while I was lying wounded on the ground, one of the emperor's staff rode +up to me, and asked how many cannon my regiment had captured. To save my +life, I couldn't tell whether it was two hundred or three hundred. My +memory is very treacherous on details." + +"I believe you are hopeless, captain," laughed Somers. + +"Hopeless?" + +"Why, you have told the biggest story that has passed your lips to-day." + +"What, about the cannon?" + +"Two hundred or three hundred! Why, your regiment captured all the guns +the Austrians had!" + +"Didn't I tell you I couldn't remember whether it was two hundred or +three hundred? You are the most critical young man I ever met in the +whole course of my life!" + +"But two hundred would be an abominable exaggeration. Perhaps you meant +muskets?" + +"No; cannon." + +"But, my dear captain, just consider for one moment. Of course the +batteries were supported?" + +"To be sure they were." + +"Six guns to a battery would have made fifty batteries; and----" + +"Oh, confound your statistics!" exclaimed the captain impatiently. + +"But statistics enable us to see the truth. Now, captain, at the battle +of Bunker Hill, I saw a man----" + +"You?" demanded Captain de Banyan. + +"I said so." + +"Were you at the battle of Bunker Hill?" + +"Didn't you see me there?" + +"Come, come, Somers; you shouldn't trifle with the truth. I was not at +the battle you speak of." + +"But I was----" + +"You! You were not born till sixty years after the battle of Bunker +Hill." + +"But I was--only illustrating your case." + +"Here comes an orderly with something from headquarters," said Captain de +Banyan, apparently as much rejoiced to change the conversation as the +reader will be to have it changed. + +The orderly proceeded to the position occupied by the field and staff +officers of the regiment; and, a few moments later, came an order for +Lieutenant Somers, with twenty of his men, selected for special duty, to +report at the division headquarters. + +"You are in luck, Somers; you will have a glorious opportunity to +distinguish yourself," said Captain de Banyan, whose second lieutenant +was ordered to the command of Somers's company. + +"I don't know what it means," replied our lieutenant. + +"Don't you, indeed?" added the captain with a smile. "Don't you know what +special duty means? On the night before the battle of Solferino----" + +"Excuse me, Captain de Banyan; but I am ordered to report forthwith," +interrupted Somers, who had no desire to hear another "whopper." + +The young lieutenant marched off, with his little force, to report as he +had been directed. He knew his men well enough to enable him to make a +good selection; and he was confident that they would stand by him to the +last. + +"Do you know Senator Guilford?" demanded the general, after Somers had +passed through all the forms of reporting. + +"I do, general," replied the lieutenant, with a fearful blush, and with a +wish in his heart that the distinguished Senator had minded his own +business. + +"He speaks well of you, Lieutenant Somers," added the general. + +"I am very much obliged to him for his kindness; but I never saw him but +once in my life." + +"He asks a favor for you." + +"I am very much obliged to him; but I don't ask any for myself, and I +hope you will not grant it. If any favors are bestowed upon me, I prefer +to earn them myself." + +"Good!" exclaimed the general. "But I assure you and Senator Guilford +that no man in this division of the army will get a position he does not +deserve. I assure you, Lieutenant Somers, I should have thrown the +Senator's letter among the waste paper, if I had not known you before. I +remember you at Williamsburg; and you did a pretty thing in the +wheat-field yesterday. You are just the man I want." + +"Thank you, sir; I should be very glad to prove that your good opinion is +well founded." + +Apart from others, and in a low tone, the general gave his orders to +Lieutenant Somers to undertake a very difficult and dangerous scouting +expedition. + +"Before sundown you will be a prisoner in Richmond, or a first +lieutenant," added the general as Somers withdrew. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +LIEUTENANT SOMERS CHANGES HIS NAME AND CHARACTER + + +Like the major-generals in the army, Lieutenant Somers had strong +aspirations in the direction of an independent command. Like those +distinguished worthies, no doubt, he felt competent to perform bigger +things than he had yet been called to achieve in the ordinary routine of +duty. He had the blood of heroes in his veins; and, in spite of all he +could do to keep his thoughts within the limits of modesty, he found them +soaring to the regions of the improbable and fanciful. His imagination +led him a wild race, and pictured him in the act of performing marvelous +deeds of valor and skill. + +Fancy is a blind and reckless leader; and it gave our hero oftentimes a +command which his reason would not have permitted him to accept. What +boys, and even what men, think, when stimulated by ambition, would be too +ridiculous to put upon paper. If their thoughts could be disclosed to the +impertinent eye of the world, the proprietors would blushingly disown and +disclaim them. + +Still, almost every live man and boy gives the reins to his fancy; and in +the Army of the Potomac, we will venture to say, there were a hundred +thousand privates and officers who permitted themselves to dream that +they were brigadiers and major-generals; that they did big things, and +received the grateful homage of the world. At any rate, Lieutenant Somers +did, modest as he was, even while he felt that he was utterly incompetent +to perform the duties incumbent on the two stars or the one star. + +Experience had given him some confidence in his own powers; and there was +something delightful in the idea of having an independent command. It was +a partial, a very partial, realization of the wanderings of his vivid +fancy. He felt able to do something which Lilian Ashford would take +pleasure in reading in the newspapers; perhaps something which would +prove his fitness for a brigadier's star at some remote period. Now, we +have made all this explanation to show how Somers had prepared himself to +accomplish some great thing. The mission with which he had been intrusted +was an important one; and the safety of the whole left wing of the army +might depend upon its faithful performance. + +He was wrought up to the highest pitch of patriotic inspiration by the +charge which had been laid upon him; and he was determined to bring back +the information required of him, even if he had to fly through the air to +obtain it. It was of no use to suggest impossibilities to a young man in +such a frame of mind; he did not know the meaning of the word. To impress +him with the importance of the duty intrusted to him, the general of +division had given him a faint outline of the intended movements of the +army. If the enemy massed his forces in this direction, it was of vital +necessity that the general should know it. + +Thus prepared and thus inspired, Lieutenant Somers marched his little +force to the point from which he proposed to operate. On his right hand +there was a dense wood, on the border of which extended one of the +numerous cross-roads that checker the country. On his left was another +piece of woods, terminating in a point about a quarter of a mile from the +road and in the center of a valley. + +On the hill beyond was the intrenched line of the rebels. In front of it, +at the foot of the slope, was a line of rifle-pits, which were occupied +by the rebel pickets. The hill and the woods concealed the operations of +the enemy; and no signal station was high enough to obtain the necessary +information. The woods on both sides of the open space were picketed by +the rebels; and the rifle-pits in front were an effectual check to the +advance of a small force, while a large one could not be sent up without +bringing on a general engagement, which had been prohibited by the +commanding general. + +Lieutenant Somers surveyed the ground, and came to the conclusion that +his chance of spending the night in Libby Prison was better than his +chance of being made a first lieutenant. The rifle-pits had a chilling +effect upon the fine dreams in which his fancy had indulged. He was not a +grub, and could not burrow through the earth to the rebel lines; he had +no wings, and could not fly over them. The obstacles which are so easily +overcome in one's dreams appear mountain-high in real life. He looked +troubled and anxious; but, having put his hand to the plow, he was +determined not to turn back. + +The best way to conquer a difficulty is to charge upon it; and this +Somers decided to do, even though he had no well-defined plan for the +accomplishment of his purpose. Avoiding the observation of the rebels in +the rifle-pits, he moved round, and reached the point of woods on the +left of the road. + +"Excuse me, Lieutenant Somers," said Sergeant Hapgood with a military +salute: "'tain't none o' my business, but I'd like to know where you are +goin' to." + +"Through this woods," replied Somers doggedly. + +"You used to be a good boy, when you was a boy; and I hope you've said +your prayers," replied old Hapgood, appalled at the prospect before his +young friend. + +"Don't you croak, uncle," added Somers. + +"The rebels' pickets are up here, not twenty rods distant. Do you +calculate to go through them, or over them?" + +"Either--just as I can; but I am going through, somehow or other." + +"It can't be done! Thunderation! you'll bring down the whole rebel army +upon us! You don't think of going over there with only twenty men!" + +"I do, uncle. I'm going over on that hill yonder, and I'm coming back +again before night." + +Hapgood tapped his forehead significantly with his finger to indicate +that the young lieutenant had lost his senses. + +"I was ordered to do it, and I am going to do it, uncle. You can set your +mind at rest on that point." + +"It can't be did!" said the old man positively. "I don't keer who told +you to do it; it can't be did with less'n twenty thousand men. You will +sacrifice yourself and all the rest of us." + +"You may return to the camp, if you wish." + +"Tom Somers--Lieutenant Somers," said the old man, much hurt by the words +of the young officer, "you know I'm not afraid of anything; and I didn't +expect you'd say that to me." + +"Excuse me, uncle; I didn't mean it. Now, hear me a moment." + +In a low tone, Lieutenant Somers told the sergeant the nature of his +mission, and what depended upon its prompt and successful execution. + +"He ought to have sent a division to do such a job," muttered the old +man, taking off his cap, and scratching his bald head. "Howsomever, I'm +ready to follow you wherever you choose to go." + +"Forward, then," replied Somers; and they advanced cautiously through the +woods till they came to a kind of bog-hole, beyond which they discovered +the rebel pickets. + +The party lay down on the ground, and crawled on the edge of the bog, +till they obtained a fair view of the rebels. + +"Now, uncle, the time has come, and my plan is formed," said Somers in a +whisper. "When they discover you, retreat with the men as fast as you +can. Fire on the rebels; but don't pay any attention to me." + +"Where are you going?" demanded the old man. + +"When you retire, I am going to roll into that grass. They will follow +you; and, as soon as they have passed me, I shall move forward." + +"I won't do anything of the sort. Thunderation! you are goin' to run +right into the arms of the rebels." + +"Obey my orders! That's all you have to do. I can take care of myself." + +"Excuse me, Tom--Lieutenant Somers." + +"I know all about it, uncle. You do what I tell you, and you shall have +all the particulars to-night, when I return." + +"Return! You will be in Libby, if you are not shot, by dark." + +"If I am, leave that to me," replied Somers, as he rolled over into the +long grass of the bog, and entirely concealed himself from the view of +his own men. "Now fire one or two shots into the rebel picket and then +retire." + +Hapgood reluctantly obeyed the order; though he felt as though he was +signing the death-warrant of his young friend by doing so. The bullets +began to fly; but the sergeant took care to keep his men out of sight as +they retreated. The enemy followed; for they always chase a retiring foe, +and run from an advancing one. They reached the bog in which Somers was +concealed, where one of the three fell before a ball which the lieutenant +was sure had been directed by the practiced eye of the veteran sergeant. +The other two swore at the calamity, and vowed vengeance on the Yankee +who had done the deed. + +Hapgood continued to retire, and led his foe to the very verge of the +woods. In the meantime, the lieutenant emerged from his hiding-place. The +first object that attracted his attention was the ghastly face of the +dead rebel. The sight of him was not pleasant, but it was suggestive; +and, without the loss of a moment, he dragged the body into the grass, +and hastily removed the uniform from it. It was a loathsome task; but the +necessity of the moment seemed to justify the act. Taking off his own +uniform, he put on that of the dead rebel, who was fortunately about his +own size. Rolling up his own clothing in as small a bundle as possible, +he concealed it in the bog, at some distance from the place where the +picket had fallen. Dragging the corpse to a quagmire, he sunk it beneath +the muddy waters, and it passed from his view. After taking the +precaution to straighten up the long grass, which might have betrayed his +movements, he advanced towards the rebel lines. + +Lieutenant Somers felt that he was now actually embarked in his perilous +venture. He was within the enemy's line, and in disguise. If discovered, +he would be liable to the penalty of being a spy. But inasmuch as he did +not intend to be discovered, he did not think it necessary to expend his +nervous energy in a discussion of this question. Success was a duty to +him; and he spent no time in considering the dark side of the picture. + +He was excited, and he knew that he was excited. He knew that coolness +and impudence were the essential elements of success in such an +adventure; and when he had followed the woods nearly to the top of the +hill, he sat down to recover his self-possession, and compose his nerves +to their natural quietude. It was not a very easy matter. He had already +arranged his plan of future operations, and he diligently set about the +business of making his appearance correspond with his circumstances. + +He felt that he was hardly dirty enough to be a rebel; so he rubbed his +face, neck and hands with some dark-colored earth, ripped his pants and +coat in sundry places, and otherwise disfigured his comely person, till +Miss Lilian Ashford would not have known him, or if she had known him, +would have been ashamed to acknowledge his acquaintance. Having completed +this work to his entire satisfaction, he rose, and resumed his march +towards the rebel line. He had advanced but a few paces before he felt +something in the breast-pocket of his coat, which excited his curiosity. +It was a diary which the dead soldier had kept from the time he entered +the army. + +Such a work would have been deeply interesting to the lieutenant at any +time, but especially at the present, when he was sadly in want of the +information which would enable him to personate the difficult part he had +chosen to perform. Seating himself on the ground again, he was soon +absorbed in the contents of the note-book. The owner's name was Owen +Raynes; and from the diary Somers learned that he had been a clerk in +Richmond when the war broke out; and that his father resided on the +Williamsburg road, near Seven Pines, where the battle had been fought. +Somers was alarmed at this information; for the young man must be well +known in the neighborhood. Of course he could not assume the name and +character of Owen Raynes. + +Though the time was precious, he continued to read the diary till he came +to an entry which excited his deep interest: "Poor Allan Garland was +captured to-day by the Yankees; and I suppose they will torture and +starve the poor fellow, as they have the rest of our boys who have fallen +into their hands. We shall never meet again. He was a good fellow. He was +on a scout." + +Somers was deeply concerned about poor Allan Garland, who had fallen into +the hands of the terrible Yankees, to be tortured and starved; and he +turned back to the beginning of the diary to obtain further particulars +in regard to this interesting person. Fortunately for history, and +particularly for Lieutenant Somers, Owen Raynes had given a tolerably +full account of his friend. They had been to school together in Union, +Alabama, where Owen had an uncle, and where Allan resided. They were fast +friends; and both agreed to enlist as volunteers in the Fourth Alabama, +Colonel Bush Jones; for their schoolmates were mostly in this regiment. + +When the regiment arrived at Richmond, Owen had not time to visit his +father; for the troops were instantly ordered to Manassas, and he +enrolled himself without discovering that his friend was not in the +ranks. He was too sick to come with his comrades; "wrote letter to Allan" +was a frequent entry in the diary, until June 18, 1862, when this record +appears: "Allan joined the regiment to-day; has been sick about a year; +is very well now; he is a handsome fellow. Sue shall be his wife, if I +can bring it about; they have kept up a correspondence for three years; +she never saw him, but she will like him." + +"All right!" exclaimed Somers, as he closed the book, and put it in his +pocket. "I am Allan Garland. Don't think I shall marry Sue, though, +whoever she may be. I wonder if Lilian Ashford would object. I don't know +as she would. Never mind; I am a soldier of the Fourth Alabama, Colonel +Jones, just now. How are you, Allan Garland?" + +He walked along towards the rebel lines, feeling in his pockets for +further revelations. An old letter from Allan Garland rewarded his +search. He spoke tenderly of Sue, who was Owen's sister. + +"Sue wouldn't think I'm very handsome just now," said Somers, glancing at +his dirty hands, and imagining his dirty face, as he continued to +advance. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +ALLAN GARLAND AND FRIENDS + + +Allan Garland, _née_ Somers, advanced confidently towards the rebel +line. As he was to perform the leading part in the exciting drama about +to be acted, he conducted himself with the utmost caution. Everything +depended upon the amount of impudence he could bring to bear upon the +case before him, and the skill with which he personated the part he had +chosen. He knew of nothing, short of falling on the Fourth Alabama, which +could disconcert him. Even if he did, there were only a few who knew the +captured scout; and his chances were fair, even if the worst should +befall him. + +"Stand!" said a rebel sentinel on the breastwork of the line. "Who goes +there?" + +"Friend," replied Somers confidently. + +"What's your name?" + +"Allan Garland. Can you tell me where the Fourth Alabama is?" + +"About four miles from here. Do you belong to the Fourth Alabama?" + +"Well, I did before I was captured; I don't know where I belong now." + +"Where d'ye come from?" + +"Just got away from the Yankees. They gobbled me up about three weeks +ago." + +"Bully for you! Come in; you can report to the officer of the day." + +Somers was entirely willing, and hastened in the direction indicated by +the sentinel; and was soon ushered into the presence of Major Platner, +brigade-officer of the day. He was a very pompous little man, and Somers +saw his weakness as soon as he spoke. With a most profound bow, he +answered the questions of the major, using the utmost deference in his +tone and manner. + +"How dare you present yourself before an officer of the day with such a +dirty face?" demanded Major Platner. + +"I hope your honor will pardon me; but I have just escaped from the +Yankees, and have not had time to wash my face. If you please, sir, I +will go and do it now. I thought I ought to come to you without any +delay." + +"You did right, young man," replied the major with a consequential +flourish of the hand. "You were out scouting when you were taken?" + +"Yes, sir." + +Major Platner then proceeded to ask a great many questions in regard to +the force and position of the Yankees; all of which Somers answered +entirely in the interest of the Union party. He was very careful not to +give a particle of information that could be useful to the rebels; at the +same time avoiding any gross exaggerations which would throw discredit on +his story. + +"You seem to be a very intelligent and patriotic young man," added the +officer. "I have heard some inquiries for a person of your description +to-day." + +"I have always endeavored to do my duty to my country," answered Somers, +trying to blush under the compliment of the patronizing little major; +"and I kept my eyes wide open while I was in the Yankee camps." + +"I see you did. Your information is very definite, and, I doubt not, very +reliable." + +"My only desire has been to serve my country, sir," added Somers very +modestly. + +"Well, go and wash your face, so that we can see what color you are, and +I will report your name to the general, who was inquiring for a useful +person like yourself. I trust that you will have discretion enough not to +mention anything that has passed between us." + +"Certainly not, sir. I judge, from what you have said, that my poor +services may be required for some special service." + +"That is the idea which I intended to convey. In a word, the commander of +this division wants information. You have just come from the Yankee +lines, and you know where to look for the intelligence that will be of +the most value to us." + +"I think I do, sir." + +"The fact that you have just made your way through the Yankee lines shows +that you possess the necessary address." + +"I thank you for your good opinion; and I assure you, sir, that I should +be very glad to serve my country in any capacity in which she may require +my humble labors." + +"Very well, young man." + +"A plan occurs to me now, by which I could easily enter the Yankee +lines." + +"Indeed! What is that?" + +"When I ran through the enemy's pickets, they fired upon me, and one of +them chased me. I brought him down with my pistol," replied Somers, +producing the weapon, which he had taken the precaution to bring with +him. "I know just where that Yankee lies now; I could borrow his uniform, +and go in among the enemy without suspicion." + +"Very well arranged, young man." + +The major then directed an orderly to attend to the wants of the +fugitive, and gave the latter orders to report to him within two hours. +Somers washed his face, and partook of some cold bacon and corn bread, +which constituted the staple of the rebel rations. He then told the +orderly that he wanted to look round a little, and find his regiment, if +he could; but was informed that the camp regulations did not permit any +strolling about the camps. He suggested that the officer of the day would +give him a pass, and he returned to the major to beg this favor. It was +readily granted; and the time for him to report was extended to four +hours, as his regiment was situated at some distance from the brigade +camp, though it belonged to the same division. + +Thus provided, Somers commenced his tour of observation. Of course, he +had no intention of visiting the Fourth Alabama; for that would have been +putting his head into the lion's mouth. We need only say, that he used +his time to the best advantage for the country in whose service he had +enlisted. He noted the brigades, regiments, and batteries of artillery, +which he saw in his walk; and arranged a little scheme in his mind, by +which he could remember the number of each. + +In the course of his perambulations, he reached the Williamsburg road, +and was on the point of extending his observations in the direction of +the railroad, when he was stopped by a sentinel. He produced his pass, +which the rebel soldier could not read; and he was conducted to the +sergeant of the guard, who was listening to a conversation between a +captain and an old man who appeared to be a farmer. They were bargaining +about some forage which the captain wanted, and which the farmer was not +disposed to sell. + +"What have you there?" demanded the officer, as the sentinel brought in +the doubtful case. + +"Man with a pass." + +"Your pass is good up to the Williamsburg road, and no farther," said the +sergeant when he had read the document. + +"I didn't know where the lines were," replied Somers, returning the pass +to his pocket. + +"Where are you going?" asked the officer, apparently not satisfied with +the appearance of the "man with a pass." + +"Looking for my regiment, sir," replied Somers, giving the military +salute; which excess of politeness, however, was lost on the +matter-of-fact captain. + +"What regiment?" + +"The Fourth Alabama." + +"The Fourth Alabama! What are you doing over here, then?" + +"I am a stranger in these parts; and I don't know where to look. I have +just escaped from the Yankees, and don't know much about this part of the +country." + +"What is your name?" + +"Allan Garland, sir." + +"What!" exclaimed the old farmer, suddenly becoming interested in the +conversation. + +"In my opinion, you are a deserter," added the officer in a crabbed tone. +"I advise you to arrest him, sergeant. That pass is good for nothing on +this road." + +"No, captain, he is not a deserter," interposed the farmer with energy. +"I know him well; and he is as true and patriotic a young man as there is +in the Southern Confederacy." + +Somers looked at the farmer with astonishment. He did not remember to +have seen him before; and he could not account for the interest he +manifested in his case. + +"What do you know of him, Mr. Raynes?" + +Mr. Raynes! That explained the matter; and Somers could not help +shuddering in the presence of the man whose son he had buried in the soft +mud of the bog. + +"He is my son's friend," replied the farmer. "Both of them belong to the +Fourth Alabama." + +"That may be, Mr. Raynes; but do you suppose a man looking for the Fourth +Alabama would be wandering about here?" + +"He is a stranger in Virginia. He came on from Alabama only a few weeks +since, and was captured while out on a scouting expedition. I assure you, +captain, it is all right; I will vouch for him." + +"Very well, Mr. Raynes! If the sergeant is willing to take your word for +it, I have nothing further to say. Indeed, it is no business of mine; but +our soldiers are allowed to walk over to the enemy, or back into the +woods, without let or hindrance. It's a disgrace to the service. Major +Platner gives this man a pass to go all over the country. Do as you +please, sergeant." + +"I mean to," replied the sergeant in an undertone; for he was not pleased +at this interference on the part of a commissary of subsistence, who had +nothing whatever to do with the affair. "I am satisfied," he added aloud. + +"Allan, I am very glad to see you; and I thank God that you have been +enabled to escape from the Yankees. Have you seen Owen since you got +back?" + +Somers trembled at the question; and, while he did not dare to tell the +old man the truth, the thought of telling him a falsehood was utterly +repulsive to his nature. It was easy enough to deceive the enemy in +war--his duty called upon him to do this; but to deceive an old, fond +father, in regard to a true and devoted son, seemed terrible to him. + +"He was out on picket when I came through," he replied after some +hesitation. + +"Then you did not meet him. He will be delighted to see you again; for +really the boy is as fond of you as he is of his sister." + +Somers found himself unable to answer to the warm congratulations of the +old man, or to enter into the spirit of the conversation. The staring, +death-sealed eyes of Owen Raynes haunted him; and, when he attempted to +reciprocate the friendly sentiments of the doting father, his heart +seemed to rise up in his throat, and choke his utterance. The only +consolation he could derive from the remembrance of the scene in the +woods was in the fact that he had not taken the life of Owen Raynes +himself. He wore his clothes, and had his diary and letters in his +pocket. + +"You are very sad, Allan! I should think you would be happy to escape +from the Yankees. They would have starved you to death in time." + +"I think not, sir! They are not so cruel as that," added Somers, who +desired to remove such a reproach from the mind of the old man. + +"Perhaps they would not willingly starve their prisoners; but I don't see +how they could avoid it. They say that the people of the North are +suffering terribly for the want of food. In New York, the laboring +classes have attacked the banks and the flour-stores, urged on by hunger. +There will be terrible times in the North before many months have gone +by. I pity the people there, though it is their own fault. I hope God +will be merciful to them, and spare them from some of the consequences of +their own folly. I am thankful that you have escaped from them." + +"I don't think they are quite so badly off as you say," answered Somers, +provoked by this view of the condition and resources of the North. "I +have talked with a great many Yankee soldiers, and they say that plenty +abounds in all the Northern States." + +"They would tell you so. They are deceived by their officers." + +"That's the way it is done," added the rebel sergeant, who had been +listening to the conversation. + +"But I saw what rations these soldiers have. They live like lords." + +"That's the very thing which will starve all the people in the North. +Their big armies will eat them out of house and home in a few months, +Allan." + +"I think not, Mr. Raynes." + +"A gentleman from New York, who got through the lines last week, says the +grass is a foot high in some of the streets of New York. The people can't +find anything to do, and are cursing their rulers for plunging them into +this horrid war." + +"I think the gentleman from New York lied," replied Somers with a smile. +"I saw the New York papers every day while I was in the Yankee lines; and +they are full of advertisements, which look like business. Why, in one +paper I saw four columns of 'Wants,' in which people advertised for +farm-laborers, house-servants, clerks and sailors." + +"Ah! Allan, those papers are printed to sell in the Yankee army. I'm sure +I hope they are not so badly off as has been represented. I should not +want my worst enemy to suffer what they are called upon to endure. It is +all their own fault; but I hope God will be merciful to them." + +"I think you needn't feel bad about them," added Somers, amused, but +indignant at the pitiful stories which were circulated in the South to +keep up the courage of the people. + +"Let that pass, then. Really, Allan, I am very glad to see you. You must +go to the house with me. Sue will be delighted to meet you. She talks +about you a great deal; and I can insure you a warm welcome." + +"I think I cannot stop to call now; but I will try to come over in a few +days," replied Somers, embarrassed beyond measure at the idea of facing +Sue and the rest of the family. + +"Not stop!" exclaimed Mr. Raynes, holding up his hands with surprise. + +"Not now, sir; I am in no condition to appear before ladies," he added, +extending his arms so as to display his tattered garments to the fullest +advantage. "You know a young man is rather particular about his +appearance when he is going into the company of ladies, and especially +into the presence of _some_ ladies. The fact is, I tore my uniform all to +pieces after I passed through the Yankee lines." + +"Never mind your uniform, my boy. It looks as though it had seen service; +and that is the best recommendation a young man can have to the girls in +these times. You must go, Allan." + +"Indeed, sir, I hope you will excuse me for a few days," pleaded Somers. + +"Come, Allan! this is not kind of you. Sue has been dying to see you for +a year. She was terribly disappointed when you did not come up with your +regiment, and again when she heard you had joined without calling upon +us. If it had been Owen, she could not have felt worse when you were +captured. Now you want to disappoint her again." + +"You need not mention that you have seen me, Mr. Raynes," suggested +Somers. + +"Not tell her that you have escaped, when she is fretting about you every +day of her life! That would be too bad." + +"You can tell her as much as you please without informing her that you +have seen me." + +"I could not tell a lie, Allan. It would choke me," said the old man +solemnly. "You must go with me." + +"Let me get another uniform, and it would surprise her when I come." + +"No more words, young man. You must go. It is only a short distance," +replied Mr. Raynes, passing his arm through that of Somers, and walking +towards his house. "It will be the happiest day for Sue which she has +seen for a year." + +"Happier for her than it will be for me," thought Somers, who was +disposed to break away from the old man, and make his escape. + +By this time, Sue had become an awful bugbear to the poor fellow. In +these days of photographs, it is more than probable that she had a +picture of the original Allan Garland, and the cheat would be discovered +the moment he showed his face. He was deliberating a plan for breaking +away from his persistent friend, when a young lady of eighteen stepped +out from the bushes by the roadside, and hailed the old man. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE VIRGINIA MAIDEN + + +"Where have you been, father?" said the young lady in a very sweet and +gentle tone, which, however, sounded like the knell of doom to poor +Somers. "I have been waiting for you half an hour." + +But then, perceiving a stranger with her father, she drew back, abashed +at her own forwardness. + +"Come here, Sue," said the old man. "Come here; I want to see you." + +She advanced timidly from the bushes where she had been partially +concealed from the gaze of the passers-by. She was certainly a very +pleasant and comely-looking maiden; but, if she had been the "Witch of +Endor," she could not have been any more disagreeable to Somers. He was +as fond of adventure as any young man; and if he could have forgotten +that poor Owen Raynes, the son and the brother, was at that moment lying +in the mud of the swamp; his manly form no more to gladden the hearts of +those who stood before him; his voice hushed in death, no more to utter +the accents of affection to the devoted father and his loving sister--if +he could have forgotten his relations with the dead Owen, he might even +have enjoyed the exciting situation in which he was placed. + +Sue, with a blushing face and half-averted gaze, stepped out into the +road, and stole a few timid glances at the young lieutenant. It was quite +evident that she did not have a suspicion of the identity of the young +soldier before her. Her father appeared to have a vein of romance in his +character, and was disposed to torture her for a time with the torments +of suspense, before he declared to her the astounding truth, that the +young soldier was her well-known but hitherto unseen friend from Alabama, +the bosom companion of her brother Owen, and, if everything worked as the +loving conspirators intended, the future husband of the affectionate +maiden. + +She did not like to ask who the stranger was; and she thought it was very +provoking of her father not to tell her, when she was so fearfully +embarrassed by her position. She continued to blush; and Somers felt so +awkward, that he couldn't help joining her in this interesting display of +roses on the cheeks. + +"Don't you know him, Sue?" demanded the farmer, when he had tantalized +her as long as the circumstances would warrant. + +"Why, of course I don't, father!" stammered the Virginia maiden. + +"Look in his face, and see if you can't tell," persisted Mr. Raynes. + +"How absurd, father!" + +"Absurd, child? Not at all absurd! Haven't you his picture in the house? +And, if I mistake not, you have looked at it as many as three times a day +for the last year." + +"Now, father, you are too bad! I haven't done anything of the sort," +protested Sue, pouting and twisting her shoulders as any country girl, +who had not been trained in a satinwood seminary, would have done under +such trying circumstances. "You don't mean to say that is Allan Garland?" +added she, her pretty face lighting up with an expression of intense +satisfaction. + +"But I do, Sue," replied Mr. Raynes with emphasis. + +"Why, Allan! I am so glad to see you! I was afraid I should never see +you!" exclaimed Sue, rushing up to the young man, and extending both her +hands, which he felt compelled to accept. + +He was fearful that she would kiss him; and, though he would have been +under obligations to submit to the infliction, he was not sure that the +operation would not cause him to faint. Fortunately for him, Sue was +reasonable in her behavior; and he escaped cheaper than he expected, when +he beheld the impetuous charge which the maiden made upon him. If he had +really been Allan Garland, his reception would have been entirely proper, +and highly creditable to the affectionate nature of the Virginia damsel. +He was not the young gentleman from Alabama; and he felt as though he had +been flanked on both sides, with no chance to beat off the enemy in +front, or to run away in the rear. He was only a short distance from a +line of rebel sentinels, and he did not consider it prudent to escape by +taking to his legs. He did not wear his fighting socks at this time, and +felt that it would be no disgrace to run away from such an enemy as that +which confronted him. + +"I am very glad to see you, Allan," repeated Sue, as the wretched young +man did not venture to use his tongue. + +"Thank you, thank you, Miss Raynes!" said he at last, when silence seemed +even more dangerous than speech. + +"Miss Raynes! Dear me, Allan, how very formal and precise you are! You +called me Sue in your letters." + +"Did I? Well, I didn't know it," replied Somers with a stroke of candor +not to be expected under the circumstances. + +"Certainly you did. I don't think you ever mentioned such a person as +Miss Raynes." + +"I am confident I didn't," added he with another touch of candor. "But I +will always call you Sue hereafter, when I have occasion to speak to +you." + +"Thank you, Allan! You begin to sound a little like yourself." + +Somers was very glad to hear it, but wished he had been five miles off, +even if it had been in the very jaws of the Fourth Alabama. + +"You don't look a bit like your photograph," continued Sue, gazing with +admiration at the face of the young man; for which those who ever saw +Lieutenant Somers will cheerfully pardon her. + +"Do you think so?" + +"I'm sure you don't." + +"That's very strange. Everybody who has seen my photograph says it looks +exactly like me." + +"I don't think so." + +"I gave one to a young lady of my acquaintance, who said it was perfect." + +"Indeed! Who was she?" + +"She is a young lady whom I have met only two or three times." + +"What is her name?" + +"Lilian Ashford." + +"What a pretty name!" said Sue, endeavoring to be magnanimous; though it +was evident that she was troubled by the honest avowal of the young +soldier. + +"Where does she live?" + +"She is at the North, now," answered Somers, who could not bear to tell a +lie when there was no need of such a sacrifice. + +He was becoming very uneasy under this rigid catechizing, and hoped she +would not ask any more questions about Lilian Ashford. He had mentioned +her name with the hope that it might produce a coldness on her part which +would afford him some advantage. She did not, however, seem to be +annihilated by the prospect of a rival, and was proceeding to interrogate +him still further in regard to the lady, with whom he was apparently +intimate enough to present her his photograph, when Mr. Raynes reminded +her that they were standing in the road, and had better go into the +house. + +"Now, Mr. Raynes, as I have seen Sue, and Sue has seen me, I think I had +better hasten to my regiment," suggested Somers. + +"Not yet, Allan," replied the old man. + +"Do you wish to run away, and leave me so soon, you monster?" added Sue. +"I tell you, sir, I shall not let you go yet." + +"But, Sue! you forget that I have just returned from the Yankees. I was +furnished with a pass, to enable me to find my regiment." + +"You shall find it in good time." + +"Come to the house, Allan: we will not detain you long," added Mr. +Raynes. + +"You must and shall come!" protested Sue, taking him by the arm, and +absolutely compelling him to go, or be guilty of the most unpardonable +rudeness to the fair Virginia damsel. + +"I should be very glad to go with you, Sue, if my duty did not call me +elsewhere. I am to be sent off on very important service." + +"Again?--so soon?" + +"This very day. I may never see you again." + +"And you would coolly run away and leave me without even going into the +house!" + +"But my duty, Sue!" + +"You will be in time for your duty." + +"I may be arrested as a deserter." + +"Nonsense! You have a pass in your pocket." + +"In spite of the pass, if your father had not happened to see me, I +should have been arrested, and might have spent a day or two in the +guardhouse before the case could have been explained." + +"No more argument, Allan," said the persevering girl. "Here is the house; +you shall go in and look at mother, if you don't stop but a minute. +Besides, I want to see your photograph while you are present; for I am +sure you don't look any more like the picture than the picture does like +you." + +"Probably not," replied Somers, as the resolute maiden dragged him into +the house; where, without stopping to breathe, she presented him to her +mother, with the astounding declaration, that he was Allan Garland. + +Mrs. Raynes gave him a cordial Virginia welcome; and, while he was +endeavoring to make himself as agreeable as possible to the old lady, Sue +rushed up-stairs to procure the faithless photograph. She returned in a +moment with the picture in her hand, and proceeded at once to institute a +comparison between the shadow and the substance. + +"Now, stand up here, sir, and let me see," said she, as she playfully +whisked him round and scrutinized his features. "I told you it did not +look like you; and I am very sure now that it does not." + +"Let me see," added Somers, extending his hand for the picture. + +"Will you promise to give it back to me?" + +"Certainly I will! You don't imagine I would be so mean as to confiscate +it?" + +"I should not care much if you did, now that I have found out it does not +look any more like you than it does like me," she answered, handing him +the photograph. + +"Where did you get this picture, Sue?" + +"Where did I get it? Well, that is cool! Didn't you send it to me +yourself?" And Sue began to exhibit some symptoms of amazement. + +"I am very sure I never sent you this picture," added Somers gravely. + +"You did not?" + +"Never." + +"Why, Allan Garland!" + +"This is not my picture." + +"I shouldn't think it was." + +Thereupon Mr. Raynes began to laugh in the most immoderate manner; +opening his mouth wide enough to take in a very small load of hay, and +shaking his sides in the most extraordinary style. + +"What are you laughing at, pa?" demanded Sue, blushing up to the eyes, as +though she already felt the force of some keenly satirical remark which +was struggling for expression in the mouth of the farmer. + +"To think you have been looking at that picture three times a day for a +year, studying, gazing at it; kissing it, for aught I know; and then to +find out that it is not Allan after all!" roared the Virginia farmer +between the outbreaks of his mirth. "I haven't done anything but groan +since the war began, and it does me good to laugh. I haven't had a jolly +time before since the battle of Bull Run, as the Yankees call it." + +"You are the most absurd pa in Virginia. I didn't look at it three times +a day, I never studied it, and I'm sure I never kissed it. No wonder +Allan wants to get away, when he finds what an absurd girl you make me +out to be. You think I'm a fool, don't you, Allan?" + +"I do not, by any means. I'm sure, if I had your picture, I shouldn't +have been ashamed to look at it three times a day," replied Somers, +gallantly coming to the rescue of the maiden. "But, really, my Virginia +patriarch," he added, using an expression which he had found in the +correspondence in his pocket, "I must tear myself away." + +"You seem to be glad enough to go," pouted Sue. + +"Sorry to go, but compelled by the duty I owe my country to leave you." + +"When will you come again?" + +"Of course, that question I cannot answer. I may never see you again. +This is a terrible war, and we cannot tell what a day may bring forth," +replied Somers solemnly; and the thought was all the more solemn when he +thought of the cold corpse of the son and brother concealed in the mire +of the swamp. + +He had seen the old man laugh as none but a happy man can; and he could +not help feeling what a terrible revulsion a few words from him might +cause. He had watched the playful manner of Sue, and had joined in the +gay raillery of the moment. A word from him would crush her spirit, and +bow that loving mother to the ground. The scene had not been one of his +own choosing; and he would gladly escape the necessity of dissembling +before those affectionate hearts. + +"We are on the eve of a terrible battle," added the old man very gravely. +"Hundreds of our poor boys went down yesterday, never to rise again. We +tremble when we think of you in the field. I may never see my son again; +for the issue of the war may depend on the battles of the next few days." + +"What do you mean?" + +Mr. Raynes seemed to know more than he had dared to speak; and Somers was +full of interest. + +"The Yankees, who expect to go into Richmond, will be driven down the +Peninsula, where they came up, like flying sheep, within a week. I have +heard a few words, which satisfies me that great events are coming." + +Though it was not supposable that the people in the vicinity of Richmond +knew the plans of General Lee, from what he had seen, and from what he +had heard from men in power, he had formed a very correct idea of the +intended operations of the rebel chief; and he stated his views very +clearly to Somers. While he was listening to the old man's theory, Mrs. +Raynes had spread her table, and placed upon it such food as was +available for a hasty lunch. She insisted that he should partake; and, +while he enjoyed the welcome refreshment, Mr. Raynes told him everything +about the movements of the Confederate army in the vicinity, with full +particulars of the battle of the preceding day. While the scout was thus +answering the ends of his mission, he was in no hurry to depart. + +General McClellan's "change of base" was not suspected by the rebels at +this time. It was their purpose to flank the Union army on the right and +left, and destroy it effectually. The dispositions had been made for this +purpose; and, as Mr. Raynes was a man of influence and intelligence, his +information was as reliable as could be deduced from the preliminary +movements of the rebel army. He was confident of success. The execution +of the plan had already been commenced, and the right of the Union line +was in the act of falling back. + +He expatiated upon the perils of the campaign, and the terrible fighting +which was to be expected; and manifested the utmost solicitude for the +safety of his son, and hardly less for his guest. + +Somers prolonged his repast, that the old man might leave nothing unsaid +that would be important for the Union generals to know. Sue occasionally +joined in the conversation; but she was quite serious now, as she +contemplated the perils to which her brother and her friend from Alabama +must be subjected. + +"Do you know where General Jackson is now?" asked Somers. + +"I don't know exactly where he is; but I know what part he has to play in +the great drama. The last we heard of him was, that he was watching +McDowell, near Fredericksburg. If McDowell keeps quiet, Jackson will rush +down on the left flank of the Yankees, and cut off their retreat." + +"Are you sure?" + +"I am very sure. I can tell you why." + +Before he had time to tell him why, a knock at the door disturbed the +conference; and a young man, in a tattered rebel uniform, was ushered +into the room. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE DIGNIFIED YOUNG REBEL + + +Lieutenant Somers, who had been very nervous and uneasy before, was +exceedingly annoyed by the appearance of another actor on the stage. He +had become in some slight degree familiarized with the awkwardness of his +situation; for the fact, that no suspicion had yet been cast upon his +identity, was encouraging, and he began to have some confidence in his +position, open as it was to an assault from any direction. The advent of +the tattered stranger was a new cause for alarm, and he at once became +very anxious to beat a retreat. + +There is no night without some ray of light to gladden it. His first +impression was that the visitor belonged to the Fourth Alabama, and would +readily recognize him as an impostor; but he was in a measure relieved to +find that none of the family gave the soldier more than a friendly +greeting, which proved him to be a stranger to them as well as to +himself. Yet he might belong to the Fourth Alabama; and then it occurred +to him that the man had come to inform Mr. Raynes of the death of his son +while on picket duty. + +In the brief period which elapsed between the advent of the stranger, and +the statement of the object of his visit, Somers was disturbed by a dozen +fearful theories; all of which seemed to end in a rebel prison at +Richmond, and even in a rebel gallows--the fate of the spy. The minutes +were fearfully long; and, before the momentous question of the object of +the stranger's visit could be introduced, he decided to make an abrupt +retreat. + +"Well, Mr. Raynes," said he, approaching the old man as he put on his +cap, "I have already run a great risk in stopping here so long; and, with +many thanks to you for your kindness and for your generous hospitality, I +must take my departure." + +"I suppose we cannot keep you any longer, Allan; but you must promise to +call again at the first convenient opportunity." + +"I promise you that I will the first time I can safely do so," responded +Somers warmly, and with the fullest intention of redeeming his promise. +"Good-by, sir!" + +"Good-by, my dear boy! May you be spared in the hour when the strong men +bite the dust!" said Mr. Raynes solemnly, as he gave his hand to Somers. + +"Good-by, Sue!" added the young lieutenant, taking the hand of the +Virginia damsel. + +"Adieu, my brave soldier-boy!" she replied. + +"You are a soldier, I see," said the stranger, as Somers approached him +on his way out of the house. + +"Yes, sir," answered the latter nervously; for he would gladly have +escaped any communication with the newcomer. + +"What regiment do you belong to?" persisted the dilapidated soldier. + +What business was that to him? Why should he trouble himself about other +people's affairs? It sounded like a very impertinent question to the +excited lieutenant, and he was tempted to inform the busy-body that it +was none of his business; but, as he had already earned a good character +for civility with the interesting family in whose presence he still +stood, his bump of approbation would not permit him to forfeit their +esteem by so inconsiderate a reply. + +"Good-by, all!" said he with energy, turning away from the rebel soldier, +and moving towards the door. + +"What regiment did you say you belonged to?" demanded the persistent +rebel. + +"I didn't say," replied Somers, not in the most gentle tones. + +"Will you oblige me by telling me to what regiment you belong?" added the +rebel. + +"I think I will not," continued Somers, more and more displeased with the +persistence of the other. "I came very near being arrested as a deserter +just now, though I have a pass in my pocket; and I don't care about +exposing myself to any further annoyance by my own indiscretion." + +"I assure you I am a friend, and I would not betray you if I knew you +were a deserter," said the stranger in very civil tones. + +Thus appealed to, and perceiving that he was not gaining in the +estimation of Mr. Raynes by his reticence, he decided that he could not +make the matter much worse by answering the question. + +"To the Fourth Alabama," he replied desperately; "but you must excuse me; +for I am in a tremendous hurry." + +"The Fourth Alabama! I thought so," exclaimed the stranger with a +pleasant smile, as though the information was particularly agreeable to +him. "I belong to the Fourth Alabama myself." + +"Do you, indeed?" added Somers with the most intense disquiet, wishing +all the time that the soldier had been in Alabama, or anywhere but in the +house of Mr. Raynes. + +"Can you tell me where the regiment is?" + +"I cannot. I have been looking for it myself for the last two hours. As I +can be of no assistance to you, you will excuse me if I leave you." + +"Not so fast, comrade; I will go with you. I have some directions which I +think will enable us to find the regiment; and, if you please, I will +bear you company." + +Somers did not please; but he could hardly refuse the offer without +exciting the suspicion of the family, which he felt might be fatal to +him. It would be better to depart with the member of the Fourth Alabama, +and part company with him by force of stratagem when they had left the +house. + +"I won't keep you waiting but a minute. I called here to see my friends; +but none of them seem to know me. You are Mr. Raynes, I presume?" +continued the soldier, addressing the old man. + +"I am; but I don't remember to have ever seen you before," replied the +farmer. + +"You never did, sir; but I will venture to say that my name is well known +in this house," added the soldier with a mysterious smile, which caused +Somers to dread some new development that would compromise him. + +"Ah!" said Mr. Raynes, ever ready to welcome any one who had the +slightest claim upon his hospitality. + +"I am well acquainted with your son, Owen; I suppose I shall not be +disputed here, when I say that he is the best fellow in the world. Don't +you know me now?" demanded the tantalizing rebel, who appeared to be very +anxious to have his identity made out in the natural way, and without any +troublesome explanations. + +"Really, I do not," answered Mr. Raynes, much perplexed by the confident +manner of the visitor. + +"This is Sue, I suppose?" pursued the soldier, advancing to the maiden, +and extending his dirty hand; which, however, was not much dirtier than +that which she had so eagerly grasped before. "Don't you know who I am, +Sue?" + +"I do not, sir," she replied rather coldly. + +"When I tell you that I belong to the Fourth Alabama, don't you know me?" + +"I do not, sir." + +"And when I tell you that I am the intimate friend of your brother Owen?" + +Allan Garland stood by the door; and, of course, it was not he; therefore +she could not, by any possibility, conceive who he was; and she said so, +in terms as explicit as the occasion required. + +"I live in Union, Alabama, when I am at home. Don't you know me _now_, +Sue?" persisted the perplexed visitor, who, perhaps, began to think he +had entered the wrong house. + +If the veritable Allan Garland, however little his photograph resembled +him, had not stood by the door, she would have been rejoiced to see him, +and to recognize in him her unknown friend and correspondent. As it was, +she did not know him; and she was candid enough to express her conviction +without reserve, in spite of the disagreeable effect which her want of +perception seemed to produce upon the mind of the stranger. + +"This is very strange," said the soldier, taking off his cap, and rubbing +his head to quicken his faculties, which seemed to have led him into some +unaccountable blunder. "Will you be kind enough to inform me who lives in +this house?" + +"Mr. Raynes," replied Sue, quite as much mystified as the stranger seemed +to be. + +"There is some mistake; but I can't make out what it is," said the +stranger. + +"I cannot wait any longer," said Somers, who had been riveted to the spot +by the astounding revelation to which he had just listened. + +He had been almost paralyzed by the words of the rebel, in whom he +promptly recognized the young man whose name and antecedents he had +borrowed for the present occasion. His first impression was to take to +his heels, and to run away; but a certain worldly prudence prevented him +from adopting this doubtful policy. If you attempt to run away from an +angry dog, he will certainly bite you; whereas, by facing him boldly, you +may escape all injury. This fact, which Somers had fully exemplified in +his own experience before he left Pinchbrook, was the foundation of his +action. Seeing that the stranger was perplexed and annoyed by the failure +of the family to recognize him, even after he had told them everything +except his name, he decided that he might safely retire under the plea of +haste. + +"I beg your pardon, sir, for this intrusion," said the soldier, blushing +with mortification as he retreated a pace towards the door. "You will +excuse me, Miss Raynes, for my unwarrantable familiarity; but I have made +a blunder, or you have," he added rather bitterly. "Perhaps, when Owen +comes to introduce me, you will know me better." + +"Owen's friends are my friends, young man; and you are as welcome as my +son would be, whoever you are." + +"Thank you, sir; but, with many regrets for this intrusion, I will take +my leave." + +"No, no, my young friend," interposed the old man. "You must not leave us +in this manner. It is true, we do not recognize you; but you are none the +less welcome on that account." + +"Thank you kindly, sir. I have deceived myself into the belief that I was +better known here than I find I am. It was weak in me to thrust myself +across your threshold without an introduction; and, if you will pardon +me, I will leave you, with the promise to come again with Owen." + +"Not yet, sir; at least, not till you have told us who you are." + +"Excuse me; but I must go now," replied the young rebel with an +exhibition of gentle dignity, which quite won the heart of Somers, as it +did that of the family. + +"Pray, give me your name, sir," interposed Sue, whose woman's curiosity +could no longer endure the silence which maidenly reserve had imposed +upon her, especially as the stranger proposed to depart without solving +the mystery. + +"You'll excuse me, Miss Raynes, if I decline for the present. My comrade +is in a desperate hurry, and it is not reasonable for me to detain him +any longer." + +"But, young man, you wrong me, you wrong my daughter, and above all, you +wrong my son, who is your friend, by leaving in this manner," said Mr. +Raynes earnestly. "You actually charge us with a want of hospitality by +this abrupt withdrawal." + +"You will pardon me, sir, for saying it; but after the description I have +given of myself, if you do not know me, I am compelled to believe that it +is because you do not wish to know me." + +"That is very unjust, and we do not comprehend the force of the remark." + +"Why, sir, I have written to you, and to your daughter, and your daughter +has written to me; and now you seem never to have heard of me. I have +told you that I reside in Union, Alabama; and that I am a friend of +Owen." + +"We know a young man from that town very well, though we never saw him. +His name is Allan Garland; but it is impossible that you should be the +person." + +"I must go, comrade," said Somers desperately, as he rushed out of the +door. + +"Wait a moment!" exclaimed Mr. Raynes, grasping him by the arm; for the +old farmer seemed to think his presence was necessary to the perfect +unraveling of the mystery. "It seems to me you ought to know this young +man, if none of us do." + +"I do not, Mr. Raynes; never saw him before in my life," protested +Somers, feeling very much like a condemned criminal. + +"My name is Allan Garland," quietly continued the dignified young rebel. +"I am, undoubtedly, the person to whom you allude." + +"Impossible!" exclaimed Mr. Raynes, still holding Somers's arm with the +grasp of a vise. + +"Impossible!" almost shouted the fair Sue, more excited than she would +have been, if, through patient reading, she had arrived at the last +chapter of a sensational novel, where the pin is pulled out and all the +villains tumble down to perdition and all the angels stumble upon their +apotheosis. + +"Impossible!" chimed in Mrs. Raynes, who had preserved a most remarkable +silence, for a woman, during the exciting incidents we have transcribed. + +"May I be allowed to inquire why you think it is impossible?" calmly +demanded the gentle rebel, who, in his turn, was amazed at the singular +course of events. + +Sue did not know what else to do; so she sat down in a chair, and laughed +with hysterical vehemence at the strange aspect of the affair. The old +man opened his eyes, and opened his mouth; but he did not forget to hold +on with all his might to the arm of the unfortunate lieutenant, who was +just then picturing to himself the interior of a rebel dungeon; which +view suddenly dissolved into an indistinct representation of a tree, from +a stout limb of which was suspended a rope, hanging down over a +cart--these latter appurtenances being symbolical of the usual rebel +method of hanging a spy. + +The affair, which had been growing desperate for some time, had now +actually become so to poor Somers. He placed his hand upon his revolver, +in the breast-pocket of his coat; but some prudential considerations +interposed to prevent him from using it. The house was on a line of rebel +sentinels. Whole divisions of Confederate infantry, artillery and +cavalry, were encamped around him, and any violent movement on his part +would have been sure to result in an ignominious disaster. The doughty +old farmer, who was not less than six feet three in his stockinged feet, +held on to him as a drowning man clings to a floating spar. It was not +possible to get away without resorting to violence; and if he offered any +resistance to what, just then, looked like manifest destiny, the rebel +soldier would become an ally of the farmer, and the women could call in +the sentinels, if nothing more. + +"Really, Mr. Raynes, you are very unkind to detain me, when I tell you +that my leave has nearly expired," said Somers, when he had fully +measured the situation; which, however, was done in a tithe of the time +which we have taken to transcribe it. + +"Young man, there is some _mistake_," said Mr. Raynes, placing a wicked +emphasis on the word, which went to the very core of the scout's heart. +"This man says he is Allan Garland, and you say you are Allan Garland. +One of you is an impostor. Neither of you shall go till we determine +which is the one. Sue, bring out your photograph again." + +"Oh, dear!" gasped Somers, as in a fit of momentary despondency, he gave +himself up for lost, when the maiden went for the picture. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +AN UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL + + +Miss Sue hastened to procure the photograph, which she had placed in her +mother's room after it had been fully discussed by herself and the +supposed original. At the same time, her father conducted Somers into the +room again; and, being fully conscious of his desire to get away, he kept +a watchful eye upon him, though he removed his grasp from the arm. The +rebel soldier looked on in utter amazement at the singular proceedings of +all the party, and seemed utterly unable to comprehend the meaning of +them. + +"Here is the picture," said Sue, returning with the photograph in her +hand; "but I don't see that it looks any more like you than it does like +the other gentleman;" and she proceeded to institute a comparison between +the new claimant and the picture. + +Somers began to cherish a faint hope again, and to be very grateful for +the general truth, that photographs do not always look like the +originals. This encouragement, slight as it was, gave our hero a new +inspiration, and in a measure restored his impudence; which, under the +pressure of circumstances, had begun to give way. + +"I am sure it does not look at all like you," continued Sue, after she +had patiently balanced all the points of resemblance, and all the points +of disagreement. + +"You should remember that the picture was taken more than a year ago; and +that I have been an invalid for ten months of the time," suggested the +rebel soldier. + +"That may be; but I am sure this picture could never have been taken for +you." + +"Let me see it, if you please?" + +Sue handed him the card, and he glanced at it with an expression of great +curiosity. + +"Where did you get this picture?" demanded he. + +"It was sent to me by the original," replied she. + +"This is not my picture." + +"That is just what the other gentleman said; and I am perfectly willing +to believe both of you." + +"But I sent you a picture of myself, though this is not the one." + +"Well, that is very singular." + +"If you will remember, there were two in the same letter; the other was a +young man whom Owen was acquainted with, and who desired something to +remember him by. He is in a Mississippi regiment now." + +"Dear me! what a blunder!" exclaimed Sue, laughing heartily. "I am sure I +took the best looking of the two for Allan Garland's." + +"Perhaps that is not very complimentary to me; but where is the other +picture?" + +"I put it in Owen's room. I told him what I had done with the two +pictures; but he has been at home so little, that I suppose he never +looked at them. I will get the other." + +"We are beginning to get a little light on the subject," said Mr. Raynes, +when his daughter had left the room. + +"And I think you will let a little light through my body with a +bullet-hole," added Somers, whose last hope was gone again, though his +impudence still remained. + +"Be patient, young man; we shall soon see the mystery explained, and be +able to inform you whether you are Allan Garland or not." + +"I am sorry to put you to so much trouble, Mr. Raynes; but you will +remember that I was very much opposed to coming into your house at all; +that I was literally dragged in by yourself and your daughter." + +"And you will also remember that I saved you from arrest, when you gave +your name as Allan Garland, of the Fourth Alabama. I think I have +imparted to you some very valuable information; and I intend to see what +use is to be made of it, before I take my eyes off you." + +"You are very affectionate, Mr. Raynes; and, in behalf of the great +Southern Confederacy, I thank you for the zeal and loyalty which you have +displayed," replied Somers boldly; for it was plain that nothing but the +most brazen impudence could save him. + +"You are a bold youth, and it is plain that you have brilliant talents; I +hope they have not been abused." + +"They have been, and will continue to be, used in the service of my +suffering country." + +"I like you, and I hope everything is all right about you; but I cannot +see your object in coming here under an assumed name." + +"Then you have decided the case against me--have you?" said Somers, +glancing at the rival Allan. + +"Perhaps I was a little too fast," added the old man, mortified to find +that his character for strict justice had been compromised by this hasty +avowal. + +Sue was absent a long time; and it was clear that the photograph had been +mislaid. Somers was in hopes she would not be able to find it; though he +had but a meager expectation of over-throwing the claims of his rival to +the name of Allan Garland. It was a hot day, and the windows of the house +were all open. His legs seemed to promise the only satisfactory solution +of the problem; and while he was considering the propriety of jumping out +through one of the open windows, and trusting to them for safety, Sue +returned with the photograph. + +"This looks more like you than the other; and more like you than it does +like the other gentleman," said Sue. + +The rebel soldier took the card, and acknowledged that it was his +photograph; at the same time, he was compelled to allow that it was but +an indifferent likeness of himself. His hard service in the army had +changed his appearance much. Sue gazed at the picture, and at the +original, and her father did the same; but both of them were in doubt. + +"There, sir! I have waited patiently for you to end this farce," said +Somers, in deep disgust apparently. "You have looked at the pictures, and +you are not satisfied yet. I can stand it no longer; I am tired of the +whole thing. You have treated me very handsomely, and I am grateful to +you for your kindness to me; but I cannot and will not remain any +longer." + +Somers spoke decidedly, and was fully resolved to use his pistol, if +occasion required. He was not willing to remain for a decision to be made +between him and the other claimant. + +"I will go with you, brother Allan Garland," said the rebel soldier +facetiously; "I think between us we can readily decide which is the right +man." + +"I am ready." + +"But we desire to be satisfied, especially in regard to this young man, +who was suspected of being a deserter, and for whom I feel that I am +responsible," said Mr. Raynes. + +"I can do nothing for you, sir," replied Somers. + +"But I can do something for you; and I propose to take you to the +sergeant where I found you, and let the military authorities decide," +continued the old man, whose ire was roused, as he moved towards the +impudent young man. + +"I propose that you shall do nothing of the kind," answered Somers, +drawing the pistol, and cocking it for use. + +"Don't, father, don't!" exclaimed Sue, rushing between Mr. Raynes and the +active youth, pale with terror. + +Somers would have been very unwilling to use his weapon on the old man. +He pitied him, and could not help thinking of the terrible blow which was +in store for him when he should hear that his only son had been killed. +He hoped that something would interpose to prevent any violence, and he +expected much from the gentle dignity of the young rebel. + +"I am sorry that you compel me to draw this pistol," added Somers; "yet +nothing but the duty I owe to myself and my country would permit me to +use it upon those who have treated me so kindly." + +"I will be responsible for him," said Allan Garland--the real one; for +there could be no doubt that he was what he claimed. + +"You shall not go near him, father! He will kill you!" cried Sue, +terrified, as her father attempted to push her aside, and advance upon +the armed young man. + +"Come! brother Allan," said the soldier: "we can best end this scene by +leaving the house." + +As they approached the door, a hand was placed on the handle outside; but +the old man had taken the precaution to fasten it, in order to insure the +safety of his prisoner. A heavy knock succeeded. + +"Who is that?" gasped Sue, afraid that any newcomer would only complicate +the difficulties of the moment, and that the bold youth would be +compelled to use his pistol. + +"Perhaps it is Owen," replied the old man, a little calmer than before. + +"I hope it is." + +The words sent a shudder through the frame of Somers, as he again thought +of Owen Raynes, cold and dead in his oozy grave in the swamp. + +"Open the door," said a voice from without. + +Allan Garland drew the bolt, and threw the door wide open. + +"Why, Allan, my dear fellow!" exclaimed a young man who stood at the +outside of the door in his shirt sleeves, as he grasped both of the rebel +soldier's hands, and proceeded to make a most extravagant demonstration +of rejoicing. "I am glad to see you!" + +"Owen, my dear boy!" replied Allan Garland, as he returned with equal +warmth the salutation of the newcomer. + +"Where did you come from, Allan? I had given you up for lost?" + +"I escaped from the Yankees the next day after I was taken, and have been +beating about the woods ever since." + +Somers was thrown all aback by this arrival, which was certainly the most +remarkable one that had taken place during the day. He couldn't help +feeling very much like the hero of a sensational novel; and realized the +very original idea that truth is stranger than fiction. He could not +exactly account for the presence of Owen Raynes, whom he had +satisfactorily buried in the swamp, and whose clothes he had the honor to +wear at that moment. He did not believe in things supernatural, and it +never occurred to him that the form before him might be the ghost of +Owen. + +"I am glad you have come just as you did, Owen," said Mr. Raynes. + +"So am I; otherwise I might not have met Allan. But who is this?" he +added, glancing at Somers. + +"Your most obedient servant," replied Somers, trying to pass him in the +narrow entry. + +"Stop, young man!" shouted the old man. "Don't let him go, Owen!" + +"Who is he?" + +"His name is Allan Garland, of Union, Alabama; and he is a private in the +Fourth Alabama," replied Allan with a smile, as Owen placed himself +between Somers and the door. + +"What!" + +Mr. Raynes, being the oldest man present, was entitled to the position of +spokesman; and he made a very prolix statement of all the events which +had transpired since he first saw the pretended Allan Garland. + +Owen Raynes was a very good-natured young man, and the recital of the +affair amused him exceedingly. He did not fly into a passion, being a +very amiable and reasonable rebel; and seemed to regard the whole thing +as a stupendous joke. + +"Then your name is Allan Garland, is it?" demanded he, with a broad laugh +still playing on his lips. + +"That is my name at present," replied Somers. + +"But have you no other name?" + +"None worth mentioning." + +"Good! To what regiment do you belong?" + +"To the Fourth Alabama, Colonel Jones; but I have already told your +respected father all the facts relating to myself, and some relating to +you." + +"Say, is this a joke, a sell?" demanded Owen. + +"I suppose that would be a very proper interpretation to put upon it." + +"You seem to be a good fellow, and deal in four-syllable words." + +"Now, as you seem to have the best of the joke, I hope you will not +detain me any longer. I have a pass in my pocket to prove that I am all +right; and, as I am in a great hurry, I must move on." + +"Not till you explain the joke. Eh? What's this? Where did you get this +coat?" said Owen, glancing at the garment which Somers wore. + +"This is the key to the joke." + +"The key to it! I am of the opinion that this is my coat," replied Owen, +as he felt of the garment, and turned up the lapel. + +"May I be allowed to inquire where you left your coat?" asked Somers, who +was quite curious to know how Owen Raynes happened to be alive just at +that moment. + +"Certainly you may; but first let me ask where you found it." + +"Over by the picket-line beyond the hill," replied Somers. + +"Just so. A young fellow in a Mississippi regiment, encamped next to +ours, borrowed it of me last night, when he was detailed for picket-duty. +The poor fellow had no coat, and picket-duty is rather steep at night +when a man has no clothes. He is a good fellow, in poor health; and I +lent him mine." + +"The nights are cool, but the days are hot," added Somers. "He took it +off, and left it on the edge of the woods, where I found it. I didn't +know that it belonged to anybody. I found some papers and a diary in the +pocket----" + +"Did I leave my papers in the pocket? Well, that was stupid," interrupted +Owen. + +"I read the papers with a great deal of interest. Seeing frequent +allusions in them to Allan Garland, I took the liberty to appropriate the +name myself; for the owner of it seemed to be a very good fellow." + +"Thank you!" said Allan; "but, as you seem to have no further use for it, +I see no objection to your giving your own name." + +"On the contrary, there are some very strong objections, and I must +trouble you for the use of your name an hour or two longer." + +"Oh, very well! I am satisfied," replied Allan. + +"So am I." + +"But I am not," interposed Mr. Raynes. "I think the fellow is an +impostor, if nothing worse." + +"Anything you please; but my time is out, and I must report for duty," +replied Somers boldly, as he took off the borrowed coat, and restored it +to the owner. "I am very much obliged to you for the use of this garment. +When we meet again, I trust we shall understand each other better." + +Owen Raynes was an easy-going young man; familiar with the practical +jokes of the army, enjoying them with the most keen relish when no one's +feelings were hurt, and no damage was done to person or property. He was +not, therefore, disposed to put a serious construction on what seemed to +him to be one of these farces; but his father took an entirely different +view of the affair. He wanted to argue the question, and show that it +could not be a joke; but Somers was too impatient to listen to any +eloquence of this description. + +Sue, who had now actually found the young man who had been indicated as +her "manifest destiny," was in no hurry to part with him; and when the +father proposed that Owen and Allan should accompany the impostor, as he +insisted upon calling him, to the brigade headquarters, where his pass +was dated, she decidedly objected to the proposition. The earnestness of +Mr. Raynes, however, at last vanquished her and the young man; and they +started to escort our young lieutenant to the place indicated. + +Now, Somers, being a modest man, as we have always held him up to our +readers, and being averse to all the pomp and parade of martial glory in +its application to himself, was strongly averse to an escort. He +preferred to go alone, tell his own story, and fight his own battles, if +battles there were to be fought. Owen and Allan were unutterably +affectionate. They received him into their small circle of fellowship, +and stuck to him like a brother. They were both good fellows, splendid +fellows; and, under ordinary circumstances, Somers would have been +delighted to cultivate their friendship. As it was, he ungratefully +resolved to give them the slip at the first convenient opportunity. + +Unhappily for him, no opportunity occurred, for his zealous friends would +not permit him to go a single rod from them; and Somers had about made up +his mind to trust the matter to the judgment of Major Platner, who had +shown a remarkable discrimination during the former interview, when the +trio came to a line of sentinels guarding a brigade camp. + +"What regiment do you belong to?" demanded the guard. + +"Fourth Alabama," replied Owen. + +"You can't pass this line, then." + +"But I have a pass," interposed Somers. + +"Show your pass." + +Somers showed the important document, which the sentinel, after a patient +study, succeeded in deciphering. + +"Your pass is right--pass on; but you can't go through," he added to Owen +and Allan. + +Owen explained. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE REBEL DIVISION GENERAL + + +The sentinel listened very patiently to the explanation of Owen Raynes; +but, as he proceeded, the face of the soldier relaxed till his muscles +had contracted into a broad grin. The sergeant of the guard was then sent +for, and the explanation repeated. At its conclusion, both the sentinel +and the sergeant seemed to be disposed to laugh in the faces of the twin +friends, so keenly were the former alive to the ludicrous. + +"That's a very pretty story, my men! You, without the pass, are going to +see that everything is right about the man that has the pass; in other +words, the devils are going to see that the angels don't do anything +wicked," said the sergeant, laughing at the awkward position of Owen and +Allan, and perhaps quite as much at the sharpness of his own +illustration. + +"We are entirely satisfied in regard to this young man," said Owen; "but +we have come in order to satisfy another person, who believes that he is +an impostor. We promised to take him to Major Platner." + +"You can't enter these lines without a pass," replied the sergeant +firmly. "This man can go through; for he has a pass," he added to Somers. + +"As I am all right, and in a hurry, I will proceed to the brigade +headquarters," said Somers. "Now, good-by, my friends; I am very glad to +have met you, and much obliged to you for the trouble you have taken to +come so far with me." + +"You take it coolly," laughed Owen. + +"Perhaps, if you desire to go to the brigade headquarters, the sergeant +will let you pass, if I will vouch for you," continued Somers with great +good humor. + +"We are not very particular." + +"What do you say, sergeant?" + +"My orders are to permit no stragglers from other camps to pass these +lines, and I shall obey my orders to the letter," replied the official, +who, for some reason or other, seemed to be prejudiced against Somers's +friends. + +"Stragglers!" exclaimed the sensitive Allan. "I think we have gone far +enough." + +"I think you have," added the sergeant; "and, if you don't leave at once, +it will be my duty to arrest you." + +"Whew!" exclaimed Owen. "That would be carrying the joke altogether too +far. I think my _pater_ ought to be satisfied with what we have done." + +"Move on," said the sergeant. + +They did move on; and Somers, attended by the officer of the guard, +walked towards headquarters. + +"Those are the coolest fellows that ever came near my lines," said the +sergeant. "Men without a pass looking out for one who has a pass!" + +"Well, they are good fellows; but I played a joke upon them, which makes +them a little sour towards me," replied the scout. "I am even with them +now." + +"What was the joke?" demanded the sergeant, who was filled with interest +at the mention of the word. + +Somers gave him a modified account of the affair at the house of Mr. +Raynes; which he embellished a little for the occasion, to allay any +suspicion which might arise in the mind of the auditor. But the officer +of the guard had no suspicion. Why should he have any? for Somers, armed +with a pass signed by the officer of the day, was walking as directly as +he could towards the headquarters. The sergeant of the guard left him +when they reached the guard tent; and Somers proceeded to report in due +form to the major, whom he found smoking his cigar under a tree as +complacently as though there was not a traitor or a spy in the land. + +"Well, young man! you have returned promptly at the time specified," said +the major, as Somers very deferentially touched his cap to this magnate +of the rebel army. + +"Yes, sir; I have endeavored to discharge my duty faithfully," replied +Somers. + +"Did you find the regiment?" + +"No, sir; I lost my way; and finding I should not have time to go to the +place where it is, without overstaying my time, I hastened back, knowing +that the service upon which you wished to employ me was very important +indeed." + +"You did right, young man. Where is your coat?" + +"It was one I picked up just after I had passed the lines, and a soldier +down below claimed it. I gave it up when he convinced me it was his +property." + +"You are very honest as well as patriotic." + +Somers bowed, but made no reply to the compliment; which, however, was +fully appreciated. + +"You seem to be a young man of good address, and you can render your +country a great service, but it will be at the peril of your life," said +the major with impressive formality. + +"I am willing to serve my country, even with my life." + +"I do not doubt it. I was impressed by your manner, and I have +recommended you to the general for the service he has in view. I hope you +will do credit to the selection I have made; for the most important duty +which a commander has to perform is to select proper persons for the +execution of special missions." + +"I will endeavor to serve my country to the best of my ability; and I am +satisfied that I can go all over the Yankee camps without difficulty." + +"Very well! You have confidence in yourself; and that is the first +requisite of success. If you discharge this duty with fidelity and skill, +you may be sure of being made a sergeant the moment you return." + +"Thank you, Major Platner. I am very grateful to you, sir, for the +opportunity you thus afford me to distinguish myself." + +"You will find me a good friend, if you are faithful and intelligent." + +"Thank you, sir." + +"Now you shall go with me to General M----'s headquarters, and he will +give you your final instructions." + +Major Platner led the way; and Somers reverently followed a pace or two +behind him, flattering the officer in every action as well as word. They +reached the division headquarters, and our hero was ushered into the +presence of the general. He was a large, red-faced man, and had evidently +taken all the whiskey he could carry, at his dinner, from which he had +just returned. + +"What have you got there, Platner?" demanded the general, in a tone so +rough, that Somers was reminded of the ogre in Jack the Giant-killer. + +"The young man of whom I spoke to you this forenoon. He is a person of +remarkable address, courage and skill; and is just the man you need." + +"All right; adieu, major!" added the general, bowing to the other. + +Major Platner took the hint, and took himself off, leaving Somers +standing alone and somewhat abashed in the presence of the great man. + +"Young man!" said, or rather roared, the rebel general, as he raised his +eyes from the ground, and fixed them with a half-drunken leer upon our +hero. + +"Sir!" + +"How much whiskey can you drink without going by the board?" + +Somers did not know, had never tried the experiment, and was utterly +opposed to all such practices. But he desired to conciliate the tipsy +general; and, if he had not been fearful of being put to the test, he +would have signified his belief that he could carry off half a dozen +glasses. As it was, he did not dare to belie his principles. + +"Not any, sir! I never drink whiskey," he replied, with the utmost +deference in his tones. + +"Hey?" gasped General M----, darting a sudden glance at the young man. + +"I never drank a glass of whiskey in my life, sir," added Somers. + +The general jumped off his camp-stool with a sudden jerk, and stared at +our lieutenant in silence for an instant. + +"Give me your hand," said he. + +Somers extended his hand. + +"Yes! you are flesh and blood. You are the first man I ever saw that +never drank a glass of whiskey. You drink brandy, don't you?" + +"No, sir! I never drank a glass of liquor or wine of any kind in my +life." + +"Give me your hand," said the general again. + +"Flesh and blood! You are the first man I ever saw that never drank a +glass of liquor or wine of any kind. 'Tis a bad practice," he added with +an oath. + +"I think so, sir," replied Somers with due deference. + +"Young man!" + +"Sir." + +"The greatest enemy--hic--that the Confederate army has to contend +against is whiskey. Yes, sir! whiskey. If the Confederate States +of--hic--of America ever win their independence, it will be when the +whiskey's all gone." + +"I am very glad to hear officers of your high rank condemning the +practice," said Somers, alive to the joke of the general's proceedings, +but prudently looking as serious as though it had been a solemn tragedy +instead of an awful farce. + +"Yes, sir! I'm opposed with all my might to the practice. Yes, sir! +Whiskey is the greatest enemy I have on the face of the footstool, young +man." + +Somers believed him. + +"Always be temperate, young man. You are in the sunshine of--hic--of +life. Never drink whiskey. It will ruin your body and soul. Don't touch +it, young man," added he, as he sank back on the camp-stool, whose center +of gravity was nearly destroyed by the shock, and closed his eyes, as if +overcome by the potency of his great enemy, which was just then beginning +to have its full effect, and which produced a tendency to sleep. + +"I will endeavor to profit by your good advice, sir," said Somers. + +"That's right; do so," added the general, as he jerked up his head to +banish the drowsy god, who was struggling for the possession of his +senses. "That will do, young man. You may go now." + +The general, in his drunken stupor, had certainly forgotten the business +for which Major Platner had brought him to the division headquarters; and +Somers began to fear that he should have no errand that day. + +"I beg your pardon, general; but Major Platner was kind enough to say +that you had some service for me to perform." + +"Eh?" demanded he, tossing up his head again. + +Somers repeated the remark more explicitly than before. + +"Exactly so; I remember. Do you know what I was thinking about just then, +young man?" said the general, spasmodically leaping to his feet again, as +though the thought was full of inspiration. + +"No, sir; a man in my humble position could hardly measure the thoughts +of a great man in your situation." + +"I'll tell you; I was thinking about issuing a division general order on +the subject of temperance. What do you think of it?" + +"It would be an excellent idea," replied Somers. + +"Young man!" + +"Sir." + +"I believe you said--hic----" + +Somers did not say anything of the sort; but he waited patiently for the +rebel general to recover the idea which he appeared to have lost. + +"I believe you said you never drank any whiskey?" + +"I never did, sir." + +"Then you never was drunk?" + +"Never, sir." + +"Young man!" + +"Sir." + +"Are you a--hic----" + +Somers was not a "hic;" but he was an impatient young man, and very +anxious to be instructed in regard to his difficult and dangerous +mission. + +"Are you a minister of the gospel?" demanded the general, after a mighty +effort. + +"No, sir; I am not." + +"I'm sorry for--hic--for that; for I wanted to appoint you a division +chaplain, to preach against whiskey to the general officers. Some of them +are--hic--drunken fellows, and no more fit for a command than the old +topers in the streets of Richmond." + +"I am sorry I am not competent to fill the office; but I think, if you +should lecture them yourself, it would have a better effect." + +"My words are--hic--powerless. They laugh when I talk to them about the +error of their ways," added he with a string of oaths, which seemed to +exhibit a further necessity for a chaplain on the division staff. + +"I beg your pardon, sir; but I am afraid your interest in the moral +welfare of your officers----" + +"That is it, young man!" interrupted the drunken general, catching at his +idea with remarkable promptness. "My interest in the moral welfare of +my--hic--of my officers! You are a trump, young man [big oath]. You are a +major now?" + +"No, sir." + +"Only a captain?" + +"No, sir; nothing but a private." + +"Then you shall be a captain. I haven't heard any such--hic--sentiments +as you expressed used in this division before. You ought to be a--hic--a +brigadier-general." + +"Thank you, sir. You are very kind. I came to you for instructions in +regard to my mission over to the enemy." + +"Bless me! yes; so you did. Well, I have not written them yet." + +"I only want a pass from you, general, with such verbal instructions as +you may please to give me." + +"So you do; the fact of it is, my interest in the moral welfare of my men +had driven the matter out of my mind." + +The general called an orderly; and Somers was sent off to the adjutant +for the pass, which was given to him under the name he had assumed. When +he returned, the general was sound asleep on his camp-stool, rolling +about like a ship in a gale, with a prospect of soon landing at full +length on _terra firma_. Somers would gladly have received some military +information from the general, who was in a condition to tell all he knew; +which, however, could not have been much, under the circumstances. He +concluded that it would be best for him not to awaken the tipsy moralist; +and, after waiting a short time on the spot to avoid suspicion, he joined +Major Platner, who was smoking his cigar under a tree near the +headquarters. + +"Well, young man, did you obtain your instructions?" + +"Yes; all I require." + +"Perhaps we ought to have seen the general before dinner," added the +major, using the remark as a "feeler" to induce his companion to inform +him what had transpired during the interview. + +"Perhaps it would have been more agreeable to the general. However, he +seemed to be in a very talkative mood." + +"He commonly is after dinner." + +"He is a very jovial, good fellow." + +"Very." + +"But he appears to feel a deep interest in the moral welfare of those +under his command. He expressed himself as very averse to habits of +intemperance." + +"Humph!" coughed the major. + +"He said that whiskey was the great enemy the army has to contend +against, and intends to issue a general order directed at the vice of +intemperance." + +"Did he?" + +"He did; but I ought to add, that he took me to be a major in the +service; a mistake which was very natural, since I wore no coat." + +"Very natural--after dinner," replied Major Platner suggestively. + +"I told him I never drank any strong drink; and he kindly advised me +never to do so." + +"The general is a brave man, and I hope he will be able to overcome all +his enemies." + +The major permitted the conversation to go by default, and Somers +respectfully dropped a pace or two behind him. They reached the brigade +headquarters, and then repaired to the guard tent, from which the scout +took his departure upon his arduous and difficult mission, with the best +wishes of the rebel officers. + +With his pass he had no difficulty in going through any line, and made +his way down to the woods on the left of the open fields. He began to +feel easier when he had passed the field-works, and experienced a +sensation of exultation as he thought of the reception which awaited him +at headquarters as well as in the regiment. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE SHARPSHOOTER IN THE WOODS + + +Somers found the picket guard nearer the rebel line than he had +anticipated; but the exhibition of his pass, which had been prepared with +special reference to this purpose, prevented any long detention, though a +sergeant had to be called who was scholar enough to read the mysterious +document. + +"I reckon you haven't got the best place to go through," said the +sergeant, after he had examined the pass, and satisfied himself of its +correctness. + +"Why not?" + +"There's a whole squad of Yankees a good piece in there," he replied, +pointing in the direction of the Federal lines. "They've been there all +day watching for something." + +"What do they want?" + +"There was a man run through the line this forenoon from their side, and +I reckon they are trying to find him." + +"Was he a Yank?" asked Somers, desirous of obtaining their idea of the +fugitive. + +"Dunno what he was. We didn't see him till he got a good piece behind us. +We were chasing the Yanks who run away when they saw us." + +This was satisfactory to our scout; for the sergeant appeared to have no +knowledge that would be dangerous to him, and none of the graybacks +recognized the pants he wore. He advanced cautiously, as though he was +afraid of stumbling upon the squad of Yankees described by the sergeant, +till he could no longer be seen by the pickets. The last obstacle seemed +to be overcome; and he hastened to the place where he had concealed his +uniform, which he wished to put on before he approached the pickets on +the other side. It was now nearly dark, and he had no time to spare; for, +if he approached his own men in the darkness, he would be in danger of +being shot before they discovered who he was, though he had full +confidence in the discretion of Hapgood. + +Without difficulty, he found the place where he had concealed his +clothes; and, after assuring himself that none of the rebel pickets were +in sight, he hastily put them on. To prevent any unpleasant suspicions, +he took the precaution to hide the gray pants he had worn, in the long +grass of the swamp, so that they need not attract the attention of any +stroller who might pass in that direction. Though we have frequently held +our hero up as a model of modesty, we are compelled to acknowledge that +he felt exceedingly well satisfied with himself on the present occasion. +He felt that he had done what, in the homely vocabulary of the boys of +Pinchbrook, might well be called "a big thing." + +He had fully and successfully accomplished the arduous purposes of his +mission. He had examined the positions, and counted the forces of the +rebels. He had received very valuable information from Mr. Raynes, and +from others whom he had encountered in his walk through the enemy's +lines. He was satisfied that he should receive a warm welcome from those +who had sent him upon the perilous tour. He had earned the first bar to +his shoulder-straps, and was proud of his achievement. + +The work had been done, and he was within a short distance of the Union +lines--within a short distance of the devoted Hapgood, who was patiently +but anxiously waiting to give him a soldier's reception. Above all, he +was safe; and he trembled when he thought of the perils through which he +had passed, of the consequences which must have followed the discovery of +his real character. As he thanked God for the boon of life after the +battle was over, so now he thanked Him for the signal success which had +crowned his labors in the good cause. The last article of his raiment was +put on and adjusted; he rose from the ground to walk towards the Union +lines. + +"I say, Yank, you look better'n you did 'fore yer changed your clothes," +said a voice, which struck his ear with startling distinctness. + +Somers looked in the direction from which the voice came, and discovered +a villainous-looking countenance, that had just risen from the tall +swamp-grass, within a couple of rods of the spot where he stood. The man +was unmistakably a rebel--one of the most savage and implacable of rebels +at that; such a character as we read of in connection with slave-hunts in +Mississippi, or "free fights" in Arkansas. He wore a long, tangled beard; +and his hair had probably never known the use of a comb. The grayback +looked as cool and impudent as though he was perfectly assured of his +prey, and intended to torture his victim with his tongue, as he would +with his knife or his rifle if occasion required. + +"I say, Yank, you look better'n yer did 'fore yer changed your colors," +repeated the rebel, as he received no reply to his first salutation. + +Somers looked at him again; indeed, he had hardly taken his eyes off the +savage-looking fellow, who would have made a very good representative of +Orson in the fairy story. He held a rifle in his hand, the muzzle of +which could easily be brought to bear upon his victim. Our lieutenant at +once understood the humor of the fellow; and, having recovered his +self-possession in the momentary pause, he determined not to be behind +his foe either in word or in deed. + +"I say, reb, when did you shave last?" demanded Somers, with something as +near akin to a laugh as he could manufacture for the occasion. + +"'Fore you was born, I reckon, Yank," replied the rebel; "and I sha'n't +shave ag'in till after you're dead. But I reckon I sha'n't hev ter wait +long nuther." + +"I suppose you don't know what a comb is for, do you?" continued Somers, +who was, however, thinking of some method by which he might get out of +this scrape. + +"I reckon I've heerd about such things; but Joe Bagbone ain't a woman, +and don't waste his time no such way. I say, stranger, you've got about +three minutes more to live." + +"How long?" + +"Three minutes, stranger, I've sat here by them clothes, like a dog at a +'possum's nest, all the arternoon. Now I've treed the critter, and I'm +gwine to shoot him." + +"Is that so?" + +"That's so, stranger." + +"Do you usually shoot any man you happen to meet in the woods?" + +"Well, I don't reckon we do, every man; but some on 'em we does. I +calkilate you got on Tom Myers's clothes now, and yer shot the man 'fore +you took the rags." + +"I didn't shoot him." + +"No matter for that, stranger; he was shot by a Yank, and you've got to +settle the account." + +Somers began to be of the same opinion himself. The grayback had +evidently found the clothes, and suspected the purpose for which they +were concealed. It was possible he had even more definite information +than this; for he seemed to be prepared for precisely what had taken +place. + +"My friend----" + +"I'm not your friend, stranger. You kin say anything you like, if yer +don't insult me; Joe Bagbone don't take an insult from any live man." + +"Well, Joe Bagbone," continued Somers, who was disposed to parley with +the fellow to gain time, if nothing else, "if you shoot me, you will make +the worst mistake you ever made in your life; and I can prove it to you +in less than five minutes." + +"No, yer can't, stranger. Don't waste yer time no such way. If yer want +ter say yer prayers, blaze away lively, 'cause three minutes aren't long +for a man to repent of all his sins." + +"I have a pass from General M----, which permits me to go in safety +through these lines," persisted Somers. "The sergeant above just examined +it, and passed me through." + +"Don't keer nothing about yer pass. I respects Jeff Davis just as much as +the best man in Mississip'. If yer had a pass from him, you mought as +well not have it as have it. Tom Myers was killed, and somebody's gwine +up for him." + +"But I have important business on the other side." + +"I knows that, stranger," replied the imperturbable Joe Bagbone. "It +don't make no difference." + +"I am sent over by General M----. I belong to the Fourth Alabama." + +"Shet up! Don't tell no lies, 'cause yer hain't got no time ter repent on +'em." + +"Then, if I understand it, you mean to murder one of your own men in cold +blood." + +"Nothin' of the sort; only gwine to shoot a Yank." + +Somers looked into that hard, relentless eye; but there was not the +slightest indication of any change of purpose. He felt that he stood in +the presence of his executioner. All the errors of his past life crowded +upon him, and the grave seemed to yawn before him. + +"Call the sergeant above, and he will satisfy you that I am all right," +said he, making one more effort to move the villain from his wicked +purpose. + +"Don't want the sergeant. Yer time's out, stranger." + +"Let me call him, then." + +"If yer do, I'll fire. Say yer prayers now, if yer mean ter; but I reckon +the prayers of a Yank ain't of much account," replied Joe with a sneer. + +Somers stood within a few feet of a large tree. Joe had several times +raised his rifle to his shoulder; but, when he magnanimously offered his +victim the last moment of grace, he dropped it again; and our lieutenant, +taking advantage of this interval, darted behind the tree. Joe raised his +piece quicker than a flash; but he did not fire, for the reason that he +could not secure a perfect aim, and because he was sure of a better +opportunity. Our lieutenant, who had carefully preserved his revolver +during the various changes he had made in his dress, now took it from his +pocket, and prepared to contest the field like a man. + +The grayback, chagrined at this movement on the part of his victim, whom +he had evidently intended to intimidate by his coolness and his ferocious +words, rose from his seat in the long grass, and moved towards the tree +behind which Somers had taken refuge. Probably he was not aware that the +Yankee was armed; for he adopted none of the precautions which such a +knowledge would have imposed upon any reasonable man. + +"Come out from that tree, stranger, or you shall die like a hog, with a +knife; not like a man, with a rifle-ball." + +"I intend to die by neither," said Somers resolutely, as he discharged +his pistol in the direction from which the voice of the grayback came; +for he dared not take aim, lest the bullet of the ruffian should pierce +his skull. + +He might as well have fired into the air, so far as any injury to his +enemy was concerned; but the report had the effect to assure the rebel +that he was armed, and thus put an end to his farther advance in that +direction. Somers listened with intense anxiety to discover the next +movement of his wily persecutor. He had only checked, not defeated him; +and an exciting game was commenced, which promised to terminate only in +the death of one of the belligerents. Somers hoped that the discharge of +his pistol would bring the sergeant down to his relief; but then to be +discovered in Federal uniform was about equivalent to being shot by his +relentless foe, burning to revenge the death of Tom Myers. + +The report of pistols and muskets was so common an occurrence on the +picket-lines as to occasion nothing more than a momentary inquiry. No one +came for his relief, or his ruin, as the case might be; and he was left +to play out the exciting game by himself. The grayback, with a wholesome +regard for the pistol, had retired beyond the reach of its ball, while he +was still a long way within rifle-range of his doomed enemy. Somers dared +not look out from the tree to obtain even a single glance at the foe; for +he knew how accurate is the aim of some of these Southern woodsmen. He +had nothing to guide him but the rustling of the dried branches beneath +his tread, or the occasional snapping of a twig under his feet. + +Joe Bagbone, after retreating beyond pistol-shot from the tree, had +commenced describing a circle which would bring him into a position that +commanded a view of his concealed victim. It must be confessed that Joe's +tactics were singularly deficient in range; for nothing but a surprise +could make them successful. While he was moving a hundred rods to secure +his position, Somers could defeat his purpose by taking a single step. As +soon as he determined in what direction his persecutor was going, he +changed his position; and Joe discovered the folly of his strategy, and +sat down on a stump to await a demonstration on the part of his victim. + +The game promised to be prolonged to a most unreasonable length; and +Somers, now in a measure secure of his life, was impatient to join his +anxious companions, with whom he had parted in the forenoon. He was +satisfied that Joe would never abandon the chase, and the slightest +indiscretion on his own part would result in instant death. It was a +fearful position, and one which was calculated to wear terribly upon his +nerves. He was anxious to bring the contest to a conclusion; and, while +he was debating in his own mind the chances of escaping by a sudden dash +in the direction of the Union lines, a happy thought in the way of +strategy occurred to him. + +He had determined as nearly as he could the situation of his bull-dog +opponent, and thought that, if he could draw his fire, he might get out +of range of his rifle before it could be reloaded. Placing his cap on the +barrel of his pistol, he cautiously moved it over, just as it would have +appeared to the rebel if his head had been inside of it, and projected it +a little beyond the tree. He withdrew it suddenly two or three times to +increase the delusion in the mind of his enemy. He could not see the +effect of the stratagem; but he was hopeful of a satisfactory result. He +continued to repeat the operation with the cap, till he was confident Joe +was not to be fooled in this way. He was probably one of the +sharpshooters, and had too often fired at empty caps to be caught in this +manner when success depended upon the single charge of his rifle. + +Somers did not despair, but slipped off his coat; and, rolling it up so +as to form the semblance of a head, he placed the cap upon the top of the +bundle, and cautiously exposed the "dummy" on the opposite side of the +tree. The crack of Joe's rifle instantly followed this exhibition, and +Somers felt the blow of the ball when it struck the cap. The critical +moment had come; and, without the loss of a second, our lieutenant darted +towards the Union lines. This movement was followed by a shrill yell from +the Mississippian, which might have been a howl of disappointment at his +failure; or it might have been intended to startle, and thus delay the +fugitive. + +Somers had listened to that battle yell too many times to be moved by it, +especially when uttered by a single voice; and, with all the speed of +which his limbs were capable, he fled to the arms of his friends. Joe was +not content to give up the battle; and, dropping his rifle, he drew his +long knife, and gave chase. They made a long run of it; and it was only +ended when Tom heard the demand of his faithful sergeant-- + +"Who goes there?" + +"Friend," gasped Somers, utterly exhausted by his exertions. + +"Lieutenant Somers? God be praised!" replied Hapgood, instantly +recognizing his voice. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +RETURN TO THE CAMP + + +The moment Somers was recognized, Hapgood and his party rushed forward, +rightly judging, from the rapidity of his motions, that he was pursued. +The sharp eye of the veteran sergeant was the first to perceive the +ferocious Mississippian, who, undaunted by the appearance of the Union +soldiers, continued the pursuit as long as there was even a gleam of hope +that he could overtake his intended victim. He was only a few paces +behind the lieutenant when the latter was discovered. + +Hapgood raised his musket and fired, just as the implacable pursuer +abandoned the chase, and turned his steps back to the rebel line. He +staggered for a few paces more, and fell just as a dozen other muskets +were leveled at him. He appeared to have been hit in the leg; for he did +not fall flat upon the ground, as he would if he had been struck in a +vital part, but sank down to a sitting posture. + +The Union men rushed up to him, and found that the supposition was +correct; the ball had passed through the fleshy part of his thigh, +disabling, but not dangerously wounding him. The ruffian--we do not call +him so because he was a rebel, but he was naturally and by education just +what the term indicates--was as savage and implacable as before. + +"Better leave me where I am, Yanks," said he; "'case, if I get well, I +shall be the death of some of you. You kin shoot me through the head if +you like." + +"Don't consarn yourself about us, reb," replied Hapgood. "We'll take good +care that you don't hurt yourself, or any one else, while you are in our +hands." + +"Mebbe you will, Yanks; but, just as sure as you was born, I'll hev the +heart's blood of that younker as fotched Tom Myers down." + +"Who's Tom Myers?" demanded the veteran. + +"The man that you Yanks killed this forenoon." + +"Whose heart's blood do you want?" + +"That younker with the badge on his shoulder; the un I chased in." + +"He didn't kill Tom Myers, or any other man." + +"Show me the man, then," growled the rebel, now beginning to feel the +pain of his wound. + +"I'm your man. I brought Tom Myers down," replied Hapgood, anxious to +remove any cause of peril from his _protégé_. + +"Did yer?" + +"Sartin I did; saw him drop when I fired." + +"Then, stranger, yer kin make up yer mind to die like a hog within ten +days. I tell yer, Yank, there ain't bolts and bars enough in Yankee land +to keep me away from yer. You kin shoot me if yer like now, and that's +all the way yer kin save yerself." + +"Well, reb, you are great at blowing; but I've seen a good many jest sich +fellers as you be. I've fit with 'em, and fit agin' 'em; and I tell you, +your uncle can take keer of just as many of you as can stand up between +here and sundown. Put that in your hopper, reb; and the sooner you dry +up, the sooner you'll come to your milk. We'll take keer on you like a +Christian, though you ain't nothin' but a heathen. Here, boys, make a +stretcher, and kerry him along. Take that jack-knife out of his hand +fust, and keep one eye on him all the time." + +Having thus delivered himself, Sergeant Hapgood hastened to the spot +where Somers had seated himself on the ground to recover his wind and +rest his weary limbs. The terrible excitement of the last hour seemed to +fatigue him more than the previous labors of the whole day; and he was +hardly in condition to march to the division headquarters, where he was +to report the success of his mission. + +"Oh, Tom--I mean Lieutenant Somers--I'm glad to see you!" exclaimed the +veteran as he grasped both the hands of the young soldier. + +"Thank you, uncle; I'm just as glad to see you as you can be to see me," +replied Somers. + +"You're all tuckered out, Somers." + +"I had to run for some distance, with the odds against me; but I shall +get rested in a little while." + +The sergeant began to ask questions; and, as soon as he had recovered his +breath, Somers gave him a brief sketch of his adventures, dwelling mainly +on the last and most thrilling event of the day. + +"I can hardly believe that I am alive and well after all that has +happened," said he in conclusion. "That was the most bloodthirsty villain +I ever encountered in the whole course of my life." + +"If you say shoot him, leftenant, it shall be done quicker'n you can say +Jack Roberson," added Hapgood, indignant at the conduct of the savage +rebel. + +"Of course, I don't say anything of that kind. It would be murder to do +anything of that sort while he is our prisoner." + +"He desarves hanging more'n Kyd the pirate did; and if I had my way, he'd +swing afore sunrise to-morrow. He's a consarned heathen!" + +"Never mind him; only keep him safe, and where he can't do any mischief; +for he is wicked enough to kill the man that feeds him." + +"I'm only sorry I didn't hit him a little higher up, where I hit the +other feller this mornin'," added the veteran. "How do you feel now, +leftenant?" + +"I am improving. I shall be ready to go with you in a few moments more." + +After sitting on the stump half an hour longer, he was in condition to +march; but the danger was past, the tremendous excitement had subsided, +and his muscles, which had been strained up to the highest tension, +seemed to become soft and flaccid. The party passed the Union pickets, +and reached the headquarters of the division general, who had just +finished his supper. + +"Somers! by all that is great and good!" exclaimed the general, who +probably never expected to see the scout again. + +"I have come to make my report, sir," replied the lieutenant. + +"You are all used up. You look as though you could hardly stand up." + +"I am very tired, sir," added Somers languidly. + +"Sit down, then. Here, Peter," he added, addressing his servant, "bring +in a glass of whiskey for Lieutenant Somers." + +"Thank you, general; I never drink anything stronger than coffee." + +"But a little whiskey would do you good in your present condition; you +need it." + +"I thank you, general; I never drink whiskey, as I had occasion to say to +a rebel general of division to-day." + +"Eh? 'Pon my conscience! Were you asked to drink by a rebel major-general?" +demanded the officer, greatly surprised at the statement of the scout + +"Not exactly, sir. About the first question he asked me was, how much +whiskey I could drink without going by the board." + +"Who was he? Bring coffee, Peter." + +"General M----." + +"So I supposed. He is a jovial, good-hearted fellow; but I'll wager my +shoulder-straps he was tight at the time," laughed the general. + +"Very tight, sir." + +"Well, he is a fighting man, drunk or sober; but I should rather lead +than follow him in action. Where have you been all day?" + +"Shall I tell my story in full, or only give you the information I +obtained?" + +"Tell the story, so that I can determine whether the information is good +for anything or not." + +Somers drank the tin cup of coffee which the general's servant brought to +him, and then proceeded to relate the incidents of the day in the rebel +camp. His distinguished auditor, who, in the Army of the Potomac, had +well earned the title of "the bravest of the brave," listened with eager +interest to the details of the lieutenant's story, asking occasional +questions upon points which were not only calculated to elicit particular +information, but to display the skill and intelligence of the scout. The +interview was prolonged for several hours; and at its close a +staff-officer was despatched to the corps commander; for what purpose, of +course, Somers had no intimation. + +"Lieutenant Somers, you have earned your promotion; and if you don't have +it, it will be because I have not influence enough to procure it. You +have done well." + +"Thank you, sir." + +"Your friend, Senator Guilford, shall hear of you within forty-eight +hours." + +"I beg your pardon, sir; but, grateful as I am to Senator Guilford for +the interest he has expressed in me, I don't care to be patronized by any +man in civil life." + +"Whew!" laughed the general. "I wish some of our colonels and brigadiers +would take a lesson from you. Never mind, Lieutenant Somers; you will +deserve all you ever get." + +"Thank you, sir." + +"Go to your quarters now. Here," he added, dashing off a note at his +table, in which he desired that Somers might be excused from duty for the +next two days, to enable him to recover from the fatigues of his arduous +expedition. + +I need not inform my readers how soundly our hero slept in his shelter +tent that night, nor how his slumbers were disturbed by a horrid rebel +with a bowie-knife, and a horrid feminine monstrosity which seemed to be +called Sue by her attendant demons; but he slept as a tired boy only can +sleep. + +The next morning the brigade was relieved from picket duty, and the +regiment returned to its camp. Captain de Banyan had neither seen nor +heard from his young friend since his departure on the forenoon of the +preceding day. Of course he was overjoyed to see him, as well as +intensely curious to know where he had been, what he had done, and +whether he had been promoted. Somers told his adventures to the mess, +omitting such military information as was "contraband" in the camp. + +"Somers, my dear fellow, you are a man after my own heart!" exclaimed the +captain, grasping his hand, and wringing it with all the enthusiasm of +his fervid nature. "Somers, my boy, did you ever hear of a man having his +double?" + +"I have read of such things in old legends." + +"I believe in it, Somers. You are my double! You are my second self! You +are as near like me as one pea is like another! Just before the battle of +Magenta----" + +At this interesting point in the conversation, the officers of the mess +burst into an involuntary roar of laughter, ending up Magenta with a long +dash. + +"Not exactly like you, Captain de Banyan," added Somers. + +"You can't tell half so big a story," said Lieutenant Munroe. + +"Gentlemen," interposed the captain with dignity, "you interrupted me at +the wrong moment. I was about to prove to you wherein Lieutenant Somers +was my double; and with your permission, I will proceed with my argument. +Just before the battle of Magenta, I was sent out on a scout; and I went +at the particular request of the Emperor Napoleon, who--permit me to add, +in the presence of a company which seems to be inimical to my +antecedents, if not to me--had unlimited confidence in my ability to +perform this delicate duty with skill and success. Well, gentlemen, I +passed our pickets; of course I mean the French pickets; for I was, as +you are all aware, a colonel in the French infantry at that time." + +"We are all aware of it," laughed Munroe--"over the left." + +"That is a slang phrase, and repulsive to the ears of a cultivated +gentleman. As I was saying, gentlemen, I passed our pickets, and soon +encountered a Russian general of division." + +"Russian?" + +"Austrian, I should have said; and I thank you, Somers, for the +correction. I suppose he was making the grand rounds with the officer of +the day. Be that as it may, he considered it his duty to stop me; and I +was under the disagreeable necessity of putting a bullet through his +head. He was a count, and the father of a large family; however, I could +not help it, though I was sorry to make orphans of his children. I +stepped into his uniform without the delay of a moment." + +"Where was the sergeant of the guard, the officer of the day, and the +sentinels?" demanded Lieutenant Munroe. + +"I beg you will not interrupt me, Lieutenant Munroe, with these ill-timed +remarks, which are merely intended to throw discredit on my character for +truth and veracity. I remarked, that I stepped into the uniform of the +defunct major-general. To abbreviate the narrative somewhat, I walked +through the Austrian lines for three hours, till I had discovered the +position of the infantry, cavalry and artillery. But the most singular +part of the affair was, that, when the long roll was beat once during +that eventful night, I placed myself at the head of the departed +general's division, and maneuvered it for an hour on the field, intending +to place it in such a position that the French could capture it. +Unfortunately, no attack was made by the Emperor's forces, and I could +not carry out my plan." + +"Can you talk the Austrian lingo, captain?" asked Munroe. + +"Of course I can," replied De Banyan with dignity. + +"Here, Schrugenheimer, let us have a specimen of the lingo!" said the +tormentor, appealing to a German officer. "Ask him some questions in your +own language." + +"Gentlemen, if my word is not sufficient, I shall not condescend to +demonstrate what I have said. You will notice the similarity between the +adventures of Lieutenant Somers and my own." + +The officers of the mess all laughed heartily at the conclusion of the +comparison; for the story, like a fairy tale, was pleasant to hear, but +hard to believe. But weightier matters than these were at hand for these +gallant men; and before night the gay laugh had ceased, and they had +nerved themselves for the stern duties of the hour. Cannon had been +thundering to the right of them for three days; and in the afternoon they +had seen the smoke of burning bridges, which assured them that their +communications with White House had been cut off. At night, orders were +given to have the men ready to move, and to prepare for a hurried march. +Extra stores were destroyed, clothing thrown away, and tents were cut in +pieces, or otherwise rendered useless to the next occupants of the +ground. Everything to be transported was reduced to the smallest possible +compass. + +These orders were ominous of disaster; but on the following morning a +general order was read, to the effect that all was right. The troubled +expression on the countenances of officers and men indicated their +incredulity; for the destruction in which they had been engaged belied +the words of the order. The brigade was then moved back three miles from +the camp. A portion of the regiment was posted near a house, in which was +a bedridden old woman, attended by her daughter. The rebels were +advancing by the Williamsburg road, and soon had a battery of artillery +in position to shell the vicinity of the house. + +It was an intensely hot day. Captain de Banyan sat asleep on the fence +near the house. He was very much exhausted by the labors of the two +preceding nights on picket, and at the destruction of the stores; and +while Somers was watching the progress of the battle on the right, where +a sharp fight was in progress, a shell screamed between them, and struck +the house about a foot from the ground. + +"That reminds me of the night before Magenta," said the veteran, opening +his eyes, without even a start. "A hundred-pounder shell knocked my hat +off, and then passed through the two open windows at each gable of a +house, without even breaking a pane of glass." + +"A narrow escape for you and for the house," replied Somers with a +languid smile. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +GLENDALE AND MALVERN HILLS + + +Captain de Banyan was as cool and indifferent to danger as though he had +been shot-proof. Cannon-balls and shell flew through the air; but the +veteran paid no attention to them--except that once in a while they +reminded him of Magenta, or some other of the numerous battle-fields +where he had displayed his valor. There was little fighting for our +regiment at this point, though there was a sharp action on the right of +the position. + +The rebels attacked our forces with tremendous vigor at Savage's Station. +It was believed by their generals that the Union army was utterly +demoralized; that it was retreating in disorder towards the James River; +and that a vigorous onslaught would result in its capture. The first +intimation of the blunder was received at Savage's Station, where the +Confederates were decisively repulsed; yet the hope was not abandoned of +ending the war by the destruction of the Army of the Potomac. The hosts +of the rebellion were poured down the roads, where they could intercept +the loyal forces; and the full extent of their blunder was realized only +at Malvern Hills. + +At noon our regiment marched through White Oak Swamp, and late in the +evening bivouacked in a field near the road. During all this time the +road was filled with troops, and with trains of army wagons on their way +to the new "base." Very early the next morning, the march was resumed. It +was an exceedingly hot day, and the troops suffered severely from the +heat. Somers was nearly exhausted when the regiment halted at noon near a +church, which the surgeons had already occupied as a hospital. But +nothing could disturb the equanimity of Captain de Banyan. If an +opportunity offered, he rested, and went to sleep amid the screaming +shells as readily as though he had been in his chamber in the "Fifth +Avenue." It was not quite so hot as it was at Magenta, nor the march +quite so severe as before Solferino, nor the shot quite so thick as at +Chapultepec. He never grumbled himself, and never permitted any one else +to do so. If Somers ventured to suggest that events were rather hard upon +him, he wondered what he would have done if he had been at Magenta, +Solferino, Balaclava, or Chapultepec. + +Somers was disposed to make the best of the circumstances; and though +hungry, tired and nearly melted, he sustained himself with unfaltering +courage amid the trials of that eventful march. All day long, the tide of +army wagons and cattle flowed down the road; and the brigade remained +near the church at Glendale, waiting for them to pass. At dark the order +was given to move forward, while the roar of cannon and musketry +reverberated on the evening air, assuring the weary veterans that the +baptism of blood was at hand for them, as it had been before for their +comrades in arms. + +The regiment followed a narrow road through the woods, which was thronged +with the _débris_ of the conflict, hurled back by the fierce assaults of +the rebels. The cowardly skulkers and the noncombatants of the engaged +regiments were here with their tale of disaster and ruin; and, judging +from the mournful stories they told, the once proud Army of the Potomac +had been utterly routed and discomfited. Cowards with one bar, cowards +with two bars, cowards with no bar, and cowards with the eagle on their +shoulders, repeated the wail of disaster; and the timid would have shrunk +from the fiery ordeal before them, if the intrepid officers and the mass +of the rank and file had not been above the influence of the poltroons' +trembling tones and quaking limbs. + +"Forward, my brave boys! I've been waiting all my lifetime for such a +scene as this!" shouted Captain de Banyan, as he flourished his sword +after the most approved style. + +"Don't mind the cowards!" said Somers, as the stragglers poured out their +howls of terror. + +There was little need of these stirring exhortations; for the men were as +eager for the fight as the officers, and laughed with genuine glee at the +pitiful aspect of the runaways. They advanced in line of battle to the +support of the hard-pressed troops in front of them, and poured a +withering fire into the enemy. With that fiendish yell which the Southern +soldiers invariably use in the hour of battle, they rushed forward with a +fury which was madness, and into which no fear of death entered. + +"They are coming!" shouted Somers, as the legions of rebellion surged +down upon the line, yelling like so many demons, as though they expected +the veterans to be vanquished by mere noise. "Stand steady, my men!" + +"That reminds me of the Russian advance at Magenta," said Captain de +Banyan, who happened to pass near the spot where Somers stood. + +"The Austrians, you mean," replied Somers, trying to keep as cool and +unmoved as his companion. + +"Excuse me; I meant the Austrians," replied the captain. "The fact +is----Forward, my brave fellows!" roared he as the order came down the +line. + +The enemy had been temporarily checked, and the brigade advanced to +pursue the advantage gained. They poured another terrible volley into the +rebels; when a regiment of the latter, infuriated by whiskey and the +fierce goadings of their officers, rushed down with irresistible force +upon a portion of the Union line, and succeeded in making a partial break +in our regiment. The only remaining line officer in one of the companies +where the rupture occurred was wounded at this critical moment, and borne +under the feet of the excited combatants. + +"Lieutenant Somers, take command of that company!" shouted the colonel, +as he dashed towards the imperiled portion of the line. + +Somers made haste to obey the order when the line was giving way before +the impetuous charge. He felt that the safety of the whole army depended +upon himself at that momentous instant, and that on the salvation of the +army rested the destiny of his country. What was the life of a single +man, of a hundred thousand even, compared with the fearful issue of that +moment? It was the feeling of the young soldier, and he was ready to lay +down his life for the flag which symbolized the true glory of the nation. + +"Rally round me!" he cried, as he discharged his revolver into the breast +of a brave captain who was urging his company forward with the most +unflinching resolution. "Down with them!" he shouted, as he waved his +sword above his head. + +"Hurrah!" roared a brave sergeant near him, and the cry was taken up by +the gallant fellows who had been pressed back by sheer force of numbers. + +"Forward!" shouted Somers, as he dashed down a bayonet, which would have +transfixed him on the spot if he had not been on the alert. + +The men rallied, and stood boldly up to the work before them. They were +inspired by the example of the young lieutenant; and the rebel regiment +slowly and doggedly retired, leaving many of their number dead or wounded +on the field, and a small number as prisoners in the hands of Somers's +new command. + +After alternate repulses and successes, the rebels were signally defeated +and driven back. It was a sharp and decisive struggle; but again had the +army been saved from destruction, and the long line of army wagons still +pursued its way in safety towards the waters of the James. + +Again had the rebel general's brilliant calculation failed. His troops, +maddened by the fires of the whiskey demon, had done all that men or +fiends could do; but the trained valor of the Army of the Potomac had +again saved the country. Onward it marched towards the goal of safety +under the sheltering wings of the gunboat fleet in the river. + +All night long the men marched, with frequent intervals of rest, as the +movements of the army trains required them. There was no sleep, even +after that hard-fought battle; no real rest from the exciting and wearing +events of the day. There was little or no food to be had; and the +fainting soldiers, though still ready to fight and march in their +weakness, longed for the repose of a few hours in camp. But not yet was +the boon to be granted. On the following morning, our regiment arrived at +Malvern Hills, where they were again formed in line of battle, in +readiness to receive the menacing hosts of the rebels. + +"We are all right now, Somers," said Captain de Banyan while they were +waiting for the onset. + +"Not quite yet, captain. Don't you see those signal-flags on the houses +yonder?" + +"They mean something, of course. I did not intend to say there will be no +fighting; only, that we have a good position, and all the rebels in the +Confederacy can't start us now." + +"Those flags indicate that the rebels are moving." + +"Let them come; the sooner the better, and the sooner it will be over. +Hurrah!" exclaimed the captain, as the inspiring strains of the band in +the rear saluted his ears. + +Cheer after cheer passed along the extended lines as the notes of the +"Star-spangled Banner" thrilled the hearts of the weary, fainting +soldiers. The bands had not been heard during the operations in front of +Richmond; and their music, as Sergeant Hapgood expressed it, "sounded +like home." + +"That does me good, Somers," continued the captain. "There's nothing like +music for the nerves. It wakes men up, and makes them forget all their +troubles. Forward, the light brigade!" he added, flourishing his sword in +the air. "I suppose you know that poem, Somers?" + +"Of course; I know it by heart; read it in school the last day I ever +went." + +"Did you, indeed?" + +"Nothing very singular about that, is there?" + +"Rather a remarkable coincidence, I should say," replied the captain with +easy indifference, as he twirled his sword on the ground. + +"I don't see it." + +"You read the poem at school, and I was in that charge." + +"You?" + +"Yes, my boy. I was a captain in that brigade. But what called the +circumstance to my mind was the music which struck up just now. I had a +bugler in my company who played 'Hail, Columbia' during the whole of the +fight." + +"'Hail, Columbia?'" demanded Somers. + +"Certainly; the fellow had a fancy for that tune; and though it wasn't +exactly a national thing to the British army, he always played it when he +got a chance. Well, sir, I think that bugler did more than any other man +in the charge of the light brigade. He never lost a note, and it fired +the men up to the pitch of frenzy." + +"He was a brave fellow," replied Somers languidly; for he was too +thoroughly worn out to appreciate the stories of his veteran companion. + +"He was the most determined man I ever met in my life. He was killed in +the charge, poor fellow; but he had filled his bugle so full of wind, +that the music did not cease till full five minutes after he was +stone-dead." + +"Come, come, captain! that's a little too bad," said Somers seriously. + +"Too bad? Well, I should not be willing to take oath that the time was +just five minutes after the bugler died. I did not take out my watch, and +time it; and, of course, I can only give you my judgment as to the +precise number of minutes." + +"You are worse than Baron Munchausen, who told a story something like +that; only his was the more reasonable of the two." + +"Somers, my boy! you have got a villainously bad habit of discrediting +the statements of a brother-officer and a gentleman," said Captain de +Banyan seriously. + +"And you have got a bad habit of telling the most abominable stories that +ever proceeded from the mouth of any man." + +"We'll drop the subject, Somers; for such discussions lead to unpleasant +results. Do you see that rebel battery?" added the captain, pointing to a +road a mile off, where the enemy had taken position to shell the Union +line. + +"I see it." + +The rebel battery opened fire, which was vigorously answered by the other +side. The scene began to increase in interest as the cannonade extended +along the whole line; and, through the entire day, there raged the most +furious artillery conflict of the war. The rebel masses were hurled time +after time against the Union line; but it maintained its position like a +wall of iron, while thousands of the enemy were recklessly sacrificed in +the useless assault. General M---- had probably drunk more than his usual +quantity of whiskey; and, though he was as brave as a lion, hundreds of +his men paid the penalty with their lives of his rashness and +indiscretion. + +Night came again upon a victorious field, while hundreds of weeping +mothers in the neighboring city sighed for the sons who would return no +more to their arms; and while mothers wept, fathers groaned and sisters +moaned, the grand army of the Confederacy had been beaten, and the proud +rulers of an infatuated people were trembling for their own safety in the +presence of the ruin with which defeat threatened them. + +After the battle commenced the movement of the Army of the Potomac down +the river to Harrison's Landing. The rain fell in torrents, and the +single road was crowded with troops and wagons. Though the exhausted +soldiers slept, even while the guns of the enemy roared in front of them, +and during the brief halts which the confusion in the road caused, there +was no real repose. The excitement of the battle and the retreat, and the +undefinable sense of insecurity which their situation engendered, +banished rest. Tired Nature asserted her claims, and the men yielded to +them only when endurance had reached its utmost limit. + +At Harrison's Landing, the work of intrenching the position was +immediately commenced; and it was some days before the army were entirely +assured that defeat and capture were not still possible. The failure of +the campaign was not without its effect upon the troops. They felt, that, +instead of marching under their victorious banners into the enemy's +capital, they had been driven from their position. It was not disaster, +but it was failure. Though the soldiers were still in good condition, and +as ready as ever to breast the storm of battle, they were in a measure +dispirited by the misfortune. + +General McClellan and General Lee had each failed to accomplish his +purpose. It was the intention of the latter to send Stonewall Jackson +into the rear of the Union army, cut it off from its base of supplies, +and then attack in front and on the left. The plan was defeated by +General McClellan's change of base, which was forced upon him by the +cutting-off of his communications with the Pamunkey River. The Union +generals, who were first attacked on the right, supposed they were +confronted by Jackson, who had come down to flank them in this direction; +while Lee intended that he should attack farther down the Peninsula. Each +commanding general, to some extent, mistook the purpose of the other. +Whatever errors were made by the grand players in this mighty game, about +one thing there can be no mistake--that the courage and fortitude of the +rank and file saved the Army of the Potomac, and pushed aside the mighty +disaster in which its ruin would have involved the country. All honor to +the unnamed heroes who fought those great battles, and endured hardships +which shall thrill the souls of Americans for ages to come! + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +LIEUTENANT SOMERS HAS A NEW SENSATION + + +The experience of the soldiers at Harrison's Landing, for a month +following their arrival, was not of the most agreeable nature; and +consisted of too large a proportion of exercise with pick and shovel to +be very pleasant to those who had not been accustomed to handling these +useful implements. Intrenchments and batteries were constructed; and the +position was as carefully fortified as the genius of the distinguished +engineer in command could suggest, and as thoroughly as though he +expected to spent the balance of the term of his natural life at this +place. + +The army was soon in a condition to defy the operations of the enemy, who +were wise enough not to molest it. Somers, in common with the rest of the +command, recovered from the severe trials of the movement from White Oak +Swamp, and again longed for active operations. About two weeks after the +cessation of active operations, the official documents which announced +his promotion to the rank of first lieutenant came down to the army; but +this was a foregone conclusion. He had won his first bar by his scouting +services, and his commission was expected for a fortnight before its +arrival. It did not, therefore, cause him any surprise; and was so small +an elevation, that his comrades hardly congratulated him upon its +reception. + +A fortnight later, there came a startling sensation to thrill him with +satisfaction and delight. An orderly from the division headquarters +summoned him to attend upon the general. The message startled him; for it +indicated some momentous event to him, and he hastily prepared to obey +the order. + +"You are in luck again," said De Banyan, grasping his hand. + +"Perhaps not," replied Somers, bewildered at the suggestion. + +"I know you are, my dear boy. I was sent for just four weeks after the +battle of Solferino, and made a brigadier-general," persisted the +captain. + +"Ah! then you are General de Banyan?" + +"No, no; I dropped the title when I ceased to hold the office." + +"That was modest, general." + +"Captain, if you please." + +"You are entitled by courtesy to the use of the title, and you shall not +be robbed of any of your honors." + +"As a particular favor, Somers, never call me general. I do not wish to +rise above my actual rank. I have never mentioned the little circumstance +of my promotion before. Your good fortune was so similar to my own, that +I was surprised into doing so." + +"What do you mean by my good fortune, captain?" + +"Why, you are promoted again. I will bet my year's pay you have had +another lift." + +"Nonsense! I have just been promoted." + +"Bah! what was that to a man of your merit, with a Senator to speak at +court for you? A petty first lieutenancy is nothing for a brilliant +fellow like you." + +"I am not half so brilliant a fellow as you declare, and I think that a +commission as first lieutenant is a big thing for a young man like me. +I'm sure I never had an idea of being an officer at all; and, when I was +made a sergeant, I didn't think I deserved it." + +"What do you suppose a major-general can want with you? You have heard +from Senator Guilford once before, and I am satisfied you will hear from +him again. Now, Somers, what do you suppose the general wants of you?" + +"I don't know; I think it very likely he wants a man of my size to go up +the river, or on the other side, scouting; nothing more than that, I am +satisfied. But I must obey the order," added Somers, who had been making +his preparations during the conversation. + +"Well, good-by, my boy; and I shall have to stand one side for you after +this, and salute you as major." + +"As what?" + +"Major." + +"How absurd you are, captain! You always talk like a sensible fellow; +that is, when you mean what you say." + +"A hard hit; and very likely the first thing you do, when you get to be a +major, will be to arrest me for lying." + +"Your hit is the hardest, my dear captain. We have seen some hard times +together; and you may be sure that whatever I am, I shall never forget +you." + +"That's hearty, my boy! Your hand once more," replied De Banyan, +extending his own. "After the battle of Solferino----" + +"Really, captain, you must excuse me this time, or the general will put +me under arrest for my want of promptness, instead of sending me on +special duty." + +"Well, good luck to you, Somers," said the captain as the lieutenant +started for the division headquarters. + +As he passed out of sight, an expression of sadness settled down upon +Captain de Banyan's face. He looked disappointed and uncomfortable, and +it is quite probable that he envied the good fortune of his young +companion in arms. If Somers had been brave, and attentive to his duty, +he had been no less so himself; and he could not help feeling that the +destruction of those railroad cars had made the young man's fortune; that +his rapid advancement was a mere stroke of good luck. + +Lieutenant Somers, wondering what could possibly be wanted of him, +hastened to the headquarters of the division. He had no faith whatever in +the prognostications of Captain de Banyan, and was too modest to believe +that he had done anything to merit another promotion so soon. Recalling +the incidents of his career since his eventful expedition within the +rebel lines, there was nothing in his conduct to merit even the notice of +his superiors, unless it was what others called his skill and courage in +rallying the broken company at Glendale. He had been warmly praised for +this act; but he deemed it of little importance, for the memory of +Williamsburg cast into the shade anything that had occurred to him since +that bloody day. + +He was ushered into the presence of the general, who gave him the kindly +welcome which he always bestowed upon those of humble rank. Now, Somers +cherished an intense admiration for this distinguished officer, and +esteemed it a greater honor to stand in his presence than in that of the +most powerful sovereign of the earth. + +"Lieutenant Somers?" said the general, extending his hand; a piece of +condescension which made our officer blush, and appear as awkward as a +country school-boy. + +"Yes, sir; thank you, sir," stammered Somers, as he took the proffered +hand. + +"You behaved well at Glendale, Somers," said the general bluntly. + +"I endeavored to do my duty, general." + +"You did well on that scout, too; and I'm going to send you out on +another, if you have any fancy for such work." + +"I will do the best I can." + +"But, my brave fellow, I wish you to be very careful; for we can't afford +to lose officers like you." + +"I am always careful, general," said Somers with a smile. + +"Can you handle a boat?" + +"Yes, sir; I was brought up among boats." + +"You will go over the river. There is rebel cavalry over there, and very +likely a considerable force of infantry. I am inclined to think they are +building batteries in the woods, to close up the navigation of the river, +or perhaps to shell us out of our position. In a word, I am instructed to +solve the problem, and I have selected you to do the work. What do you +say?" + +"I am all ready, sir, to undertake that, or any service to which I may be +ordered." + +"That's the right spirit, Captain Somers; and I thank you for the +promptness with which you enter into my plans. I am satisfied, captain, +that you will discharge the duty to my entire satisfaction." + +"Thank you, sir." + +"Well, Captain Somers, you shall take what force you think necessary. As +it will not be prudent for you to go over before dark, you may make up +your plan, and I will listen to the details before you go. How many boats +shall you want, captain?" + +"Only one, sir," replied Somers promptly; though he was wondering with +all his might how the general happened to make so many blunders in regard +to his military title, for he had called him captain four or five times. + +"Only one? You will need force enough to protect you, captain," replied +the general. + +Captain again! + +"I do not intend to fight the whole rebel army, if it is over there. I do +not propose to take more than half a dozen men with me." + +"I think that is a sensible view of the enterprise; for the more men you +take, the greater your chances of being discovered. Select your own men, +Captain Somers." + +Captain Somers! The general had certainly forgotten that he was only a +first lieutenant, or else he was amusing himself at his modest +subordinate's expense. + +"I know of several men in our regiment who are just what I want," replied +Somers, hardly able to speak from embarrassment, on account of the +general's often-repeated mistake. + +"Very well; you shall have the necessary authority to select whom you +please. You may go now, and arrange your plans." + +Somers saluted the general, and was about to retire, when the thought +occurred to him that he might at least gratify his friend Captain de +Banyan, and perhaps bring him favorably to the general's notice. + +"May I be allowed to select an officer to go with me?" he asked. + +"Certainly, if you desire; but you will remember that you are a young +officer, going out on difficult and dangerous service, and that officers +will not be so obedient as privates," suggested the general. "Whom do you +desire to go with you?" + +"Captain de Banyan, of our regiment." + +"Captain! Why, then he will be your equal in rank, and by priority of +commission, your superior." + +"We shall agree remarkably well, general, though he is my superior in +rank, without regard to dates," replied Somers, who by this time had come +to the conclusion that the general meant something by calling him +captain. + +"No; you are both captains," added the general with apparent +indifference. + +"I beg your pardon, general; you have probably forgotten that the +commission which was forwarded to me only about two weeks ago was that of +first lieutenant." + +"I remember all about it, Captain Somers; but, by the time you reach your +quarters, there will be another commission there for you. By the way, +captain, do you remember Senator Guilford?" + +"I do, general; I have good reason to remember him; for he takes a deep +interest in my affairs," replied Somers, whose brown face was red with +blushes. + +"Has a pretty daughter, hasn't he? Fell out of a railroad car and broke +her arm, didn't she?" + +"That was the only time I ever saw her, general," stammered Somers; "and +probably I shall never see her again." + +"Why, you are as cold-blooded as a frog! Why don't you write to the +damsel, and tell her you are still alive, if you can't think of anything +else to say?" + +"I don't like to curry favor with great folks." + +"I like that, captain. But you must attend to your duty now. You may have +Captain de--what's-his-name--if you like." + +"Captain de Banyan, sir. He is a brave and noble fellow." + +"Your friend, eh?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Well, I remember him. He is certainly a brave fellow; for I noticed him +at Glendale." + +"At Oak Grove he captured the enemy's sharpshooters, who were lodged in +the old house." + +"I thought you did that." + +"No, sir; I was under Captain de Banyan's orders at the time." + +"I see; and I will remember that, Captain Somers. By the way, it would be +well for you to write to Senator Guilford, just to inform him of your +promotion. He has done good service for you, though I have no hesitation +in saying your promotion would have been certain without his aid." + +"Thank you, general," replied Somers, who fully understood the meaning of +that significant remark. + +We regret that the good conduct of our hero has destroyed the fitness of +the title which we had chosen for our humble volume; but we will venture +to say that our sympathizing readers will rejoice with him in his +advancement. + +Captain Somers! The idea seemed to him as big as a mountain, when he +withdrew from the presence of the general, who evidently experienced a +deep satisfaction in the result of his recommendation to the authorities, +and had humorously chosen this method of communicating the welcome news. +The earth seemed to be as elastic as India-rubber under the feet of the +new-made captain, as he hastened back to the camp of the regiment. + +He could hardly believe his senses; it was so strange that a young man +like him should attain to this high rank. He wanted to "crow;" and +perhaps he would have done so, if he had not considered that he must +maintain the dignity of his new office. + +"Captain Somers, I greet you!" exclaimed De Banyan on his return to camp. + +"Who told you I was a captain?" laughed Somers. + +"This document," replied he, handing him the ponderous official envelope. +"I congratulate you, my boy; though I'm rather disappointed to find you +are not a major." + +"Nonsense, captain! I would have declined a major's commission." + +"Declined it!" gasped De Banyan. "Well, I don't know but you would. You +are the only officer I ever knew to decline a glass of wine, and I don't +know but you would decline a major's commission." + +"I certainly would. Why, I'm only a boy; and I don't know but I ought to +decline even a captain's commission. I'm only eighteen years old." + +"What of that? There's the Fourth Vermont over there--the colonel of that +regiment isn't twenty-one yet, and there isn't a better or braver officer +in the army. If you decline, I'll cross you off from my list of friends. +Why, at Balaclava, when I was----" + +"Balaclava and blarney!" exclaimed Somers impatiently. + +"I was only going to say, that I was but seventeen when I was made a +captain in the British army." + +"I have been a brigadier in my own imagination, just as you were a +captain, when you were seventeen. But never mind that; I am going on a +scout; have got my orders." + +"Ah, my boy! you are going to celebrate the arrival of your commission by +active duty. I wish the generals would think of me when they want +something handsome done." + +"What do you say to going with me?" + +"I would thank my stars for the chance." + +"Well, then I have orders for you." + +"Somers, my dear fellow, you touch my heart-strings!" cried the captain, +jumping up, and throwing his arms around Somers in the most extravagant +manner. + +"On one condition," added Captain Somers. + +"Any condition you please." + +"You are my superior; but----" + +"I know all about it. I will go as a volunteer, and you shall command the +expedition." + +"We will work together." + +"With all my heart." + +Somers then selected six men for the service, with special reference to +their skill as boatmen, and ordered them to make the necessary +preparations for duty. As there were still several hours to spare before +dark, he used a portion of this time in writing a letter to his mother, +informing her of the remarkable fortune that had attended him; and +another to Senator Guilford, thanking him for the kind interest he had +manifested in his welfare, in the postscript of which he wrote the +history of Captain de Banyan's valuable services, and modestly added that +any favor conferred on his friend would ever be gratefully remembered by +the writer. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +OVER THE RIVER + + +Captain Somers, as we are hereafter to call him, was proud and happy in +the distinction which had been bestowed upon him; but he had some doubts +whether he had fully earned his promotion. He had done as much as any, +and more than some. Yet it seemed to him just as though nothing short of +the capture or annihilation of a whole brigade of the enemy's forces +could entitle him to such a distinguished honor, especially as he was +only eighteen years of age. He was afraid that Senator Guilford had +exerted too much influence in his favor; but the general of the division +had assured him he had won his promotion, and would have received it in +time, even without the powerful aid of the honorable gentleman at +Washington. + +This thought comforted him; and he only hoped that his friend De Banyan +would be as highly favored as he had been. The valiant captain, in spite +of his glaring faults, was a good fellow, a fine officer, and very +popular with his inferiors as well as his superiors. He had become very +much attached to Somers, and had proved by many substantial acts that he +was animated by a warm regard for him. Though he talked a great deal +about the favor of high officials in securing his promotion, he had never +hinted a wish that Somers should attempt to influence his powerful friend +to do anything for him. + +Somers said nothing to the captain about the letter he had written. If +anything was done, he wished to have his friend surprised as he had been. +But he had only slight hopes that anything would be accomplished by his +application. Though Captain de Banyan had always behaved well in battle, +and had always faithfully discharged his duties in the camp and on the +march, there was something like a mystery hanging about him, which had a +tendency to prejudice the officers against him. While they admired his +bravery, and enjoyed his society, there was a certain lack of confidence, +resulting from a want of knowledge of his antecedents. + +De Banyan always evaded any allusion to his former residence or +occupation. He desired to be regarded as a soldier of fortune, who had +fought with every nation that had a quarrel with its neighbors. Where he +was born, where he had lived, or how he obtained his commission, were +secrets locked up in his own breast. Somers had some doubts in regard to +him, and was constantly afraid that he should hear more of the captain +than it would be pleasant to know. + +Captain Somers reported his arrangements in due form to the general, and +they were approved. About nine o'clock in the evening, he, with his +little party, embarked on the river, and the rowers pulled towards the +opposite shore. Of course, it was necessary to use the utmost caution; +for a rebel picket on the opposite bank of the river might suddenly put +an end to the career of some of the party. + +"I think we are making a mistake, Captain Somers," said De Banyan in a +whisper, when they had gone about half way across the river. + +"So do I; but it is not too late to correct the error," replied Somers, +as he turned the bow of the boat down the river. + +"I believe you are my double, Somers; for you know my thoughts before I +utter them." + +"I was just thinking, when you spoke, that we were running into a nest of +the enemy." + +"Just before the battle of the Alma, I went on just such an expedition as +this; but we went down the river beyond the enemy's lines, and doubled up +in the rear of them; thus finding out all we wanted to know." + +"That is what I propose to do." + +"Captain Brickfield and myself landed, and walked sixty-four miles +between nine o'clock in the evening and four o'clock in the morning," +added Captain de Banyan. + +"How far?" + +"Sixty-four miles." + +"Good!" exclaimed Somers. "Did you walk all the way?" + +"Every step." + +"It was tip-top walking, De Banyan--a little more than nine miles an +hour." + +"Do you doubt the story?" + +"I don't doubt that it is a story." + +"Now, that isn't kind of you, Somers, to be perpetually throwing +discredit upon everything I say," replied the captain, apparently much +hurt. + +"You mustn't say such things, then. You don't expect any man in his +senses to believe that you walked over nine miles an hour, and followed +it for seven hours?" + +"I was tougher then than I am now." + +"And you can tell a tougher story now than you could then, I'll warrant." + +"There it is again!" + +"Now, my dear fellow, I'm afraid you will die with an enormous fib in +your mouth." + +"Come, Somers, you are taking a mean advantage of my friendship. You know +that I like you too well to quarrel with you." + +"Silence!" said Somers earnestly. "There is a boat coming out from the +rebel side of the river." + +The water was covered with vessels of every description in the vicinity +of Harrison's Landing; and the boat had just emerged from this forest of +masts and smokestacks. It was time to be entirely silent again; for the +rebels were on the alert in every direction, watching to strike a blow at +the grand army, or to pick up individual stragglers who might fall in +their way. The boat which Somers had discovered was approaching from the +rebel side of the river; and to be seen by the enemy, at this point of +the proceedings, would be fatal to the expedition. + +"Who goes there?" said a man in the rebel boat. + +"Friends!" replied Somers. + +"Who are ye?" + +The tones were so unmistakably Southern, that there could be no question +in regard to the party to which the boat belonged. + +"Officers examining the enemy's lines," replied Somers. + +At the same time he ordered his crew to pull, and steered the boat so as +to run her alongside the other. On the way, he whispered to the men his +instructions; and, as soon as they were near enough, they leaped on board +the rebel boat, and captured her astonished crew before they had time to +make any resistance. No doubt they thought this was very rude treatment +to receive from the hands of those who professed to be their friends; but +they had discovered their mistake by this time, and it afforded a +sufficient explanation of the seeming inconsistency. + +The capture of this boat involved the necessity of returning to the +nearest steamer in the river to dispose of the prisoners. On the way +back, Somers and De Banyan conversed with the rebels on general topics; +for the latter refused to say anything which could be of service to their +enemy. After the captives had been delivered on board the steamer, our +party decided to take the boat which had been captured, instead of the +one they had brought from the landing; for there were some peculiarities +in its construction, which made it a safer conveyance in rebel waters +than the other, the approach of which would excite suspicion if seen. + +Again they pulled down the river, and passed the point from beyond which +the rebel boat had approached them. The shore was probably lined with +pickets; and the wisdom of exchanging the boats was now more apparent to +them than before. Somers steered into a little inlet or bay beyond the +point, and at the head of it found a creek flowing into the river. It was +wide and deep at the outlet; and he decided to ascend it. + +"How was it, Andy?" said a voice from the shore, after the boat had +advanced a few rods up the creek. + +"All right!" replied Somers at a venture; though he was somewhat startled +by the question. + +"Have the Yankees any picket boats out?" demanded the man on shore. + +"Haven't seen any." + +"How far up have you been?" + +"About two miles," answered Somers, continually coughing to account for +any change in his voice which might be apparent to his friend on shore. + +"The fire-steamer is all ready," added the voice; "and it is about time +to go to work." + +"The fire-steamer!" exclaimed Somers in a low tone. + +"They are going to burn the vessels in the river," added De Banyan. + +"What shall we do?" + +"We must stop their fun at all hazards," replied the valiant captain +promptly. + +"What are you stopping there for, Andy? Why don't you pull up the creek?" +continued the man on shore. + +"My name isn't Andy," said Somers; "and I don't fully understand this +business." + +"Who are you, then?" replied the rebel. "What has become of Andy?" + +"He has got another job, and sent me to do this one," answered Somers, +whose ready wit had adopted a plan to defeat the purpose of the enemy. + +"Who are you?" + +"Tom Leathers. Andy sent me up to attend to this matter. Where is the +fire-steamer?" + +"About half a mile farther up the creek. But where is Andy?" + +"Some general sent for him; and he has gone to Richmond. I reckon the +iron-clad's coming down soon." + +"Can you take care of the steamer?" + +"Certainly I can." + +"Are you a pilot?" + +"Pilot enough for this business." + +"I understand it all. Andy was afraid to do this job, and has backed +out." + +"I only know what he said to me," replied Somers innocently. + +"Well, pull up the creek, and don't waste any more time in talking about +it." + +"I haven't wasted any time. You have done all the talking yourself," +replied Somers, who thought he should not be a consistent Southerner if +he did not growl. + +Somers directed the men to pull again, and the boat advanced up the creek +till the steamer appeared. She was a small, worn-out old craft, which had +probably dodged into the creek when the Union fleet came up the river. +The man who had spoken from the shore reached the place almost as soon as +the boat. He was dressed in the gray of the Confederate army, and was +evidently an officer detailed to perform the duty of fitting out the +fire-ship. + +"This is a most remarkable proceeding on the part of the pilot," said the +officer. + +"I can't help it. You needn't growl at me about it. If you don't want me, +I don't want the job," replied Somers sourly. + +"Don't be impudent to me," added the officer. + +"And don't you be impudent to me," said Somers. "I'm not one of your +men." + +"Silence! or I shall put you under arrest." + +"No, you won't." + +"Do you know the channel of the river?" + +"Of course I do. What do you suppose Andy sent me here for?" snarled +Somers. + +"Keep a civil tongue in your head, man." + +"You had better show me how to do it first. Come, Graves," he added, +turning to De Banyan, "we are not wanted here, and we will go home +again." + +"Who is that man with you?" + +"Graves." + +"Where did you get all these men?" + +"They came with me to see the fun, and help the thing along." + +The officer stepped on board of the steamer, and Somers and De Banyan +joined him on the deck. + +"I think I've seen you somewhere." + +"I think very likely; I was there once." + +"You are a crusty young cub; but it may be you know your duty." + +"Of course I do; and as for being crusty, I treated you like a gentleman +till you began to snarl at me." + +"Well, well, my friend, we will rub out the past and begin again," said +the officer pleasantly. + +"With all my heart, if you say so," replied Somers with equal suavity. + +"This is a very important enterprise, and we want to teach the Yankees +that it will be better for them to stay at home next time they want to +come down South. What is your name?" + +"Tom Leathers. What's yours? Andy told me; but I've forgotten." + +"Captain Osborn." + +The rebel officer proceeded to give the supposed pilot very full +instructions in regard to the steamer, which was to be run up the river +to City Point, set on fire, and then abandoned to float with the current +through the thickest of the Federal fleet, blowing up gunboats, and +consuming transports by the hundred. The fire-steamer had been loaded +with pitch-wood, tar, pitch and turpentine; and Captain Osborn was +satisfied that the plan, if thoroughly carried out, would cause +tremendous havoc among the Yankee vessels. He rubbed his hands with +delight as he contemplated the prospect of driving the "Hessian" fleet +from the river, and starving the Union army out of its position. + +An engineer and two firemen, whom they found on board the steamer, were +all the crew she had, and all she needed besides the pilot. They had got +up steam, and the vessel was all ready to move on her errand of +destruction when the word should be given. + +"Now you are all ready," said Captain Osborn when he had completed his +instructions. "You will hoist the American flag, and pretend you are a +Yankee, if they attempt to stop you on your way up the river." + +"I can do that to a charm," replied Somers. "I am all ready. Where is +Graves? Hallo, Graves!" he shouted, when he found that his companion had +left his side to take a look at the other parts of the steamer. + +"Here I am, Tom," answered Graves, emerging from the engine-room, where +he had been talking with the presiding genius of that department. + +"Run up the colors." + +"Ay, ay, sir!" replied De Banyan. + +The colors went up, and other preparations were made for the great +enterprise. + +"Cast off that stern line!" said Somers. "Make fast your painter on the +port quarter," he added to the man in the boat; and no doubt by this time +Captain Osborn was fully satisfied that he was perfectly familiar with +the management of a steamer. + +Now, Somers was very well satisfied that he should run the steamer +aground before he rounded the first point in the river, and he had wisely +concluded not to undertake so rash an enterprise. Besides, he did not +come over there to be the skipper of a steamer; he had other and even +more important duties to perform. He was much more interested in certain +rebel batteries which were believed to be in process of construction +farther up the river. But Captain Osborn was an unreasonable man, and +demanded the execution of his plan. He was determined to see a +conflagration, and Somers was equally determined to gratify him. + +Our pilot discovered the value of his limited nautical experience in +Pinchbrook Harbor; for it enabled him to convince the rebel officer that +he was a full-fledged "salt," and was entirely at home on the deck of any +vessel that could float in the waters of the James. The stern-line and +the bow-line were cast off; and Somers stood in the little wheel-house, +ready to ring the bells. Captain Osborn had just stepped on shore, +intending to mount his horse and ride up the river, where he could see +the conflagration when it came off. + +Just then, there was a tremendous commotion among the firemen and +engineer; and, a moment later, a broad, bright sheet of flame rose from +the heap of combustibles in the after-part of the steamer. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +CAPTAIN DE BANYAN FINDS AN OLD FRIEND + + +Both Somers and De Banyan flew to the rescue, and made a most +enthusiastic attempt to check the fire; but the raging element was now +past control. The flames spread through the combustible material which +had been stored on the deck; and they were compelled to abandon the +ill-starred steamer with the utmost precipitation, in order to save their +own lives. + +De Banyan had rolled up an old newspaper, making of it a kind of torch, +some three feet in length, which he had inserted in a mass of pitch-wood +shavings, and set the end on fire. It had burned long enough to remove +suspicion from him; and, when the pilot and crew went on shore, Captain +Osborn had no idea of the trick of which he had been made the victim. Our +scouts kept up appearances in the most remarkable manner, and Somers was +only afraid that his zealous companion would overdo the matter. + +"What do you mean by that, Captain Osborn?" demanded Somers, as he shook +the cinders from his clothes in the presence of the rebel officer. "Did +you intend to sacrifice our lives?" + +"Yes; burn us up before we had time to leave the old hulk!" added De +Banyan furiously. "I thought we were to light the fire ourselves." + +"I didn't do it," replied Captain Osborn. + +"You didn't? Who did do it, then?" persisted Somers. + +"I don't know." + +"Well, I don't know; but, in my opinion, you did it yourself." + +"You are an idiot! Do you think I would destroy the work of my own +hands?" added the rebel warmly. + +"Well, I supposed you fired the train so as to be sure the thing was done +right." + +"You are a fool, or else you didn't suppose any such thing." + +"I didn't know but what you had one of those clock machines, that touch a +thing off at a certain time. Well, how did it happen, then?" + +"I don't know; perhaps from a spark from the fire. No matter how it was +done now. It is done, and can't be helped. I have lost the satisfaction +of seeing half the Yankee fleet burnt up. I would rather have given a +year's pay than have had this accident happen." + +"Haven't they got most ready for the Yankee fleet above here?" asked +Somers as carelessly as he could. + +"What do you mean?" + +"They are building batteries up above, to knock the Yankees into pieces, +aren't they?" + +"Perhaps they are." + +"Well, Captain Osborn, I don't believe your plan would have succeeded if +the steamer hadn't caught afire." + +"Don't you? Why not?" + +"Suppose the Yankees had stopped us on our way up, and come on board the +steamer. Don't you think they would have known what she was for?" + +"Perhaps they would." + +"Of course they would. Why didn't you fit out your steamer up the river?" + +"We haven't so many steamers that we can afford to burn them up. We took +this one because she happened to be in the creek, where the Yankees could +capture her at any time they pleased." + +"It wouldn't need a steamer above the fleet; a raft would do just as +well. I think I shall go up the river, and see what can be done. Well, +boys," added Somers to the men in the boat, "there will be no fun +to-night, and you may as well go home." + +As this order was in conformity with previous instructions, the men +pulled down the creek to its mouth, where they could remain concealed +till their officers returned. + +By the light of the burning steamer, Captain Osborn had attentively +scanned the features of the pilot and his companion, apparently for the +purpose of determining where he had seen the former. As they had both +dressed themselves for the occasion, they submitted to his scrutiny +without fear. When he had finished his survey, he mounted his horse, +which was fastened to a tree near the creek, and had become very restive +as the glaring fire scattered burning cinders near him. As the rider had +no further use for our enterprising operatives, he bestowed no further +notice upon them, and rode off to report to his commanding officer the +failure of the hopeful enterprise. + +"Well, we have done some good by coming over here," said Captain de +Banyan as the officer galloped up the road above the creek. + +"Hush, captain!" replied Somers. "You forget where you are." + +"No, I don't; we are alone." + +"Perhaps not; the trees have ears sometimes." + +"Well, where are you going now?" + +"Up the river. We will take a walk up to the batteries, if there are any +there." + +They proceeded in the direction indicated for about three miles without +being molested, or even challenged by a sentinel. The Army of the Potomac +had been on the other side of the river nearly a month, and had ceased to +be a curiosity to the rebel inhabitants in the vicinity; and like +sensible people, as they were in this respect if in no other, they +devoted the hours of darkness to sleep. On the shore opposite the camp, +they found a battery of artillery. Rude field-works had been constructed +near the water, on which the guns of the company had been placed. Our +travelers were too modest to make the acquaintance of the rebels, and +kept at a respectful distance from them, crawling on the ground near +enough to ascertain the force of the enemy. + +Taking to the fields for greater safety, the scouts went up the river +several miles farther, without making any discoveries worthy of notice. +The object of the excursion had been fully accomplished; and they began +to retrace their steps towards the creek, where the boat was waiting +their return. When we are well employed, time passes away very rapidly; +and our adventurers had taken no note of its passage. Before they had +made a single mile, the bright streaks of day in the east warned them +that they had remained too long for their own safety. + +The prospect of being examined by rebel officers in broad daylight was +not pleasant; and, increasing their speed, they walked by the shortest +way towards the creek. When they had passed the battery of artillery, +they abandoned the fields, through which they could make but slow +progress, for the road. They had three miles farther to go, and it was +now nearly sunrise. + +"I think we must have lost two or three hours," said Somers as they +hastened on their way. "I had no idea that it was more than two o'clock +in the morning when we turned about." + +"Nor I," replied De Banyan. "We must have spent two or three hours in +crawling on the ground about that battery." + +"I don't see where the time is all gone." + +"It goes fast when we are busy. When I was in the Crimea----" + +"Never mind the Crimea now," protested Somers, who was in no mood for his +companion's fibs. + +"Don't be crusty, Somers." + +"I did not mean to be crusty; but you know my opinion about those stories +of the Crimea and the Italian war, and I don't think it is a good plan to +talk so much over here." + +"As you please; it is your turn to speak next." + +"I meant no offense." + +"I know you didn't, Somers; but you reproved me, and I can only hold my +peace; for you are the commander of this expedition." + +"You know I like you as a brother; but I don't like those silly yarns +about your impossible achievements. Hark! What's that?" + +This last remark was caused by the sound of horses' feet behind them; and +our travelers looked back with eager interest to ascertain what was +approaching. It was a body of cavalry, which had just swept round a bend +of the road, and was now in plain sight of them. + +"That won't do," said De Banyan with energy. "We must conceal ourselves." + +"I think they have seen us, and we may as well make the best of it. If we +hide, they will certainly suspect us." + +"They have not seen us yet. They are half a mile off," replied the +captain, as he retired to the field by the side of the road. + +Somers followed him, though he did not fully approve the policy of his +friend. They walked a short distance till they came to a covert of +bushes, in which they concealed themselves. + +"I think we have made a mistake. The dog always bites when you attempt to +run away from him," said Somers. + +"I don't think they saw us," persisted De Banyan. "If they did, we can +tell as good a story here as we could in the road." + +"I always believe in facing the music. I have found that impudence will +carry a man a great deal farther and a great deal faster than his legs +can." + +"Perhaps you are right, Somers. When I was in Italy----" + +"Bah! Don't say Italy or Crimea again till we reach the other side of the +river," interposed Somers, who was too seriously affected by the perils +of their situation to be willing to listen to any of his companion's +hallucinations. + +"Just as you please, Somers," answered the captain, unmoved by the +rebuff; "but, when I was doing scout duty before the battle of Magenta, I +saw the advance of the Austrians coming up behind me. I crawled into a +haystack, and remained there while the whole army of the Austrians, about +four hundred thousand men, passed by me." + +Somers could not but smile at the infatuation of his friend, who at such +a perilous moment could indulge in such a vicious practice as that of +inventing great stories. He did not even ask him how long it took the +Austrian army to pass the haystack, whether they had haystacks in Italy, +nor if it was probable that such an army would pass over a single road. +He waited patiently, or impatiently, for the approach of the rebel +cavalry, which soon reached the road near the bushes where they were +hidden. + +To his consternation, they came to a dead halt; and he could see the men +gazing earnestly in the direction they had retired. Then half a dozen of +the troopers entered the field, and rode directly towards the covert of +bushes. + +"We are caught!" whispered Somers. + +"That's so. Just after the battle of Palestro, when I----" + +"Hush!" + +"Hush it is," replied De Banyan, as coolly as though he had been under +his shelter tent on the other side of the James. + +Taking a knife from his pocket, he began to cut away at a straight bush +which grew near him, and was thus busily employed when the soldiers +reached the spot. Somers stretched himself on the ground, and waited the +issue of the event; deciding to let his companion, who had got him into +the scrape, extricate him from it. The coolness of the captain, and the +peculiar manner he assumed, convinced him that he had some resources upon +which to draw in this trying emergency. + +"Hallo, there!" shouted one of the troopers savagely, as though he +intended to carry consternation in the tones of his voice. + +"How are you, old hoss?" inquired De Banyan, as impudently as though he +had been the lord of the manor. + +"What ye doin' in here?" demanded the horseman, as he forced his animal +into the bushes far enough to obtain a full view of both of the +fugitives. + +"Well, old hoss, if Heaven gin you two eyes, what were they gin to ye +fur?" replied the captain, still hacking away at the sapling. + +"What d'ye run for when you saw us coming?" + +"Didn't run." + +"Yes, yer did." + +"You know best, then." + +"What d'ye come in here fur?" + +"Don't ye see what I came in here for?" replied De Banyan, as he finished +cutting off the bush, and proceeded to trim off the branches. + +"Who are you?" + +"Well, old hoss, I'm the brother of my father's oldest son." + +"What's yer name?" + +"Hain't got any; had a difficulty with the district attorney in our +county, and lost it." + +"Come out here, and show yerself. The cap'n wants to see yer down to the +road." + +"Just goin' down there. Say, you hain't got a spare hoss in your caravan, +have you? I'm gettin' amazin' tired." + +"Come out, both of you. I can't stay here all day." + +"Needn't wait for me; I'm in no hurry," answered the captain, as he +slowly emerged from the bushes, followed by Somers. + +"But I shall wait for yer; and, if yer don't step along lively, I'll let +yer know how this cheese-knife feels." + +"Don't distress yourself to do anything of the sort," said De Banyan; and +he hobbled along on his new-made cane. + +A walk of a few rods brought them to the road, where the commander of the +company was impatiently awaiting their arrival. He looked daggers at the +travelers, and evidently intended to annihilate them by the fierceness of +his visage. + +"Give an account of yourself," said he. + +"We're no account," replied De Banyan. + +"I've seen you before," continued the cavalry commander, gazing intently +at the captain. + +"No; you saw me behind." + +"That sounds like you. Why, really, it is Barney Marvel." + +"Who?" demanded De Banyan with an expression of humor. + +"Barney Marvel! Don't you know your own name? Give us your hand, Barney," +added the officer, as he extended his own. + +"Well, cap'n, perhaps I'm Barney what's-his-name; but, 'pon my word, I +don't think I am;" and De Banyan wore a troubled expression, even to the +eyes of his anxious companion. + +"Don't be modest about it, Barney. You left us rather unceremoniously; +but I hope you'll be able to show that it was all right." + +"'Pon my word it was all right, though I haven't the least idea what you +mean." + +"Haven't you, indeed, Barney?" laughed the captain, who, in spite of his +present happy manner, was evidently as much puzzled as the other party. + +"'Pon my word, I haven't." + +"Do you mean to say you are not Barney Marvel, formerly a lieutenant in +the Third Tennessee?" + +"Not if I know it." + +"I suppose I understood your position, Barney; but I advise you not to +deny facts." + +"I never deny facts, captain; you haven't told me your name yet." + +"No need of that. Now, be honest, Barney. Tell us all about it. There +wasn't an officer in the regiment that didn't mourn you as a brother when +you left us." + +"I'm very much obliged to them," replied De Banyan lightly; but even +Somers began to have some doubts in regard to his popular friend. + +"How are Magenta, Solferino, and the Crimea, now-a-days?" demanded the +officer. + +"Never heard of such places. Don't know much about geography," answered +the captain. + +Somers was confounded when the officer repeated these words, which was +proof positive that he was the man whom the captain represented him to +be. + +"Sergeant, dismount, and tell me if you find B. M. on that man's right +arm." + +The sergeant obeyed, and, with the assistance of another, bared the +captain's arm, where they found, plainly marked in India ink, the +initials B. M. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE THIRD TENNESSEE + + +Probably there was no one in either party who was so thoroughly +bewildered by the incident which had just transpired as Captain Somers. +The mystery of his companion's antecedents was in a fair way to be +cleared up, though in a very unsatisfactory manner to those most +intimately concerned. The conversation, and the verification of the rebel +officer's statements, showed that De Banyan was not De Banyan; that the +brave and brilliant Federal officer was not a Federal officer; that, of +all he had been, only the "brave" and "brilliant" remained. + +It was painfully evident that the bold and dashing captain was, or had +been, a rebel officer. Somers was terribly shocked at the discovery, even +while it was a satisfaction to have the mystery of his companion's +previous life explained. For the time, he forgot the perils of his own +situation in the interest he felt in the affairs of his friend. Perhaps +De Banyan was a spy, who had been serving in the Union army for the +purpose of conveying information to the enemy. He had been very glad of +the opportunity to cross the river; and it seemed probable to our hero +that he wished to return to his friends. It is true, the efficient +services of the captain in the Army of the Potomac, his readiness at all +times to fight the rebels, and especially his shooting down the enemy's +pickets in the swamp, were not exactly consistent with such a record; but +perhaps he had done these things to keep up appearances, and thus enable +him the better to promote the objects of the rebellion. + +He was anxious to hear the captain's explanation of these gross charges; +but, of course, that was utterly impracticable at present. In the +meantime, there was no room to doubt that the cavalry officer had all the +truth on his side. He had hinted very strongly that De Banyan was a +deserter; but he might have deserted for the purpose of performing the +special duty which had been assigned to him. Officers and soldiers, sent +out as spies, had often incurred the odium of such a reputation, in order +to keep their own counsels, and serve their country the more faithfully. + +If Captain de Banyan was a deserter in appearance only, he would, of +course, soon be able to make his fidelity and patriotism apparent to the +rebel authorities; and being a patriot, in the traitor use of the word, +he could not do less than denounce his companion as a Federal spy. +Whatever turn the affair might take, Somers felt that his own chances of +escape were every moment becoming beautifully less. If De Banyan was a +faithful rebel, there was proof positive that his companion was a spy; if +not, he was in the company of a deserter, and would be subjected to all +manner of suspicion. + +De Banyan still held his head up, and did not lose his impudence, even +after the letters had been found upon his arm. He did not appear to be at +all confused by the discovery and the triumph of the cavalry officer's +argument. He punched Somers in the side with his elbow; but the latter +was unable to divine the significance of this movement. + +"Well, Barney, I wish somebody else had caught you instead of me; for it +is not pleasant to find an old friend under such circumstances." + +"If you please, captain, I haven't the pleasure of knowing your name." + +"Come, Barney, don't keep up this farce any longer." + +"I was about to beg the favor, that you would not call me by that +offensive name any longer." + +"You seem to be changing your colors very rapidly," laughed the officer. +"When I first saw you, you were a rough-spoken fellow; but now you use +the language of a polished gentleman. Barney, you and I were good friends +in the Third Tennessee; and, though I am sorry to meet you under these +circumstances, we must both make the best of it." + +"I tell you, captain, you are entirely mistaken in your man. I never was +in Tennessee in my life." + +"Good! You were always celebrated for monstrous stories; and they are +fully in keeping with your past history. Well, since you refuse to +recognize an old friend, of course I shall be excused for any unpleasant +measures to which I may be compelled to resort." + +"Anything you please, captain, so long as you refrain from calling me +Barney, which in my estimation is a low and vulgar cognomen, that I am +unwilling to have applied to me." + +"Who is the man with you?" demanded the officer in more business-like +tones. + +"His name is Tom Leathers; he's a pilot on the James. We refer you to +Captain Osborn for evidence of our character. We came here to do a job +for him." + +"All right, then. Captain Osborn lodges at the next house on this road, +and we will let him speak for the other man. He can't speak for you; for +I know you better than he does, or any other man who has not served in +the Third Tennessee. As you were going this way, you can walk along with +us." + +"Thank you for the polite invitation, and this is a handsome escort for a +man of my humble pretensions." + +The captain of the company ordered his men to keep back, and Somers and +De Banyan walked by the side of his horse, a few yards in advance of the +platoons. He had evidently adopted this method to draw out his prisoners; +for as such our officers were compelled to regard themselves. + +"Marvel, you used to be a very sensible fellow when you were in the Third +Tennessee," said the rebel captain. "I am surprised to see you adopting +such a stupid method to conceal your identity." + +"I had good reasons for it," replied De Banyan, casting his eyes behind +him, as if to assure himself that none of the soldiers were within +hearing. + +"What reasons?" asked the officer curiously. + +"I should think a man of your discretion would easily understand the +reason, without any explanation. If I am to be tried for any offense, I +don't want to be judged by a whole company of cavalry. You know I always +took pride in my reputation." + +"I used to think so; but, when we missed you one day, we got rid of that +opinion in the Third Tennessee." + +"Then you wronged me; for I have faithfully served my country from that +day to this." + +"I am glad to hear it, and I hope you will be able to prove what you have +said. How came you here?" + +"I came over from the other side of the river last night. You intimated +that my departure from the Third was not all regular," added the captain. + +"In a word, it was understood that you had deserted." + +"That was a mistake." + +"I am very glad to hear it; but you will remember that your loyalty to +the Southern Confederacy was not above suspicion when you joined the +regiment." + +De Banyan punched Somers with his elbow at these words, as though he +wished him to take particular notice of them; but his admiring friend +needed no such admonition to induce him to give strict attention to the +statement, for it was the most satisfactory remark he had heard during +the interview. Captain de Banyan rose twenty-five per cent in his +estimation at the utterance of those words, however injurious they were +in the opinion of him who had spoken them. There was hope for the +captain; and Somers trusted that he would be able fully to exonerate +himself from the foul charge, when the occasion should permit such an +exposition. + +"My loyalty ought to be considered above suspicion, and those who know me +best do so regard it," added De Banyan as he administered another mild +punch on the ribs of his fellow-sufferer. "I was taken by the Yankees, in +short; and, at the first convenient opportunity, I have come over to see +you again." + +"I hope it is all right, Barney; but I am afraid it is not." + +"I shall be able to clear myself of every imputation of disloyalty, +before the proper tribunal." + +"How did you get over?" + +"I have been following the fortunes of the Yankee army till last night; +when I took a boat, and came over the river. On the way I met a pilot +whose name was Andy, who turned me over to this man, who is also a pilot, +and came down to take out a fire-ship." + +"The one that was burned in the creek last night?" + +"The same. I refer you to Captain Osborn for the truth of the last part +of my statement; though the time was when you did not ask me to bring +vouchers for what I said." + +"For nothing, except your stories of the Crimea and the Italian war," +replied the captain of cavalry with a significant smile. "I must do you +the justice to say, that I never knew you to tell a falsehood on any +matter connected with your social or business relations." + +"Thank you for so much," replied De Banyan. "Now that I have made it all +right, I suppose you needn't trouble yourself to attend to my affairs any +further." + +"No trouble at all, I assure you. Under the circumstances, I shall feel +it my duty to deliver you into the hands of my superiors, and they can do +as they please with you. But I sincerely hope that you will be able to +vindicate your character from the stain which rests upon it." + +"I don't think it needs any vindication." + +"There is some difference of opinion between us on that point. Where are +you going now?" + +"To Richmond," replied De Banyan promptly; and perhaps he intended to go +there with the Army of the Potomac, though its present prospects of +reaching the rebel capital were not very favorable. + +"This is not the way to Richmond. Your stories don't agree very well." + +"I thought it was; or rather to Petersburg, and from there we expected to +get a ride up in the cars." + +"Oh, very well! I can procure you a pass to Richmond," added the rebel. + +"And an escort to attend us, I suppose," replied De Banyan with a smile. + +"A small one; but here is the house where Captain Osborn lodges. If he +knows your friend here, and can vouch for his loyalty, all well; if not, +we shall not part two such loving friends." + +Captain Osborn had not risen when the company of cavalry reached his +quarters; but he was called from his bed, and appeared in front of the +house in the worst possible humor; for, being human, he did not like to +have his slumbers disturbed by unseasonable calls. As Somers feared +Captain Osborn denied all knowledge of the prisoners, except so far as +related to his interview with them during the night. He had never seen +either of them before; and he even took the trouble to add that he didn't +believe the young fellow was a pilot, which was gratuitous and uncalled +for on his part. + +"Well, Marvel," added the cavalry officer rather coldly, "this business +is settled very much as I supposed it would be. I shall have to send you +up to Richmond, where, if your stories are all true, I doubt not you will +be able to clear yourself." + +"Thank you, captain. You are the same affectionate fellow you used to be +when you were a lieutenant in the Third Tennessee," replied De Banyan +with a sneer; for it was evident that he was not at all pleased with the +result of the affair. + +Four soldiers were detailed from the company to conduct the prisoners to +a certain camp near the railroad at City Point, and there deliver them +over to the keeping of an officer whose name was mentioned. + +"Good-morning, captain," said De Banyan with forced gayety. + +"Good-morning, Marvel, and success to you." + +"Thank you." + +"By the way, Barney, if there is anything I can do for you, don't fail to +call upon me; that is, anything consistent with the duty of a faithful +officer." + +"Such a remark was entirely uncalled for," said De Banyan with dignity. +"Do you think I would ask an officer to sacrifice his conscience?" + +"Excuse me, Barney. I meant no offense," added the rebel captain, touched +by the proud and dignified manner of his former friend. + +"Your words and your conduct are in keeping with each other." + +"Really, Barney, I meant nothing by the remark." + +"Then it was the more unmanly to make it." + +"I am still your friend. In proof of it, permit me to do you a favor," +pleaded the rebel, much concerned at the wound he had inflicted on the +sensitive nature of his late associate in the Third Tennessee. + +"I ask no favors," answered De Banyan proudly. + +"You are too hard upon me. Upon my word, I meant no offense. As a proof +of my friendship, I will take your parole of honor not to escape, and you +shall report at Richmond at your own pleasure. If you have any interest +in this young man, I will allow him the same favor." + +"After what has happened, I cannot accept a favor at your hands. I can't +see how an officer who doubts my word should be willing to take my +parole." + +"As you please, Marvel," added the captain petulantly. "I can do no more +for you." + +Somers was greatly relieved when the rebel officer rode off, followed by +his company. He had trembled with anxiety, when the parole was offered to +De Banyan, lest he should accept it, and thus compel him to do the same. +Although he could not see how it was to be brought about, he intended to +escape from the hands of his captors at the first convenient opportunity, +with or without De Banyan, as the case should demand. + +One of the four troopers detailed to guard the prisoners was a sergeant, +who intimated to them that they might take up the line of march for the +camp where they were bound. To preclude the possibility of an escape, he +ordered two of his men to ride ahead of the captives, while himself and +the other followed in the rear. The little procession moved off; and +there was never a sadder-hearted young man than Somers, who, were his +true character discovered, was liable to the pains and penalties of being +a spy. + +"Sergeant, have you been to breakfast?" demanded De Banyan, after they +had walked a couple of miles, and were passing a farm-house. + +"No, sir." + +"I smell fried bacon, and am willing to pay for breakfast for the whole +party. What do you say?" + +"There is nothing in my orders to prevent me from taking up your offer; +and I will do it, if you will agree not to run away while we are at the +house," replied the prudent soldier. + +"How shall we run away, with four men watching us?" demanded De Banyan. + +The sergeant seemed to be satisfied with this argument; and they entered +the house, where breakfast was soon in preparation for them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE REBEL FARM-HOUSE + + +Somers, besides the chagrin caused by his capture, was greatly disturbed +by the astounding discoveries he had made in regard to Captain de Banyan. +He was extremely anxious to obtain an opportunity to converse with him in +relation to his disgraceful antecedents; but the presence of the rebel +soldiers prevented him from saying a word. Yet his looks must have +betrayed the distrust he felt in his companion; for De Banyan seemed to +study his face more than the faces of their captors. + +By this time, the six trusty soldiers who had been selected to +participate in the enterprise must have given them up, and returned to +the camp with the sad story of their capture. It was mortifying to Somers +to have such a report carried to the general of the division; for it +seemed to be an imputation upon his skill and tact; but he found some +consolation in believing that he should not have been taken if it had not +been for his unfortunate connection with Captain de Banyan, who was rash +beyond measure in venturing within the rebel lines, unless he really +meant to return to the Third Tennessee. + +Whatever the captain was, and whatever he intended to do, Somers could +not believe that his late friend had deliberately betrayed him into the +hands of the enemy. It might be so; or it might be that to save himself +from the consequences of his alleged desertion, he would claim to have +been always a faithful adherent of the Southern Confederacy. Somers was +perplexed beyond description by the perils and uncertainties of his +situation. He had, in fact, lost confidence in his companion; and the +result was, that he resolved to make his escape, if he could, from the +hands of the rebels without him. Under other circumstances, he would have +deemed it infamous to harbor, for an instant, the thought of deserting a +friend in the hour of extremity; and nothing but the remembrance of the +Third Tennessee could have induced him to adopt such a resolution. Having +adopted it, he kept his eyes wide open for any opportunity which would +favor his purpose. His curiosity, excited to the highest pitch to know +what the captain could say in defense of the heinous charge which had +been fastened upon him by the rebel cavalry officer, and which he himself +had substantiated, rendered the intention to part company with him very +disagreeable; but the terror of a rebel prison, and perhaps a worse fate, +were potent arguments in its favor. + +In the course of half an hour, the breakfast was ready, and the party sat +down with a hearty relish to discuss it. The fried bacon and biscuit were +luxuries to Somers, and he partook of them with a keener satisfaction +than he did of the costly viands of the "Continental" and the "National;" +but, deeply as he was interested in this pleasant employment, he hardly +ceased for a moment to think of the grand project of making his escape. +For the time, this had become the great business of existence, and he +banished from his mind all minor questions. + +Opportunity is seldom wanting to those who are resolutely determined to +do great deeds. Only the slow-molded and irresolute want a time and a +place. The breakfast was finished, and the troopers and their prisoners +were on excellent terms with each other long before the conclusion of the +repast. Eating and drinking promote the social feeling; and Captain de +Banyan was as brilliant as he had ever been in the camps of the +Chickahominy. He made the rebels laugh, and excited their wonder by the +most improbable stories in which even he had ever indulged. It would have +been impossible to distinguish between the captives and the captors; for +the latter were extremely considerate, as they had probably been +instructed to be by the captain of the company. + +When the meal was finished, the troopers rose, and proposed to resume the +journey. De Banyan paid the bill in gold; for there was still a small +portion of the precious metal in the army. + +"Now we are ready," said the sergeant; "and we will get our horses. It's +a pity we haven't horses for you; but, when you get tired, we will give +you the use of the saddles for a time." + +"Thank you, my friend. That's handsome. You remind me of a Russian +major-general, who insisted that I should ride his animal while he walked +by my side, after I was taken prisoner in the battle of Austerlitz." + +"He was a good fellow," replied the sergeant, who probably did not +remember the precise date of the celebrated battle quoted by the +versatile captain. "We shall not be behind him; and, if you like, you +shall have the first ride on my horse." + +"Thank you; but I couldn't think of depriving you of your horse, even for +a moment." + +"Well, we will settle all that by and by. Come with me now, if you +please," said the sergeant, as he led the way out of the house. + +As very little attention seemed to be paid to Somers--for the rebels +evidently did not regard him as either a slippery or a dangerous +person--he was permitted to bring up the rear. Now, it is always +mortifying to be held in slight esteem, especially to a sensitive mind +like that of our hero; and he resented the slight by declining to follow +the party. Near the outside door, as they passed out, he discovered +another door, which was ajar, and which led up-stairs. Without any waste +of valuable time, he slyly stepped through the doorway, and ascended the +stairs. The rebels were so busy in listening to the great stories of +Captain de Banyan, that they did not immediately discover the absence of +the unpretending young man. + +When our resolute adventurer saw the stairs through the partially open +door, they suggested to him a method of operations. It is true, he did +not have time to elaborate the plan, and fully determine what he should +do when he went up-stairs; but the general idea, that he could drop out +of a window and escape in the rear of the house, struck him forcibly, and +he impulsively embraced the opportunity thus presented. The building was +an ordinary Virginia farm-house, rudely constructed, and very imperfectly +finished. On ascending the stairs, Somers reached a large, unfinished +apartment, which was used as a store-room. From it opened, at each end of +the house, a large chamber. + +No place of concealment, which was apparently suitable for his purpose, +presented itself; and, without loss of time, he mounted a grain chest, +and ascended to the loft over one of the rooms; for the beams were not +floored in the middle of the building. The aspect of this place was not +at all hopeful; for there were none of those convenient "cubby holes," +which most houses contain, wherein he could bestow his body with any hope +of escaping even a cursory search for him. + +In the gable end, on one side of the chimney, which, our readers are +aware, is generally built on the outside of the structure, in Virginia, +was a small window, one-half of which, in the decay of the glass panes, +had been boarded up to exclude the wind and the rain. The job had +evidently been performed by a bungling hand, and had never been more than +half done. The wood was as rotten as punk; and without difficulty, and +without much noise, the fugitive succeeded in removing the board which +had covered the lower part of the window. + +By this time the absence of the prisoner had been discovered, and the +rebels were in a state of high excitement on account of it; but Somers +was pleased to find they had not rightly conjectured the theory of his +escape. He could hear them swear, and hear them considering the direction +in which he had gone. Two of them stood under the window, to which Somers +had restored the board he had removed; and he could distinctly hear all +that they said. + +"Of course he did," said one of them. "He slipped round the corner of the +house when we came out." + +"If he did, where is he? It's open ground round here; and he couldn't +have gone ten rods before we missed him." + +"The captain will give it to me," replied the other, whose voice the +fugitive recognized to be that of the sergeant. + +"We shall find him," added the other. "He can't be twenty rods from here +now." + +"I did not think of the young fellow running off, but kept both eyes on +the other all the time; for I thought he wasn't telling all those stories +for nothing." + +"Maybe he is in the house," suggested the other. + +Somers thought that was a very bad suggestion of the rebel soldier; and, +if there had been any hope of their believing him, he would himself have +informed them that he was not in the house, and reconciled his conscience +as best he could to the falsehood. + +"Can't yer find 'em?" demanded a third person, which Somers saw, through +the aperture he had left between the board and the window, was the +farmer. + +"We haven't lost but one." + +"He can't be fur from this yere." + +"Isn't he in the house?" demanded the sergeant anxiously. + +"No; I saw them both foller yer out." + +"So did I," added the farmer's wife, who had come out to learn the cause +of the excitement. + +"Well, then, we must beat about here, and find him;" and the party +beneath the window moved away in the rear of the house. + +Thus far, the project was hopeful; but it was apparent to Somers that the +rebels would not leave the place without searching the house, after they +had satisfied themselves that the fugitive was not hidden in any of the +out-buildings of the farm. If they did so, his situation would at once +become hopeless, if he remained where he was. The remembrance of his +former experience in a chimney, in another part of Virginia, caused him +to cast a wistful eye at the great stone structure which adorned the end +of the building. At that time, he had occupied his smoky quarters with +the knowledge and consent of the lady of the house. But now his secret +was lodged in his own breast alone; not even Captain de Banyan knew where +he was, or what he proposed to do. + +When the party beneath the window left the place, he carefully removed +the board, and thrust out his head to reconnoiter the position. The only +way by which he could enter the chimney, which his former experience and +prejudice assured him was the only safe place in the vicinity, was by the +top. To achieve such a result was a difficult piece of gymnastics, even +if it could have been performed without reference to any spectators; but +to accomplish it without being seen by any of the party below was as near +an impossibility as any impracticable thing could be. + +The rebels, both civil and military, were now out of sight; but he +doubted not from his eyrie on the ridge-pole of the house, if he could +reach it, they could all be seen. Somers was as prudent as he was bold, +and he decided not to run any risks until necessity should absolutely +compel such a course. Quietly ensconcing himself beneath the window, +where he could hear what transpired below, he waited the issue; but he +had studied out the precise steps which it would be necessary for him to +take in order to reach the roof of the house. He knew exactly where his +right and his left foot were to be successfully planted to achieve his +purpose, when it could no longer be postponed. But he indulged a faint +hope that the rebels would widen the area of their search, and finally +abandon it when it should be unsuccessful. + +A long quarter of an hour elapsed--long enough to be an hour's time as +its ordinary flow is measured; so burdened with intense anxiety was each +second that made up its sum total. The rebels, assisted by the farmer and +his wife, who were now hardly less zealous than the soldiers, had +examined every hole and corner in the vicinity of the house, without +finding the escaped prisoner. + +"I tell you, he must be in the house," said the sergeant, as the party +paused under the window on their return to the front of the house. + +"Of course, ye kin look in the house if yer like; but I see 'em both go +out of the door with yer," persisted the farmer. + +"We will search the house," added the sergeant resolutely. + +"Yer kin, if yer like; but I hope yer won't lose the other feller while +ye're looking for this one." + +"I told Gordon to shoot him if he attempted to get away; and I can trust +Gordon." + +They passed out of hearing, and Somers felt that his time had come. But, +as we have several times before had occasion to remark, strategy is +successful in one only by the blunders and inertness of the other; and he +cherished with increased enthusiasm his project of hiding in the chimney. +Neither the farmer nor the soldiers were trained detectives, and the +blunder they made which rendered Somers's strategy more available was in +hunting in crowds instead of singly. They all entered the house together; +and even Gordon, in charge of the other prisoner, conducted him to the +interior, that he might have the pleasure of seeing the fugitive +unearthed. + +Taking down the board, Somers emerged from the little window, and, by the +steps which he had before marked out, ascended to the roof; a difficult +feat, which would have been impossible to one whose father was not the +master of a vessel, and who had not explored a ship from the step to the +truck of the mainmast. It was done, safely done, and without much noise, +which would have been as fatal as a fall. As he sprang from the window +still to a projecting stone in the chimney, he heard the steps of the +whole party on the stairs below. He was not an instant too soon in the +execution of his project; and, when he reached the ridge-pole of the +house, he paused to recover the breath which he had lost by excitement +and exertion. + +The pursuers occupied some time in examining the store-room and the +adjoining chambers, and he had a sufficient interval for rest before he +renewed his labors. But in a few moments he heard the noise caused by the +party ascending to the loft over the room beneath him, and the movement +could no longer be delayed. + +"I tell yer, sergeant, the feller isn't in here!" protested the farmer +violently, and in a tone loud enough for Somers to hear him on the roof. +"Be keerful there, or you'll break down the plastering." + +Somers could not hear what the sergeant said in reply; but the farmer was +so earnest in his protest against any further search of his house, that +the fugitive was almost willing to believe that the protester knew he was +in the house, was his friend, and meant to save him from the hands of his +enemies. But this supposition was too absurd to be tolerated, for the +farmer could have no possible interest in his welfare. + +While watching, he had taken off his shoes, and thrust one into each +side-pocket of the old blouse he wore, partly to save noise, and partly +to prevent his feet from slipping on the smooth stones of the chimney. +Thus prepared, he climbed to the top, and commenced the descent of the +smoky avenue. He found the opening much smaller than that of his previous +experience in chimneys; and, after he had descended a few feet, the place +became inconveniently dark. He could no longer hear the steps or the +voices of his pursuers; and he had begun to congratulate himself on the +ultimate success of his stratagem, when his foot struck upon something +which moved out of his way. It was an animal--perhaps a cat. He moved on. + +"Quit! Lemme alone!" said a snarling voice beneath him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE MAN IN THE CHIMNEY + + +"Lemme alone!" repeated the voice in the chimney several times before +Somers could make up his mind as to the precise nature of the adventure +upon which he had stumbled. + +There was another man in the chimney; and this was the full extent of his +knowledge in regard to the being who had stepped into his darkened path. +A succession of exciting questions presented themselves to his mind, all +of which were intimately connected with the individual with whom, for the +moment, his lot seemed to be cast. Was he friend, or foe? Yankee, rebel, +or neutral? What was he in the chimney for? What business had he there? + +Somers had some knowledge of a useful and otherwise rightly respectable +class of persons, known as chimney-sweeps, who pursue their dark trade up +and down such places as that in which he was now burrowing; but the +sweeps were a civilized institution, and he could hardly expect to find +them in this benighted section of the Ancient Dominion. He did not, +therefore, waste a moment in the consideration of the question, whether +the man beneath him was a chimney-sweep or not; for the supposition was +too improbable even for the pages of a sensational novel. + +The individual was in the chimney; and there seemed to be the boundary of +knowledge on the subject. If he was not crazy, he was there for +concealment; and, thus far the two occupants of the chimney were in +sympathy with each other. Why should the man wish to conceal himself? Was +he a hated Yankee like himself, pursued and hunted down by the myrmidons +of Jeff Davis? Certainly, if he was a rebel, he had no business in the +chimney. It was no place for rebels; they had no occasion to be there. + +Of course, then, the man must be a Yankee, a fellow-sufferer with Somers +himself, and therein entitled to the utmost consideration from him. But, +if a Yankee, what Yankee? The species did not abound on this side of the +river; and he could not imagine who it was, unless it were one of his own +party. Just then, induced by this train of reflection, came a tremendous +suggestion, which seemed more probable than anything he had before +thought of. Was it possible that the other denizen of the sooty flue +could be Captain de Banyan? + +His fellow-prisoner had been taken into the house by his custodian; and, +while the guard was looking the other way, perhaps he had suddenly popped +up the chimney, leaving the rebel soldier in charge of him to believe +that he was in league with the powers of darkness, and had been spirited +away by some diabolical imp. + +In the range of improbable theories which the fertile mind of Somers +suggested to account for the phenomenon of the chimney, this seemed more +reasonable than any of the others. The personage below him very +considerately dropped down a step or two, to enable our theorist to +discuss the question to his own satisfaction; albeit it did not take him +a tithe of the time to do his thinking which it has taken his biographer +to record it. + +"Captain?" said he in a gentle whisper, as insinuating as the breath of a +summer evening to a love-sick girl. + +"I ain't a captain; I'm nothing but a private!" growled the other, who +seemed to be in very ill-humor. + +Nothing but a private! It was not the captain then, after all. He had +hoped, and almost believed, it was. He had told his friend all about his +experience in a chimney; and it seemed to him quite probable that the +valiant hero of Magenta and Solferino had remembered the affair, and +attempted to try his own luck in a similar manner. It was not the voice +of the captain, nor were there any of his peculiarities of tone or +manner. If the other character had only said Balaclava, Alma, or +Palestro, it would have been entirely satisfactory in any tone or in any +manner. + +"What are you doing here?" demanded Somers in the same low voice, with +commendable desire to obtain further knowledge of the dark subject +beneath him. + +"I don't want nothin' of you; so yer kin let me alone. If yer don't let +me alone, I'll be dog derned if I don't ketch hold of yer legs, and pull +yer down chimley." + +"Hush!" said Somers in warning tones. "They will hear you, if you speak +so loud." + +The man was a rebel, or at least a Southerner; and it passed our hero's +comprehension to determine what he was doing in such a place. + +"Hush yerself!" snarled the disconcerted rebel. "What yer want o' me? I +ain't done nothin' to you." + +"I don't want anything of you; but, if you don't keep still, I'll drop a +stone on your head," replied Somers, irritated by the fellow's stupidity. + +"Will yer?" + +"Not if you keep still. Don't you see we are in the same box? I don't +want to be caught, any more than you do." + +"Who be yer?" asked the man, a little mollified by this conciliatory +remark. + +"Never mind who I am now. The soldiers are in the house looking for us; +and, if you make a noise, they will hear you." + +"What regiment do yer belong ter?" said the lower occupant of the chimney +in a whisper. + +"Forty-first," replied Somers at a venture, willing to obtain the +advantage of the fellow's silence. + +"Did yer run away?" + +"No. Did you?" + +"What yer in here fur, if yer didn't run away, then?" asked the deserter +from the rebel army, which it was now sufficiently evident was his +character. + +"Keep still!" replied Somers, regretting that he had not given a +different answer. + +"I know yer!" exclaimed the rebel, making a movement farther down the +chimney, thereby detaching sundry pieces of stone and mortar, which +thundered down upon the hearth below with a din louder, as it seemed to +Somers in his nervousness, than all the batteries of the Army of the +Potomac. "Yer come to ketch me in a trap. Scotch me if I don't blow yer +up so high 'twill take yer six months ter come down ag'in!" + +"Keep still!" pleaded Somers, in despair at the unreasonableness of the +rebel. "The soldiers are after me; and, if they catch me, they will catch +you. 1 don't want to hurt you. If you will only keep still, I will help +you out of the scrape." + +"You go to Babylon! Yer can't fool me! What yer doin' in the chimley?" + +If Somers could quietly have put a bullet through the fellow's head, and +thus have punished him for the crime of desertion, he might have promoted +his own cause; but the bullet would not do its work without powder, and +powder was noisy; and therefore the remedy was as bad as the disorder, to +say nothing of assuming to himself the duty of a rebel provost-marshal. + +"Yer can't fool me!" repeated the fellow, after Somers had tried for a +moment the effect of silence upon him. + +It was unnecessary to fool such an idiot; for Nature had effectually done +the job without human intervention. It was useless to waste words upon +him; and Somers crept cautiously up out of his reach, and out of his +hearing, unless he yelled out his insane speeches. Every moment he +stopped to listen for sounds within the house; but he could hear none, +either because the pursuers had abandoned the search, or because the +double thickness of wood and stone shut out the noise. + +The rebel deserter, for a wonder, kept quiet when Somers retreated from +him, evidently believing that actions spoke louder than words. From his +lower position in the flue, he could look up into the light, and observe +the movements of him whom he regarded as an enemy. He seemed to have +discretion enough to keep still, so long as no direct attack was made +upon him; and to be content to wait for a direct assault before he +attempted to repel it; which was certainly more than Somers expected of +him, after what had transpired. + +Carefully and noiselessly our fugitive made his way to the top of the +chimney for the purpose of ascertaining the position of the pursuers, as +well as to remove all ground of controversy with the intractable +deserter. On reaching the top, he heard the voice of the sergeant at the +window, who had probably just reached this point in his investigations. + +"How came this board knocked off?" demanded the sergeant, who had perhaps +observed some other indications of the advance of the fugitive in this +direction. + +"The wind blowed it off t'other day," promptly replied the farmer. "Yer +don't s'pose the feller went out that winder, do yer?" + +"No; but I think he has been up here somewhere." + +"Well, I hope yer'll find him; but I've showed yer into every hole and +corner in the house; and I tell yer he's five mile from this yere 'fore +now." + +The sergeant looked out of the window, looked up to the top of the +chimney, and looked up to the ridge-pole of the house. He was no sailor +himself; and, if the thought had occurred to him that the Yankee had +passed from this window to the roof of the house, he would have been +willing to take his Bible oath that not a man in the Southern Confederacy +could have accomplished such an impossible feat. He could not do it +himself, and consequently he believed that no other man could. After +examining the situation to his entire satisfaction, he retired from the +window, and with a great many impolite and wicked oaths, aimed at Yankees +in general, and deserters in particular, he descended from the loft, and +abandoned the search. + +Somers was happy, and even forgave the deserter in the lower part of the +chimney for his stupidity. He waited patiently for the troopers to +depart--very patiently, now that the burden of the peril seemed to be +over; for he had heard the conclusions of the sergeant at the window. +From his present perch near the top of the chimney, he could hear some of +the conversation in front of the house; and he even ventured to take a +look at his enemies below. To his intense satisfaction, he saw them mount +their horses: and he was not much disturbed by the unamiable reflections +which they cast upon him. + +Captain de Banyan was with them; thus proving in the most conclusive +manner that the gentleman in the chimney was not this distinguished +individual. Having lost one prisoner, they were particularly cautious in +regard to the disposition of the other. The captain marched off in gloomy +dignity, with two cavalrymen before and two behind him. Somers caught a +glance at his face as he turned the corner into the road. It was sad +beyond anything which he had ever observed in his countenance before, and +a momentary twinge of conscience upbraided him for deserting a comrade in +such an hour; he might have waited till both of them could escape +together. But the captain's record in the Third Tennessee assured him +that he had only done his duty; though he hoped his brilliant friend +would be able, if an opportunity was ever presented, to remove the stain +which now rested on his name and fame. + +With a feeling of intense relief, however much he commiserated the +misfortunes of his comrade, Somers saw the little procession move up the +road which led to Richmond and a rebel dungeon. They disappeared; and +while he was considering in what manner he should make his way down to +the creek, where he hoped to find a boat in which to leave this +treacherous soil, he heard a voice beneath him, and farther down than the +locality of the deserter. + +"Yer kin come down now, Tom," said the farmer. + +Though the name was his own, the invitation was evidently not intended +for him; and he remained quietly on his perch, waiting for further +developments. + +"Hev they all gone, dad?" asked the deserter. + +"Yes; all gone. Yer kin come down now." + +The renegade, then, was the son of the farmer; which accounted for the +unwillingness of the latter to have the house searched by the soldiers; +and, though Somers had a general contempt for deserters, he felt his +indebtedness to this interesting family for the service they had +unwittingly endeavored to render him. + +Tom--Somers wanted to have his name changed then--Tom descended from his +position in the chimney. It was an easy matter; for the kitchen was at +the other end of the house, and there had been no fire on this hearth for +many a month. + +"Dad," said this graceless son of a graceless sire. + +"Go and wash yer face, Tom. Ye're blacker than Black Jack." + +"Dad, there's another man up the chimley. We come near havin' a fight up +there. I told him what I would do; and he got skeered, and went up top." + +"What d'yer mean, Tom?" demanded the patriarch. + +Tom stated again, more explicitly than before, the subject matter of his +startling communication. + +"I reckon he's a Yank, dad; he talks like one, but says he b'longs to the +Forty-fust Virginny. I know he's a Yank. I kin smell one a mile off." + +Somers was flattered; but he was not angry at the compliment, and calmly +waited for an invitation to join the family below. + +"He's the feller that gin the soldiers the slip," added the father. "The +sergeant says he's a Yank; but t'other prisoner says he's a James River +pilot." + +"I know he's a Yank. He'd 'a' killed me if I hadn't skeered him off." + +"I reckon he skeered you more'n you skeered him," added the head of the +family, who appeared not to have a very high opinion of his son's +courage. "We'll smoke him out, Tom. Go'n git some pitch-wood and sich +truck." + +Somers had a very strong objection to being smoked out, and he commenced +a forward and downward movement in the direction of the assailing party. +Fearing that some unworthy advantage might be taken of his lower +extremities before he could assume an attitude of defense, he drew his +pistol, and placed himself a few feet above the fire-place. Tom returned +with the fuel, and the old man ordered him to make a fire. + +"One moment, if you please," said Somers. "I'll shoot the first man of +you that attempts to make a fire there." + +With an exclamation of terror, Tom retreated from the hearth; and Somers, +improving the opportunity, leaped down from his perch. Stepping out from +the great fire-place, he stood in the presence of the hopeful son and +sire. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +A BROKEN BARGAIN + + +Somers was entirely satisfied with himself when he stood in the presence +of the farmer and his son; and, so far as they were concerned, he had no +fears for the future. The redoubtable Tom retired to one corner of the +room, and, full of terror, awaited the issue. The father was the braver +of the two, and stood in the middle of the floor, confronting the +pestilent Yankee who had thus so unceremoniously invaded his house. + +"Who be you?" demanded the old man. + +"No matter who I am," replied Somers, with the pistol still in his hand. +"I propose to spend the day with you, and will pay for everything I +have." + +"Perhaps yer will stay here, and perhaps yer won't," replied the farmer +doggedly. + +"There's no perhaps about it; I intend to stay here." + +"I s'pose yer don't keer whether I'm willing or not." + +"On the contrary, I do care. I had much rather stay with your consent +than without." + +"Well, then, yer won't stay with my consent." + +"Then I shall stay without it," answered Somers, with a degree of +decision which was exceedingly annoying to his involuntary host. + +"No, yer won't," growled the farmer. + +"I will pay you well for the use of this room, and for all that I eat and +drink," said Somers, wishing to be fully understood. + +"Yer can't stay here." + +"No, yer can't," added Tom. + +"I have made you a fair offer, and am willing to do what is right; and, +as I said before, I intend to stay here till to-night, whether you are +willing or not." + +"Yer kin put up your pistol; I ain't afeerd on it." + +"I have no desire to use the pistol to your injury, and shall not do so +unless in self-defense. You know that I am a fugitive." + +"A nigger, by gracious!" exclaimed the farmer, whose vocabulary was very +limited, and who had no idea that the word "fugitive" could mean anything +but a runaway negro. + +"You know that the soldiers are after me, and it will not be safe for me +to leave this house before dark. I'm not a nigger; and it makes no +difference to you what I am." + +"You are a dirty Yankee; and I'd rather hev a hundred niggers in my house +than one Yankee." + +"That's a matter of taste. If you are fond of negroes, I don't interfere +with you for that." + +"Shet up!" snarled the farmer, highly displeased with the answer of the +fugitive. "I won't hev a Yankee in my house a single hour." + +"Very well; we won't argue the matter. You can do anything you please +about it," replied Somers with perfect indifference as he seated himself +in a chair. + +"Then yer kin leave." + +"I shall not leave; on the contrary, I shall remain here till night." + +"I reckon we'll see about that. I'll jest go down and call up two or +three of them soldiers, and let 'em know you're a Yankee. I calkilate +they'll tote you out of this rather sudden." + +"Go ahead!" replied Somers coolly. + +"I reckon ye'll tell another story by the time they git here." + +"I reckon your son Tom will too," added the unwelcome guest. + +"See here, dad; that won't work, nohow," interposed the hopeful son. +"They'll ketch me if yer do." + +"Exactly so," added Somers, who, of course, had depended upon the +situation of the rebel deserter for his own safety. + +The farmer looked at his intractable guest, and then upon his dutiful +son; and the idea tardily passed through his dull brain that the soldiers +would be just as dangerous to the welfare of the son as to the visitor. +Probably he had intended, when the military force came, to send Tom up +the chimney, as he had done a dozen times before; but the secret was no +longer in the keeping of the family alone. + +"I see you understand the case perfectly," said Somers, as he +contemplated with intense satisfaction the blank dismay of both father +and son. "If you had the wisdom of Solomon, you couldn't comprehend it +any better." + +"I reckon ye're about right, stranger," replied the farmer. + +"You can see now it is for your interest as well as mine that we make +friends. Tom's safety and mine are both the same thing. The best you can +do is to take good care of me to-day, and at night help me to make my way +over to the other side of the river." + +"Then yer be a Yank?" + +"I didn't say so. Tom can go with me if he likes. He will be safer there +than here." + +"Tom?" + +"If he is a deserter from the rebel army, he will be caught sooner or +later, and be shot. He will be safe on the other side of the river." + +"Go over to the Yanks! He hates 'em wurs'n pizin. Don't yer, Tom?" + +"Bet yer life I do, dad," replied the hopeful son. "I won't go over thar, +nohow." + +"Just as he pleases about that. I only wanted to do him a friendly act." + +"Well, stranger, I don't mind keepin' yer to-day; but Tom can't go with +yer." + +"Very well; then I will stay in this room; and, if the soldiers come, I +can go up the chimney with Tom," replied Somers. "I'm tired and sleepy. +Didn't sleep a wink last night. I will take a nap on the floor. You will +wake me, Tom, if there's any danger; won't you?" + +"Yes, I'll wake yer," replied the deserter with a broad grin. + +"We'll see that you don't git caught; kase, if yer do, of course, Tom'll +git caught too," added the farmer. + +There was something in his manner which Somers did not like. Though he +was a man of dull mind, there was a kind of low cunning visible in his +look and manner which warned Somers to be cautious. He stretched himself +on the floor; and the farmer and his son left the room, closing the door +behind them. + +Our scout was, as he had before declared, both tired and sleepy; but rest +and sleep were luxuries in which he could not permit himself to indulge +in the midst of so much peril and so many enemies. As soon as the door +closed behind the sire and the son, he rose from his reclining posture, +and hastened to reconnoiter the position. The enemy--for such he was +fully assured his host was--passed through the entry and out the door at +the back of the house, as Somers discovered from the noise of their +retreating footsteps. + +There was a window in the rear of the room, which commanded a full view +of them as they paused near the door to consider the situation. Somers +raised the sash a little, so that he could hear what they said, not +doubting that his own case would be the subject of the conversation. + +"Don't you do it, dad," protested Tom in answer to some proposition which +the farmer had made before the listener came within hearing distance of +them. + +"Don't yer be skeert, Tom. The feller's gone ter sleep in there, and the +soldiers kin hurry him off afore he wakes up. Don't yer see, Tom? I +reckon the Yank's an officer, and they'll give me suthin handsome fur +ketchin him." + +"Yes; but, dad, they'll get suthin handsome fur ketchin me too." + +"You kin hide, as yer allers does when they comes." + +"But the Yank will blow on me." + +"What if he does?" + +"He'll tell 'em I'm up chimley, and then they'll look fur me." + +"Tom, ye're a bigger fool'n yer father!" said the farmer petulantly. +"Can't yer hide in t'other place down suller?" + +"It looks kinder skeery, dad," replied the doubtful son. + +"Yer used ter hide down suller more'n yer did up chimley. But don't yer +see, Tom, arter I've called in the soldiers, and give up the Yank, +they'll think I'm a patriot, and won't b'leeve nothin' a dirty Yank can +say agin' me." + +"Well, dad, I hate the Yank as bad as you do; but yer must be keerful." + +"Now go and see that the feller don't wake up and run off, and I'll go +down arter a sergeant and half a dozen men. When yer hear us comin', just +step down suller'n crawl inter the drean. Git the feller's pistol out of +his pocket, if yer kin, while he's asleep." + +"What a precious old scoundrel that man is!" thought Somers, as he +retreated from the window, and threw himself on the floor where the +farmer had left him. + +He almost regretted that he had not used his pistol on the treacherous +old villain, who had made a fair bargain with him, and agreed to the +terms of the contract. The wretch had actually gone after the soldiers to +entrap him, and Tom was to remain and keep watch of him in the meantime. +Taking the revolver from his pocket, he thrust it under his blouse; still +keeping his hand upon it, so as to make sure that the deserter did not +carry out his part of the programme. Thus prepared for the conflict which +might ensue, or for any other event, he closed his eyes, and pretended to +be asleep. + +Presently the door softly opened, and Tom crept into the room. He had +taken off his shoes, that his step on the uncarpeted floor might not +disturb his prey, and stole towards him. After approaching as near to the +prostrate form as he dared, he bent over him to determine in which pocket +the pistol had been placed. Somers was tempted to grapple him by the +throat, as he listened to the young villain's subdued breathing; but he +feared that he would scream if he did so, and it was necessary to achieve +his conquest in a more gentle manner. + +He moved his body a little, as if his slumbers were disturbed by +unpleasant dreams; and added a noise like a snore to complete the +delusion. Tom retired for a moment till his victim should again be +composed; but Somers, instead of subsiding into the slumber of a sleepy +and tired man, gradually opened his eyes and waked up. Slowly rising into +a sitting posture, he looked around him; and apparently, as if entirely +by accident, he discerned Tom. + +"Can't yer sleep?" asked Tom, with extraordinary good nature for a person +of his saturnine disposition. + +"I've been asleep these two hours, I believe," gaped Somers. "What time +is it, Tom?" + +"'Tain't eight o'clock yet. Yer hain't been asleep more'n fifteen +minutes." + +"Haven't I?" + +"Not more'n that. Better lay down, and finish yer nap; kase I s'pose yer +won't git much sleep to-night, if ye're gwine over the river." + +"I feel better than I did, at any rate. I think I'll get up. It's +tremendous hot here. Don't you ever open your windows?" + +"I reckon we do. I was just thinkin' o' that." + +And it was quite probable he was thinking of it; for he certainly wanted +the earliest information of the approach of the soldiers. He opened the +window in the front of the house, and Somers opened that in the rear. The +latter then went to the door, and took a careful survey of the entry, in +order to determine the way which the deserter must take to reach the +cellar, where he was to conceal himself when the soldiers came. The +prudent son of the master of the house had opened the door leading to the +cellar, from which he was to enter his subterranean retreat. + +For more than an hour, Tom nervously watched the wakeful Yankee, and +several times suggested to him that he could sleep just as well as not, +promising to wake him up if there was any danger; but Somers was most +provokingly lively for a man who had been up all the preceding night, and +resolutely refused to take a hint or to adopt a suggestion. Both of them +were fearfully anxious for the result that was pending, and each had his +plan for overreaching the other. It was a long hour; but at last Tom +broke the spell which seemed to rest on both of them by declaring that he +was "clean choked up," and must go and get a drink of water. At the same +moment, Somers heard the tramp of the soldiers in the road as they +approached the house, and understood why his companion had suddenly +become so thirsty. + +"No," said Somers, placing himself between the deserter and the door, +with the revolver in his hand. "I don't want to be left alone. Somebody +is coming to the house--half a dozen men. They are soldiers!" he +exclaimed, glancing out at the window. + +"Run right up chimley thar, and you'll be as safe as if you was t'other +side of the river." + +"But they'll catch you too! Come, Tom, up chimney with you, and I'll +follow. If any one attempts to follow us, I'll shoot him with my pistol. +Be in a hurry, Tom! We have no time to spare," urged Somers, driving the +coward before him towards the fire-place. + +"You go up fust," pleaded Tom, in mortal terror of the revolver. + +"Up with you, or I'll blow your brains out!" added Somers in a low, +fierce tone, which frightened his companion half out of his wits. + +"Don't fire, and I will," replied the wretch, as he stepped into the +fire-place, and commenced the ascent of the chimney. + +"Up with you!" repeated Somers. "Now, if you attempt to come down, I'll +shoot you." + +The voice of the farmer, leading the soldiers to their prey, was now +heard close to the house; and Somers deemed it prudent no longer to +remain in the room. Darting out into the entry, he made his way to the +cellar, closing the door behind him just as the rebels were about to +enter. + +"Where is he?" demanded the sergeant, who belonged to the battery at the +works near the house. + +"In this room," replied the farmer, putting his hand on the door of the +apartment where he had seen the victim lie down to sleep an hour before. +"But yer must be keerful with him. He had a pistol, and mebbe he mought +shoot some on us." + +"We aren't afraid of all the Yankees this side of the north pole," added +the sergeant, as he pushed the door open and entered the room, followed +by his squad of soldiers. "Where is he? There aren't no Yankee here." + +"Well, he was here an hour ago," said the farmer. + +"See here, old man, if you've been makin' a fool of us this hot day, I'll +spit you on my bayonet. We heard that a deserter and a Yankee had been +taken, and that the cavalry lost one of them." + +"That was the Yankee. They lost him, and I found him ag'in." + +"Where is he, then?" + +"He aren't far from here," said the farmer, walking up to the fire-place, +and pointing up the chimney, where he had no doubt the victim had retired +when he heard the soldiers approaching. + +"Up there?" + +"That's where the feller hid when the troopers was lookin' fur him; and +yer kin be sure he's up there now. But yer must be keerful; fur he's got +a pistol, and is a mighty savage fellow." + +"We'll soon bring him down," added the sergeant as he stepped into the +fire-place, and looked up the chimney. "I see him; but he's half way up +to the top. I reckon we can smoke him out best. Come, old man, take some +of this pitch-wood, that will make a big smoke, and kindle a fire." + +"We'll soon have him," said the farmer as he obeyed the order. + +"I say, Yank!" shouted the sergeant up the chimney; "if you don't want to +be smoked out, come down." + +No answer came to this polite suggestion; and then one of the soldiers +proposed to fire his musket up the chimney; which so terrified the +occupant thereof, that he begged for mercy. + +"Don't shoot, and I'll come down!" groaned the wretch. + +"The cowardly Yank! He's like all the rest of them. Come down quick, +then!" + +The farmer, who had stepped out for more wood, returned; and at the same +moment, Tom the deserter, begrimed with soot, dropped down on the hearth, +and stepped out into the room. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +SOMERS IS COMPELLED TO BACK OUT + + +Very likely the Virginia farmer had some idea of retributive justice when +he saw his hopeful son step out of the fire-place into the very jaws of +ruin. To say that he was astonished would be expressing his state of mind +too tamely; for he was overwhelmed with confusion, fear and mortification. +He had expected to find the Yankee asleep on the floor; but, as he was not +there, it was sufficiently evident to him that he had again resorted to +the chimney for concealment. It had been distinctly arranged beforehand, +that Tom, his son, should conceal himself in the cellar; and, of course, +he did not expect to find him in the chimney. + +In short, all his expectations had been defeated, and he himself had +opened the trap for his son to enter. He probably knew how strict was the +discipline of the rebel army in respect to deserters. He had frequently +heard of executions of persons of this class; and he could hardly expect +his son to escape the penalty of his misconduct. He had broken his +bargain with the fugitive; and, in attempting to surrender him to his +implacable enemies, he had deprived his heir of liberty, if not of life. + +"This is your Yankee, is it?" demanded the sergeant, as he gazed at the +remnants of the rebel uniform which Tom still wore. + +"No, no; this ain't the Yankee!" stammered the farmer. + +"Well, you needn't tell us who he is; for we know. I was told to keep a +sharp lookout for one Tom Rigney, a deserter; and I reckon this is the +chap. You are my prisoner, my fine lad." + +"There, now, dad!--d'ye see what ye've done?" snarled poor Tom Rigney, as +he glanced reproachfully at the patriarch, who had unwittingly sprung the +trap upon him. + +"I didn't do it, Tom," replied Farmer Rigney, appalled at the calamity +which had overtaken his house. + +"Didn't you bring me in here to capture this boy?" asked the sergeant, +who appeared to be bewildered by the unnatural act of the father. + +"I brought yer here to take the Yank, who was as sassy as a four-year-old +colt." + +"He promised the Yankee he'd take keer on him till night," added the +vengeful Tom. + +"That was only to keep him here till I could fotch somebody to take keer +on him," pleaded the farmer. "The Yank must be up chimley now," he +continued, reminded that his own reputation for loyalty to the great and +general Southern Confederacy was now doubly compromised. + +"He ain't up there, dad, nohow," said Tom. + +"Where is he?" demanded the sergeant. + +"Dunno." + +"Where did he go?" + +"Dunno." + +"Didn't you see him?" + +"I reckon it was too dark, up chimley, to see anything." + +"Haven't you seen him?" + +"I reckon I have. He woked up, and druv me up chimley right smart, with +the pistol in his hand; reckon, if I hadn't gone, I'd been a dead man; +I'll be dog scotched if I shouldn't." + +"You say he drove you up the chimney?" demanded the sergeant. + +"I reckon he did." + +"Where did he go, then?" + +"Dunno." + +"Yes, you do know! If you don't tell, you'll get a bayonet through your +vitals," said the soldier sternly, as he demonstrated with the ugly +weapon he had fixed on his gun before he began to examine the chimney. + +"Dunno," replied the deserter sulkily. + +"Answer, or take the consequences!" + +"Dunno. Jes as lief be stuck with a bagonet as shot by a file of +soldiers," answered Tom, to whom the future looked even more dark than +the present. + +"Tell, Tom," pleaded his father. + +"Dunno, dad; I was up chimley when he left. Dunno no more'n the dead." + +Perhaps the sergeant concluded that Tom's position was a reasonable one, +and that it would not have been possible for him to see, from his dark +retreat, where the Yankee had gone. At any rate, he was saved from +further persecution; and two of the men were ordered to conduct him to +the camp, while the remainder stayed to continue the search for the +fugitive. Farmer Rigney protested and pleaded, and even offered to warm +the palms of the soldier's hands with certain pieces of gold which he had +in the house; but, unfortunately for the patriotic farmer, the sergeant +was above a bribe, and Tom was hurried off to his doom. + +A careful search of the house and premises was now instituted; and this +time the farmer was a zealous co-operator with the soldiers; for it was +necessary for him to establish his own loyalty before he could do +anything to save his son from the deserter's fate. The party proceeded +up-stairs first, and carefully examined every closet, and every nook and +corner which could by any possibility contain the form of a man. As +Somers was not up-stairs, of course they did not find him; and we will +not weary our readers by following them in their fruitless search. + +Somers went down into the cellar, closing the door after him; and, as he +may be lonesome in his gloomy retreat, we will join him there, though it +was rather a tight place for more than one person. The cellar was dark +when the fugitive made his advent within its somber shades; and, as he +was an utter stranger in the place, he was not a little bewildered by the +awkwardness of the situation. He was in darkness, and wished for light; +at least, for enough to enable him to find the hiding-place of which he +had heard the farmer speak. + +This snug retreat, where the deserter had balked his pursuers, was +undoubtedly the cellar drain; though, to Somers, it appeared to be a +Virginia notion to have it long enough to admit the form of a man. Tom +Rigney was a larger person than himself; and the case was hopeful enough, +if he could only find the opening. The cellar contained various boxes, +barrels, firkins and other articles, the mass of which were piled up in +one corner. + +Somers followed the wall entirely around, from the pile in the corner, +till he returned to it, without finding what he desired. It was +sufficiently evident, therefore, that the entrance to the drain was under +the boxes and barrels, which had probably been placed over it to ward off +the over-inquisitive gaze of any visitors who might explore the cellar. +Our enterprising hero immediately commenced the work of burrowing beneath +the rubbish, and soon had the happiness of discovering the identical road +by which the original occupant of the place had entered. Before the +opening, he found sufficient space to enable him to readjust the boxes +and barrels, so as to hide his den from the observation of any who might +be disposed to follow him in his subterranean explorations. + +The drain was certainly small enough, even for the genteel form of +Captain Thomas Somers; though, as his mustache was quite diminutive in +its proportions, he was able to worry himself along several feet into the +gloomy hole. It was a miserable place in which to spend the day; but, +miserable as it was, he hoped that he should be permitted to remain +there. He was fully conscious of the perils of his situation. He knew +that Tom, in the chimney, must be captured; and it was not probable that +the farmer would let the soldiers depart without examining the house. His +retreat was known to him, and there was not one chance in a hundred for +the hole to be passed by without an examination. + +It would be fatal to remain where he was; and, after resting himself from +the fatigue which the exertion of moving in his narrow den induced, he +again pushed forward, cheered by the conclusion that a drain would be a +useless institution without an opening at each end. Indeed, there was a +glimmer of light at some distance before him; and he indulged the hope +that he might work his way out to the blue sky. + +He had scarcely resumed his progressive movement, which had to be +accomplished very much after the fashion of a serpent--for the aperture +was too narrow for the regular exercise of his legs and arms--he had +scarcely begun to move before voices in the cellar announced the approach +of the pursuers. A cold sweat seemed to deluge his frame; for the sounds +were like the knell of doom to him. With desperate energy he continued +his serpent march; but it was only to butt his head against the stones of +the drain, where its size was reduced to less than half its proportions +near the cellar. + +His farther advance was hopelessly checked; and there was nothing more to +be done but to wait patiently the result of the exciting event. He was +satisfied that his feet were not within eight or ten feet of the cellar; +for, being a progressive young man, he had entered the hole head first. +It was possible, but not probable, that he might escape detection, even +if the opening was examined; and, with what self-possession he could +muster for the occasion, he lay, like the slimy worms beneath him, till +ruin or safety should come. + +"I reckon he isn't down here," said the sergeant, after the party had +examined the cellar, and even pulled over some of the boxes and barrels. + +"God bless you for a stupid fellow as you are!" thought Somers; for he +was prudent enough not audibly to invoke benedictions, even upon the +heads of his enemies; but the words of the sergeant afforded him a degree +of relief, which no one, who has not burrowed in a drain in the rebel +country, can understand or appreciate. + +"I reckon there's a place down in that corner that's big enough to hold a +man; fur my son Tom's been in there," added the farmer. + +These words gave Somers another cold sweat; and perhaps he thought it was +a mistake that he had not put a bullet through the patriarch's head when +he had been tempted to do so in the room above. He was a double traitor; +but I think the conscience of our hero was more at rest as it was than it +would have been if he had shot down an unarmed man, even to save himself +from prospective capture. + +"Where is the place?" demanded the sergeant. + +"In yonder, under them barrels and boxes. Jest fotch the trumpery out, +and you'll see the hole," replied Rigney. + +Somers heard the rumble of the barrels, as they were rolled out of the +way, with very much the same feelings that a conscious man in a trance +would listen to the rumbling of the wheels of the hearse which was +bearing him to the church-yard, only that he was to come forth from a +hopeless grave to the more gloomy light of a rebel dungeon. + +"I can't see anything in that hole," said the sergeant. "No man could get +into such a place as that." + +"Blessed are your eyes; for they see not!" thought Somers. "May your +blindness be equal to that of the scribes and Pharisees!" + +"But my son Tom has been in there. I reckon a Yankee could crawl inter as +small a hole as anybody." + +The sergeant thought this was funny; and he honored the remark with a +hearty laugh, in which Somers was disposed to join, though he regretted +for the first time in his life that he was unable to "crawl out at the +little end of the horn." He was encouraged by the skepticism of the +soldier, and was satisfied, that, if he attempted to demonstrate the +proposition experimentally, he would be fully convinced of its +difficulty, if not of its impossibility. + +"Go and bring another lamp and a pole," said the sergeant. + +One of the party went up the stairs, and Somers gave himself up for lost. +The extra lamp would certainly expose him, to say nothing of the pole; +and it seemed to be folly to remain there, and be punched with a stick, +like a woodchuck in his hole. Besides, there is something in tumbling +down gracefully, when one must inevitably tumble; and he was disposed to +surrender gracefully, as the coon did when he learned that Colonel +Crockett was about to fire and bring him down. There was no hope; and it +is bad generalship, as well as inhuman and useless, to fight a battle +which is lost before the first shot is fired. + +We have before intimated that Captain Somers, besides being a brave and +enterprising young man, was a philosopher. He had that happy +self-possession which enables one to bear the ills of life, as well as +the courage and address to triumph over them. He had done everything +which ingenuity, skill, and impudence could accomplish to save himself +from the hands of the rebel soldiers; from a rebel prison, if not from a +rebel halter. He had failed; and, though it gave him a bitter pang to +yield his last hope, he believed that nothing better could be done than +to surrender with good grace. + +"How are you, sergeant?" shouted he, when he had fully resolved upon his +next step. + +"Hallo!" replied the sergeant, laughing heartily at the hail from the +bowels of the earth. "How are you, Yank?" + +"In a tight place, sergeant; and I've concluded to back out," replied +Somers. + +"Good! That's what all the Yankees will have to do before they grow much +older. Back out, Yank!" + +Somers commenced the operation, which was an exceedingly unpleasant +necessity to a person of his progressive temperament. It was a slow +maneuver; but the sergeant waited patiently till it was accomplished, by +which time the extra lamp and the pole had reported for duty. + +"How are you, Yank?" said the sergeant, laughing immoderately at the +misfortune of his victim. + +"That's the smallest hole I ever attempted to crawl through," replied +Somers, puffing and blowing from the violence of his exertions in +releasing himself from his narrow prison-house. + +"How came you in such a place?" asked the sergeant as they walked up the +stairs. + +"Well, my friend, the farmer here, suggested the idea to me. He said his +son had crawled in there a great many times." + +"I?" exclaimed Rigney. "I never said a word about the drean." + +"You must be looked after," added the sergeant, with a menacing look at +the discomfited farmer. "You have concealed a deserter in your house for +weeks; and now we find that you hide Yankees too." + +"I didn't hide him!" protested Rigney. + +"Didn't you agree to keep me here till night?" asked Somers, who despised +him beyond expression. + +"If I did, it was only to have the soldiers ketch yer." + +The sergeant declared that Rigney was a traitor, and that he must go +along with him; but Somers, with more magnanimity than many men would +have exercised towards such a faithless wretch, told the whole story +exactly as it was, thus relieving him of a portion of his infidelity to +the Southern Confederacy; and the sergeant was graciously pleased to let +him remain at home, while his victim was marched off to the rebel camp. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +A NIGHT IN PETERSBURG + + +The sergeant who had captured our hero seemed to be a very clever fellow, +and appreciated the sterling merits of his captive. While he was rigidly +devoted to the discharge of his duty, he treated his prisoner with all +the consideration which one human being has the right to expect of +another, whatever the circumstances under which they meet. + +Somers was disgusted with the result of the adventure, even while he had +no reason to blame himself for any want of care or skill in conducting +his affairs under the trying circumstances. He was only a few hours +behind his late companion, Captain de Banyan; whom he had now a +reasonable expectation of meeting again before the close of the day. + +If Somers was disgusted with the issue of the adventure, he did not yet +despair of effecting his escape. This was all he had to live for at +present; and he was determined not to lose sight of this great object of +existence. Libby Prison was a flourishing institution, even at the time +of which we write; and he was determined not to be sent there, if human +energy and perseverance could save him from such a fate. It was easier to +avoid such a trap than it would be to get out of it after he had fallen +into it. As he walked along with the talkative sergeant, he kept his eyes +open, ready to avail himself of any opportunity which might afford him a +reasonable prospect of shaking off his disagreeable companion. + +His captor asked him a great many questions in regard to himself, and to +the Army of the Potomac on the other side of the river, which Somers +answered with skill and discretion; though we suppose that even a rigid +moralist would have excused some slight variations from the strict letter +of the truth which crept into his replies. He was an officer in the +Yankee army; but he dared not acknowledge his rank, lest he should be +accused of being a spy. If he was a captain, he ought to have worn the +uniform of his rank in order to have it recognized. As he was a private, +his chance of spending the summer on Belle Isle was better than that for +Libby. But, as Somers was fully resolved not to go to Richmond in advance +of the noble army whose fortunes and misfortunes he had shared, he did +not deem it necessary to consider what quarters he should occupy. + +The sergeant was a faithful soldier. Somers found no opportunity to slip +away from his guard on the way to the camp. He was duly delivered to the +officer of the day, and his intimacy with his good-natured captor was at +an end. The officer who was responsible for him made some inquiries in +regard to the prisoner, and learned that he had escaped from the troopers +in the morning. When he understood the case, as it was only eight miles +to the railroad station, where the other prisoner was probably waiting a +conveyance in the camp, he decided to send Somers forward at once, +fearful that he might again take leave of his captors. From what he had +heard from Captain Osborn and the cavalry soldiers in charge of him, he +concluded that the young man was a person of more consequence than he +appeared to be--that he was either high in rank, or guilty of enormous +military misdemeanors. + +A two-horse wagon used for general business about the camp was brought +up, and Somers was sent forward in charge of two soldiers, who were +especially ordered to shoot him if he attempted to escape; which they +would probably have done of their own free will and accord, without any +orders. The captive looked in vain for an opportunity to elude the +vigilance of the guard; they hardly took their eyes off him during the +ride. Possibly they thought the young fellow was President Lincoln in +disguise, and that the salvation of the Southern Confederacy depended +upon his safe delivery into the hands of the provost-marshal at Richmond. + +The roads were very muddy from the recent rains, and it required two +hours to accomplish the distance to the railroad station. On their +arrival, Somers was handed over to another officer in charge of the camp +at the station. Captain de Banyan had already been sent forward to +Petersburg, and another train would not depart till evening. Somers was +carefully guarded during the remainder of the day, and an attempt to get +away would have been equivalent to committing suicide. At dark he was put +into a baggage-car, with two soldiers to guard him; and in a short time +reached the city of Petersburg. With several other unfortunate Union +soldiers, he was placed in a small room in the station-house, to remain +until a train should start for Richmond. Of course, they were carefully +guarded; and Somers began to fear that he should, after all, be compelled +to visit the rebel capital without the army. + +The room was on the second floor, with two windows opening into the +street; but the prisoners were charged, on penalty of being shot, not to +look out at them. There was not the ghost of a chance to operate under +such unfavorable circumstances; and Somers gave up all thoughts of doing +anything that night. Stretching himself on the floor, he tried to sleep; +but his spirit was too great to permit him calmly to view the prospect of +a rebel prison. As he lay on the floor, he ransacked his brain for some +expedient which would save him from the horrors of Libby or Belle Isle. + +The best scheme that suggested itself was to leap from the cars on the +way to Richmond. It involved the liability to a broken neck or a broken +limb; but he determined to watch for an opportunity to execute this +reckless purpose. His companions in bondage were worn out with long +marches, and all of them slept on the floor around him in a few moments +after they entered the room. They had asked him some questions; but he +kept his own counsel, and endeavored to cheer their desponding spirits +with the hope of being soon exchanged. + +At last Somers went to sleep himself, after he had heard a church clock +in the city strike eleven. He had slept none on the preceding night, and +his slumbers were as sound as if he had been in his attic-chamber in the +cottage at Pinchbrook. Even the opening of the door, and the entrance of +three men with a lantern, did not disturb him. One of the party was an +officer. He wore a military cloak over the gray uniform of the +Confederate army. + +"Which is the man?" demanded he in sharp tones of the two soldiers who +accompanied him. + +"I don't know which he is now," replied the corporal of the guard. +"What's his name?" + +"Tom Leathers," answered the officer. + +The corporal then passed round among the sleeping prisoners, and roughly +kicked those who were asleep, including Somers, who sprang to his feet, +and was rather disposed to make a "row" on account of this rude +treatment, before he remembered where he was. + +"Now they are all awake," said the corporal when he had been the rounds. +"Is there any such man as Tom Leathers here?" + +"Tom Leathers," repeated the officer in a loud tone. + +No one answered to the name; but, in a moment, Somers happened to think +that this was the appellative which he had assumed when he was a pilot +down on the creek by the James River. He was evidently the person +intended; but he was in doubt whether to answer the summons. The +antecedents of the young pilot of the James were not such as to entitle +him to much consideration at the hands of the rebels; and he was disposed +to deny his identity. While he was debating the question in his own mind, +the corporal repeated the name. + +"There's no such man here," he added, turning to the officer. + +"He must be here. He came up in the night train." + +"He don't answer to his name." + +"Hold your lantern, and let me look these prisoners in the face." + +The corporal passed from one to another of the captives till he came to +Somers; thrusting the lantern into the face of each, so that the officer +could scan his features. + +"What's your name?" he asked, as the corporal placed the lantern before +Somers. + +Not having made up his mind as to the effect of acknowledging his +identity with the pilot, he made no reply. + +"That's the man," said the officer decidedly. + +"Is your name Tom Leathers?" added the corporal, as he made a +demonstration with his bayonet at the prisoner. + +"Put down your musket, corporal; you needn't be a brute to your +prisoners." + +"I only wanted to make him answer the question. If you give me leave, +I'll find a tongue for him." + +"He is the man I want; bring him out," replied the officer. + +"Bring him out? I beg your pardon, sir; but I don't know who you are. I +can't give up a prisoner without orders." + +The officer, who seemed to be suffering with a bad cold, and wore the +collar of his cloak turned up so as to conceal the greater part of his +face, opened the lower part of his garment, so that the corporal could +see his uniform. At the same time he took from his pocket a paper, which +he opened, and handed to the guard. + +"That's all right," said the latter, when he had read the document. "Of +course, you will leave this with me?" + +"Certainly. Now bring out the man; and lose no time, for I am in a +hurry." + +Somers was conducted from the room to the car-house below, where the +officer asked for a soldier to guard the prisoner to the office of the +provost-marshal, who was waiting for him. The corporal furnished the man; +and the captive walked off between his two companions, bewildered by the +sudden change which had taken place in the course of events. He could not +imagine why he had been singled out from the rest of the prisoners in the +station-house, unless some specific and more definite charge than being +in arms against the great Southern Confederacy had been laid at his door. +The most unpleasant thought that came to his mind was that Captain de +Banyan had betrayed the object of his mission to the south side of the +river. There was good evidence that his fellow-officer had come over as a +spy; and the hope of saving his own life might have induced him to +sacrifice even one who had been his best friend. + +It was not pleasant to think of Captain de Banyan as capable of doing so +mean an act; for he had been regarded in the regiment as the soul of +honor,--of worldly honor, which scorns to do a vile thing if public +opinion has condemned it. But the astounding information which he had +obtained among the rebels concerning his friend's antecedents had +destroyed his confidence in him, and he was prepared for anything from +him. In this light, his situation was almost hopeless; for the evidence +would certainly condemn him before any court-martial in the Confederacy, +and the chances of escape were lessened by his separation from his +unfortunate companions in arms. He had probably been taken away from them +to prevent even the possibility of exercising his talent in getting away, +as he had done after his capture. + +They walked in silence along the gloomy and deserted streets; and Somers +felt just as if he were marching to his execution. He knew that the rebel +officers had a summary way of dealing with cases like his own; and he was +prepared to be condemned, even before another sun rose to gladden him +with his cheerful light. He thought of his mother, of his father, of the +other members of the family, and of the blow it would be to them to learn +that he had been hanged as a spy. He thought of Pinchbrook, of the happy +days he had spent there, and of those who had been his true friends. He +thought of Lilian Ashford, the beautiful one, in the remembrance of whose +sweet smile he had reveled every day since they parted, and which he had +hoped to enjoy again when war should no more desolate the land, and he +should be proudly enrolled with the heroes who had saved the nation from +ruin. + +All these pleasant memories, all these bright hopes, all these loving +forms, though present in his heart, seemed dim and distant to him. He had +nothing to hope for in the future on this side of the grave, nothing in +the present but an ignominious death on the scaffold. Yet it was sweet to +die for one's country; and, disgraceful as his end might be in its form, +it was still in the service of the nation. He felt happy in the thought; +and, if there was nothing more on earth to hope for, there was still a +bright heaven beyond the deepest and darkest grave into which the hate of +traitors could plunge him, where the ruptured ties of this life are again +restored, never again to be subject to change and decay. + +There was a tear in his eye as he thought of his fond mother; and he wept +for her when he could not weep for himself. No one saw that tear, and the +officer permitted him to indulge his sad revery in silence. But, after +they had walked two or three squares, his companion in authority suddenly +stopped. + +"I have left a book, which I carried in my hand, at the depot," said he, +in tones full of chagrin at his carelessness. "I must have it; for I can +do nothing without it." + +"Where did you leave it?" asked the soldier. + +"In the guard-room. You may go back, and bring it to me. Give me your +gun; you needn't carry that." + +"Where shall I find you?" + +"Here, where you leave me. Go quick, my man." + +"I won't be gone ten minutes," replied the soldier, as he started off at +a run for the missing volume. + +The officer took the gun, and stood by the side of his prisoner, at the +corner of the street, till the soldier disappeared in the darkness. +Somers, still thinking of the sad fate which he was confident was in +store for him, wished to confirm his impressions in regard to his +destiny. His companion seemed to be a gentleman of a kindly nature, +though stern in the discharge of his duty. It was possible that he would +give him some information in regard to the probable disposal of him. + +"Will you tell me, sir, why I am separated from the rest of the +prisoners?" said he, as soon as the sentinel had departed upon his +errand. + +"Because you are an officer." + +"How do you know I am?" asked Somers, very desirous of ascertaining how +much Captain de Banyan had told in regard to him. + +"We know all about you," answered the officer, muffling his cloak more +closely around his face, as if afraid the night air might injure his +lungs as he opened his mouth. + +"What do you know about me?" + +"All about you." + +"That isn't very definite." + +"In a word, you are Captain Thomas Somers, of the --th regiment." + +"Who told you that?" + +"That's of no consequence." + +"What is to be done with me?" + +"I don't know." + +"I suppose I am only a prisoner of war?" + +"You crossed the James River in disguise, and went into our lines for the +purpose of obtaining information. I suppose you can put those two things +together." + +Somers's worst fears were confirmed. He was to be tried as a spy, and De +Banyan had told all he knew about him. Before he had time to dwell on the +dark prospect any longer, the officer said he was cold, and could not +stand there any longer. Taking his prisoner by the arm, he led him down +the cross-street. Somers was just thinking of an attempt to bid his +companion good-night, when the latter spoke again: + +"I shall catch my death from this night air," said he. "Just before the +battle of Magenta----" + +"Captain de Banyan!" exclaimed Somers. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +A FRIEND INDEED + + +"Hush, my dear boy! not a word!" said Captain de Banyan in an impressive +whisper, as he led the way along the street. + +Somers made no reply; for he readily perceived that the utmost caution +was necessary, though he did not understand the position of his friend, +or what complications there were in the situation. He was filled with +rejoicing at finding himself again in the way of getting back to the +Union army. Of course, his feelings towards Captain de Banyan, in spite +of his antecedents in the Third Tennessee, underwent a sudden and +agreeable change; and in the joy of his heart he was disposed to embrace +his friend, and beg forgiveness for the suspicions he had entertained of +him. + +They had advanced but a short distance from the main street, when they +heard the clatter of horses' hoofs. + +"That's bad," said Captain de Banyan, as he stopped to ascertain in what +direction the horsemen were going. + +"What's bad?" demanded Somers. + +"My absence has been discovered, I am afraid. The provost-marshal has a +section of cavalry to run down Union prisoners who may escape. I think +they are after me; at any rate, we must be very careful where we go." + +A few moments later, a small party of horsemen dashed down the street by +which the captain was conducting his retreat. It would prove fatal to +their hopes, if they were seen; and Captain de Banyan entered the yard of +a house, followed by his companion. There was a stable on the premises; +and, without a special invitation from the owner, they entered, making +their way to the hay-loft, which seemed to be the most promising place of +concealment. A horse in the stall below whinnied when they reached the +second floor, expecting, no doubt, his morning rations of hay. + +Unfortunately for the fugitives, still more unfortunately perhaps for the +horse, there was very little hay in the loft; so that a secure +hiding-place was not readily found. But, as it was no part of the +captain's intention to remain long in this loft, they seated themselves +on a grain chest, to wait till the troopers should pass the house. + +"What time is it, captain?" asked Somers. + +"About four in the morning. We are rather late. It will be daylight in +about an hour." + +"Where have you been since we parted?" + +"Since we parted, my boy? We didn't part. You did all the parting, +Somers," replied De Banyan in a reproachful tone. + +"I know I did; but, after what I had heard, you need scarcely wonder. You +acknowledged that you had been a rebel officer, and a member of the Third +Tennessee regiment." + +"I grant it; but I thought enough else was said to enable you to +understand my position." + +"Well, I had some hopes that you were all right; but I could not banish +my fears. How could I know that you had not been sent over on the other +side for the same purpose that we crossed the James?" + +"You might have known it, my dear fellow. They don't usually send men +over on such business whose loyalty is doubtful. You heard the captain +say that I had been suspected." + +"I did; but I could not fully understand your position." + +"And so you gave me the slip? Well, Somers, I forgive you." + +"I am sure, if I had not been in doubt in regard to what you were, I +would not have left you, even if I had been certain of hanging with you." + +"I know you wouldn't, my boy. I confess there were a great many dark +things against me; but I assure you I am a loyal and true man. I have +suffered more for the Union than you have; for I was born in the sunny +South, and all my friends and neighbors went with the rebels. I had no +alternative but to go into the army, where my experience in the Crimea, +in Italy, and in Mexico, made me an officer. I escaped as soon as I +could, and enrolled myself on the right side." + +Somers grasped the hand of his brave and devoted companion, which he +pressed with a warmth that indicated his feelings more eloquently than +words could have done. He was entirely satisfied with the explanation, +because it was fully sustained by the conduct of the captain, and by the +words of the rebel cavalry officer who had claimed his acquaintance. He +was even disposed to believe that De Banyan had been a soldier in the +European wars and in Mexico; which was a degree of credulity hardly to be +expected of a sensible young man. + +"You will forgive me for my unjust suspicions, captain? I assure you it +went against my grain to believe that you were a rebel." + +"You had good reason for it. I was more afraid of you, when I confessed +my sins to the rebel officer, than I was of him. We are friends again, +Somers; that's all I want." + +"You have proved yourself my friend by this last act; and I should have +needed no further explanation to convince me that you were a loyal man." + +"I am all that, my dear boy." + +"Where have you been since I parted from you?" + +"I got up to Petersburg in the afternoon. I was put in that hole where I +found you at first; but, when the provost-marshal learned my story, he +sent for me, and I was conducted to his office. Just as I came out of the +depot, you went in. He wanted to question me, he said. Well, I happened +to know him, though he did not know me. I knew his weak point; and, in a +word, I bamboozled him. I assured him I was an officer in the Third +Tennessee, and that, on further inquiry, he would find I was all right; +that I had rendered greater service to my country by going over to the +Yankees than I could possibly have done by remaining with my regiment; +which, you are willing to believe, was strictly true. + +"I asked the privilege of putting on my uniform again, which he granted; +and, with the gold in my pocket, I purchased a full fit-out of the +quartermaster. The provost-marshal told me that I must report at +Richmond, which I promised to do; and, my dear boy, I hope I shall be +able to do so at no distant day, though it doesn't look much like it just +now. He gave me an apartment next to his office, for the night; where, of +course, he expected to find me in the morning. In the night, I got up, +and went into his office to transact a little business on my own account. + +"After I saw you at the depot, my dear fellow, I couldn't forget your sad +look. You seemed to be as hopeless as a stray chicken in the wet grass, +and I was trying to think what I could do for you. I couldn't have gone +back to Harrison's Landing without you; it would have broken my heart. +And what could I have said to the general, when he asked for you? How +could I have made my peace with the officers of the regiment, if I had +gone back without you?" + +"It was very kind of you, after the shabby manner in which I had treated +you," added Somers. + +"That was the very reason why I was bound to help you out of the scrape, +if I could. I wanted to set myself right with you. I wanted to convince +you I wasn't the man you took me to be." + +"You have convinced me in the fullest manner; and I owe you a debt of +gratitude which I shall never be able to pay." + +"Steady, my boy; we are not out of the scrape." + +"No matter whether we get out of the scrape or not, my feelings towards +you will be just the same." + +"Thank you, Somers; I am satisfied." + +"But where did you get the pass you gave the corporal of the guard at the +depot?" asked Somers. + +"I found the provost-marshal's signature on certain papers, one of which +I filled out to suit myself. But there was a sentinel at the door of the +office, put there, I suppose, for my benefit; though I was sorry to +trouble the poor fellow to stand there on my account. My friend, the +provost, had done this little act in the most delicate way in the world. +He did not tell me that I was under guard; but I happened to find out +before I put my foot in the trap. + +"In a word, not wishing to disturb the sentinel, I took the liberty of +leaving by the way of the window of my chamber, instead of the door. +Luckily there was a one-story shop next to the office; and with the aid +of a blanket from my bed, I dropped down upon it, without disturbing the +meditations of the sentinel or the slumbers of the provost. I got into +the street, and went to the depot. There I told the corporal of the guard +a very interesting story about the prisoner who had been brought up in +the afternoon, meaning myself; and that the man I wanted was needed +immediately as a witness. You know the rest, my dear fellow; and here we +are." + +"And here we are likely to remain, I'm afraid," added Somers. + +"Not a bit of it. I haven't exhausted half my expedients yet. On the +night before the attack on the Redan, at Sebastopol, I went all over that +city, and spent the evening at the house of one of the most distinguished +citizens--a gentleman who had a government contract for rations. Of +course, he didn't know me." + +"Hush! There is some one coming into the stable below," said Somers, as +he heard a door opened on the floor below. + +It was impossible to move then without making noise enough to excite the +attention of the person who had entered; for the stable was old and +rickety, and the boards creaked at every step they took. The fugitives +listened with breathless interest to the movements of the unwelcome +visitor. The horse whinnied again; and the person entered the stall, and +spoke to him. The sound of his voice filled the occupants of the loft +with consternation; for evidently the speaker was not a negro servant, as +they had hoped and expected to find him, but a white man, and one who +used the English language well. + +"Come, Jenny, there's a job on hand for us; and you must postpone your +breakfast till we catch the Yankee prisoners," said the person, who, the +fugitives were now satisfied, was an officer of the cavalry service. + +While De Banyan was telling his story, they had heard some noise at the +house; and they now concluded that the party which had ridden up the +street had come to call this officer for duty. They hoped that nothing +would require him to pay a visit to the loft, and that, like a good +officer, he would be as expeditious as possible in his preparations. + +"You are my prisoner, if he comes up-stairs," whispered De Banyan. + +Somers pressed the hand of his companion to assure him that he understood +his plan; and they held their breath, in the intense anxiety of the +moment, for further developments. The present seemed to be the turning +point in the career of the adventurers; and, if they could once escape +from the horns of this dilemma, skill and prudence would conduct them in +safety to the Union lines. + +The officer below, after he had politely informed "Jenny" of the early +movement, seemed to be in no hurry to get into the saddle. He went out at +the door of the stable, and all was silent again, except the voice of +Jenny, who seemed to be protesting against any movement before she had +received her customary feed of corn. + +"Peters!" shouted the officer from the door, "hurry up! The Yankees will +get to the James River before you get the saddle on my horse. Where have +you been?" + +"I was looking for my boots." + +"An orderly ought to wear his boots to bed with him, if he can't put them +where he can find them," replied the officer, as the heavy step of +another man was heard in the stable below. + +"What news did you hear?" asked the officer, as the orderly led the horse +from the stall. + +"The sergeant said some officer that had been took as a deserter done +runned away," replied Peters, as the fugitives heard the rattle of the +saddle-gear. + +"Hurry up, then!" + +"He done took a Yankee prisoner from the depot with him," added Peters, +who, if he had not been called an orderly, the listeners would have taken +for a negro. + +"You may take a peck of corn in a bag for Jenny, Peters. We may have a +long ride of it," added the officer, as he left the stable. + +A peck of corn! De Banyan and Somers were sitting on the grain chest! It +was impossible to avoid discovery; and De Banyan threw off his cloak, +ready for the emergency. + +"Somers, my boy, we must change our tactics. They have heard the whole +story, and we can't blind them. We must make the best of it. Have you a +pistol?" whispered the captain. + +"No; all I had was taken from me," replied Somers. + +"I have only one. No matter; it would never do to fire up here," added De +Banyan, as he picked up a short pitch-fork which lay near him. + +"Are you going to kill him?" asked Somers. + +"It's life or death for you and me! We can't stop for trifles," answered +the captain in hurried tones, but still in a whisper. + +They listened for a moment longer to the quick movements of Peters in the +stable below. It was evident that Jenny was duly caparisoned for service; +and then another horse was led out, which belonged to the orderly. He was +prepared for service in less time than Jenny had required; and, a moment +later, the step of Peters was heard on the stairs. With the bag in his +hand, he was coming up for the corn, as he had been ordered by the +officer. He did not see the fugitives till he had reached the last step; +when, as he was on the point of opening his mouth to speak, De Banyan +leveled a blow at his head with the handle of the pitch-fork, which +felled him to the floor. + +He sank down upon the stairs stunned or dead; and the captain, as though +he had carefully matured his plan beforehand, dragged the body to one +corner of the loft, where he covered it with hay. + +"Not a word, Somers," said he in an excited whisper, as he crouched down +behind the grain chest. + +"Are you going to stay here?" demanded Somers, astonished at this +singular disposition of the forces. + +"Hush--the officer is close by." + +With beating heart, Somers waited for the further action of his resolute +companion. It was the most critical period of his life, it seemed to him, +especially as he did not fully comprehend the purpose of De Banyan. Only +a moment elapsed, but it was long enough to be a week, before the owner +of Jenny returned to the stable. + +"Peters! What are you about?" shouted he angrily. "I shall never get off +at this rate. Peters!" + +Peters was not in condition to answer the summons at that moment. Somers +hoped he was not dead; but he might as well have been dead, so far as +speaking was concerned. + +"Peters!" shouted the officer again, with a string of Southern +Confederacy oaths; "where are you? What are you about?" + +Of course, the orderly could not answer; and his silence only added to +the rage of his master, who continued to swear in a manner which must +have disgusted the gentle Jenny, and the other respectable horse standing +on the stable-floor. + +The officer rushed out of the stable, and the heaviness of his step +indicated the state of his mind. He had gone to look for Peters; but, as +Peters was not outside, he must be inside; and the officer entered again. +He now walked towards the stairs leading to the loft. + +"Peters!" he continued to roar as he rushed up the stairs. "Peters! this +is your last day's service with me!" + +But the poor orderly was unable to remove the stain which rested upon his +fidelity. He still held his peace; still silently submitted to the unjust +imputations on his character. The officer landed in the loft just as +Captain de Banyan rose to receive him. + +"Who are you?" demanded he, as the stout form of the captain confronted +him. + +"Your most obedient servant to command," replied De Banyan. + +"You are a Confederate officer?" + +"I seem to be; but I am not. Be that as it may, your presence is +dangerous to my health and comfort." + +"I see: you are the deserter." + +"I am; but the future lies between you and me." + +"Then we will let the future speak for itself," answered the officer, +drawing a pistol from his belt. "Surrender, or you are a dead man!" + +"I must positively decline the honor," replied De Banyan, as he swung the +pitch-fork over his head, and attempted to strike him down. + +He failed; and the officer fired, but without effect. At that moment, +Somers stepped forward with a billet of wood he found on the floor. At +the same time, De Banyan raised the pistol; but the rebel fired a second +time before he could discharge it. Somers instantly dropped his stick, +and his left arm fell to his side; the ball had passed through it. De +Banyan fired; the officer sank down, not killed, but badly wounded. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +DR. SCOVILLE'S PATIENT + + +The ball from De Banyan's pistol had passed through the right side of the +officer; and he sank upon the floor, the blood flowing copiously from the +wound. These proceedings were so irregular, that Somers could not +reconcile himself to them. He was wounded himself; but, when the officer +fell, he was full of sympathy for him. It was evident that the sufferer +would bleed to death in a short time, if left to himself without any +attention; and Somers could not endure the thought of letting even an +enemy die in this forsaken condition. + +"Come, my boy; we have no time to lose. It's daylight now, and we ought +to be five miles from the city before this time," said De Banyan, as he +moved towards the stairs. "Take the man's pistol and ammunition, and come +along as fast as you can." + +"Will you leave this gentleman in this condition?" asked Somers, gazing +with pitying tenderness at the pale face of the fallen officer. + +"Leave him? Of course; we can't take him with us." + +"But he will bleed to death if we leave him here." + +"Let him bleed to death; I can't help that. Many a better man than he has +bled to death since this war began. Come along, Somers! What is the +matter with your arm?" demanded he, when he saw that it hung useless at +his side. + +"I was hit." + +"Hit! We are lost, then!" + +"No, we are not lost, either. I am not killed," replied Somers, whose arm +was still numb from the effect of the shot. + +"That's a misfortune. I am afraid it will spoil everything. Can you sit +on a horse?" + +"Of course I can. But I can't bear to let this man die here alone. He is +a brave fellow, and deserves a better fate." + +"Come along, Somers! You are an odd stick, when you are wounded, to +trouble yourself about your enemies. Let me see your arm." + +The captain examined the wounded member, which was now bleeding very +freely. He tied a handkerchief around the arm, and did the best which the +circumstances would admit for his friend. He then led the way +down-stairs, where the horses were impatiently waiting for their riders. +Jenny was a noble mare, and the orderly's horse was an excellent animal. +De Banyan, knowing how much might depend upon the endurance of the horses +in the flight before them, filled the bag with corn in the loft, after he +had helped Somers to mount the horse of Peters, which appeared to be the +steadier beast of the two. + +The noise of the affray in the loft had probably been heard by some of +the occupants of the house; and, just as the fugitives had mounted the +horses, a black woman from the dwelling approached the stable. She gazed +with astonishment and alarm at the riders, and seemed to be satisfied +that all was not right. + +"Your master is up in the loft," said Somers, as they rode by her. "He is +hurt, and wants attention." + +"Now whip up, Somers. We must make quick time; for we shall have the +whole city after us in ten minutes," said De Banyan, as he urged Jenny to +the top of her speed. + +The spirited animal seemed as willing to exert herself for the enemies as +the friends of the Southern Confederacy; thus proving that she was a +neutral horse, or cherished Union sentiments. But the other horse could +not keep pace with her, and De Banyan was compelled to restrain her +speed. The fugitives had scarcely appeared in the street before a hue and +cry was raised; for the place had been thoroughly aroused by the clamor +which the troopers had created. Still, there was nothing in sight which +promised to offer any serious resistance to their progress. + +A few moments brought them to the outskirts of the town; though in what +direction, or to what point, the road they had taken would lead them, +neither De Banyan nor Somers had the most remote idea. To go in the wrong +direction was equivalent to plunging into certain ruin; to go in any +direction was hardly less perilous; for the rebel cavalry was out upon +every road, intent upon capturing the deserter and the Yankee. As they +emerged from the more thickly settled parts of the city, they discovered +a negro approaching them. + +"Where does this road lead to?" demanded De Banyan, reining in his fiery +steed. + +"Prince George's Court House, massa," replied the man. "Wha' for you +gwine down dar?" + +De Banyan was not disposed to answer any unnecessary questions, and again +spurred on his horse. + +"See here, massa!" shouted the negro. + +"What do you want?" asked De Banyan impatiently; for, being a Southerner +himself, he had no particular respect for the negro race. + +"Don't go down dar, massa." + +"Why not?" + +"Git cotched if you do, massa," said the man with an expressive grin. "De +sodgers on de horses is down dar arter you." + +"How do you know they are after us, you black rascal?" + +"Kase dey ax dis chile if he see two men, one ob 'em dressed like de +'federate ossifer, and de odder a Yank. Dis nigger didn't see no sich +pussons den; but, golly, sees um now fur sartin. You done git cotched as +shore as you was born, massa, if you go down dar." + +"Where shall we go, then?" + +"Dunno, massa; but you mustn't be seen gwine down dar." + +"How many soldiers did you meet?" + +"Four, sar." + +"This won't do, Somers. How is your arm?" + +"It begins to ache. We may as well go forward as back," said Somers, who +was now suffering severely from his wound, which had not been improved by +the hard gallop of the horse he rode. + +"Who lives in that house?" demanded De Banyan of the negro, pointing to a +splendid dwelling a short distance ahead. + +"Dr. Scoville, massa." + +"Doctor?" replied the captain, glancing at Somers. + +"Yes, sar; Dr. Scoville. Dat's a mighty fine mar you rides, massa. I +reckon dat's Captain Sheffield's mar." + +"Very likely." + +"Don't mind me, massa; dis chile's a Union man for shore," grinned the +negro. + +"All the negroes are Union men," replied Somers faintly. + +"Dat's so, massa!" + +"What's Dr. Scoville?" asked De Banyan hopefully. + +"Secesh, massa--drefful secesh. He done been in de army fur a surgeon." + +"He is a dangerous man, then." + +"Dar, massa, dar!" shouted the negro suddenly, as he pointed down the +road over which the fugitives had just come. "Dey's some more arter you." + +De Banyan started his horse again, followed by Somers; but it was evident +from the appearance of the latter that the chase was nearly finished for +him. He was beginning to feel very faint from the loss of blood, while +the pain of his wounded arm was almost unsupportable. The gait of the +horse seemed to wrench the bones asunder, and cause the shattered parts +to grate against each other. + +"Hurry up, Somers, my dear boy," said his companion, as he glanced back +at the pale face of his friend. + +"I am afraid I can't go much farther, De Banyan," replied Somers. "I am +very faint. I feel sick." + +"Cheer up, and make one effort more. The rebels are upon us!" + +"I cannot. I shall fall from the horse, I am afraid." + +"Don't do that." + +"I won't if I can help it; but the motion of the horse almost kills me. +Leave me, De Banyan; save yourself if you can." + +"Leave you? I haven't the remotest idea of doing anything of the sort." + +"Better go on, and save yourself. It is all up with me." + +"A mother would sooner leave her baby than I would leave you," replied De +Banyan in tones as tender as a woman's. "I'll never leave you, Somers. If +you go to Richmond, I shall go with you." + +"You cannot do me any good. Save yourself before it is too late." + +"Not I." + +"I beg you----" + +"Cease your blarney, my dear boy! We are one flesh; and we will hang +together to the end of life, or _at_ the end of it, as the case may be. +Here, Somers, stick to your horse a moment more, and we will call and see +the doctor." + +"Dr. Scoville!" exclaimed Somers, alarmed at the idea. + +"Very likely he is a good surgeon. You are on the sick-list now; mind +what I say, and do just what I tell you." + +De Banyan, without stating what he intended to do, dashed up the roadway +leading to Dr. Scoville's house. It was evident that he was about to +resort to some desperate expedient to retrieve the shattered fortunes of +his party; but he kept his own counsel; and Somers yielded himself to the +master will of his companion like a child, as indeed he was in his +exhausted and suffering condition. The roadway led to the rear of the +house where the stable was located; and De Banyan reined up his foaming +steed as soon as he reached the corner of the building. + +"Keep still a moment, Somers, and I'll have you taken care of," said De +Banyan, as he rode back to a point where he could see the road without +being seen. + +It was evident that they had been observed by the party of horsemen which +had just come out of the city; and he wished to ascertain whether they +had seen him turn in at the doctor's premises. The pursuers (for every +mounted man was a pursuer on that eventful morning) were riding in every +direction in search of the fugitives. He hoped they would pass by, +satisfied that any person who should boldly call upon Dr. Scoville must +be a rebel. + +He was disappointed. When the party reached the road, they reined up +their horses; and De Banyan, without losing a moment, dismounted, +fastened Jenny to a post in the yard, and ran down to intercept the +troopers. The captain walked with the quick, sharp, consequential tramp +of a military commander; and, when the soldiers saw him, they +involuntarily saluted him. + +"What are you doing up here?" he demanded in tones of authority. + +"We are looking for the prisoners that runned away," replied a corporal. + +"Well, do you expect to find them in the dwelling-house of Dr. Scoville? +Ride down the road as fast as you can, and turn to the first left. If you +meet the major, report Captain Sheffield badly wounded--shot by one of +the prisoners." + +"Then the prisoners have gone down this way?" + +"Certainly they have. Off with you as fast as you can!" + +The corporal saluted, wheeled his horse, and dashed off, followed by the +rest of the party. De Banyan wiped away the cold sweat from his brow, and +returned to his suffering companion. He helped him to dismount and seated +him on a block while he secured the horse. By this time, a couple of +negro women came out of the house. They were the early risers of the +family, and at once manifested the most abundant sympathy for the +sufferer. The doors of the house were thrown wide open to him; and +Captain de Banyan, supporting Somers, followed the servants into the +sitting-room, where the patient was laid upon the sofa in a fainting +condition. + +"Now call your master," said De Banyan, with as much assurance as though +he had been the lord of the manor. + +"Yes, massa," replied one of the women as she hastened to obey the order. + +"How do you feel, my dear boy?" said De Banyan, bending over his charge. + +But Somers was past answering. He had fainted from loss of blood and the +agony of his wound. The resolute captain did not wait for Dr. Scoville in +this emergency; but, taking a bottle of cologne from the mantel, he +applied himself with skill and vigor to the restoration of his patient. +While he was thus engaged, the doctor made his appearance. He was a man +of fifty, of forbidding aspect and rough exterior. + +"Who are you, sir?" demanded he in brusk tones, placing himself in front +of the captain, and without bestowing more than a glance at the patient +on the sofa. + +"Captain Sheffield," replied De Banyan as sharply as the question had +been put. + +"Are you, indeed? Then you have altered a great deal since I saw you +yesterday," added Dr. Scoville, with an expression of malignant triumph +on his face. + +This reply was a damper on any little scheme which the over-confident De +Banyan had proposed to carry out; but the captain was a profound student +in the mysteries of human nature, and at once correctly read the +character of the gentleman who stood before him. + +"You didn't see me yesterday, and you know you didn't," he replied in +tones hardly less savage than those of his involuntary host. + +"That's very true; I did not," said the doctor. + +"This point settled, I'll thank you to turn to the next one, which is the +patient before you." + +"You are a plain-spoken man," added Dr. Scoville, still gazing intently +into the face of the captain; who, however, returned the look as +resolutely and as earnestly as it was given. + +"I am; I don't waste words when my friend is dying, for aught I know. +Will you attend to this man?" + +"Who is he?" + +"He is a man shot through the arm, and needing instant surgical +attendance," answered De Banyan impatiently. "It isn't necessary to know +any more before you examine him." + +"Good!" exclaimed the doctor with a smile such as that in which a hyena +might be supposed to indulge when pleased, if hyenas ever are pleased. + +He turned to Somers, and proceeded to examine into his condition. The +coat of the patient was removed from his insensible form, and he was +carefully disposed on the sofa, according to the directions of the +doctor; the captain and the negro women assisting in the work. Though the +surgeon was as rough as a bear in his tone and manner, he was as tender +as a loving mother in his treatment of the sufferer, and handled him as +carefully as though he had been a new-born babe. The blood was stanched, +and the wound dressed as skilfully as human hands and human knowledge +could perform the operation. + +"What do you think of him?" asked De Banyan, full of anxiety for his +suffering companion. + +"He won't die just yet; but he may lose his arm." + +"Good heavens! do you think so?" exclaimed the captain. + +"No; I don't think so." + +"What did you say so for, then?" + +"I didn't say so." + +"Didn't you say he would lose his arm?" demanded De Banyan savagely. + +"I didn't say so." + +"What did you say, then?" + +"I said he might lose his arm. You may lose your arm; but I think you are +more likely to lose your head. Who is this young man?" + +"He is a friend of mine; and, as I find it necessary to be entirely +candid with an old fellow like you, I shall answer no questions in regard +to him at present." + +"Indeed!" + +"Not a question, Dr. Scoville. I intend to have him stay at your house +till he is able to join his regiment; and I intend to stay with him." + +"You do me unmerited honor by making my humble house your home," said the +doctor satirically. + +"I think you are worthy of the honor, Dr. Scoville. As your humble house, +I think it is very well got up, creditable to your taste, and altogether +a fine place." + +"Thank you," growled the host. "I suppose you have no objection to my +informing the Confederate States military officers in the city of your +presence here?" + +"Not the slightest," answered De Banyan promptly. "I propose to inform +them myself in due time." + +"What did you say your name was?" + +"Captain Sheffield." + +"Of Petersburg?" + +"No, sir." + +"Not of Petersburg?" + +"No, sir; of Nashville, Tennessee, which I can further inform you is the +capital of the State. I have the honor to be a captain in the Third +Tennessee. I served in Mexico, in the Crimea, and in Italy. I was present +at four battles in the Crimea, seven in Italy, five in Mexico; I have +been engaged in nine battles of the present war, and have been wounded +six times." + +"Were you ever killed?" + +"Never was so unfortunate. Can I furnish you with any further +information?" + +"No more at present," replied the doctor, compressing his lips, +apparently to keep from laughing, but really because he could not think +of anything sharp enough to dash so ready a talker. "If you do me the +honor to remain here a week, I shall have better opportunities of hearing +your marvelous experience, Captain Sheffield. Ah, what have we here?" +continued he as three horsemen galloped up the roadway. + +A violent knocking was presently heard at the side door of the house, and +Dr. Scoville hastened to learn the errand of the excited visitors. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +DE BANYAN AT WORK + + +"How do you feel, my dear boy?" asked Captain de Banyan as soon as the +doctor had left the room. + +Somers, by the skilful applications of the physician, had been restored +to consciousness, and had listened with astonishment, not unmingled with +alarm, to the last part of the conversation between his friend and their +host. + +"I feel a little better, captain; at any rate, I am more comfortable," +replied Somers. + +"I am glad to hear it. I have been terribly worried about you." + +"I think I shall do well enough. But what shall I say for myself?" + +"Say nothing, Somers--not a word. Don't commit yourself to anything." + +"What have you told him?" + +"Nothing; and I don't intend to tell him anything. He is a jolly old +fellow, who thinks he is very eccentric, and takes pride in being +considered so. When I was in the Crimea----" + +"Never mind the Crimea now," interrupted Somers with a languid smile. + +"I was only going to say that I understand the old doctor first-rate, and +can manage him as easily as I could an old plow-horse. Keep still, +Somers; don't let on, under any circumstances. Leave me to do all the +talking." + +"But the cavalry are after us now." + +"Never mind; the doctor will take care of them." + +"They will recognize our horses, if they don't know us." + +"No matter if they do." + +Somers thought it was matter; and he could not see for the life of him +how De Banyan was to get out of such a scrape as this; for it was an +infinitely worse one than his own experience on the Williamsburg road. He +could only hope for the best, expecting nothing but disaster. + +"Good! Bully for the doctor!" exclaimed De Banyan as the sounds of an +excited controversy at the side door reached the ears of the patient and +his friend. "He is doing just what I expected him to do." + +"Pray, what did you expect him to do?" asked Somers, who could not see +what a rebel surgeon could be expected to do under the circumstances, +besides delivering them up to the military authorities. + +"I expect him to protect us to the utmost of his ability; and, in my +opinion, he has quite as much influence as any other man in Petersburg. +When you see a man like Dr. Scoville, you may depend upon it he is a +power in the community where he lives. He knows it as well as any other +person. Let the doctor alone, and he will manage the matter as skilfully +as he dressed your wounded arm." + +Whatever confidence Captain de Banyan had in the will and the ability of +Dr. Scoville to protect them, he was curious to hear what the soldiers +and what the doctor had to say. He was not quite willing to be seen by +the rebel soldiers; so he passed quickly into the entry, and took a +position where he could hear without being observed. + +"Do you know who I am, you villain?" demanded the doctor, in tones so +full of rage, that the troopers ought to have been annihilated, though it +appears that they were not. + +"I don't care who you are; I want the men that came here an hour ago," +replied one of the troopers. + +"If Jeff Davis himself came for them, he couldn't have them!" roared Dr. +Scoville. + +"I tell you, sir, one of them is a deserter, and the other is a Yankee." + +"I don't care what they are. Report my answer to the provost-marshal; +tell him Dr. Scoville will be responsible for the safety of the men." + +"I won't report any such answer to him." + +"If a man of you attempts to enter my house, I'll shoot him!" replied the +doctor, taking a rifle from a nail in the entry. + +"Very well, sir; if you can shoot any better than we can, you may begin," +said the soldier. "But, as sure as you fire, you are a dead man." + +"And those of you whom I don't shoot will be hung as soon as you report +the death of Dr. Scoville at headquarters." + +Whatever the soldiers thought, they were not willing to assume the +responsibility of shooting a man like the doctor, whose splendid mansion +was a guaranty of his wealth and high standing, and whose strong words +assured them that he was a man of influence. Even the possibility of +being hanged in such a cause was not agreeable to contemplate; and the +doctor carried the day against his assailants. + +"I don't want to shoot you, Dr. Scoville; but I shall put a guard over +your house, and wait for further orders," said the soldier, who appeared +to be a sergeant. + +"Do anything you please; but don't you enter my house. Every man, woman +and child here is under my protection," replied the doctor, as he +restored the rifle to its original position; and the troopers retired +from the door. + +Captain de Banyan withdrew from the hall, and joined Somers in the +sitting-room, where he was immediately followed by the doctor. The +situation did not look very hopeful, even to a man of such desperate +fortunes as the bold Tennessean. The house was surrounded by rebel +soldiers, and a report of the case would probably be made to the +provost-marshal; therefore it was not at all likely that the doughty +doctor could long remain contumacious. + +"So, my mysterious friend, you are a Confederate deserter, are you?" said +the doctor, as he placed himself in front of the captain, thrust his +hands deep down into the pockets of his pants, and stared at his guest +with all the vigor of an active and piercing eye. + +"You say that I am; but I adhere to my original resolution, to say +nothing at present," replied De Banyan, returning the gaze of the doctor +as earnestly as it was given. + +"If you were Abe Lincoln himself, you are safe in my house," said the +doctor after a long pause. "But I wish you to understand clearly and +precisely what I mean. I am not the man to shield a deserter or a Yankee +from the penalty due to his crimes. You came into my house with a wounded +man. I am an Arab on the subject of hospitality. Whoever comes into my +house is my guest; and I never betrayed a man who trusted in me." + +"Thank you, doctor." + +"You needn't thank me, for I despise you from the deepest depths of my +heart; and in due time you will fall into the hands of the military +authorities, but not in my house." + +"Thank you, Dr. Scoville. I appreciate your hospitality, and despise you +as much as you do me," answered De Banyan. + +"Despise me! How dare you----" + +"Oh! I dare do anything; and I beg leave to inform you that neither +myself nor my friend will fall into the hands of the soldiers, either in +your house or outside of it. You can set your mind entirely at ease on +that subject." + +"I am tempted for once to violate even my own law of hospitality." + +"As you please, doctor; that matter is for you to consider, not for me. +But I beg you to understand precisely what I say. I am very thankful to +you for your kindness; and I assure you that whatever you do and say, I +shall remember your hospitality with the most grateful emotions. I speak +for myself and for my friend." + +Dr. Scoville seemed to be very much perplexed, as the captain evidently +intended he should be; and, turning abruptly from the deserter, he paced +the room, rapidly and in silence, for several minutes. De Banyan sat down +by the side of Somers, and said a great many comforting things to him, +which, in his weak and suffering condition, were as grateful as a woman's +smile at the couch of pain. + +Breakfast was ready, and with the utmost politeness the doctor conducted +his guest to the table, while one of the black women was ordered to +supply the wants of the patient on the sofa. During the meal, not a word +was said about the war, or the peculiar circumstances under which the +patient and his friend had come to the house. The captain discoursed +about the wars in other lands, and it is more than probable that he +exercised the credulity of the doctor to the utmost. Both the host and +the guest were affable to the last degree; for the choleric physician was +conscious that he had more than a match in the other. + +After breakfast, Somers was conducted to the guest-chamber on the second +floor of the mansion. He was as tenderly cared for by the doctor and the +servants as though he had been an honored friend, instead of a hunted +enemy. In the course of the forenoon, Dr. Scoville received a visit from +the provost-marshal, attended by half a company of cavalry. Of course, +the captain was exceedingly curious to know the result of this interview, +which was conducted in the most courteous manner; and he was so impolite +as to play the part of a listener. The officer was informed that Captain +Sheffield had been dangerously wounded by the fugitives; but the +eccentric physician positively refused to have his guests taken from his +house, assuring the provost-marshal that he would be responsible for +their safe-keeping, and offered to board a dozen men who should be +employed in guarding them. The officer protested in gentlemanly terms +against such a course; but it was evident that the doctor was the +greatest man in Petersburg, and must have his own way. + +The result of the conference was, that the provost-marshal yielded the +point, and a sentinel was placed at the door of Somers's chamber, to +which the captain had retreated. The officer visited the room, and fully +identified his prisoner, between whom and himself a sharp conversation +ensued, much to the amusement of the doctor. The captain was assured that +in due time, he should swing, which pleasant information he received with +becoming good nature, promising to be present when the exciting event +should take place. The provost-marshal retired, satisfied with the +precautions he had taken. + +For the following three days, the sentinel at the door, with a loaded +musket in his hand, kept guard over his prisoners. Somers had improved +rapidly, though by the advice of his managing friend, he pretended to be +much worse than he really was. Dr. Scoville, though he still kept his +word and maintained his position with regard to the prisoners, +continually "thorned" the captain with a prospect of the gallows, which +he declared was his certain doom. De Banyan still preserved his +equanimity, and still declared that he should never be hanged. + +"What do you intend to do?" asked Somers on the third day of his +confinement, after the doctor had taunted his guest with more than usual +severity. + +"I haven't the least idea, my dear boy," replied the captain with a grim +smile. "So far, I have no plans. When you are able to move, Somers, we +will see what can be done." + +"I can move now; you need not delay a single hour on my account. I am all +right but my arm." + +De Banyan was by no means as cheerful as he appeared to be. He was +troubled, and paced the room with uneasy tread; but, the moment the +doctor entered the room, he was as gay as a Broadway beau. Somers had +vainly attempted to persuade him to make his own escape, and leave him to +his fate; but the brave fellow steadily refused to desert him under any +circumstances that could possibly present themselves. + +The captain was remarkably still for him, after Somers had convinced him +that he was able to move. He paced the room as before; but his eyes were +glancing uneasily at the floor, the ceiling, and the walls of the +apartment. The work had commenced in his mind; and Somers watched his +movements with interest, yet without hope. On one side of the fire-place +in the room there was a door, which was locked, but which evidently +opened into a closet. + +Before this door, De Banyan suddenly came to a dead halt. He examined it +with the utmost care; and then with a fork from the breakfast things +which had not been removed, he commenced operations upon the lock. One of +the prongs of the fork was broken off between two bricks in the +fire-place, and the other bent; so that the instrument formed a very good +pick-lock. The door was opened without the expenditure of much time or +patience; and the captain proceeded to explore the interior of the +closet, after instructing his fellow-prisoner to give him timely warning +of any movement on the part of the sentinel. + +Somers did not see the captain again for half an hour, but when he came +out he looked as though he had endured the tortures of a month of +suspense; but, with a ghastly smile, he told his companion that the hour +for action had come. + +"What do you mean, captain?" demanded Somers. + +"Let us use haste; we shall have more time to talk to-morrow, when we get +back to the camp on the other side of the James River. Are you very sure +that you can stand the fatigue of a long walk?" + +"I know I can." + +"Then come with me; but a particle of noise will be fatal to us." + +De Banyan led the way to the closet; but, before he entered himself, he +tied together the two sheets of the bed, and made one end fast to one of +the bed-posts, near a window at the end of the house, which he opened +without noise. Dropping the sheet out, he retreated to the closet, and +with the pick-lock secured the door. They were in darkness now, and +seating themselves on the floor, with palpitating hearts they waited the +issue. For more than an hour they waited the expected alarm. They could +occasionally hear a movement on the part of the sentinel in the entry; +but he probably thought it was foolish to be very vigilant over a man so +sick as Somers. But the demonstration came at last; and the prisoners, +sweltering in the confined air of the closet, listened with breathless +interest to the shouts of the soldiers outside, and to the rapid steps of +those within the mansion. + +The doctor and the sentinel entered the chamber so lately occupied by the +prisoners. The former swore in no measured terms at the faithlessness of +the sentry at the door, and at the stupidity of those who guarded the +house outside. But they seemed to have no doubt as to the manner of the +escape. + +There was the open window, and the rope made of the bed-linen, which De +Banyan had pulled with his hands till it had the appearance of having +sustained a great weight. Dr. Scoville did not even try the door of the +closet; and the anxious listeners soon had the pleasure of hearing the +sounds of horses' hoofs, as the cavalry rode off to engage in the search +for the fugitives. + +Everything about the house soon subsided into the most profound quiet, +and it was evident that the doctor and all the soldiers were engaged in +the search. After this solemn stillness had continued for a time, they +heard the voices of the servants in the chamber. They talked about the +escape, and all of them expressed a hope that "poor young massa would get +out ob de way." Here was an opportunity for an alliance, offensive and +defensive, which the prudent captain could not reject. Carefully opening +the door, he presented himself to the astonished negroes. With +considerable difficulty, he hushed their noisy exclamations, and opened +the case so eloquently, that all three of them readily promised to help +the fugitives in making their escape. They grinned with delight when they +comprehended the trick by which the doctor and the soldiers had been put +on the wrong scent. + +With their assistance, the fugitives left the house, and made their way +to the stable, where Alick, the man who had waited upon them in the room, +raised a plank in the floor, and introduced them to secure but not very +comfortable quarters under the building. There was no cellar under the +stable, and the space which they occupied was not more than two feet in +height; but what it lacked in this direction, it made up in length and +width. + +When the fugitives were fairly installed in their new hiding-place, Alick +sat down on the floor, and told them all he knew about the events which +had transpired since their absence had been discovered. He brought them +an abundant supply of food and drink, and promised to provide them with +horses as soon as it was dark. It was nearly night before the doctor +returned; and while attending to his horse, Alick asked him some +questions about the chase. He was not very communicative, for, of course, +the pursuit had been unsuccessful; but the ingenious black wormed some +facts out of him in regard to the events of the day, which enabled him to +be of great assistance to the fugitives. + +The doctor had hardly gone into the house before Alick commenced his +preparations for departure; and three horses instead of two were in +readiness when Somers and the captain emerged from their covert. Alick +was to be one of the party; and by the fields in the rear of the house +they commenced their perilous journey. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +ANOTHER COMMISSION + + +The horses which De Banyan and Somers rode were those taken from the +stable of Captain Sheffield, which had not yet been removed from Dr. +Scoville's stable; while that on which Alick was mounted was one of the +best of his master's stock. The party proceeded through the fields for a +short distance till they came to a cross-road, when they put their horses +to the top of their speed. The guide was familiar with all the roads in +the vicinity. The information which he had obtained from the doctor was +exceedingly valuable; for it assured the fugitives in what direction the +search for them had been pushed. + +Dr. Scoville believed that the prisoners were concealed in the vicinity +of the city, and that at night they would attempt to make their way in +the direction of City Point; and he assured Alick that they would +certainly be caught before morning, for the country in that region was +strongly picketed by cavalry. It is more than probable they would have +been taken if the doctor had not been so obliging as to inform Alick of +these facts. The faithful black, who had served his master, man and boy, +for forty years, was entitled to this consideration. Of course, he could +not have believed that Alick would be so ungrateful and ungenerous as to +run away from him; but it is a fact which speaks well for the negro race, +that so many have preferred liberty with toil and hardship to slavery +with ease and plenty. + +Somers had over-estimated his power of endurance; and a hard gallop of +five miles was about the extent of his capacity. The rude jolting of his +arm made it extremely painful, while his system, reduced by the fever +attending the wound, was incapable of supporting such a heavy draft upon +his strength. He bore up against the pain and faintness which beset him +as long as he could; but at last, to the oft-repeated inquiries of +Captain de Banyan in regard to his condition, he was compelled to answer +in the most discouraging terms. + +"We must stop and rest," said the captain. "We have about fifteen miles +more to go; and you mustn't break down yet, Somers." + +"Here, massa, take some of this," said Alick, as he reined in his horse. + +"What is it?" asked Somers faintly. + +"Brandy." + +"I can't drink brandy." + +"It will do you good, my dear boy. There is strength in brandy--only as +medicine. Don't be stubborn, Somers." + +"Good brandy, massa," added Alick. "I brought it along on purpose for +you. I was mighty feared you wouldn't be able to stand the ride." + +"I am willing to take it if it will do me any good," said Somers. "I am +about used up." + +The sufferer drank two or three swallows of the fiery liquid from the +bottle after he had dismounted. The potion gave him an artificial life, +which enabled him to ride five miles farther, though at a much slower +pace than before. The roads seemed to be entirely deserted, and the party +felt satisfied that they had passed out of the reach of a successful +pursuit. Another dose of brandy gave Somers strength enough to accomplish +fifteen miles of the journey; but at this point he was absolutely unable +to sit on his horse. With the assistance of De Banyan, he got off and lay +for two hours on the ground, where his devoted companions made him a bed +of their coats. Alick produced some bacon and crackers, which he had +brought for an emergency, of which Somers partook in small quantities. +Pressed by his fellow-fugitives, he again drank some brandy; and while +his head was flying round like a top, his friends placed him on the horse +again. + +In the overpowering weakness and suffering of the hour, Somers had begged +his companions to leave him to his fate; but De Banyan declared that he +would be hanged a dozen times before he would do so mean and wicked an +act. With the fumes of the brandy darting in every direction through his +brain, which seemed to be about fifty feet above his shoulders, he +spurred on his horse. The liquor had inspired him to a kind of +desperation. He hardly knew what he was about, and even forgot the pain +of his wounded arm. + +"Halt!" shouted De Banyan, as the party dashed over a rude bridge +extending across a broad creek. "Halt, Somers!" + +But Somers heeded not the word, and still spurred on, till the captain, +who rode the fastest animal, could overtake him. He succeeded in stopping +the furious rider, and in making him understand that they had reached the +end of their journey in this direction. They returned to the bridge, +where the sharp eye of the captain had discerned a boat moored to a tree, +a short distance below the road. Somers, still stupefied by the effects +of the brandy, tamely submitted to whatever disposition his companions +chose to make of him. Taking off their coats, they made for him a bed in +the bottom of the boat, which was a large yawl, evidently used for +conveying merchandise to some point farther up the creek. The horses were +turned loose, and the captain and Alick took the oars. + +After pulling for half an hour, they were rewarded by a view of the broad +river which to them was like the Land of Promise; and moored in the +middle there was a steamer, which in those waters could belong to no +other party than the United States Government. They rowed out to this +vessel, and hailed her. Of course they were cordially welcomed after a +satisfactory explanation had been given. + +"Glory hallelujah! How do you feel, Somers?" said Captain de Banyan, +after he had insured a proper reception on board of the steamer. + +"Badly, very badly," replied Somers faintly. + +"Well, cheer up, my boy! We have got home again." + +"Home!" said Somers, raising himself partially up at the sound of that +magical word. + +The captain and Alick lifted him tenderly, and assisted him up the +accommodation-ladder of the steamer. The vessel was a gunboat bound up +the river, and was waiting for the daylight. Somers was taken to the +ward-room, where the surgeon dressed his arm, and prescribed for his +bodily ailments. Alick was duly installed as his nurse, though Captain de +Banyan performed the greater part of his duty. But the consciousness that +he was again beneath the old flag did more for the patient than even the +assiduous care of his devoted friends. + +After leaving Petersburg the fugitives had pursued a nearly easterly +course till they arrived at the bridge over Chipoak Creek, where they had +abandoned their horses, and taken the boat. Alick had chosen this +direction to avoid the pickets which were on the lookout for them in the +vicinity of the City Point Railroad. His calculations had been well made, +and he was rewarded for his zeal and skill by the priceless boon of +freedom, which he preferred even to the life of comfort and ease he had +enjoyed beneath the roof of his kind but eccentric master. + +How Dr. Scoville ever made his peace with the provost-marshal of +Petersburg we are not informed; but we will venture to say that his whims +were not respected after the events we have narrated. He was a wilful +man; but his guests were very sorry to be compelled to make him such an +ungenerous return for his noble hospitality. When the war is ended, and +he is enabled fully to understand the meaning of treason to our +beneficent Government, no doubt he will be very thankful that his +prisoner guests escaped as they did. + +At nine o'clock on the following morning, the gunboat dropped her anchor +off Harrison's Landing. Somers, who had slept for several hours, was more +comfortable, though he was still in a deplorable condition. With the +kindly assistance of his friends, he was landed at the pier, and conveyed +in an ambulance to the headquarters of the division. Leaning on the arm +of De Banyan, he entered the tent of the general. + +"Captain Somers!" exclaimed the general. "I had given you up for lost. +Why, you have grown ten years older in five days!" + +"I have the honor to make my report, general," said Somers with a faint +smile. + +"Your report? Good! After losing you, I did not dare to send another +officer upon such a perilous errand. But, Captain Somers, you are all +used up," added the general, with a glance filled with sympathy--a look +which Somers regarded as an adequate reward for all he had suffered; for +to have _that_ man feel an interest in him was better in his estimation +than the plaudits of the multitude. "What is the matter with your arm?" + +"I was shot at Petersburg," replied Somers. + +"Well, well, captain, you must go to the hospital: and +Captain--what's-his-name----" + +"Captain de Banyan, at your service," promptly responded Somers's +faithful friend. + +"Captain de Banyan shall report for you, and tell me all about this +scrape," added the general. "Get into your carriage, Captain Somers, and +go to the hospital. I will call and see you to-day or to-morrow." + +"Thank you, general." + +Captain de Banyan assisted him into the ambulance; and, when he had +placed him in the care of the surgeon, he returned to headquarters to +tell the marvelous story of their capture by the rebels, and their escape +from Petersburg. It is quite likely that he did not add his experience in +Tennessee; but when the general called on Somers at the hospital the next +morning, the latter supplied all that had been withheld. The general had +a higher regard for the captain's patriotism than ever before, for he had +voluntarily renounced the ranks of the rebellion, and placed himself on +the side of his country. There was nothing against him; on the contrary, +his conduct had been in the highest degree praiseworthy. But Captain de +Banyan was sensitive on this point; and the general readily promised to +conceal what the brave fellow regarded as a stain upon his character. + +Captain Somers did not improve so rapidly as his friends desired. The +surgeon declared that his night ride from Petersburg, in his feeble +condition, had done him more injury than a year's hard service; and after +he had been in the hospital ten days, it was deemed advisable to give him +a furlough, and send him home, especially as the division was then under +orders to march to Yorktown. The gallant young hero regretted the +necessity of leaving the regiment just as he had been promoted; but he +was in no condition to endure the long and weary march. He was able to +walk about a little; and on the day before the sailing of the transport +by which he was to proceed to Washington, he received another visit from +the general. + +After a few kind inquiries in regard to the invalid's condition, the +general took from his pocket one of those great official envelopes which +so often carry joy to the heart of the gallant officer. Somers was +amazed. It could not be possible that his own promotion was indicated by +this document. It was not three weeks since his commission as captain had +reached him; but then Senator Guilford was a great man, and wielded a +tremendous influence, both at Washington, and with the military +authorities of his native State. + +Recalling his former declaration to Captain de Banyan, he was fully +resolved to decline any further promotion, at least until he had done +something which entitled him to this distinction. The general held up the +formidable packet, while Somers's pale face was suffused with blushes. + +"I have brought you a major's commission, Somers; and I know it will give +you joy." + +"Really, sir; ah! general, I don't think----" + +"Don't you?" laughed the general. + +"I don't deserve it, general; and you will pardon me if I say I cannot +accept it. I am very grateful to you; but----" + +"Oh, it isn't for you!" roared the general as he handed him the official +paper. + +"Major de Banyan!" exclaimed Captain Somers as he read the superscription +with a thrill of delight. "It is indeed a joy to me. I am ten times as +happy as I should have been if my own name had been coupled with that +title. I am ever so much obliged to you." + +"Senator Guilford again! By the way, Captain Somers, you must call on him +when you get to Washington." + +"I shall certainly do so. But I know my friend could not have been +promoted without the good word which you have spoken for him." + +"Well, it is all right, captain. Major de Banyan is a brave fellow. He +has done you a good turn; and I waylaid this document so as to afford you +the pleasure of being the first to address him by his new title." + +"Thank you, general." + +"And, captain, if you could prevail on the major to be a little more +reasonable in some of the lies he tells, his reputation for veracity +would be improved." + +"I will endeavor to do so." + +The general bade the invalid a hearty and even affectionate adieu; and +they did not meet again till they grasped hands on the bloody field of +Antietam, where Somers acted in a new sphere of duty. No sooner had the +general departed, than Somers, inspired to new vigor by the joyful event +which had just transpired, hastened to the camp of the regiment. + +"Ah, Somers; my dear boy! how are you now?" said his friend as he seized +his hand. + +"Better, I thank you, _Major_ de Banyan." + +"Come, now, Somers, that is cruel! A friend of mine, just before the +battle of Solferino----" + +"Confound the battle of Solferino, Major de Banyan!" + +"I was about to say that a friend of mine, just before the battle of +Solferino, made fun of my aspirations, just as you do now----" + +"I don't do anything of the sort. Here's the official document. If I read +right, it says Major de Banyan." + +"Somers," said the captain, winking very rapidly to dissipate some +evidences of weakness which were struggling for existence in his +eyes--"Somers, you have done this." + +"I did write to Senator Guilford about you before we went over the river; +and now I thank God with all my soul that I did so." + +"Somers, you are one of the best of friends!" exclaimed the major as he +stood with the unopened document in his hand. + +"And so are you. Without you, I should have been in a rebel prison or +under the sod at this time." + +"God bless you, Somers!" ejaculated De Banyan, as with trembling hand he +opened the envelope, and took therefrom his major's commission. "I have +loved you just like a younger brother; not selfishly, my dear boy, but +with my whole heart. You haven't disappointed me, only once, when----" + +"Don't mention it. I thought you were a rebel then, but I repented." + +"I don't blame you. Now, Somers, you are going home. May God bless you +and keep you! I shall be as sad as a maiden who has lost her lover, while +you are gone." + +"I shall not be absent long. We shall be together again in a few weeks." + +"I hope so. I have no home now. It has been desolated by treason. I heard +since I came over that my wife was dead. I had a son, a boy of fifteen; I +know not where he is. Well, well; I will not groan or complain. I will do +my duty to my country, and that shall cheer my heart;" and with an effort +of his powerful will, he banished the sad reflections from his mind, and +smiled as though earth had no sorrows. "After the battle of Magenta, I +had the blues, and----" + +"One word, De Banyan. _Were_ you at the battle of Magenta?" said Somers +solemnly. + +The major looked on the ground, at the commission he had just received, +and then into the sympathizing face of his friend. + +"To tell the truth, Somers, I was not; but I fought in every battle in +Mexico, from Vera Cruz up to the capital." + +Somers improved this opportunity to repeat the injunction of the general. + +"Now promise me, major, that you will never say Magenta or anything of +the sort again as long as you live," added Somers. + +"That would be a rash promise. I have got a bad habit, and I will try to +cure myself of it. On my soul I will, my dear boy!" + +In the course of the conversation the major, who was now in a +truth-telling mood, informed Somers that he had, after his escape from +the rebel army, enlisted in the regular army, where he had been made a +sergeant, and, through the influence of a Massachusetts officer, had been +commissioned as a captain. His gallantry had won a swift reward. + +On the following day they parted on board the transport in the river; and +in that sad hour the friendship which, though brief in duration, had been +fruitful enough for a lifetime, was pledged for the future. They parted, +De Banyan to mingle in the terrible scenes in which the regiment was +engaged before the close of the month, and Somers to bask in the smiles +of the loved ones at home. Alick, who had been regularly installed as the +captain's servant, went with him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +WASHINGTON, BOSTON AND PINCHBROOK + + +Though the session of Congress had closed a month before, Captain Somers +was gratified to learn on his arrival that Senator Guilford and his +family were still in Washington, the distinguished gentleman having been +detained by important public business. As soon as he could make himself +presentable, he hastened to pay his respects to the Senator, and thank +him for his kindness. He was not at home. Emma received him with a warm +blush of pleasure on her fair cheeks. She had entirely recovered from the +effects of the accident; and her tribute of gratitude was so eloquently +poured forth, that the gallant young captain, who had hardly seen a young +lady before for two months, could not exactly tell whether he stood on +his head or his heels; for praise from those beautiful lips produced a +sensation of giddiness in the region of the brain. + +Young men will be silly in spite of all we dignified old fogies can say +to convince them of the folly of being carried away by the witching arts +of pretty, graceful little creatures like Emma Guilford. Perhaps the +remembrance of the scene on the railroad was some excuse for him; and it +is entirely unnecessary to apologize for anything a beautiful girl may +do, especially if she be the daughter of a Senator. The young lady said a +great many pretty things, and the young gentleman a great many smart +ones, before she discovered that the captain was wounded in the arm, +though she had already remarked upon his pale face and rather attenuated +form. + +He told her when and where he was wounded; and of course she wanted to +know all about his adventures in Secessia. He was as willing as Othello +to speak + + "Of most disastrous chances, + Of moving accidents, by flood and field; + Of hairbreadth scapes i' the imminent deadly breach; + Of being taken by the insolent foe." + +All this to hear did Emma Guilford seriously incline. But he had hardly +commenced the story before the Senator himself entered the room. + +"Ah! Captain Somers, I am delighted to see you!" said he with enthusiasm, +as he extended his hand, which our hero as warmly grasped. + +"Thank you, sir. I have called to express my obligations to you for all +your kindness to me and to my friend. Major de Banyan wished to be kindly +remembered to you." + +"I am happy to hear from the major; and as for the rest, I feel that I +have not yet begun to discharge my obligation to you. Why didn't you +write to me before?" + +"I did not wish to burden you with any remembrance of such a humble +individual as myself." + +"You are too modest by half, Captain Somers. I should not have known +anything about you if it hadn't been for General---- Well, no matter +who," laughed the Senator. + +"Now, papa, you have cut short the most interesting story that ever was +told!" interposed Emma. + +"The captain must begin again, then. Of course, you will make my house +your home while in the city." + +"Thank you, sir. I left my servant at the hotel" + +Senator Guilford insisted on sending for the servant and the baggage; +and, in half an hour, Alick was present to confirm the wonderful tale +which Somers told of his captivity in Petersburg, to which Emma and her +father listened with the most intense interest. + +Very much to his surprise, Captain Somers found himself quite a lion in +Washington. He was introduced to Senators and Representatives; and on the +following evening actually took the President of the United States by the +hand, just as though he had been one of the patriarchs of Pinchbrook. + +In spite of all these brilliant surroundings, Somers was anxious to get +home. He was too feeble to endure the excitement of the capital; and on +the third day after his arrival, he started for home. When he reached +Boston, by an unfortunate chance it was two hours before a train would +start for Pinchbrook. As he had spent two days with a Senator in +Washington, and shaken hands with the President, he deemed himself +qualified to call at No. -- Rutland Street, where the carriage soon set +him down. + +Lilian Ashford was at home; and Captain Somers, who had faced a whole +rebel brigade, trembled and blushed in the presence of the maiden like +the veriest coward in the world. But it was some satisfaction to know +that the other party was similarly affected. The young hero could not +exactly explain how he felt. It was a different sensation from that which +had come over him in the presence of Emma Guilford. He experienced a +feeling of awe before her, but he could talk as fast as ever; while to +Lilian he stammered, couldn't remember anything, and made woful confusion +in his words and in his ideas. + +When the ice was broken, he succeeded in telling her something about his +adventures in Virginia, and roused a very strong desire in her mind to +see the wonderful Major de Banyan. But his brief hour expired all too +soon; it faded in a moment, and seemed like a tale that was told. + +"I wore your socks at the battles of Savage's Station, Glendale and White +Oak Swamp, Miss Ashford," said he; "and I shall keep them for future +service of the same kind. If I am killed in battle, I shall be found with +those socks on my feet." + +"Oh, I hope you won't be killed!" exclaimed she with a shudder. + +"Well, I hope not; but, as soon as I am able, I shall return to my duty." + +"What a brave fellow you are! I shouldn't think you would dare to stand +up before the cannons, and the muskets, and the bayonets." + +"When I feel like running away, I always think of my socks," said Somers. + +But the carriage had come for him, and Alick stood at the door waiting +for his appearance. He took the little soft white hand in his own, and +readily promised, when she invited him, to call again soon and see her +grandmother, who was out of town that day. Of course, Somers was deeply +interested in that venerable lady, and actually looked forward with +intense pleasure to the anticipated visit. + +He was driven to the railroad station, and reached Pinchbrook at "high +twelve," when the Pinchbrookers were just going to their dinners. Captain +Barney, as usual, was at the depot, and gave him a seaman's welcome home. +He insisted upon being driven to the cottage before dinner; and the old +shipmaster, finding that Captain Somers carried too many guns for him, +gracefully yielded the point. + +"Bless my stars, if there ain't Thomas!" cried Mrs. Somers as she jumped +up from the dinner-table, and actually upset the teapot in the operation. + +"How do you do, mother? How do you do, father?" exclaimed the young +captain as he shook hands with his father and Gran'ther Green, kissed his +mother, and hugged his sister. + +"How pale you look, Thomas!" said his mother. "I declare, you are as thin +as a hatchet! How is your arm?" + +"Better, mother; I shall be as good as new in a few days." + +"You look pale; but your face is as nateral as life," said Gran'ther +Green. "I don't know what we shall do with two cap'ns in the family." + +"I think we can manage that, gran'ther," replied Somers, as he took the +place at the table which had been prepared for him. + + * * * * * + +We drop the curtain upon the scenes which followed; for our patient +reader can better imagine than we can describe them. Our hero was once +more within the hallowed precincts of home; all its sacred joys flowed in +upon his soul; and he thanked the good Father who had conducted him +through so many perils, and restored him to the hearts of the loved ones +who yearned for him in his absence. They were as grateful for his return +as he was--grateful that God had restored him at all; but doubly so that +he had come with his soul unstained by the vices of the camp and the +wickedness of the great world. + +The health of Captain Somers did not permit his return to the army to +participate in those great battles before Washington in which his +regiment was reduced to a mere skeleton of its former self. But, while +the country was breathing slowly and fearfully before the terrors of +Lee's invasion of Maryland, there came to Pinchbrook a letter from the +gallant general of division--now in command of a _corps d'armée_--under +whom he had before served, containing an appointment on his staff. Though +still but partially restored to health, he hastened to accept his new +position, and started at once for the scene of strife. + +His suffering country needed him; and he could not satisfy his sense of +duty, even with the reasonable excuse of a shattered physical frame. He +went, and his record was always honorable and noble in success and in +misfortune. + +THE END + + + + * * * * * * + + + +A. L. BURT'S CATALOGUE OF BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE +BY POPULAR WRITERS, 52-58 DUANE STREET, NEW YORK + +BOOKS FOR BOYS. + +Joe's Luck: A Boy's Adventures in California. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, +cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + +The story is chock fall of stirring incidents, while the amusing +situations are furnished by Joshua Bickford, from Pumpkin Hollow, and the +fellow who modestly styles himself the "Rip-tail Roarer, from Pike Co., +Missouri." Mr. Alger never writes a poor book, and "Joe's Luck" is +certainly one of his best. + +Tom the Bootblack; or, The Road to Success. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, +cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + +A bright, enterprising lad was Tom the Bootblack. He was not at all +ashamed of his humble calling, though always on the lookout to better +himself. The lad started for Cincinnati to look up his heritage. Mr. Grey, +the uncle, did not hesitate to employ a ruffian to kill the lad. The plan +failed, and Gilbert Grey, once Tom the bootblack, came into a comfortable +fortune. This is one of Mr. Alger's best stories. + +Dan the Newsboy. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price +$1.00. + +Dan Mordaunt and his mother live in a poor tenement, and the lad is +pluckily trying to make ends meet by selling papers in the streets of New +York. A little heiress of six years is confided to the care of the +Mordaunts. The child is kidnapped and Dan tracks the child to the house +where she is hidden, and rescues her. The wealthy aunt of the little +heiress is so delighted with Dan's courage and many good qualities that +she adopts him as her heir. + +Tony the Hero: A Brave Boy's Adventure with a Tramp. By Horatio Alger, Jr. +12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + +Tony, a sturdy bright-eyed boy of fourteen, is under the control of +Rudolph Rugg, a thorough rascal. After much abuse Tony runs away and gets +a Job as stable boy in a country hotel. Tony is heir to a large estate. +Rudolph for a consideration hunts up Tony and throws him down a deep well. +Of course Tony escapes from the fate provided for him, and by a brave act, +a rich friend secures his rights and Tony is prosperous. A very +entertaining book. + +The Errand Boy; or, How Phil Brent Won Success. By Horatio Alger, Jr. +12mo, cloth illustrated, price $1.00. + +The career of "The Errand Boy" embraces the city adventures of a +smart country lad. Philip was brought up by a kind-hearted innkeeper +named Brent. The death of Mrs. Brent paved the way for the hero's +subsequent troubles. A retired merchant in New York secures him the +situation of errand boy, and thereafter stands as his friend. + +Tom Temple's Career. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price +$1.00. + +Tom Temple is a bright, self-reliant lad. He leaves Plympton village to +seek work in New York, whence he undertakes an important mission to +California. Some of his adventures in the far west are so startling that +the reader will scarcely close the book until the last page shall have +been reached. The tale is written in Mr. Alger's most fascinating style. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York. + + + + +BOOKS FOR BOYS. + +Frank Fowler, the Cash Boy. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, cloth, +illustrated, price $1.00. + +Frank Fowler, a poor boy, bravely determines to make a living for himself +and his foster-sister Grace. Going to New York he obtains a situation as +cash boy in a dry goods store. He renders a service to a wealthy old +gentleman who takes a fancy to the lad, and thereafter helps the lad to +gain success and fortune. + +Tom Thatcher's Fortune. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, +price $1.00. + +Tom Thatcher is a brave, ambitious, unselfish boy. He supports his mother +and sister on meagre wages earned as a shoe-pegger in John Simpson's +factory. Tom is discharged from the factory and starts overland for +California. He meets with many adventures. The story is told in a way +which has made Mr. Alger's name a household word in so many homes. + +The Train Boy. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price +$1.00. + +Paul Palmer was a wide-awake boy of sixteen who supported his mother and +sister by selling books and papers on the Chicago and Milwaukee Railroad. +He detects a young man in the act of picking the pocket of a young lady. +In a railway accident many passengers are killed, but Paul is fortunate +enough to assist a Chicago merchant, who out of gratitude takes him into +his employ. Paul succeeds with tact and judgment and is well started on +the road to business prominence. + +Mark Mason's Victory. The Trials and Triumphs of a Telegraph Boy. By +Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + +Mark Mason, the telegraph boy, was a sturdy, honest lad, who pluckily won +his way to success by his honest manly efforts under many difficulties. +This story will please the very large class of boys who regard Mr. Alger +as a favorite author. + +A Debt of Honor. The Story of Gerald Lane's Success in the Far West. By +Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + +The story of Gerald Lane and the account of the many trials and +disappointments which he passed through before he attained success, will +interest all boys who have read the previous stories of this delightful +author. + +Ben Bruce. Scenes in the Life of a Bowery Newsboy. By Horatio Alger, Jr. +12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + +Ben Bruce was a brave, manly, generous boy. The story of his efforts, and +many seeming failures and disappointments, and his final success, are most +interesting to all readers. The tale is written in Mr. Alger's most +fascinating style. + +The Castaways; or, On the Florida Reefs. By James Otis. 12mo, cloth, +illustrated, price $1.00. + +This tale smacks of the salt sea. From the moment that the Sea Queen +leaves lower New York bay till the breeze leaves her becalmed off the +coast of Florida, one can almost hear the whistle of the wind through her +rigging, the creak of her straining cordage as she heels to the leeward. +The adventures of Ben Clark, the hero of the story and Jake the cook, +cannot fail to charm the reader. As a writer for young people Mr. Otis is +a prime favorite. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York. + + + + +BOOKS FOR BOYS. + +Wrecked on Spider Island; or, How Ned Rogers Found the Treasure. By James +Otis. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + +Ned Rogers, a "down-east" plucky lad ships as cabin boy to earn a +livelihood. Ned is marooned on Spider Island, and while there discovers a +wreck submerged in the sand, and finds a considerable amount of treasure. +The capture of the treasure and the incidents of the voyage serve to make +as entertaining a story of sea-life as the most captious boy could desire. + +The Search for the Silver City: A Tale of Adventure in Yucatan. By James +Otis. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + +Two lads, Teddy Wright and Neal Emery, embark on the steam yacht Day Dream +for a cruise to the tropics. The yacht is destroyed by fire, and then the +boat is cast upon the coast of Yucatan. They hear of the wonderful Silver +City, of the Chan Santa Cruz Indians, and with the help of a faithful +Indian ally carry off a number of the golden images from the temples. +Pursued with relentless vigor at last their escape is effected in an +astonishing manner. The story is so full of exciting incidents that the +reader is quite carried away with the novelty and realism of the +narrative. + +A Runaway Brig; or, An Accidental Cruise. By James Otis. 12mo, cloth, +illustrated, price $1.00. + +This is a sea tale, and the reader can look out upon the wide shimmering +sea as it flashes back the sunlight, and imagine himself afloat with Harry +Vandyne, Walter Morse, Jim Libby and that old shell-back, Bob Brace, on +the brig Bonita. The boys discover a mysterious document which enables +them to find a buried treasure. They are stranded on an island and at last +are rescued with the treasure. The boys are sure to be fascinated with +this entertaining story. + +The Treasure Finders: A Boy's Adventures in Nicaragua. By James Otis. +12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + +Roy and Dean Coloney, with their guide Tongla, leave their father's indigo +plantation to visit the wonderful ruins of an ancient city. The boys +eagerly explore the temples of an extinct race and discover three golden +images cunningly hidden away. They escape with the greatest difficulty. +Eventually they reach safety with their golden prizes. We doubt if there +ever was written a more entertaining story than "The Treasure Finders." + +Jack, the Hunchback. A Story of the Coast of Maine, By James Otis. Price +$1.00. + +This is the story of a little hunchback who lived on Cape Elizabeth, on +the coast of Maine. His trials and successes are most interesting. From +first to last nothing stays the interest of the narrative. It bears us +along as on a stream whose current varies in direction, but never loses +its force. + +With Washington at Monmouth: A Story of Three Philadelphia Boys. By James +Otis. 12mo, ornamental cloth, olivine edges, illustrated, price $1.50. + +Three Philadelphia lads assist the American spies and make regular and +frequent visits to Valley Forge in the Winter while the British occupied +the city. The story abounds with pictures of Colonial life skillfully +drawn, and the glimpses of Washington's soldiers which are given shown +that the work has not been hastily done, or without considerable study. +The story is wholesome and patriotic in tone, as are all of Mr. Otis' +works. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York. + + + + +BOOKS FOR BOYS. + +With Lafayette at Yorktown: A Story of How Two Boys Joined the Continental +Army. By James Otis. 12mo, ornamental cloth, olivine edges, illustrated, +price $1.50. + +Two lads from Portmouth, N. H., attempt to enlist in the Colonial Army, +and are given employment as spies. There is no lack of exciting incidents +which the youthful reader craves, but it is healthful excitement brimming +with facts which every boy should be familiar with, and while the reader +is following the adventures of Ben Jaffrays and Ned Allen he is acquiring +a fund of historical lore which will remain in his memory long after that +which he has memorized from textbooks has been forgotten. + +At the Siege of Havana. Being the Experiences of Three Boys Serving under +Israel Putnam in 1762. By James Otis. 12mo, ornamental cloth, olivine +edges, illustrated, price $1.50. + +"At the Siege of Havana" deals with that portion of the island's history +when the English king captured the capital, thanks to the assistance given +by the troops from New England, led in part by Col. Israel Putnam. + +The principal characters are Darius Lunt, the lad who, represented as +telling the story, and his comrades, Robert Clement and Nicholas Vallet. +Colonel Putnam also figures to considerable extent, necessarily, in the +tale, and the whole forms one of the most readable stories founded on +historical facts. + +The Defense of Fort Henry. A Story of Wheeling Creek in 1777. By James +Otis. 12mo, ornamental cloth, olivine edges, illustrated, price $1.50. + +Nowhere in the history of our country can be found more heroic or +thrilling incidents than in the story of those brave men and women who +founded the settlement of Wheeling in the Colony of Virginia. The recital +of what Elizabeth Zane did is in itself as heroic a story as can be +imagined. The wondrous bravery displayed by Major McCulloch and his +gallant comrades, the sufferings of the colonists and their sacrifice of +blood and life, stir the blood of old as well as young readers. + +The Capture of the Laughing Mary. A Story of Three New York Boys in 1776. +By James Otis. 12mo, ornamental cloth, olivine edges, price $1.50. + +"During the British occupancy of New York, at the outbreak of the +Revolution, a Yankee lad hears of the plot to take General Washington's +person, and calls in two companions to assist the patriot cause. They do +some astonishing things, and, incidentally, lay the way for an American +navy later, by the exploit which gives its name to the work. Mr. Otis' +books are too well known to require any particular commendation to the +young."--Evening Post. + +With Warren at Bunker Hill. A Story of the Siege of Boston. By James Otis. +12mo, ornamental cloth, olivine edges, illustrated, price $1.50. + +"This is a tale of the siege of Boston, which opens on the day after the +doings at Lexington and Concord, with a description of home life in +Boston, introduces the reader to the British camp at Charlestown, shows +Gen. Warren at home, describes what a boy thought of the battle of Bunker +Hill, and closes with the raising of the siege. The three heroes, George +Wentworth, Ben Scarlett and an old ropemaker, incur the enmity of a young +Tory, who causes them many adventures the boys will like to read." +--Detroit Free Press. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT*** + + +******* This file should be named 25886-8.txt or 25886-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/5/8/8/25886 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: The Young Lieutenant</p> +<p> or, The Adventures of an Army Officer</p> +<p>Author: Oliver Optic</p> +<p>Release Date: June 23, 2008 [eBook #25886]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3 class="pg">E-text prepared by Roger Frank, Juliet Sutherland,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.8em; margin-top:1em; font-variant:small-caps;'>The</p> +<p style=' font-size:1.8em; margin-bottom:1em; font-variant:small-caps;'>Young Lieutenant</p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;'>OR</p> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-bottom:1em;'>THE ADVENTURES OF AN ARMY OFFICER</p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p style=' font-size:1em; margin-bottom:1em;'>A STORY OF THE GREAT REBELLION</p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p style=' font-size:1.4em; margin-bottom:.5em;'>By OLIVER OPTIC</p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;'>Author of</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;'>“The Soldier Boy,” “The Sailor Boy,” “Brave Old Salt,”</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;'>“The Yankee Middy,” “Fighting Joe,” etc.</p> +<div style='margin-top:1em'></div> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p>A. L. BURT COMPANY</p> +<p style=' margin-bottom:2em;'>PUBLISHERS :: :: NEW YORK</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em; margin-top:1.2em;'>TO</p> +<p style=' font-weight:bold;'>William A. Moulton, Esq.</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;'>THIS BOOK</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;'>IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED</p> +<p style=' font-size:0.8em;'>BY HIS FRIEND</p> +<p style=' margin-bottom:1em;'>WILLIAM T. ADAMS</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<div><span class='pagenum'><a id='page_5' name='page_5'></a>5</span></div> +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-top:2em;'>THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT</p> +<p style=' font-size:1em; margin-top:0.5em; margin-bottom:0.5em;'>OR</p> +<p style=' font-size:1.2em; margin-bottom:1em;'>THE ADVENTURES OF AN ARMY OFFICER</p> +</div> + +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 0em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> +<h3>CAPTAIN DE BANYAN AND OTHERS</h3> +</div> + +<p>“I beg your pardon, sir; but I see, by the number +on your cap, that we belong to the same regiment,” +said an officer with two bars on his shoulder-straps, +as he halted in the aisle of the railroad-car, +near where Lieutenant Thomas Somers was +seated. “May I be permitted to inquire whom I +have the honor of addressing?” +</p> +<p>“Lieutenant Somers, of the ——th Massachusetts,” +replied the young gentleman addressed, as +he politely touched his cap in return for the salutation +of the other. +</p> +<p>“Ah! is it possible? I am rejoiced to meet you. +I have heard of you before. Allow me to add in +the most delicate manner, that you are a good fellow, +a first-rate soldier, and as brave an officer +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_6' name='page_6'></a>6</span> +as ever sported a pair of shoulder-straps. Permit +me to offer you my hand; and allow me to add, +that it is a hand which was never sullied by a dishonorable +act.” +</p> +<p>“I am happy to make your acquaintance,” replied +Lieutenant Somers, as he accepted the offered +hand. “Won’t you take a seat, Captain——” +</p> +<p>“Captain de Banyan, at your service,” continued +the officer, as he seated himself by the side of the +young lieutenant, who was completely bewildered +by the elegant and courtly speech of his new-found +friend. +</p> +<p>If Lieutenant Somers needs any further introduction +to the reader, we may briefly add, that he +was a native of Pinchbrook, a town near Boston, +in the State of Massachusetts. He was now entering +his eighteenth year, and had enlisted in the +great army of the Union as a private, with an +earnest and patriotic desire to serve his imperiled +country in her death-grapple with treason and +traitors. He had won his warrant as a sergeant +by bravery and address, and had subsequently been +commissioned as a second lieutenant for good conduct +on the bloody field of Williamsburg, where he +had been wounded. The injury he had received, +and the exhaustion consequent upon hard marching +and the excitement of a terrible battle, had +procured for him a furlough of thirty days. He +had spent this brief period at home; and now, invigorated +by rest and the care of loving friends, he +was returning to the army to participate in that +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_7' name='page_7'></a>7</span> +stupendous campaign which culminated in the +seven-days’ battles before Richmond. +</p> +<p>Inspired by the hope of honorable distinction, +still more by the patriotic desire to serve the +noblest cause for which the soldier ever drew a +sword, he was hastening to the post of danger and +duty. As the train hurried him by smiling fields, +and through cities and villages whose prosperity +was mysteriously interlinked with the hallowed +mission which called him from the bosom of home +and friends, his thoughts were those which would +naturally animate the soul of a young patriot, as +he journeyed to the battle-fields of a nation’s ruin +or salvation. He thought of the bloody scenes before +him, of the blessed home behind him. +</p> +<p>Only the day before, he had made his parting +visit to Lilian Ashford, who knit his “fighting +socks,” as he had called them since the eventful +day when he had found her letter and her picture +in them. Of course, he could not help thinking of +her; and, as he had a thin stratum of sentiment in +his composition, it is more than probable that +the beautiful young lady monopolized more than +her fair share of his thoughts; but I am sure it was +not at all to the detriment of the affection he owed +his mother and the other dear ones, who were +shrined in the sanctuary of his heart. +</p> +<p>Lieutenant Somers was an exceedingly good-looking +young man, which, as it was no fault of +his own, we do not object to mention. He was +clothed in his new uniform, which was very creditable +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_8' name='page_8'></a>8</span> +to the taste and skill of his tailor. On his +upper lip, an incipient mustache had developed itself; +and, though it presented nothing remarkable, +it gave brilliant promise of soon becoming all that +its ambitious owner could possibly desire, especially +as he was a reasonable person, and had no +taste for monstrosities. He had paid proper attention +to this ornamental appendage, which is so indispensable +to the making-up of a soldier; and +the result, if not entirely satisfactory, was at least +hopeful. +</p> +<p>The subject of our remarks wore his sash and +belt, and carried his sword in his hand, for the +reason that he had no other convenient way of +transporting them. Our natural pride, as his biographer, +leads us to repeat that he was a fine-looking +young man; and we will venture to say, +that the young lady who occupied the seat on the +opposite side of the car was of the same opinion. +Of course, she did not stare at him; but she had +two or three times cast a furtive glance at the +young officer; though the operation had been so +well managed, that he was entirely unconscious of +the fact. +</p> +<p>Inasmuch as this same young lady was herself +quite pretty, it is not supposable that she had entirely +escaped the observation of our gallant young +son of Mars. We are compelled to say he had +glanced in that direction two or three times, to +keep within the limits of a modest calculation; but +it is our duty to add that he was not captivated, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_9' name='page_9'></a>9</span> +and that there is not the least danger of our story +degenerating into a love-tale. Lieutenant Somers +thought she was nearly as pretty as Lilian Ashford; +and this, we solemnly declare, was the entire +length and breadth of the sentiment he expended +upon the young lady, who was certainly worthy of +a deeper homage. +</p> +<p>She was in charge of an elderly, dignified gentleman, +who had occupied the seat by her side until +half an hour before the appearance of Captain de +Banyan; but, being unfortunately addicted to the +small vice of smoking, he had gone forward to the +proper car to indulge his propensity. Lieutenant +Somers had studied the faces of all the passengers +near him, and had arrived at the conclusion that +the lady’s protector was a gentleman of consequence. +He might be her father or her uncle; but +he was a member of Congress, the governor of a +State, or some high official, perhaps a major-general +in “mufti.” At any rate, our hero was interested +in the pair, and had carried his speculations +concerning them as far as theory can go without +a few facts to substantiate it, when his reflections +were disturbed by Captain de Banyan. +</p> +<p>“Lieutenant Somers, I’m proud to know you, as +I had occasion to remark before. I have heard of +you. You distinguished yourself in the battle of +Williamsburg,” said Captain de Banyan. +</p> +<p>“You speak very handsomely of me—much better +than I deserve, sir.” +</p> +<p>“Not a particle, my boy. If there is a man in +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_10' name='page_10'></a>10</span> +the army that can appreciate valor, that man is +Captain de Banyan. You are modest, Lieutenant +Somers—of course you are modest; all brave men +are modest—and I forgive your blushes. I’ve seen +service, my boy. Though not yet thirty-five, I +served in the Crimea, in the Forty-seventh Royal +Infantry; and was at the battles of Solferino, +Magenta, Palestro, and others too numerous to +mention.” +</p> +<p>“Indeed!” exclaimed Lieutenant Somers, filled +with admiration by the magnificent record of the +captain. “Then you are not an American?” +</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, I am! I happened to be in England +when the Russian war commenced. So, being fond +of a stirring life, I entered as a private in the +Forty-seventh. If the war had continued six +months longer, I should have come out a brigadier-general, +though. Promotion is not so rapid in +the British army as in our own. I was at the storming +of the Redan; I was one of the first to mount +the breach. Just as I had raised my musket——” +</p> +<p>“I thought you were an officer—a colonel at +least,” interposed Lieutenant Somers. +</p> +<p>“My sword, I should have said. Just as I had +raised my sword to cut down a Russian who +threatened to bayonet me, a cannon-ball struck the +butt of my gun——” +</p> +<p>“Your gun?” +</p> +<p>“The handle of my sword, I should have said, +and snapped it off like a pipe-stem.” +</p> +<p>“But didn’t it snap your hand off too?” asked +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_11' name='page_11'></a>11</span> +the lieutenant, rather bewildered by the captain’s +statements. +</p> +<p>“Not at all; that is the most wonderful part of +the story. It didn’t even graze my skin.” +</p> +<p>“That was very remarkable,” added Lieutenant +Somers, who could not see, for the life of him, +how a cannon-ball could hit the handle of the +sword without injuring the hand which grasped it. +</p> +<p>“It was very remarkable, indeed; but I was reminded +of the circumstance by the remembrance +that you were hit in the head by a bullet, which +did not kill you. I shouldn’t have mentioned the +affair if I hadn’t called to mind my own experience; +for life yourself, Somers, I am a modest man; +in fact, every brave man is necessarily a modest +man.” +</p> +<p>“Were you ever wounded, Captain de Banyan?” +</p> +<p>“Bless you, half a dozen times. At Magenta, +the same bullet passed twice through my body.” +</p> +<p>“The same bullet?” +</p> +<p>“Yes, sir—the same bullet. I’ll tell you how it +happened. I was in the heavy artillery there. The +bullet of the Russian—” +</p> +<p>“The Russian! Why, I thought the battle of +Magenta was fought between the Austrians and +the French.” +</p> +<p>“You are right, my boy. The bullet of the +Austrian, I should have said, passed through my +left lung, struck the cannon behind me, bounded +back, and hitting me again, passed through my +right lung. When it came out, it hit my musket, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_12' name='page_12'></a>12</span> +and dropped upon the ground. I picked it up, and +have it at home now.” +</p> +<p>“Whew!” added Lieutenant Somers in a low +whisper. “It’s quite warm to-day,” he continued, +trying to turn off the remark. +</p> +<p>“Very warm, indeed.” +</p> +<p>“But didn’t you fall after the ball had passed +through both your lungs?” +</p> +<p>“Not at all. I walked five miles to the hospital. +On my way, I met the Emperor Napoleon, who got +off his horse, and thanked me for the valor I had +displayed, and conferred on me the medal of the +Legion of Honor. I keep the medal in the same +bag with the bullet.” +</p> +<p>“Then you have actually shaken hands with the +Emperor of France?” cried the amazed lieutenant. +</p> +<p>“Yes; and King Victor Emmanuel called to see +me in the hospital, where I was confined for five +weeks. At Solferino, both their majesties shook +hands with me, and thanked me again for my services. +Being a modest man, I shouldn’t want to +say out loud that I saved the day for the French +and Sardinians at Solferino. At any rate, their +majesties did the handsome thing by me on that +day.” +</p> +<p>“I thought you were in the hospital five weeks +after Magenta.” +</p> +<p>“So I was; and well do I remember the little +delicacies sent me by the King of Italy while I lay +there on my back. Ah! that Victor Emmanuel is +a noble fellow. At Solferino, he——” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span></p> +<p>“But how could you have been at Solferino, if +you were in the hospital five weeks?” +</p> +<p>“I did not die of my wounds, it is scarcely necessary +for me to remark. I got well.” +</p> +<p>“But the battle of Solferino was fought on the +20th of June, and that of Magenta on the 4th of +June. There were only twenty days between the +battles.” +</p> +<p>“You are right, Somers. I have made some mistake +in the dates. I never was good at remembering +them. When I was in college, the professors +used to laugh at me for forgetting the date of the +Christian Era. By the way, do you smoke, +Somers? Let’s go into the smoking-car, and have +a cigar.” +</p> +<p>“I thank you; I never smoke.” +</p> +<p>“Ah! you are worse than a hot potato. But I +am dying for a smoke; and, if you will excuse me, +I will go forward. I will see you again before we +get to New York.” +</p> +<p>Captain de Banyan, apparently entirely satisfied +with himself, rose from his seat, and sauntered +gracefully forward to the door of the car, through +which he disappeared, leaving Lieutenant Somers +busy in a vain endeavor to crowd five weeks in +between the 4th and the 20th of June. The captain +was certainly a pleasant and voluble person, and +Somers had enjoyed the interview; though he could +not repress a rising curiosity to see the bullet +which had passed twice through the body of the +valiant soldier, and the medal of the Legion of +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span> +Honor conferred upon him by his imperial majesty +the Emperor of France. +</p> +<p>Some painful doubts in regard to the truth of +Captain de Banyan’s remarkable experience were +beginning to intrude themselves into his mind; and +it is quite probable that he would have been hurled +into an unhappy state of skepticism, if the train +in which he was riding had not been suddenly +hurled down an embankment some twenty feet in +height, where the cars were piled up in shapeless +wrecks, and human beings, full of life and hope +a moment before, were suddenly ushered into +eternity, or maimed and mangled for life. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> +<h3>THE SENATOR’S DAUGHTER</h3> +</div> + +<p>A scene terribly beyond the power of description +was presented to the gaze of Lieutenant +Somers when he recovered his scattered senses. +The car had been literally wrenched to pieces, and +the passengers were partially buried beneath the +fragments. Our traveler was stunned by the shock, +and made giddy by the wild vaulting of the car as +it leaped down the embankment to destruction. +He was bruised and lacerated; but he was not seriously +injured. He did not make the mistake +which many persons do under such trying circumstances, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span> +of believing that they are killed; or, if +their senses belie this impression, that they shall +die within a brief period. +</p> +<p>Lieutenant Somers was endowed with a remarkable +degree of self-possession, and never gave up +anything as long as there was any chance of holding +on. He saw a great many stars not authenticated +in any respectable catalogue of celestial +luminaries. His thoughts, and even his vitality, +seemed to be suspended for an instant; but the +thoughts came back, and the stream of life still +flowed on, notwithstanding the rude assault which +had been made upon his corporal frame. +</p> +<p>Finding that he was not killed, he struggled out +from beneath the wreck which had overwhelmed +him. His first consideration, after he had assured +himself that he was comparatively uninjured, was +for those who were his fellow-passengers on this +race to ruin and death; and perhaps it is not +strange that the fair young lady who had occupied +the opposite seat in the car came to his mind. +Men and women were disengaging themselves +from the shapeless rubbish. Some wept, some +groaned, and some were motionless and silent. +</p> +<p>He did not see the fair stranger among those +who were struggling back to consciousness. A +portion of the top of the car lay near him, which +he raised up. It rested heavily upon the form of +a maiden, which he at once recognized by the dress +to be that of the gentle stranger. The sight roused +all his energies; and he felt that strength which +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span> +had fired his muscles when he trod the field of +battle. With desperate eagerness, he raised the +heavy fragment which was crowding out the young +life of the tender form, and bore it away, so that +she was released from its cruel pressure. +</p> +<p>She, poor girl! felt it not; for her eyes were +closed, and her marble cheek was stained with +blood. The young officer, tenderly interested in her +fate, bent over her, and raised the inanimate form. +He bore it in his arms to a green spot, away from +the scattered fragments of the train, and laid it +gently down upon the bosom of mother earth. By +all the means within his power, he endeavored to +convince himself that death had not yet invaded the +lovely temple of her being. But still she was silent +and motionless. There was not a sign by which +he could determine the momentous question. +</p> +<p>He was unwilling to believe that the beautiful +stranger was dead. It seemed too hard and cruel +that one so young and fair should be thus rudely +hurried out of existence, without a mother or even +a father near to receive her last gaze on earth, +and listen to the soft sigh with which she breathed +forth her last throb of existence. He had a telescopic +drinking-cup in his pocket, with which he +hastened to a brook that flowed through the valley. +Filling it with water, he returned to his charge. +He sprinkled her face, and rubbed her temples, +and exerted himself to the best of his knowledge +and ability to awaken some signs of life. +</p> +<p>The task seemed hopeless; and he was about to +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span> +abandon it in despair, to render assistance to those +who needed it more than the fair, silent form +before him, when an almost imperceptible sigh +gladdened his heart, and caused him to renew his +exertions. Procuring another cup of water, he +persistently sprinkled the fair face and chafed the +temples of his charge. With his handkerchief +he washed away the blood-stains, and ascertained +that she was only slightly cut just above the ear. +</p> +<p>Cheered by the success which had rewarded his +efforts, he continued to bathe and chafe till the +gentle stranger opened her eyes. In a few moments +more she recovered her consciousness, and +cast a bewildered glance around her. +</p> +<p>“Where is my father?” said she; and, as she +spoke, the fearful nature of the catastrophe +dawned upon her mind, and she partially rose from +her recumbent posture. +</p> +<p>Lieutenant Somers could not tell where her +father was, and his first thought was that he must +be beneath the wreck of the shattered cars. For +the first time, he looked about him to measure with +his eye the extent of the calamity. At that moment +he discovered the engine, with the forward part of +the train, backing down the railroad. Only the +two rear cars had been precipitated over the embankment; +the accident having been caused by the +breaking of an axle on the last car but one. The +shackle connecting this with the next one had given +way, and the broken car had darted off the bank, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_18' name='page_18'></a>18</span> +carrying the rear one with it, while the rest of the +train dashed on to its destination. +</p> +<p>Of course the calamity was immediately discovered; +but a considerable time elapsed—as time was +measured by those who were suffering and dying +beneath the <i>débris</i> of the train—before the engine +could be stopped, and backed to the scene of the +accident. Lieutenant Somers had seen the lady’s +father go forward, and had heard him say he was +going to the smoking-car; he was therefore satisfied +that he was safe. +</p> +<p>“He will be here presently,” he replied to the +anxious question of the fair stranger. +</p> +<p>“Perhaps he was—oh, dear! Perhaps he +was——” +</p> +<p>“Oh, no! he wasn’t. The smoking-car was not +thrown off the track,” interposed the young officer, +promptly removing from her mind the terrible fear +which took possession of her first conscious moments. +“Are you much hurt?” +</p> +<p>“I don’t know; I don’t think I am; but one of +my arms feels very numb.” +</p> +<p>“Let me examine it,” continued our traveler, +tenderly raising the injured member. +</p> +<p>He was not deeply skilled in surgery; but he +knew enough of the mysteries of anatomy to discover +that the arm was broken between the elbow +and the shoulder. +</p> +<p>“I am afraid your arm is broken,” said he cautiously, +as though he feared the announcement +would cause her to faint again. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span></p> +<p>“I am glad it is no worse,” said she with a +languid smile, and without exhibiting the least indication +of feminine weakness. +</p> +<p>“It might have been worse, certainly. Can I do +anything more for you?” added Lieutenant +Somers, glancing at the wreck of the cars, with a +feeling that his duty then was a less pleasing one +than that of attending to the wants of the beautiful +stranger; for there were still men and women lying +helpless and unserved in the midst of the ruins. +</p> +<p>The train stopped upon the road; and the passengers, +though appalled by the sight, rushed down +the bank to render willing assistance to the sufferers. +Among them was the father of the young +lady, who leaped frantically down the steep, and +passed from one to another of the forms which the +survivors had taken from the wreck. +</p> +<p>“There is your father,” said Lieutenant Somers +as he recognized him among the excited passengers. +“I will go and tell him where you are.” +</p> +<p>“Do, if you please,” replied the lady faintly. +</p> +<p>He ran to the distracted parent, and seized him +by the arm as he dashed from one place to another +in search of the gentle maiden whose life was part +of his own. +</p> +<p>“Your daughter is out here, sir,” said Lieutenant +Somers, pointing to the spot where he had +borne her. +</p> +<p>“My daughter!” gasped the agonized father. +“Where—where?” +</p> +<p>“In this direction, sir.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_20' name='page_20'></a>20</span></p> +<p>“Is she—O Heaven, spare me!” groaned he. +</p> +<p>“She is hurt, but I think not very badly. Her +left arm is broken, and her head is slightly cut.” +</p> +<p>“O God, I thank Thee!” gasped the father, as +he walked with the lieutenant to the place where +the young lady was sitting on the grass. +</p> +<p>“I think you need not be alarmed about her,” +added our officer, anxious to console the suffering +parent. +</p> +<p>“My poor Emmie!” exclaimed the anxious +father when they reached the spot, while he knelt +down upon the grass by her side, the tears coursing +in torrents down his pale cheeks. +</p> +<p>“Don’t be alarmed, father,” replied she, putting +her uninjured arm around his neck and kissing him, +while their tears mingled. “I am not much hurt, +father.” +</p> +<p>Lieutenant Somers had a heart as well as a +strong and willing arm, and he could not restrain +his own tears as he witnessed the touching scene. +The meeting seemed to be so sacred to him, that +he could not stand an idle gazer upon the expression +of that hallowed affection as it flowed from the +warm hearts of the father and daughter. +</p> +<p>“As I can be of no further service here, I will +go and do what I can for those who need my help. +If you want any assistance, I shall be close at +hand,” said he, as he walked away to the busy scene +of woe which surrounded the wreck. +</p> +<p>The wounded, the maimed, and the dead were +rapidly taken from the pile of ruins, and placed in +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span> +the cars on the road; and there was no longer anything +for the young officer to do. He returned to +the grassy couch of her whom he could not but regard +as peculiarly his patient. The father had recovered +his self-possession, and satisfied himself +that Emmie was not more seriously injured than +her deliverer had declared. +</p> +<p>“My young friend, while I thank God that my +daughter is still alive, I am very grateful to you +for the care you have bestowed upon her,” said the +father, as he grasped the young officer’s hand. +</p> +<p>“You may well thank him, Mr. Guilford,” said +one of the two gentlemen who had followed the +young officer to the spot; “for the first thing I saw, +when I came out from under the ruins, was this +young man lifting half the top of the car off your +daughter.” +</p> +<p>“I beg your pardon, sir, but I think we should +convey the young lady up to the cars; for I see they +are about ready to start,” said Lieutenant Somers, +blushing up to the eyes. +</p> +<p>“I thank you, young man,” added Mr. Guilford +with deep feeling. “I must see you again, and +know more about you. Emmie has told me how +kind you have been to her; and you may be sure +I shall never forget it while I live. How do you +feel now, Emmie?” +</p> +<p>“My arm begins to pain me a little,” she answered +languidly. +</p> +<p>“We must put you into the car, and in a short +time we shall be able to do something for you.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span></p> +<p>“I will carry her up to the train, sir,” said the +young officer. +</p> +<p>“I thank you, sir,” said Emmie with a smile; +“but I think I can walk.” +</p> +<p>“Well,” said the gentleman who had spoken before, +“I saw him carry you from the wreck to this +place; and I am bound to say, I never saw a mother +handle her baby more tenderly.” +</p> +<p>“I am very grateful to him for what he has done +for me,” added Emmie with a slight blush; “and +if I needed his services, I certainly should accept +his kind offer.” +</p> +<p>She took the arm of her father, and walked very +well till she came to the steep bank, whose ascent +required more strength than she then possessed. +Her father and Lieutenant Somers then made a +“hand-chair,” and bore her up to the car, in which +she was as comfortably disposed as the circumstances +would permit. The train started with its +melancholy freight of wounded, dead and dying. +</p> +<p>“I see, sir, you are an officer in the army,” said +Mr. Guilford as the train moved off; “but I have +not yet learned your name.” +</p> +<p>“Thomas Somers, sir,” replied our young officer. +</p> +<p>“I must trouble you to write it down for me, +with your residence when at home, and your regiment +in the field.” +</p> +<p>Lieutenant Somers complied with this request, +and in return the gentleman gave him his address. +</p> +<p>“I shall never forget you, Lieutenant Somers,” +said Mr. Guilford when he had carefully deposited +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span> +the paper in his memorandum-book. “I have it in +my power to be of service to you; and if you ever +want a friend, I shall consider it a favor if you will +come to me, or write to me.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you, sir; I am very much obliged to you. +But I hope you won’t consider yourself under any +obligations to me for what I have done. I couldn’t +have helped doing it if I had tried.” +</p> +<p>“Lieutenant Somers, you are in luck,” said the +gentleman who had accompanied him before. +“That is Senator Guilford, of ——, and he will +make a brigadier-general of you before you are a +year older.” +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> +<h3>A FRIEND AT COURT</h3> +</div> + +<p>Lieutenant Somers sat down in one corner of +the car, near the seats occupied by Miss Guilford +and her father. He was just beginning to be conscious +of the fact that he had done a “big thing;” +not because he had helped one of God’s suffering +creatures, but because she happened to be a Senator’s +daughter. But he still had the happy reflection, +that what he had done had been prompted +by motives of humanity, not by the love of applause, +or for the purpose of winning the favor of +a great man who could dispense the “loaves and +fishes” when he should need them. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span></p> +<p>He was rather sensitive. He was a young man +of eighteen, and he had not yet become familiar +with the grossness and selfishness of this calculating +world. He was rather offended at the patronage +which the Senator had proposed to bestow +upon him, and he even regretted that he had so +readily given him his address. +</p> +<p>Lieutenant Somers regarded himself as emphatically +a fighting officer; and the idea of working his +way up to distinction by the favor of a member of +Congress was repulsive to him. He really wished +the Hon. Mr. Guilford had only thanked him for +what he had done, and not said a word about having +it in his power to be of service to him. +</p> +<p>While he was meditating upon the events which +had transpired, and the Senator’s patronizing offer, +he saw Captain de Banyan enter the forward door +of the car through which the gentleman who had +taken so much pains to compliment the young +officer had disappeared a short time before. The +distinguished captain walked through the car +directly to the seat of the lieutenant, who had not +even yet ceased to blush under the praises which +had been bestowed upon him. +</p> +<p>“Somers, your hand,” said he, extending his +own. “I have heard all about it, and am proud +that our regiment has furnished so brave and devoted +a man. Oh, don’t blush, my dear fellow! +You are a modest man. I sympathize with you; +for I am a modest man myself. I didn’t get over +blushing for three weeks after his imperial majesty, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span> +the Emperor of France, complimented me for some +little thing I did at the battle of Palestro.” +</p> +<p>“I thought that was at Magenta,” added +Somers. +</p> +<p>“So it was. The fact is, I have been in a great +many battles, and I get them mixed up a little +sometimes. But you are in luck, Somers,” continued +the captain in a lower tone, as he seated himself +by the side of his fellow-officer. +</p> +<p>“Why so?” +</p> +<p>“They say she is the daughter of a Senator.” +</p> +<p>“What of that?” +</p> +<p>“What of that! Why, my dear fellow, you are +as innocent as a school girl. Don’t you see he can +get you on some general’s staff, and have you promoted +every time there is a skirmish?” +</p> +<p>“I don’t want to be promoted unless I earn it.” +</p> +<p>“Of course you don’t; but every officer that earns +it won’t get it. By the way, Somers, can’t you introduce +me to the old gentleman?” +</p> +<p>“I never saw him before in my life.” +</p> +<p>“No matter for that. I’ll warrant you, he’ll be +glad to make all your friends his friends.” +</p> +<p>“But I don’t feel enough acquainted with him +to introduce a gentleman whom I never saw in +my life till two hours ago.” +</p> +<p>“You are right, my dear fellow; excuse me,” replied +Captain de Banyan, looking very much disappointed. +“I dare say, if I should show him the +autograph of the Emperor of France, he would be +very glad to know me.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span></p> +<p>“No doubt of it. At any rate, I recommend you +to make the trial.” +</p> +<p>“Yes; but the mischief of it is, I have left all +those papers at home.” +</p> +<p>“That’s unfortunate,” added Lieutenant Somers, +who had some serious doubts in regard to the +existence of those papers. +</p> +<p>“So it is. If I had been lucky enough to have +made the acquaintance of that young lady, as you +have, I would not let my aspirations stop short of +the stars of a major-general.” +</p> +<p>“You need not as it is, if you do your duty.” +</p> +<p>“Ah! my dear fellow, you are as sentimental as +a girl of sixteen. I am a modest man; but, in my +estimation, there are ten thousand men in the army +as good as I am. They can’t all be major-generals, +can they?” +</p> +<p>“Certainly not.” +</p> +<p>“Then, if you live a few months longer, you will +find out how good a thing it is to have a friend at +court. You are a modest young man; but I suppose +you think there isn’t another man in the army who +is quite your equal, and that your merit and your +bravery will make a brigadier of you in less than a +year. It’s a good thing to think so; but——” +</p> +<p>“I don’t think so. That would be modesty with +a vengeance.” +</p> +<p>“I was a sentimental boy like you once, and I +was just as certain that I should be made a field-marshal, +and have the command of the French +army in the Crimea——” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span></p> +<p>“I thought you were in the English army in the +Crimea,” interposed the young lieutenant, eager to +change the subject. +</p> +<p>“Certainly, in the English army; that’s what I +said,” continued the gallant captain, entirely unmoved +by the interruption. “I was just as sure +of having the command of the British army in the +Crimea as you are of becoming a brigadier by the +time we get into Richmond. But I have no friends +at court as you have now.” +</p> +<p>“I never thought of such a thing as being a +brigadier,” protested Somers. “I never even expected +to become a second lieutenant.” +</p> +<p>“It isn’t much to be a brigadier. I served with +‘Old Rosey’ in West Virginia for a time. We had +a captain there who didn’t know any more about +military than a swine does about Lord Chesterfield’s +table etiquette. He went into action with +a cane in his hand, hawbucking his company about +just as a farmer does a yoke of cattle. That fellow +is a brigadier-general now; and there’s hope for +you and me, if we can only have a friend at court.” +</p> +<p>“I am higher now than I ever expected to be, +and I wouldn’t give a straw for fifty friends at +court.” +</p> +<p>“That’s because you are sentimental; but you’ll +get over that.” +</p> +<p>“Lieutenant Somers,” said Senator Guilford, +who had risen from his seat, and approached that +occupied by the two officers, “I shall leave the +train at the next stopping-place, in order to procure +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span> +proper medical attendance for my daughter. +I desire again to express my thanks to you for the +signal service you have rendered to my daughter.” +</p> +<p>Our hero blushed again, and stammered out +some deprecatory remark. +</p> +<p>“When you are in Washington, you must call +and see me. You must promise this for Emmie’s +sake, if not for mine,” added the Senator. +</p> +<p>“I should be very happy to call,” replied the +young officer. +</p> +<p>“My friend Lieutenant Somers is as bashful as +a maiden of sweet sixteen,” interposed Captain de +Banyan. “I beg your pardon, Mr. Guilford; +though your name and fame are familiar to me, I +have not the honor of your personal acquaintance; +but, under the circumstances, I shall make it part +of my duty to see that my friend does not neglect +your reasonable request.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you, sir,” replied the Senator. +</p> +<p>“Captain de Banyan, at your service,” added +the modest officer who had served in Italy and the +Crimea. +</p> +<p>“Thank you, Captain de Banyan. I see you are +in the same regiment with Lieutenant Somers.” +</p> +<p>“Yes, sir, I have that honor; and I assure you +there is not a nobler and braver young officer in +the Army of the Potomac. He reminds me very +much of a splendid fellow I served with in the +Crimea.” +</p> +<p>“Ah! you were in the Crimea?” +</p> +<p>“I was, sir; and he looks very much like Captain +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span> +de Waite, whom I saw made a major on the +field of Magenta, for the most daring bravery, by +the Emperor of France.” +</p> +<p>“You have seen service, captain,” added the +Senator. +</p> +<p>“A little, sir.” +</p> +<p>“You must speak with my daughter, lieutenant, +before we part,” continued Mr. Guilford. “Her +gratitude has no limit.” +</p> +<p>Lieutenant Somers was astounded by the +effrontery of his military companion, who had +claimed to be his friend, and forced himself upon +the acquaintance of the powerful man on the +strength of that intimacy; had even brought to his +notice the fact—if it was a fact—that he had been +at Magenta and in the Crimea. The simple-minded +young man had seen no such diplomacy in +Pinchbrook, or in the course of his travels in Maryland +and Virginia; and he was fearful that the audacious +fellow would dare to address the daughter +as he had the father. +</p> +<p>“Be seated,” said the Senator, as he pointed to +the seat in front of Miss Emmie. +</p> +<p>She was pale, and appeared to be suffering from +the pain of her broken arm; but she bestowed a +sweet smile upon him as he took the proffered seat. +</p> +<p>“Lieutenant Somers, after what I have heard +from Mr. Holman”—that was the gentleman who +had spoken so handsomely of him—“I feel sure +that I owe my life to you.” +</p> +<p>“I think not, Miss Guilford,” replied the lieutenant, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span> +very much embarrassed. “I only pulled +you out from the ruins; I couldn’t have helped +doing it if I had tried; and I hope you won’t feel +under any obligations to me.” +</p> +<p>“But I do feel under very great obligations to +you, and I assure you I am happy to owe my life +to so brave and gallant a soldier.” +</p> +<p>Somers felt just as though he was reading an +exciting chapter in a sensational novel; though he +could not help thinking of Lilian Ashford, and thus +spoiling all the romance of the affair. He made no +reply to Miss Emmie’s pretty speech; it was +utterly impossible for him to do so; and therein he +differed from all the heroes of the novels. +</p> +<p>“I want to hear from you some time, and even +to see you again. You must promise to call and see +me when we get to Washington.” +</p> +<p>“I may not be able to leave my regiment at that +time.” +</p> +<p>“Oh! my father will get you a furlough any time +you want one.” +</p> +<p>Lieutenant Somers thought he would like to see +himself asking a furlough to enable him to visit +a young lady in Washington, even if she was a +Senator’s daughter; but he promised to call at Mr. +Guilford’s whenever he happened to be at the +capital, which was entirely satisfactory to the young +lady. Though Emmie was by this time suffering +severely, she managed to say several pleasant +things; and among them she hinted that her father +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span> +could make a brigadier as easily as a tinker could +make a tin kettle. +</p> +<p>The train arrived at the stopping-place; and Mr. +Guilford, with the assistance of Lieutenant Somers, +placed his daughter in a carriage. Captain de +Banyan was very anxious to assist in the operation; +but the sufferer declined. They parted with +a renewed promise on the part of the young officer +to visit her in Washington, whenever his duty +called him to that city. The cars arrived in New +York two hours behind time—too late to connect +with the train for Philadelphia. Captain de Banyan +proposed, as they were obliged to remain in +the city over night, that they should stop at the +“Fifth Avenue,” declaring that it was the best +hotel in New York. Somers objected; hoping that +he should thus escape the society of the captain, +who appeared to be altogether too “fast” for his +time. +</p> +<p>De Banyan was accommodating; and, when the +lieutenant mentioned a small hotel downtown, he +readily agreed to the proposition, and Somers +found it useless to attempt to get rid of him. The +captain, for some reason or other, appeared to have +taken a decided liking to our officer. Perhaps he +hoped to share with him the powerful patronage +of Senator Guilford. +</p> +<p>After supper, Captain de Banyan proposed that +they should go out and see the “elephant;” but +Somers, having no taste for the study of this description +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span> +of natural history, positively declined to +see the metaphorical monster. +</p> +<p>“We must go somewhere,” persisted the captain, +taking up a newspaper. “Here’s a ‘Lecture on +the Battle of Bull Run, by Lieutenant-Colonel +Staggerback, who participated in that memorable +action,’” he continued, reading from the paper. +</p> +<p>“I was in that battle myself; I don’t object to +that,” replied Somers. +</p> +<p>“Good! Then we’ll go.” +</p> +<p>They walked up Broadway till they came to one +of those gaudy saloons where rum and ruin are +tricked out in the gayest of colors. +</p> +<p>“We are early for the lecture, Somers. Let’s go +in here, and see what there is to be seen.” +</p> +<p>“No, I thank you; I don’t care about going into +any of these dens of vice and sin.” +</p> +<table summary='poetry' style='margin:0 auto'><tr><td> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>“‘Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>As, to be hated, needs but to be seen,’”</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<p>repeated the captain with dramatic force. +</p> +<table summary='poetry' style='margin:0 auto'><tr><td> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>“‘But seen too oft——’</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<p>You needn’t see it but once. Don’t you want to +see the lions of the metropolis?” +</p> +<p>“Don’t object to the lions; but, in my opinion, +you will find only the donkeys in there.” +</p> +<p>“Let us see, at any rate.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span></p> +<p>“I will go in for a moment,” replied Somers, +who did not like to seem over-squeamish. +</p> +<p>They entered this outer gate to ruin. There was +a bar at the end next to the street, while at the +other end a band of music was playing the national +airs. It looked like a very pleasant place to the +young lieutenant, who had never entered one of +these saloons before. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> +<h3>THE FIRE OF TEMPTATION</h3> +</div> + +<p>Captain de Banyan sauntered gracefully up +the saloon, with Somers at his side. He appeared +to be perfectly at home, and to have all the ease +and finish of a thorough man of the world. His +movements were calculated to make a sensation; +and, as he passed along, old topers and gay young +bloods paused to glance at him. If the captain had +been in command of the Army of the Potomac, his +elevated position would hardly have justified a +more extensive flourish than he made. +</p> +<p>Lieutenant Somers was duly impressed by the +magnificence of his companion, though the surroundings +of the place created some painful misgivings +in his mind. The captain sat down at one +of the little tables where the frequenters of the +saloon who were disposed to prolong the enjoyment +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span> +of their drams discussed “juleps,” “cobblers,” and +other villainous compounds. +</p> +<p>Somers could not do less than seat himself at the +other side of the table. He was ill at ease, even +while he was endeavoring to seem indifferent and +at home. I am sorry to say he was haunted by +that abominable bugbear which often takes possession +of the minds of young men when they find +themselves in the presence of those who are adepts +in the arts of vice—a fear of being thought +“green,” “verdant,” or being measured by some +other adjective used in fast circles to caricature the +innocence of a soul unsullied by contact with the +vices and follies of the city. He half expected that +some of the dissolute young wretches who were +drinking, swearing, and pouring the filth of a +poisoned mind from their lips, would ask him if +“his mother knew he was out.” He tried to maintain +his self-possession, and to seem at home where +ruin was rioting in the souls of young men. If he +did not entirely succeed, it was all the more to his +credit. +</p> +<p>“What will you take?” demanded Captain de +Banyan, after they had sat at the table long enough +to examine the prominent features of the saloon. +</p> +<p>“Take a walk,” replied Lieutenant Somers. +</p> +<p>“No, no! What will you drink?” +</p> +<p>“Nothing, thank you. I’ve just been to supper, +and don’t want anything.” +</p> +<p>“Yes; but people who come in here, and listen +to the music, are expected to patronize the establishment. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span> +I’m going to have a brandy smash: +shall I order one for you?” +</p> +<p>“No, I thank you.” +</p> +<p>“But I can’t drink alone.” +</p> +<p>“I never drink.” +</p> +<p>“Nonsense! A lieutenant in our regiment, and +not drink! I see! You haven’t learned yet; but +it won’t take you long. Your case is exactly my +own. I was about your age when I went to the +Crimea, and didn’t know wine from brandy. After +the battle of Balaclava, where I did some little +thing which excited the admiration of the nobs in +command, Lord Raglan sent for me, and invited +me to take a glass of wine with him. Of course, +I could not refuse his lordship, especially as he was +in the very act of complimenting me for what he +was pleased to call my gallant conduct. I drank +my first glass of wine then. It was Sicily Madeira, +and light, sweet wine; and, my dear fellow, you +shall begin with the same, and we will drink the +health of Senator Guilford and his fair daughter. +Waiter, one brandy smash and one Sicily Madeira.” +</p> +<p>“Really, Captain de Banyan, you must excuse +me,” stammered Somers, completely bewildered by +the eloquent and insinuating manners of his brilliant +companion, who had spoken loud enough to +attract the attention of a dozen idlers greedy for +excitement of any kind, and to whom the latter +part of his remarks seemed to be addressed, rather +than to the timid young man in front of him. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span></p> +<p>Captain de Banyan appeared to have a point to +carry; which was nothing less than to overcome +the conscientious scruples of the young officer. He +had spoken loud enough to attract the attention of +these miserable tipplers, that Somers might be +over-awed by their presence, and intimidated by +their sneers, and thus compelled to taste the intoxicating +cup. The squad of fast men who had +taken positions near the table were interested in +the scene, and impatient to see the pure soul +tumbled from its lofty eminence. +</p> +<p>“Here’s the nectar!” almost shouted the captain +as the waiter placed the drinks upon the table. +“Wine for you; brandy for me. You will be promoted +to brandy one of these days, my boy, when +your head is stronger and your nerves stiffer. +Lieutenant Somers, here’s to the health of the +patriot statesman, Senator Guilford, and his lovely +daughter;” and the captain pushed aside the straw +in the vile compound, and raised the glass to his +lips. +</p> +<p>Somers was embarrassed at his position, and bewildered +by the dashing speeches of his companion. +A dozen pair of leering eyes were fixed upon him; +a dozen mouths were wrinkled into sottish smiles, +called up by his sufferings at that critical moment. +He reached forth his hand, and grasped the slender +stem of the wine-glass; but his arm trembled more +than that of the most hardened toper in the group +before him. He had been trembling in the presence +of that squad of tyrants—those leer-eyed grinning +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span> +debauchees, who seemed to be opening the +gate of hell, and bidding him enter. +</p> +<p>“Tom Somers,” said the still small voice which +had spoken to him a thousand times before in the +perils and temptations through which he had +passed, “you have behaved yourself very well thus +far. You have been promoted for bravery on the +battlefield; and now will you cower in the presence +of this brilliant brawler, and these weak-minded, +cowardly tipplers? What would your +mother say if she could see you now, with your +shaking hand fastened to the wine-cup? What +would Lilian Ashford say? Dare you drink the +health of Emmie Guilford in such a place as this? +You should have smote the lips that mentioned +her name in such a presence!” +</p> +<p>He drew back his hand from the glass. His +muscles tightened up, as they had on the bloody +field of Williamsburg. Tom Somers was himself +again. +</p> +<p>“Come, Somers, you don’t drink,” added the +captain sarcastically. +</p> +<p>“No, I thank you; I never drink,” he answered +resolutely, as he cast a steady glance of pity and +contempt at the bloated crew who had been reveling +in his embarrassment. +</p> +<p>“You won’t refuse now?” +</p> +<p>“Most decidedly.” +</p> +<p>“Lieutenant Somers, I took you for a young man +of pluck. I’m disappointed. You will pardon me, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span> +my dear fellow; but I can’t help regarding your +conduct as rather shabby.” +</p> +<p>“I never drink, as I have said before, and I do +not intend to begin now. If I have been shabby, I +hope you will excuse me.” +</p> +<p>“Certainly I will excuse you, when you atone for +your folly, and drink with me.” +</p> +<p>The spectators laughed, and evidently thought +the captain had made a point. +</p> +<p>“Then I can never atone for my folly, as you +call it,” replied Somers, his courage increasing as +the trial demanded it. +</p> +<p>“What would Lord Raglan have said if I had +refused to drink his Sicily Madeira?” +</p> +<p>“Very likely he would have said just what you +said; but there would have been no more sense in +it then than now.” +</p> +<p>“Bully for young ’un!” said a seedy dandy, +whose love of fancy drinks had made a compromise +with his love of dress. +</p> +<p>“I will leave it to these gentlemen to decide +whether I have not spoken reason and good sense.” +</p> +<p>“I will leave you and these <i>gentlemen</i> to settle +that question to suit yourselves, and I will bid you +good-evening,” said Somers, rising from his chair. +</p> +<p>The unpleasant emphasis which he placed upon +the word “gentlemen” created a decided sensation +among the group of idlers; and, as he stepped +from behind the table, he was confronted by a +young man with bloodshot eyes and bloated cheeks, +but dressed in the extreme of fashion. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span></p> +<p>“Sir, you wear the colors of the United States +Army,” said the juvenile tippler; “but you can’t +be permitted to insult a gentleman with impunity.” +</p> +<p>Lieutenant Somers wanted to laugh in the face +of this specimen of bar-room chivalry, for he forcibly +reminded him of a belligerent little bantam-rooster +that paraded the barnyard of his mother’s +cottage at Pinchbrook; but he was prudent enough +not to give any further cause of offense. Bestowing +one glance at this champion of the tippler’s +coterie, he turned aside, and attempted to move +towards the door. +</p> +<p>“Stop, sir,” continued the young man, who +plainly wanted to make a little capital out of a +fight, in defense of the dignity of his friends. +“You can’t go without an apology, or—or a fight,” +added the bully, shaking his head significantly, as +he placed himself in front of the young lieutenant. +</p> +<p>“What am I to apologize for?” asked Somers. +</p> +<p>“You insulted the whole party of us. You intimated +that we were no gentlemen.” +</p> +<p>“I haven’t spoken to any of you since I came +in,” protested Somers. “I never had anything to +do with you, and I don’t know whether you are +gentlemen or not.” +</p> +<p>“You hear that, gentlemen!” added the bully. +</p> +<p>“I think I have said all that is necessary to say; +with your leave I will go,” said Somers. +</p> +<p>“Stop, sir!” snarled the young ruffian, putting +his hand on the lieutenant’s collar. +</p> +<p>“Take your hand off!” said he sternly. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_40' name='page_40'></a>40</span></p> +<p>The fellow complied. +</p> +<p>“This thing has gone far enough, sir,” said Captain +de Banyan, stepping between Somers and his +assailant. “Lieutenant Somers is my friend; and, +if you put the weight of your little finger upon him, +I’ll annihilate you quicker than I did a certain +Austrian field-marshal at the battle of Solferino. +Gentlemen, permit me to apologize for my inexperienced +friend if he has uttered any indiscreet +word.” +</p> +<p>“He must apologize!” blustered the young ruffian. +“He says we are no gentlemen. Let him +prove it.” +</p> +<p>“You have proved it yourself, you little ape,” +replied the captain, as he stepped up to the bar, and +paid his reckoning, bestowing no more attention +upon the ruffled little bully than if he had been a +very small puppy; which perhaps he was not, by +a strict construction of terms. +</p> +<p>“I demand satisfaction!” roared the flashy little +toper. “Apologize, or fight!” +</p> +<p>“Neither, my gay and festive lark,” said the +captain with abundant good humor, as he took +Somers’s arm, and sauntered leisurely towards the +door. “Now, my dear fellow, we will go and hear +what Lieutenant-Colonel Staggerback has to say +about the battle of Bull Run. I was in that action, +and rallied the Fire Zouaves when Colonel Ellsworth +was killed.” +</p> +<p>“Colonel Ellsworth! He wasn’t killed at Bull +Run!” exclaimed Somers, astonished beyond measure +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span> +at the singular character which his companion +was developing. +</p> +<p>“You are right; he was killed at Ball’s Bluff.” +</p> +<p>“I think not; but were you at Bull Run?” +</p> +<p>“Certainly I was. I was on General Frémont’s +staff.” +</p> +<p>“Were you, indeed? Whew!” +</p> +<p>“What may be the precise meaning of that +whistle? Do you think I was not there?” +</p> +<p>“Well, I don’t remember to have seen you +there?” +</p> +<p>“Very likely you did not; but you will call to +mind the fact, that things were rather mixed up in +that action. But never mind that: we will talk +those things over when we get down upon the +Peninsula, and have nothing else to think about. +Do you really mean to say, my dear fellow, that +you never drink at all?” +</p> +<p>“I do not.” +</p> +<p>“Well, I have heard of a man climbing up to the +moon on a greased rainbow; but I never heard of +an officer before that didn’t drink.” +</p> +<p>“I’m afraid you haven’t been very careful in the +choice of your companions. I know a great many +that never taste liquor under any circumstances.” +</p> +<p>“It may be so; and I am willing to confess that +I have found one. I wouldn’t have believed it before +if I had read it in the Constitution of the +United States. I owe you an apology, then, for +letting on in that saloon. I didn’t mean to hurt +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span> +your feelings, my dear fellow; but I thought you +were joking.” +</p> +<p>“I hope you will not repeat the experiment, then; +though I shall consider myself fair game if I ever +enter another rum-shop,” replied Somers. +</p> +<p>They proceeded to the place designated for the +lecture; and Captain de Banyan betrayed his interest +in that memorable battle, where he had served +on the staff of General Frémont, by going to sleep +before the eloquent “participant” had got half-way +through the exordium. Lieutenant Somers +listened attentively until he was satisfied that Colonel +Staggerback either was not in the battle, or that +he had escorted “Bull Run Russell” off the field. +</p> +<p>When the lecture was finished, Somers awakened +his edified companion, and they returned to the +hotel; though the captain hinted several times on +the way that the “elephant” could be seen to better +advantage in New York than in any other city in +the Union. The young lieutenant had an utter +disgust for the elephant, and took no hints. Before +he retired that night, he thanked God, more earnestly +and devoutly than usual, that he had been +enabled to pass unscathed through the fires of +temptation. He was still in condition to look his +mother in the face. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> +<h3>ON THE SKIRMISH LINE</h3> +</div> + +<p>In the morning our travelers resumed their +journey, more refreshed and in better condition +for service than if they had spent the evening in +chasing the “elephant” from one to another of the +gilded dens of dissipation with which the metropolis +abounds. In spite of his errors and sins, Somers +could not help liking his dashing companion. He +was a dangerous person; but his enthusiasm was so +captivating, that he could not close his heart +against him. But, while he liked the captain, he +hated his vices. +</p> +<p>They stopped in Philadelphia only long enough +to dine, and in Baltimore only long enough for supper; +arriving at Washington in the evening. Captain +de Banyan again proposed to “go round;” +which, rendered into unmistakable English, meant +to visit the drinking-houses and gambling-saloons +of the city, to say nothing of worse places. Lieutenant +Somers had grown wise by experience; and +no amount of persuasion could induce him to leave +the hotel. It was horrible to him to think of spending +even his leisure time in the haunts of dissipation, +when his country was bleeding from a thousand +wounds; when his gallant comrades in the +Army of the Potomac were enduring peril and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span> +hardship in front of the enemy. He had no taste +for carousing at any time, and every fiber of his +moral nature was firmly set against the vices which +lured on his reckless companion. +</p> +<p>Lieutenant Somers stayed at the hotel that evening, +listening to the conversation of the officers +who had been at the front within a few days. The +great battle of Fair Oaks had been fought during +his absence, and there was every prospect that the +most tremendous operations of the war would soon +commence. He listened with the deepest interest +to the accounts from the army, and needed none of +the stimulus of the bar-room or the gambling-saloon +to furnish him with excitement. He was +soon to be an actor in the momentous events of the +campaign; and the thought was full of inspiration, +and lifted him up from the gross and vulgar tastes +of his companion. +</p> +<p>Before noon the next day, somewhat against the +inclination of Captain de Banyan, the two officers +were on board a steamer bound down the river. +After some delays, they arrived at White House, +on the Pamunkey River; and then proceeded by +railroad nearly to the camp of the regiment, +at Poplar Hill, in the very depths of White Oak +Swamp. +</p> +<p>“My blessed boy!” shouted Sergeant Hapgood +when Lieutenant Somers appeared in the camp. +</p> +<p>The veteran rushed upon him, and, not content +to shake his hand he proceeded to hug him in the +most extraordinary manner. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span></p> +<p>“I am glad to see you, Hapgood! How have +you been since I left?” said Somers. +</p> +<p>“First-rate! Bless my withered old carcass, +Tom, but I thought I never should see you again. +Why, Tom, how handsome you’ve grown! Well, +you’ll be a brigadier one of these days, and there +won’t be a better-looking officer on the field. Dear +me, Tom—— Beg pardon; I forgot that you are +an officer; and I mustn’t call you Tom any more.” +</p> +<p>“Never mind that, uncle,” added Somers, laughing. +“It would hardly be good discipline for a +sergeant to call an officer by a nickname; but we +will compromise, and you shall call me Tom when +we are not on duty, and there is no one within +hearing.” +</p> +<p>“Compromise! Don’t never use that word to +me. After we fit the battle of Bull Run, I gouged +that word out of my dictionary. No, sir! You are +a leftenant now; and I shall allus call you Leftenant +Somers, even if there ain’t nobody within ten +mile of us.” +</p> +<p>“Just as you please, uncle; but, whatever you call +me, we shall be just as good friends as we ever +were.” +</p> +<p>“That’s so, Leftenant Somers.” +</p> +<p>“Precisely, Sergeant Hapgood.” +</p> +<p>“Now, what’s the news in Pinchbrook?” asked +the veteran. +</p> +<p>But, before Somers had a chance to tell the news +from home, he was welcomed to the camp, and +cheered, by officers and men; and his account of +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span> +what had transpired in Pinchbrook during his +thirty days’ furlough was eagerly listened to by +a large and attentive audience. He received in return +a full history of the regiment during his absence. +Though the narrative of sundry exciting +events, such as forays upon pig-sties, poultry-yards, +and kitchen-gardens, was highly amusing, +there was a tale of sadness to tell—of deaths by +disease and on the battlefield. +</p> +<p>Many cheerful hearts that were beating with life +and hope a few weeks before, were now silent in +the grave—the soldier’s mausoleum in a strange +land. But soldiers have no time to weep over a +dead past; they must live in the hope of a glorious +future; and when they had dropped a tear to the +memory of the noble and the true who had fallen +on the field or died in the hospital, victims of the +pestilential airs of the swamp, they laughed as +merrily as ever, careless of Death’s poised arrows +which were always aimed at them. +</p> +<p>Captain de Banyan took his place in the regiment, +where Somers found that he was prodigiously +popular, even after a few hours’ acquaintance +with his new command; but who he was, where he +came from, and how he had procured his commission, +was a mystery to officers and men. He told +tremendous stories about the Crimea and the +Italian war; and now for the first time intimated +that he was the only survivor of the company which +led the advance at the storming of Chapultepec, in +the Mexican war. However much the officers enjoyed +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span> +his stories, it is not probable that all of them +believed what they heard. +</p> +<p>Lieutenant Somers was perfectly familiar with +the company and battalion drill; and, having quick +perception and abundant self-possession, he was +competent at once to perform his duties as an +officer. He had no vices to be criticized by the +men, who respected him not only for his bravery +on the battlefield, but for his good moral character; +for even the vicious respect the virtues which they +practically contemn. Being neither arbitrary nor +tyrannical, he was cheerfully obeyed; and his company +never appeared better than when, by the +temporary absence of his superior, it was under +his command. +</p> +<p>He was, however, allowed but a short time to +become acquainted with the routine of the new +duty before he was summoned to participate in +those tremendous events which have passed into +history as at once the most brilliant and disastrous +operations of the war; brilliant in that our gallant +army was almost invariably victorious, disastrous +in that they were the forerunners of the ultimate +failure of a hopeful campaign. The victory at +Fair Oaks had raised the hopes of that brave, +thinking army. +</p> +<p>The picket-lines were within a few miles of Richmond, +and the soldiers were burning with enthusiasm +to be led against the enemy in front of them. +They were ready to lay down their lives on the +altar of their bleeding country, if the survivors +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span> +could grasp the boon of peace within the buttressed +walls of the rebel capital—peace that would hurl +to the ground the defiant traitors, and insure the +safety and perpetuity of free institutions. The +notes of victory, those thinking soldiers believed, +would reverberate through the coming ages, and +point an epoch from which America would date +her grandest and most sublime triumphs. +</p> +<p>But not then was the great rebellion to be overthrown; +for not yet had the leaven of Liberty +leavened the whole lump; not yet had the purposes +of a mysterious Providence been accomplished; and +the brave men who sighed for victory and peace in +the swamps of the Chickahominy were doomed +to years of blood and toil, of victory and defeat, as +they marched on, alike through both, to the consummation +of a nation’s glorious triumph, not over +paltry armies of arrogant traitors, but over the +incarnation of Evil, over Heaven-defying institutions, +whose downfall established forever principles +as eternal as God Himself. +</p> +<p>Lieutenant Somers was filled with the spirit of +the army. He felt that the salvation of his country +depended upon the valor of that army; and, impressed +with the magnitude of the interests at +stake, he was resolved to do his whole duty. With +cheerful alacrity he obeyed the summons which +brought Grover’s brigade into line of battle on the +morning of the eventful 25th of June. What was +to be accomplished was not for him to know; but +forward moved the line through the swamp, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span> +through the woods, through the pools of stagnant +waters up to the hips of the soldiers. +</p> +<p>Impressed by the responsibility of his position, +Lieutenant Somers encouraged the weak as they +struggled through the mire on their trying march, +and with fit words stimulated the enthusiasm of +all. After a march of about a mile, a heavy skirmish +line was thrown out, which soon confronted +that of the rebels. +</p> +<p>“Now, Somers, my dear fellow, the concert is +about to open,” said Captain de Banyan. “By the +way, my boy, this reminds me of Magenta, +where——” +</p> +<p>“Oh, confound Magenta!” exclaimed Somers. +</p> +<p>“Why, my dear fellow, you are as petulant as +a belle that has lost her beau.” +</p> +<p>“You don’t propose to tell us a story about +Magenta at such a time as this, do you?” +</p> +<p>“Well, I confess I have a weakness in that direction. +Magenta was a great battle. But I’m afraid +you are a little nervous,” laughed the captain. +</p> +<p>“Nervous? Do you think I’m a coward?” demanded +Somers. +</p> +<p>“I know you are not; but you might be a little +nervous for all that.” +</p> +<p>At that instant, the sharp crack of a single rifle +was heard, and Somers observed a slight jerk in the +brim of the captain’s felt hat. +</p> +<p>“Bravo!” exclaimed Captain de Banyan as he +took off his hat, and pointed to a hole through +which the rifle-ball had sped its way. “I’ll bet a +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span> +month’s pay that fellow couldn’t do that again +without making a hole through my head. But +that’s a singular coincidence. That’s precisely the +place where the first bullet went through my hat at +Solferino. At Magenta—ah! I see him,” added +the captain, as he took a musket from the hands of +one of his men. “I’ll bet another month’s pay that +reb has fired his last shot.” +</p> +<p>As he spoke, he raised the gun to his shoulder, +and fired up into one of the trees. A crashing of +boughs, a rattling of leaves followed; and a heavy +body was heard to strike the ground. +</p> +<p>“You owe me a month’s pay, Somers,” continued +Captain de Banyan, as he handed the musket +back to the soldier. +</p> +<p>“I think not,” replied the lieutenant, trying to +be as cool as his companion. “I never bet.” +</p> +<p>“Just so. I forgot that you were an exceedingly +proper young man.” +</p> +<p>The skirmish-line, which had paused a moment +for an observation to be taken, now moved forward +again. The rebel skirmishers were discovered, and +the order was given to fire at will. The enemy’s +sharpshooters were posted in the trees, and they +began to pour in a galling fire upon a portion of +the line. +</p> +<p>“Steady, my men!” said Somers, when the firing +commenced. “Gunpowder’s expensive; don’t waste +it.” +</p> +<p>“Not a single grain of it, Leftenant Somers,” +added Sergeant Hapgood. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span></p> +<p>“There, uncle!—up in that tree!” said Somers, +pointing to a grayback, who was loading his rifle, +about twenty feet from the ground. +</p> +<p>“I see him!” replied the sergeant as he leveled +his piece, and fired. +</p> +<p>The rebel was wounded, but he did not come +down; and the captain of the company ordered his +men to move forward. From the thunder of the +artillery and the rattle of musketry, it was evident +that heavy work was in progress on the right and +left. +</p> +<p>“Forward, men!” said Somers, repeating the +order of Captain Benson. +</p> +<p>The men were scattered along an irregular line, +and firing into the bushes, which partially concealed +the rebel skirmishers. Somers’s platoon advanced +a little more rapidly than the rest of the +line, being favored with a few rods of dry ground. +He had urged them forward for the purpose of dislodging +three sharpshooters perched in a large tree. +</p> +<p>“Come down, rebs!” shouted Somers, as he +reached the foot of the tree, and told half a dozen +of his men to point their guns towards them. +</p> +<p>“What d’ye say, Yank?” demanded one of +them. +</p> +<p>“Will you come down head first, or feet first? +Take your choice quick!” replied the lieutenant. +</p> +<p>“As you seem to be in arnest, we’ll come down +the nateral way.” +</p> +<p>They did come down without a more pressing +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span> +invitation, and were disarmed, ready to be sent to +the rear. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> +<h3>THE REBEL SHARPSHOOTERS</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Lieutenant Somers, I don’t think I can +stand it much longer,” said Phineas Deane, a +private, who had joined the regiment a few days +before the battle, as he saluted his officer. +</p> +<p>“Can’t stand what?” +</p> +<p>“The fact on’t is, lieutenant, I’m sick. I haven’t +felt well for two or three days. I come out here to +fight for my country, and I want to do some good. +I might help take them prisoners back, if you say +so.” +</p> +<p>“Sick, are you? What’s the matter?” +</p> +<p>“I’ve got a bad pain in the bowels,” replied +Phineas, as he placed himself on the right side of +a tree, and glanced uneasily in the direction of the +rebel skirmish line. “I’m subject to sich turns, +but allus git over ’em if I have a chance to lay +down for a few hours.” +</p> +<p>“Oh, well, you can lie down here!” added +Somers, who understood the case pretty well. +</p> +<p>“What! down here in the mud and water? Wal, +that would be rather steep for a sick man,” said +Phineas, with a ghastly smile, as he glanced again +towards the enemy. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span></p> +<p>“I will get some medicine for you. Here, +uncle, let me have one of your powders,” continued +the lieutenant, addressing old Hapgood. +</p> +<p>“Sartin; they’ve done me heaps of good, and +I’m sure they’re just the thing for that man.” +</p> +<p>Somers took one of the powders, and opened the +paper. +</p> +<p>“Now, my man, open your mouth, and let me +give you this medicine,” he added. +</p> +<p>“What kind of medicine is it?” +</p> +<p>“It’ll make you kinder sick to the stomach; but +it’ll cure you in less’n half an hour.” +</p> +<p>“Well, lieutenant, I don’t know as I want to +take any medicine,” answered poor Phineas, who +was not prepared for this active treatment; though +he would have taken it quick enough if he could be +sent to the rear. “I guess I don’t keer about takin’ +on it.” +</p> +<p>“You needn’t, if you don’t want to get well.” +</p> +<p>“I only want to go back to camp, and lay down +for a spell.” +</p> +<p>“We can’t spare you just yet, Phineas; but, if +you don’t stir yourself, you will lie down here somewhere, +and never get up again,” added Somers, as +a shower of bullets passed over their heads. “Forward, +boys!” +</p> +<p>The captain detailed a couple of men to conduct +the prisoners to the rear, and the company pressed +forward. The rebel sharpshooters were dislodged +from the trees; a few prisoners were captured; but +the heavy fighting and the heavy losses fell upon +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span> +other portions of the line. The rebels had been +forced back, and the movement seemed to be a +success. Half the regiment moved out of the +woods, while the rest remained under the trees; +when a halt was ordered. Somers found himself +near an old house, behind which a number of rebel +sharpshooters had concealed themselves for the +purpose of picking off the Union soldiers. +</p> +<p>The firing in the immediate vicinity had diminished, +though the din of battle resounded on both +sides. The boys were rather nervous, as men are +when standing idle under fire; but it was the nervousness +of restrained enthusiasm, not of fear, +unless it was in the case of invalid Phineas, and a +very few others whose physical health had not been +completely established. +</p> +<p>“Well, Somers, my dear boy, how do you get +on?” asked Captain de Banyan, as he sauntered +leisurely up to the lieutenant, whose command +stood next to his own. +</p> +<p>“First-rate; only I should like to have something +a little more active than standing here.” +</p> +<p>“It takes considerable experience to enable a +man to stand still under fire. When I was at the +battle of Alma, I learned that lesson to a charm. +We stood up for forty-two hours under a fierce fire +of grape and canister, to say nothing of musketry.” +</p> +<p>“Forty-two hours!” exclaimed Somers. “I +should think you would all have been killed off before +that time.” +</p> +<p>“In our regiment, only one man was killed; and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span> +he got asleep, and walked in his dreams over towards +the enemy’s line.” +</p> +<p>“Captain, you can tell a bigger story than any +other man in the army,” said Somers, laughing. +</p> +<p>“That’s because I have seen more of the world. +When you have been about as much as I have, you +will know more about it.” +</p> +<p>“No doubt of it.” +</p> +<p>“I should be very happy to be more actively employed +just now; but I am very well contented +where I am.” +</p> +<p>The position they occupied enabled the two +officers to see some sharp fighting along the line. +Through an opening at the right, they saw a rebel +regiment, wearing white jackets, or else stripped +to their shirts, march at double-quick, in splendid +order, with arms at “right shoulder shift,” to the +scene of action. It was probably some volunteer +body from Richmond, whom the ladies of the rebel +capital had just dismissed, with sweet benedictions, +to sweep the “foul Yankees” from the face of the +earth. They were certainly a splendid body of +men; and the ladies might well be proud of them. +They went into the field in good style, with the +blessings of the fair still lingering fondly in their +ears. But one volley from the veterans of the +Army of the Potomac was enough for them, and +they gave way, running off the field in wild disorder, +threading their way in terror through the +bushes, every man for himself. It is not likely that +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span> +they were welcomed back from the gory field by +the frothy feminine rebels of Richmond. +</p> +<p>“That’s just the way the Russians ran at +Palestro!” exclaimed Captain de Banyan, as he +watched the exciting scene. +</p> +<p>“The Russians at Palestro!” added Somers, +“I think you have got things a little mixed, captain.” +</p> +<p>Before this difficult question could be settled, +Captain de Banyan was ordered to take a sufficient +force, and drive out the rebels who were skulking +behind the old house. +</p> +<p>“Somers, you shall go with me,” said he, when +he had received his orders from the colonel. +“We’ll do a big thing, if there is any chance.” +</p> +<p>“I am ready for anything, big or little, captain,” +replied Somers heartily. “What shall I do?” +</p> +<p>“March your men over by that little knoll, and +come round on the other side of the house; I will +move up in another direction, and we will bag the +whole squad. But mind you, Somers, the enemy +are round that way; don’t let them gobble you up +or lay you out.” +</p> +<p>“I will do the best I can, captain.” +</p> +<p>“Angels could do no more.” +</p> +<p>The lieutenant advanced, with the men detailed +for the purpose, towards the hillock. By taking +a circuitous route, he avoided the observation of +the rebels behind the house, and reached the other +side of the knoll, where, behind the friendly shelter +of a clump of bushes, he was enabled to survey the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span> +ground. Not more than a quarter of a mile distant +he discovered the rebel breastworks. It was +about the same distance to the house. +</p> +<p>Between the knoll and the house there was a +small patch of wheat, which, by some chance, had +escaped the havoc of foraging parties. Though the +grain was not full-grown, it would afford concealment +to his men. In order to reach it, he must expose +his men to a volley from the rifle-pits, or from +any body of rebels which might be posted in the +vicinity. He could not afford to lose a single man, +and he was perplexed to determine how he should +overcome the distance between the wheat-field and +the knoll. +</p> +<p>It seemed to him very singular that he had not +already been fired upon; and he concluded that it +was because his party had been mistaken for rebels, +or because some of their troops were between him +and the Union lines. Whether the enemy had been +deceived or not, he was fully determined to afford +them no further information in regard to his politics, +if any of them had seen him. He therefore +ordered his men to take off their coats, which some +of them had done before they started on the expedition. +The blue trousers could not be so easily disposed +of; but as some of the boys had straw hats, +some felt, and some caps, it would have been hard +to determine what they were at the distance of a +quarter of a mile, especially as some of the Confederates +wore the plundered clothing of the Union +army. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span></p> +<p>After instructing his force in regard to their +future conduct, he marched them boldly into the +open space. To assist the deception, he directed +one of his men to halt occasionally, and point his +musket in the direction of the Union pickets. Not +a shot was fired at them; and when the young +lieutenant reached the wheat-field he fancied that +he was clever enough for any brigadier in the rebel +army. +</p> +<p>It was desirable that the rebel sharpshooters at +the house should not be alarmed; and, when his +men reached the grain, Somers ordered them to get +down upon their hands and knees, and creep cautiously +towards the point to be assailed. The lieutenant, +like a good officer, led the way himself, and +had advanced about half the distance to be accomplished, +when he heard a rustling noise in the +grain before him. It was an ominous sound, and +he paused to take an observation. He could not +see anything without standing up; and, as he was +within twenty rods of the house, it was necessary +to avoid exposing himself. +</p> +<p>From whatever source the sounds proceeded, it +was just as safe to advance as it was to retreat; and +he decided to go forward. With the utmost caution, +he continued to creep along through the +wheat; but he was careful to assure himself that +his men’s muskets and his own revolver were in +condition for instant use. After he had gone a few +rods farther, the sounds were more apparent; and, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_59' name='page_59'></a>59</span> +with no little consternation, he heard voices, rich +with an unmistakable Southern accent. +</p> +<p>“I tell you, more of our fellers is coming +through the grain. You mought hear ’em, ef you +weren’t deafer’n a dead nigger.” +</p> +<p>“I heerd ’em. You kin bet yer life they’re some +of our pickets. Howsomever, I’m gwine to see.” +</p> +<p>“Hush, my men! don’t speak a word!” whispered +the young lieutenant. “Lie flat on the +ground.” +</p> +<p>The rebels were nearer than he had supposed; +for, as he turned from his men, he discovered a +wiry grayback, with the chevrons of a sergeant on +his arms, trying to stare him out of countenance. +The fellow did not look wholesome; and Somers +was in doubt whether to blow his brains out, or let +things take their natural course. +</p> +<p>“Who mought you be?” demanded the grayback, +exhibiting more curiosity than of fear in his +dirty face. +</p> +<p>“One of the people,” replied Somers, disposed +to avoid a direct issue. “Who are you?” +</p> +<p>“I’m one of the people too,” grinned the rebel. +</p> +<p>“I see you are; and I suppose you belong to the +army, don’t you?” +</p> +<p>“Bet your life I do.” +</p> +<p>“Of course you won’t object to telling me which +army you belong to, as there may be some difference +of opinion between us.” +</p> +<p>“’Tain’t no use to ask a officer dressed in blue, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span> +and lookin’ as spruce as you be, whar he kim from. +I say, Yank, what are you uns doin’ in hyar?” +</p> +<p>“Only taking a look.” +</p> +<p>“You’re as civil as a Mobile dancin’-master; and +I axes yer, very perlite, to surrender.” +</p> +<p>“How many men have you got, reb?” demanded +the lieutenant, as he put his hand on his revolver. +</p> +<p>“See hyar, Yank; play fair. You uns allers +cheat playin’ poker. Don’t tech yer shooter yet,” +replied the grayback coolly, as he thrust the muzzle +of his gun in the lieutenant’s face. “Two kin play +at that game, and your wife or mine will be a lone +widder quicker’n a coon kin wink at the moon. +I’ve got seven men,” he added. +</p> +<p>“I have twenty-three,” said Somers. +</p> +<p>“Then yer kin whip us if yer be Yanks; for three +of you uns can just lick one of we uns.” +</p> +<p>“That’s good logic. Will you surrender, or +fight?” demanded Somers. +</p> +<p>“Let me count your men. I surrender,” he continued, +after he had stood up, and counted the +Union soldiers. “Here’s my shooter; fair play, +even with Yanks.” +</p> +<p>Leaving a guard of eight men with his prisoners +when they were disarmed, Somers hastened forward +to complete his mission. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> +<h3>AN EXPEDITION IN FRONT</h3> +</div> + +<p>The affair in the wheat-field had been conducted +very quietly, and apparently had not attracted the +attention of any of the rebels in the vicinity. During +the brief parley, the thunder of the battle had +sounded on the right and left of the parties. The +enemy were in force in their works, and it was believed +that there were squads of pickets in every +place of concealment which the ground afforded. +</p> +<p>Somers was very much surprised to find that he +was not molested, and made all possible haste to +carry out the programme with which he had been +intrusted by Captain de Banyan. Followed by the +balance of his men, he crept carefully towards the +house till he had reached the end of the grain-field. +He could see about a dozen rebels skulking behind +the building, all of them so intent upon getting a +shot at the Union soldiers, that they paid no attention +to the events transpiring in the rear of them; +probably deeming it impossible for an enemy to +approach in that direction. +</p> +<p>The lieutenant had but fifteen men left to execute +his part of the scheme, and there seemed to +be double that number of graybacks lurking in and +about the house. Everything depended upon his +effecting the requisite junction with the force of +the captain. As his superior had but a short distance +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span> +to march, it was probable that he was already +in position to support him; and he decided to make +the attack without permitting any delay to rob him +of the chances of success. +</p> +<p>“Now, double-quick, forward!” shouted Somers, +as he rose from the ground, and led the way to a +position where he could intercept the retreat of the +rebels. +</p> +<p>Agreeably to the instructions previously given, +his men stretched out into an extended line, and +commenced firing at will upon the luckless graybacks +who were in sight. It did not take them long +to find out that they were assailed by a fire in the +rear. +</p> +<p>“Surrender!” shouted Captain de Banyan, who +at this moment appeared at the head of his men. +</p> +<p>The rebels were not disposed to accept this polite +invitation, but began to fall back from the house +in good order. They discharged their pieces at +the force in front, and then started at a run to +effect their escape in the opposite direction. They +forgot for the moment that they had been fired +upon from the rear, or else thought that the fire +had been directed by some of their own people at +the Yankees who had so suddenly attacked in front. +</p> +<p>“Surrender!” shouted Lieutenant Somers, as +the retreating rebels approached his line. +</p> +<p>They halted at this unexpected summons. The +officer in command of them took a hasty survey of +the situation, and then ordered his troops to cut +their way through the thin line between them and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span> +the rebel field-works. The commander of the rebel +pickets was a gallant fellow; and, drawing his +sword, he rushed towards the spot where the lieutenant +was stationed. Discharging his pistol with +the left hand at Somers, he dashed forward like a +festive horse. +</p> +<p>Both parties had discharged their guns, and +there was no time to reload them. Some of the +rebels had bayonets, and some had not; and, with +the fury of their brave leader, they attempted to +break their way through the line. A sharp but very +irregular conflict ensued, the rebels clubbing their +muskets or grappling with the Union soldiers, each +according to his individual taste. As they were +two to one of the Federals, they would certainly +have won the field if Captain de Banyan had not +promptly come to the rescue. +</p> +<p>The excited rebel officer manifested a most persistent +desire to revenge his misfortunes upon +Lieutenant Somers. After he had fired his pistol +twice, and one of the balls had passed through his +opponent’s cap, the latter, by a sudden dash, +knocked the weapon from his hand with his sword. +He then attempted to use his own sword, and, if +Somers had not been a “master of fence,” would +probably have run him through the body. Some +hard blows were struck with these weapons, and +the age of chivalry, when men fought hand to hand +with trusty blades, seemed to be revived. But the +sword of the rebel officer was not so trusty as it +ought to have been. It was not a regulation +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span> +sword; and, while its owner was flourishing it most +valiantly, the blade flew away from the handle. +</p> +<p>“Now, surrender!” said Somers, out of breath +with the violence of his exertions, as he drew from +his belt the pistol which, being so hard pressed, he +had not been able to use before. +</p> +<p>“Never, sir! I don’t surrender! I was sent +here to fight, and not to surrender!” replied the +officer, as proudly as though he had been in command +of a beleaguered fortress, instead of a squad +of two or three dozen men. +</p> +<p>Somers had him at his mercy, and it seemed but +little better than murder to shoot him in his defenseless +state. +</p> +<p>That was a bad mistake on his part; for the +rebel officer at once proceeded to prove that he was +no effeminate character, who depended upon a +sword, pistol, or other weapon, to fight his battles +with, but could, if occasion required, defend himself +with his naked arm. He sprang upon Somers +with the ferocity of a tiger. The latter fired; but +the sudden movement of the former impaired his +aim, and the ball whistled harmlessly over the head +of the rebel. The desperate officer attempted to +gain possession of the pistol; but Somers, now +thoroughly aroused to a sense of his own danger, +sprang at the throat of his antagonist, and, by +the fierceness of the dash, bore him to the earth. +His victim struggled to escape; and, being a +stronger man than the other, would certainly have +succeeded, if Somers had not picked up his pistol, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span> +which lay on the spot where they fell, and struck a +blow with the butt of it on the temple of the rebel. +This effectually quieted him; but the lieutenant’s +little force were falling back before the furious +assaults of the graybacks. +</p> +<p>He had only time to get up before the rebels +were upon him. At this interesting and critical +moment, Captain de Banyan came up with his +large force; and the enemy, finding themselves +pressed in front and rear, gave up in despair. +They were disarmed; and, those from the wheat-field +being brought forward, the whole squad were +marched in the direction of the Union line. +</p> +<p>About one-half of Somers’s men were wounded, +though some but slightly. These were sent back. +The rebel officer lay insensible upon the ground; +but Somers, satisfied that he was only stunned, desired +to carry him off, not only as a trophy of his +prowess, but because such a desperate fellow +would be less dangerous in a prison-camp than in +the lines of the rebels. He directed two of his men +to bear the insensible form to the house, whither +they were followed by the remainder of the force. +</p> +<p>“Somers, my dear fellow, give me your hand,” +said Captain de Banyan, as soon as the pressing +business of the moment had been disposed of. +“You have covered yourself with glory.” +</p> +<p>“Pooh!” replied Somers, trying to look indifferent. +“I have only done my duty, and obeyed my +orders.” +</p> +<p>“That’s very true; but, if you had been weak in +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span> +the knees, you couldn’t very well have obeyed +orders. Somers, you have done a big thing; and, +in my judgment, you ought to be promoted.” +</p> +<p>“Promoted for that?” +</p> +<p>“In the battle of Magenta——” +</p> +<p>“Oh, confound the battle of Magenta!” exclaimed +Somers, interrupting him. “I will give +you a handsome present if you will never say +Magenta to me again.” +</p> +<p>“Don’t be petulant, my dear boy! You have +got a sweet temper naturally, and I hope you won’t +spoil it.” +</p> +<p>“I am afraid you will spoil it for me.” +</p> +<p>“I was only saying pleasant things to you, and +you fly off and roll yourself up in your dignity like +a little hedgehog. By the way, Somers, don’t you +suppose that Senator Guilford will hear of this +affair?” +</p> +<p>“I hope not.” +</p> +<p>“Nor that little lady we left all used up with a +broken arm?” +</p> +<p>“I don’t care whether she does or not.” +</p> +<p>“Or that other little lady who knits socks for +soldiers that don’t run away in battle?” +</p> +<p>Somers blushed like a maiden, and his experienced +companion saw that he had touched the +tender spot in his heart. Very likely the captain +would have said something more on this interesting +subject, if the conversation had not been interrupted +by their arrival at the old house. Here they +were met by a messenger from the colonel, ordering +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_67' name='page_67'></a>67</span> +the detachment to hasten back; for orders had +come for the brigade to retire to their old position. +</p> +<p>The wounded and the prisoners were conducted +safely back to the line in the woods, where our +party were warmly congratulated upon their decided +success. The brigade fell back, but were immediately +ordered forward again, and held the advanced +position which had been so gallantly won. It +was not a very comfortable place; for the soldiers +stood over shoes in the water. Late in the evening, +our regiment was relieved by another, and ordered +back to the breastworks in the rear. It had lost +but few men, though torrents of loyal blood had +flowed on that eventful day. +</p> +<p>The action of that day was the initial conflict of +the seven-days’ battles. General McClellan actually +commenced his long-deferred operations +against the city of Richmond. But the favorable +moment had passed by, and even then the battalions +of the rebels were gathering in readiness to +be hurled upon our devoted army. While the regiment, +whose fortunes have been more intimately +connected with our story, was retiring from the +pestiferous swamp, the commanding general received +information of the approach of Stonewall +Jackson. These proved to be sad tidings; for the +anticipated triumphal march into the rebel capital +was changed into a bloody but glorious retreat. +The battles which were to be fought for a victorious +advance were made to cover a disastrous +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span> +defeat—disastrous to the campaign, though not to +the army. +</p> +<p>Fatigued, hungry and chilled by the night damps +of the swamp, the regiment threaded its way +through the intricacies of the woods towards the +breastworks in the rear. It was a dark and gloomy +hour, though the <i>prestige</i> of victory dwelt in the +souls of the gallant soldiers. The officers were not +familiar with the ground; and with difficulty they +found their way back to the old line. +</p> +<p>“Well, Somers, how do you feel?” asked Captain +de Banyan when the regiment was dismissed. +</p> +<p>“I’m all worn out. I haven’t got toughened to +this kind of work yet,” replied Somers. +</p> +<p>“Don’t give it up yet, my boy. We shall be in +Richmond in less than a week, and then we will +take rooms at the Spottswood House, and have +a good time.” +</p> +<p>“Do you believe we shall ever get into Richmond, +captain?” +</p> +<p>“Certainly I do. Everything is working to my +entire satisfaction. You feel a little blue, my boy; +but it is only because you are tired. You will feel +better in the morning.” +</p> +<p>“I am tired, but I am not blue. I am ready to +do my duty, in victory or defeat. There has been +an awful roar of guns all day, and no one can tell +what the result of a battle will be.” +</p> +<p>“An awful roar of guns! ’Pon my word, I +like that,” laughed the captain. “Why, at Magenta——” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span></p> +<p>“Magenta again!” sneered Somers, who was +heartily sick of that word. +</p> +<p>“Yes, at Magenta! If you could only have +heard the guns there! Why, there were seven +thousand two hundred and forty-six pieces rattling +away like mad on our side alone; and I believe the +Russians——” +</p> +<p>“Russians at Magenta again! I don’t believe +you were at the battle of Magenta any more than I +was!” exclaimed Somers desperately. +</p> +<p>“Do you mean to tell me that I lie?” asked the +captain gravely. +</p> +<p>“Go on with your story,” said the lieutenant, +fearing that he had said too much. +</p> +<p>“Answer my question, if you please. You gave +me the lie; did you not?” +</p> +<p>“No; I didn’t use that word.” +</p> +<p>“You said you didn’t believe I was at the battle +of Magenta.” +</p> +<p>“To be perfectly candid with you, I don’t believe +it; but I am tired, and want my supper,” answered +Somers, wishing to escape the issue which he had +provoked. +</p> +<p>“Fair play, my boy. You charged me with lying—indirectly—but +not the less offensively on that +account. Don’t dodge the question.” +</p> +<p>“I haven’t dodged it. I gave you my candid +opinion that you were not present at Magenta; and +I don’t think there is an officer in the regiment who +believes you were there.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_70' name='page_70'></a>70</span></p> +<p>“Isn’t the word of an officer and a gentleman +to be accepted?” +</p> +<p>“Certainly, if he keeps within the bounds of reason; +but when you talk about the Russians at +Magenta, and over seven thousand cannons in a +single army, we know that you are either ‘drawing +the long-bow,’ or laboring under some strange delusion. +Supper is ready.” +</p> +<p>“We can eat and talk too.” And they did. +“May I be allowed to ask, Lieutenant Somers, if +you deem my statement inconsistent with reason?” +</p> +<p>“To be sure I do. We have six guns to a battery; +seventy-two hundred guns would make twelve +hundred batteries. We have about one hundred +and fifty men to a battery, which would make one +hundred and eighty thousand men in the artillery +arm alone; which is positively ridiculous. You +said Russians——” +</p> +<p>“Of course, that was a slip of the tongue. I +meant Prussians,” added the captain, entirely overwhelmed +by the lieutenant’s arithmetic, as well as +by the laughter of Captain Benson and Lieutenant +Munroe, who belonged to the mess. +</p> +<p>“Worse yet,” said Somers. “They were Austrians. +Now, captain, you are a brave man, and a +splendid fellow; but I think it is a great pity you +should tell such abominably great stories.” +</p> +<p>“I accept the apology,” laughed Captain de +Banyan. “We will call it square, and turn in; +for I think that we shall have hot work to-morrow.” +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> +<h3>AN ORDER FROM HEADQUARTERS</h3> +</div> + +<p>While Captain de Banyan and Lieutenant +Somers were asleep, the commanding general received +the intelligence of a movement on our right +by the famous Stonewall Jackson. The position +which had been gained by the advance at Oak +Grove was abandoned, and the troops returned to +their old line. The next day was heard the roar +of the guns at Mechanicsville; and on that succeeding +was fought the battle of Gaines’s Mills—the +only defeat in the field sustained by the Union +army during that battle-week. +</p> +<p>General McClellan then decided to change his +base of operations; which, rendered into plain +English, meant that he had been flanked, and was +obliged to make the best move he could to save his +army and material. The troops fought all day, +and ran all night, till they reached the James +River, where they were protected by the all-powerful +gunboats. In the battles of Savage’s Station, +Glendale and Malvern Hills, they were victorious, +and fought as no troops had ever fought before. +As a retreat, it was successful; but it was the sad +and inglorious end of the Peninsular campaign. +</p> +<p>The whole brigade to which Lieutenant Somers +belonged went on picket every third day. While +the tremendous operations to which we have +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span> +briefly alluded were taking place on the right, the +soldiers on the left were leading their ordinary +military life. But they were thinking men, and, +while they were firm in their devotion to the good +cause, they were disturbed by doubts and fears. +They knew not, as they listened to the booming +guns, whether they were in the midst of victory or +defeat. Occasionally, they were shelled behind +their breastworks; apparently for the purpose, on +the part of the rebels, of keeping our forces from +interfering with the work on the right. +</p> +<p>The brigade went on picket, and here the troops +were face to face with the enemy. Lieutenant +Somers, by the illness of the captain and the absence +of the first lieutenant, was in command of +his company. But there was no chance to do anything +to distinguish himself, except that steady +and patient attention to duty which is the constant +opportunity of every good officer. +</p> +<p>“Well, captain, was there anything like this at +Magenta?” asked Somers, as he met De Banyan. +</p> +<p>“This is tame, Somers. Magenta was a lively +scene.” +</p> +<p>“I fancy it will not remain tame much longer. +We shall either be in Richmond as victors or +prisoners within a few days.” +</p> +<p>“Don’t croak, Somers. It will all come out right +in the end.” +</p> +<p>“I have no doubt of that; but I feel just as +though some big thing was going to happen.” +</p> +<p>“So do I; and I felt so just before the battle of +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span> +Solferino. By the way, on the night before that +battle, I captured a whole brigade with my single +company, while I was out on picket-duty.” +</p> +<p>“Indeed!” laughed Somers. +</p> +<p>“I’ll tell you how it was.” +</p> +<p>“Don’t take that trouble, captain; for I shall +not believe you if you do.” +</p> +<p>“Do you mean to doubt my word, even before I +utter it?” demanded the captain, apparently much +hurt by the insinuation. +</p> +<p>“Captain de Banyan, I wish I could persuade +you to speak the truth at all times.” +</p> +<p>“Come, Somers, that’s rather a grave charge; +and, if it came from any other man than yourself, +I should challenge him on the spot,” added the +captain, throwing back his head, and looking dignified +enough to be the commander-in-chief. +</p> +<p>“You may challenge me if you please; but let +us be serious for a moment.” +</p> +<p>“I am serious, and have been all the time.” +</p> +<p>“You are a first-rate fellow, captain; I like you +almost as well as I do my own brother.” +</p> +<p>“You are a sensible young man, Somers,” replied +De Banyan, slightly relaxing the rigid muscles of +his face. +</p> +<p>“You are a brave man, and as brilliant as you +are brave. I have only one fault to find with you.” +</p> +<p>“What’s that?” +</p> +<p>“You will draw the long-bow.” +</p> +<p>“In other words, I will lie. Somers, you hurt +my feelings. I took a fancy to you the first time +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span> +I ever saw you, and it pains me to hear you talk +in that manner. Do you think that I, an officer +and a gentleman, would stoop to the vice of lying?” +</p> +<p>“You certainly do not expect any one to believe +those wretched big stories you tell?” +</p> +<p>“Certainly I do,” replied the captain with +dignity. +</p> +<p>“But they contradict themselves.” +</p> +<p>“Perhaps you don’t believe there ever was such +an event as the battle of Magenta.” +</p> +<p>“Come, come, my friend; just slide off that high +horse.” +</p> +<p>“Lieutenant Somers, my word has been doubted; +my good faith maligned; my character for truth +and veracity questioned.” +</p> +<p>“Yes, I know all that very well; but answer me +one question, captain. Seriously and solemnly, +were you at the battle of Magenta?” +</p> +<p>“I decline to answer one who doubts my veracity. +If I answered you in the affirmative, you +would not believe me.” +</p> +<p>“I don’t think I should; but, if you should answer +me in the negative, I should have full faith in +your reply.” +</p> +<p>“I cannot answer on those terms. Somers, I am +offended. I don’t know but that I am in duty +bound to challenge you. Just after the battle of +Magenta, I felt compelled to challenge a young +officer who cast an imputation upon my word. We +fought, and he fell. His brother challenged me +then, and I had to put a bullet through his head. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span> +The family were Corsicans, I believe; and one after +another challenged me, till they got down to fifth +cousins; and I laid out fifteen of them—I think +it was fifteen; I don’t remember the exact number, +but I could tell by referring to my diary. You are +so precise and particular, that I want to give you +the facts just as they are.” +</p> +<p>“You haven’t the diary with you, I suppose?” +</p> +<p>“Of course not; I couldn’t carry a volume like +that around with me. I only mention this circumstance +to show you the sad results which sometimes +follow in the wake of a duel.” +</p> +<p>“But I’m not a Corsican; and I don’t think you +need fear any such results in my case, if you should +conclude to challenge me,” answered Somers with +abundant good nature. +</p> +<p>“Now, seriously and solemnly, Somers, this +doubting a comrade’s word is a vicious habit. It +shows that you have no confidence in what I say.” +</p> +<p>“That is precisely the truth; but I think you are +responsible for the fact, not I. If you would only +tell the truth——” +</p> +<p>“Tell the truth! My dear fellow, you keep +making the matter worse, instead of better.” +</p> +<p>“So do you; for, instead of abandoning your bad +habit, you tell me an absurd story about killing +fifteen men in a series of duels!” +</p> +<p>“I told you I couldn’t fix the exact number. +You are too critical by half.” +</p> +<p>“I am not particular about the number; for I +don’t believe you killed even a single person in a +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_76' name='page_76'></a>76</span> +duel. You are too good a fellow to do anything of +the sort.” +</p> +<p>“Somers, I have been laboring to keep my temper; +but I am afraid you will make me mad, if you +keep on. I think we had better suspend this conversation +before it leads to any unhappy results;” +and the captain rose from the ground, and glanced +in the direction of the enemy’s pickets. +</p> +<p>“The most unhappy result I could conceive of +would be your continuing this bad practice of telling +big stories,” replied Somers, standing up by +the side of his companion. +</p> +<p>“No more; you add insult to injury, Somers.” +</p> +<p>“Really, captain, you injure yourself by this +habit, and——” +</p> +<p>Captain de Banyan, at this point of the conversation, +suddenly turned round, and sprang upon +the lieutenant, bearing him to the ground before +the latter could even make a movement in self-defense. +Together they rolled upon the earth, at the +foot of the tree whose sheltering branches had protected +them from the intense heat of the sun. +Somers, as the reader already knows, was bold and +belligerent before an attack; and, on the impulse of +the moment, he proceeded to repel the sharp assault +of his companion. +</p> +<p>“If you fight a duel in that way, I am ready to +take part in it,” said he, his face red with anger. +“Let go of me!” +</p> +<p>“With pleasure, my dear boy,” replied De Banyan, +edging away from him. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_77' name='page_77'></a>77</span></p> +<p>“What do you mean by pitching into me in that +way?” demanded Somers angrily. +</p> +<p>“I have been trying this half hour to teach you +a useful lesson; but you don’t know who your best +friends are.” +</p> +<p>“I think I do. Some of them tell the truth sometimes.” +</p> +<p>“Somers!” said the captain sternly. +</p> +<p>“Captain de Banyan!” replied the lieutenant +firmly. +</p> +<p>“Do you see that hole in the tree?” continued +Captain de Banyan, pointing to a fresh bullet-mark. +</p> +<p>“I do.” +</p> +<p>“I only pulled you down to keep that rifle-ball +from going through your head. I saw a rebel +picket through the trees, ready to fire at us. The +ball struck the tree before we struck the ground.” +</p> +<p>“Forgive me, captain. I did not understand the +movement,” replied Somers, extending his hand. +</p> +<p>“With all my heart,” replied the captain, taking +the proffered hand. “We don’t always know +who our best friends are.” +</p> +<p>“Perhaps not; but I know that you are one of +my best friends. You have just given me another +reason for wishing you did not——” Somers hesitated, +not thinking it exactly fair to reproach his +companion for his vile habit, after he had rendered +him such a signal service. +</p> +<p>“Lie,” added De Banyan, finishing the sentence. +</p> +<p>“Perhaps it isn’t exactly lying; you don’t mean +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span> +to deceive any one. At the worst, they are only +white lies. Now, captain, don’t you think you exaggerate +sometimes?” +</p> +<p>“Well, perhaps I do; my memory is rather poor. +I don’t carry my diary with me.” +</p> +<p>“Don’t you think it would be better if you could +confine yourself to the exact truth?” added Somers, +who really felt a deep interest in his associate. +</p> +<p>“I think it very likely it would; but things get +a little mixed up in my mind. My memory is poor +on details. Just after the battle of Magenta, while +I was lying wounded on the ground, one of the emperor’s +staff rode up to me, and asked how many +cannon my regiment had captured. To save my +life, I couldn’t tell whether it was two hundred or +three hundred. My memory is very treacherous +on details.” +</p> +<p>“I believe you are hopeless, captain,” laughed +Somers. +</p> +<p>“Hopeless?” +</p> +<p>“Why, you have told the biggest story that has +passed your lips to-day.” +</p> +<p>“What, about the cannon?” +</p> +<p>“Two hundred or three hundred! Why, your +regiment captured all the guns the Austrians had!” +</p> +<p>“Didn’t I tell you I couldn’t remember whether +it was two hundred or three hundred? You are +the most critical young man I ever met in the +whole course of my life!” +</p> +<p>“But two hundred would be an abominable exaggeration. +Perhaps you meant muskets?” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span></p> +<p>“No; cannon.” +</p> +<p>“But, my dear captain, just consider for one moment. +Of course the batteries were supported?” +</p> +<p>“To be sure they were.” +</p> +<p>“Six guns to a battery would have made fifty +batteries; and——” +</p> +<p>“Oh, confound your statistics!” exclaimed the +captain impatiently. +</p> +<p>“But statistics enable us to see the truth. Now, +captain, at the battle of Bunker Hill, I saw a +man——” +</p> +<p>“You?” demanded Captain de Banyan. +</p> +<p>“I said so.” +</p> +<p>“Were you at the battle of Bunker Hill?” +</p> +<p>“Didn’t you see me there?” +</p> +<p>“Come, come, Somers; you shouldn’t trifle with +the truth. I was not at the battle you speak of.” +</p> +<p>“But I was——” +</p> +<p>“You! You were not born till sixty years after +the battle of Bunker Hill.” +</p> +<p>“But I was—only illustrating your case.” +</p> +<p>“Here comes an orderly with something from +headquarters,” said Captain de Banyan, apparently +as much rejoiced to change the conversation +as the reader will be to have it changed. +</p> +<p>The orderly proceeded to the position occupied +by the field and staff officers of the regiment; and, +a few moments later, came an order for Lieutenant +Somers, with twenty of his men, selected for special +duty, to report at the division headquarters. +</p> +<p>“You are in luck, Somers; you will have a +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span> +glorious opportunity to distinguish yourself,” said +Captain de Banyan, whose second lieutenant was +ordered to the command of Somers’s company. +</p> +<p>“I don’t know what it means,” replied our lieutenant. +</p> +<p>“Don’t you, indeed?” added the captain with a +smile. “Don’t you know what special duty means? +On the night before the battle of Solferino——” +</p> +<p>“Excuse me, Captain de Banyan; but I am +ordered to report forthwith,” interrupted Somers, +who had no desire to hear another “whopper.” +</p> +<p>The young lieutenant marched off, with his little +force, to report as he had been directed. He knew +his men well enough to enable him to make a good +selection; and he was confident that they would +stand by him to the last. +</p> +<p>“Do you know Senator Guilford?” demanded +the general, after Somers had passed through all +the forms of reporting. +</p> +<p>“I do, general,” replied the lieutenant, with a +fearful blush, and with a wish in his heart that +the distinguished Senator had minded his own +business. +</p> +<p>“He speaks well of you, Lieutenant Somers,” +added the general. +</p> +<p>“I am very much obliged to him for his kindness; +but I never saw him but once in my life.” +</p> +<p>“He asks a favor for you.” +</p> +<p>“I am very much obliged to him; but I don’t ask +any for myself, and I hope you will not grant it. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span> +If any favors are bestowed upon me, I prefer to +earn them myself.” +</p> +<p>“Good!” exclaimed the general. “But I assure +you and Senator Guilford that no man in this +division of the army will get a position he does not +deserve. I assure you, Lieutenant Somers, I +should have thrown the Senator’s letter among the +waste paper, if I had not known you before. I remember +you at Williamsburg; and you did a pretty +thing in the wheat-field yesterday. You are just +the man I want.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you, sir; I should be very glad to prove +that your good opinion is well founded.” +</p> +<p>Apart from others, and in a low tone, the general +gave his orders to Lieutenant Somers to undertake +a very difficult and dangerous scouting +expedition. +</p> +<p>“Before sundown you will be a prisoner in Richmond, +or a first lieutenant,” added the general as +Somers withdrew. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> +<h3>LIEUTENANT SOMERS CHANGES HIS NAME AND CHARACTER</h3> +</div> + +<p>Like the major-generals in the army, Lieutenant +Somers had strong aspirations in the direction +of an independent command. Like those distinguished +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span> +worthies, no doubt, he felt competent to +perform bigger things than he had yet been called +to achieve in the ordinary routine of duty. He had +the blood of heroes in his veins; and, in spite of +all he could do to keep his thoughts within the +limits of modesty, he found them soaring to the +regions of the improbable and fanciful. His +imagination led him a wild race, and pictured him +in the act of performing marvelous deeds of valor +and skill. +</p> +<p>Fancy is a blind and reckless leader; and it gave +our hero oftentimes a command which his reason +would not have permitted him to accept. What +boys, and even what men, think, when stimulated +by ambition, would be too ridiculous to put upon +paper. If their thoughts could be disclosed to +the impertinent eye of the world, the proprietors +would blushingly disown and disclaim them. +</p> +<p>Still, almost every live man and boy gives the +reins to his fancy; and in the Army of the Potomac, +we will venture to say, there were a hundred +thousand privates and officers who permitted themselves +to dream that they were brigadiers and +major-generals; that they did big things, and received +the grateful homage of the world. At any +rate, Lieutenant Somers did, modest as he was, +even while he felt that he was utterly incompetent +to perform the duties incumbent on the two stars +or the one star. +</p> +<p>Experience had given him some confidence in +his own powers; and there was something delightful +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span> +in the idea of having an independent command. +It was a partial, a very partial, realization of the +wanderings of his vivid fancy. He felt able to do +something which Lilian Ashford would take pleasure +in reading in the newspapers; perhaps something +which would prove his fitness for a brigadier’s +star at some remote period. Now, we have +made all this explanation to show how Somers had +prepared himself to accomplish some great thing. +The mission with which he had been intrusted was +an important one; and the safety of the whole left +wing of the army might depend upon its faithful +performance. +</p> +<p>He was wrought up to the highest pitch of patriotic +inspiration by the charge which had been +laid upon him; and he was determined to bring +back the information required of him, even if he +had to fly through the air to obtain it. It was of +no use to suggest impossibilities to a young man +in such a frame of mind; he did not know the +meaning of the word. To impress him with the +importance of the duty intrusted to him, the general +of division had given him a faint outline of the +intended movements of the army. If the enemy +massed his forces in this direction, it was of vital +necessity that the general should know it. +</p> +<p>Thus prepared and thus inspired, Lieutenant +Somers marched his little force to the point from +which he proposed to operate. On his right hand +there was a dense wood, on the border of which +extended one of the numerous cross-roads that +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span> +checker the country. On his left was another piece +of woods, terminating in a point about a quarter +of a mile from the road and in the center of a +valley. +</p> +<p>On the hill beyond was the intrenched line of +the rebels. In front of it, at the foot of the slope, +was a line of rifle-pits, which were occupied by the +rebel pickets. The hill and the woods concealed +the operations of the enemy; and no signal station +was high enough to obtain the necessary information. +The woods on both sides of the open space +were picketed by the rebels; and the rifle-pits in +front were an effectual check to the advance of a +small force, while a large one could not be sent +up without bringing on a general engagement, +which had been prohibited by the commanding +general. +</p> +<p>Lieutenant Somers surveyed the ground, and +came to the conclusion that his chance of spending +the night in Libby Prison was better than his +chance of being made a first lieutenant. The rifle-pits +had a chilling effect upon the fine dreams in +which his fancy had indulged. He was not a grub, +and could not burrow through the earth to the +rebel lines; he had no wings, and could not fly over +them. The obstacles which are so easily overcome +in one’s dreams appear mountain-high in real life. +He looked troubled and anxious; but, having put +his hand to the plow, he was determined not to +turn back. +</p> +<p>The best way to conquer a difficulty is to charge +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span> +upon it; and this Somers decided to do, even +though he had no well-defined plan for the accomplishment +of his purpose. Avoiding the observation +of the rebels in the rifle-pits, he moved round, +and reached the point of woods on the left of the +road. +</p> +<p>“Excuse me, Lieutenant Somers,” said Sergeant +Hapgood with a military salute: “’tain’t none o’ +my business, but I’d like to know where you are +goin’ to.” +</p> +<p>“Through this woods,” replied Somers doggedly. +</p> +<p>“You used to be a good boy, when you was a +boy; and I hope you’ve said your prayers,” replied +old Hapgood, appalled at the prospect before his +young friend. +</p> +<p>“Don’t you croak, uncle,” added Somers. +</p> +<p>“The rebels’ pickets are up here, not twenty +rods distant. Do you calculate to go through them, +or over them?” +</p> +<p>“Either—just as I can; but I am going through, +somehow or other.” +</p> +<p>“It can’t be done! Thunderation! you’ll bring +down the whole rebel army upon us! You don’t +think of going over there with only twenty men!” +</p> +<p>“I do, uncle. I’m going over on that hill yonder, +and I’m coming back again before night.” +</p> +<p>Hapgood tapped his forehead significantly with +his finger to indicate that the young lieutenant had +lost his senses. +</p> +<p>“I was ordered to do it, and I am going to do it, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_86' name='page_86'></a>86</span> +uncle. You can set your mind at rest on that +point.” +</p> +<p>“It can’t be did!” said the old man positively. +“I don’t keer who told you to do it; it can’t be did +with less’n twenty thousand men. You will sacrifice +yourself and all the rest of us.” +</p> +<p>“You may return to the camp, if you wish.” +</p> +<p>“Tom Somers—Lieutenant Somers,” said the +old man, much hurt by the words of the young +officer, “you know I’m not afraid of anything; and +I didn’t expect you’d say that to me.” +</p> +<p>“Excuse me, uncle; I didn’t mean it. Now, hear +me a moment.” +</p> +<p>In a low tone, Lieutenant Somers told the sergeant +the nature of his mission, and what depended +upon its prompt and successful execution. +</p> +<p>“He ought to have sent a division to do such a +job,” muttered the old man, taking off his cap, and +scratching his bald head. “Howsomever, I’m +ready to follow you wherever you choose to go.” +</p> +<p>“Forward, then,” replied Somers; and they advanced +cautiously through the woods till they came +to a kind of bog-hole, beyond which they discovered +the rebel pickets. +</p> +<p>The party lay down on the ground, and crawled +on the edge of the bog, till they obtained a fair +view of the rebels. +</p> +<p>“Now, uncle, the time has come, and my plan +is formed,” said Somers in a whisper. “When +they discover you, retreat with the men as fast as +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span> +you can. Fire on the rebels; but don’t pay any +attention to me.” +</p> +<p>“Where are you going?” demanded the old man. +</p> +<p>“When you retire, I am going to roll into that +grass. They will follow you; and, as soon as they +have passed me, I shall move forward.” +</p> +<p>“I won’t do anything of the sort. Thunderation! +you are goin’ to run right into the arms of +the rebels.” +</p> +<p>“Obey my orders! That’s all you have to do. +I can take care of myself.” +</p> +<p>“Excuse me, Tom—Lieutenant Somers.” +</p> +<p>“I know all about it, uncle. You do what I tell +you, and you shall have all the particulars to-night, +when I return.” +</p> +<p>“Return! You will be in Libby, if you are not +shot, by dark.” +</p> +<p>“If I am, leave that to me,” replied Somers, as +he rolled over into the long grass of the bog, and +entirely concealed himself from the view of his +own men. “Now fire one or two shots into the +rebel picket and then retire.” +</p> +<p>Hapgood reluctantly obeyed the order; though +he felt as though he was signing the death-warrant +of his young friend by doing so. The bullets began +to fly; but the sergeant took care to keep his men +out of sight as they retreated. The enemy followed; +for they always chase a retiring foe, and +run from an advancing one. They reached the bog +in which Somers was concealed, where one of the +three fell before a ball which the lieutenant was +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span> +sure had been directed by the practiced eye of the +veteran sergeant. The other two swore at the +calamity, and vowed vengeance on the Yankee who +had done the deed. +</p> +<p>Hapgood continued to retire, and led his foe to +the very verge of the woods. In the meantime, the +lieutenant emerged from his hiding-place. The +first object that attracted his attention was the +ghastly face of the dead rebel. The sight of him +was not pleasant, but it was suggestive; and, without +the loss of a moment, he dragged the body into +the grass, and hastily removed the uniform from +it. It was a loathsome task; but the necessity of +the moment seemed to justify the act. Taking off +his own uniform, he put on that of the dead rebel, +who was fortunately about his own size. Rolling +up his own clothing in as small a bundle as possible, +he concealed it in the bog, at some distance +from the place where the picket had fallen. Dragging +the corpse to a quagmire, he sunk it beneath +the muddy waters, and it passed from his view. +After taking the precaution to straighten up the +long grass, which might have betrayed his movements, +he advanced towards the rebel lines. +</p> +<p>Lieutenant Somers felt that he was now actually +embarked in his perilous venture. He was within +the enemy’s line, and in disguise. If discovered, he +would be liable to the penalty of being a spy. But +inasmuch as he did not intend to be discovered, +he did not think it necessary to expend his nervous +energy in a discussion of this question. Success +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span> +was a duty to him; and he spent no time in considering +the dark side of the picture. +</p> +<p>He was excited, and he knew that he was excited. +He knew that coolness and impudence were +the essential elements of success in such an adventure; +and when he had followed the woods +nearly to the top of the hill, he sat down to recover +his self-possession, and compose his nerves to their +natural quietude. It was not a very easy matter. +He had already arranged his plan of future operations, +and he diligently set about the business of +making his appearance correspond with his circumstances. +</p> +<p>He felt that he was hardly dirty enough to be +a rebel; so he rubbed his face, neck and hands with +some dark-colored earth, ripped his pants and coat +in sundry places, and otherwise disfigured his +comely person, till Miss Lilian Ashford would not +have known him, or if she had known him, +would have been ashamed to acknowledge his acquaintance. +Having completed this work to his +entire satisfaction, he rose, and resumed his march +towards the rebel line. He had advanced but a +few paces before he felt something in the breast-pocket +of his coat, which excited his curiosity. It +was a diary which the dead soldier had kept from +the time he entered the army. +</p> +<p>Such a work would have been deeply interesting +to the lieutenant at any time, but especially at the +present, when he was sadly in want of the information +which would enable him to personate the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span> +difficult part he had chosen to perform. Seating +himself on the ground again, he was soon absorbed +in the contents of the note-book. The owner’s +name was Owen Raynes; and from the diary +Somers learned that he had been a clerk in Richmond +when the war broke out; and that his father +resided on the Williamsburg road, near Seven +Pines, where the battle had been fought. Somers +was alarmed at this information; for the young +man must be well known in the neighborhood. Of +course he could not assume the name and character +of Owen Raynes. +</p> +<p>Though the time was precious, he continued to +read the diary till he came to an entry which excited +his deep interest: “Poor Allan Garland was +captured to-day by the Yankees; and I suppose +they will torture and starve the poor fellow, as +they have the rest of our boys who have fallen into +their hands. We shall never meet again. He was +a good fellow. He was on a scout.” +</p> +<p>Somers was deeply concerned about poor Allan +Garland, who had fallen into the hands of the terrible +Yankees, to be tortured and starved; and he +turned back to the beginning of the diary to obtain +further particulars in regard to this interesting +person. Fortunately for history, and particularly +for Lieutenant Somers, Owen Raynes had given a +tolerably full account of his friend. They had +been to school together in Union, Alabama, where +Owen had an uncle, and where Allan resided. +They were fast friends; and both agreed to enlist +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span> +as volunteers in the Fourth Alabama, Colonel Bush +Jones; for their schoolmates were mostly in this +regiment. +</p> +<p>When the regiment arrived at Richmond, Owen +had not time to visit his father; for the troops +were instantly ordered to Manassas, and he enrolled +himself without discovering that his friend +was not in the ranks. He was too sick to come +with his comrades; “wrote letter to Allan” was a +frequent entry in the diary, until June 18, 1862, +when this record appears: “Allan joined the regiment +to-day; has been sick about a year; is very +well now; he is a handsome fellow. Sue shall be +his wife, if I can bring it about; they have kept up +a correspondence for three years; she never saw +him, but she will like him.” +</p> +<p>“All right!” exclaimed Somers, as he closed the +book, and put it in his pocket. “I am Allan Garland. +Don’t think I shall marry Sue, though, whoever +she may be. I wonder if Lilian Ashford +would object. I don’t know as she would. Never +mind; I am a soldier of the Fourth Alabama, +Colonel Jones, just now. How are you, Allan +Garland?” +</p> +<p>He walked along towards the rebel lines, feeling +in his pockets for further revelations. An old +letter from Allan Garland rewarded his search. +He spoke tenderly of Sue, who was Owen’s sister. +</p> +<p>“Sue wouldn’t think I’m very handsome just +now,” said Somers, glancing at his dirty hands, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span> +and imagining his dirty face, as he continued to +advance. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> +<h3>ALLAN GARLAND AND FRIENDS</h3> +</div> + +<p>Allan Garland, <i>née</i> Somers, advanced confidently +towards the rebel line. As he was to perform +the leading part in the exciting drama about +to be acted, he conducted himself with the utmost +caution. Everything depended upon the amount +of impudence he could bring to bear upon the case +before him, and the skill with which he personated +the part he had chosen. He knew of nothing, +short of falling on the Fourth Alabama, which +could disconcert him. Even if he did, there were +only a few who knew the captured scout; and his +chances were fair, even if the worst should befall +him. +</p> +<p>“Stand!” said a rebel sentinel on the breastwork +of the line. “Who goes there?” +</p> +<p>“Friend,” replied Somers confidently. +</p> +<p>“What’s your name?” +</p> +<p>“Allan Garland. Can you tell me where the +Fourth Alabama is?” +</p> +<p>“About four miles from here. Do you belong +to the Fourth Alabama?” +</p> +<p>“Well, I did before I was captured; I don’t +know where I belong now.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span></p> +<p>“Where d’ye come from?” +</p> +<p>“Just got away from the Yankees. They gobbled +me up about three weeks ago.” +</p> +<p>“Bully for you! Come in; you can report to +the officer of the day.” +</p> +<p>Somers was entirely willing, and hastened in the +direction indicated by the sentinel; and was soon +ushered into the presence of Major Platner, +brigade-officer of the day. He was a very pompous +little man, and Somers saw his weakness as soon +as he spoke. With a most profound bow, he answered +the questions of the major, using the utmost +deference in his tone and manner. +</p> +<p>“How dare you present yourself before an officer +of the day with such a dirty face?” demanded +Major Platner. +</p> +<p>“I hope your honor will pardon me; but I have +just escaped from the Yankees, and have not had +time to wash my face. If you please, sir, I will go +and do it now. I thought I ought to come to you +without any delay.” +</p> +<p>“You did right, young man,” replied the major +with a consequential flourish of the hand. “You +were out scouting when you were taken?” +</p> +<p>“Yes, sir.” +</p> +<p>Major Platner then proceeded to ask a great +many questions in regard to the force and position +of the Yankees; all of which Somers answered entirely +in the interest of the Union party. He was +very careful not to give a particle of information +that could be useful to the rebels; at the same time +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span> +avoiding any gross exaggerations which would +throw discredit on his story. +</p> +<p>“You seem to be a very intelligent and patriotic +young man,” added the officer. “I have heard +some inquiries for a person of your description +to-day.” +</p> +<p>“I have always endeavored to do my duty to +my country,” answered Somers, trying to blush +under the compliment of the patronizing little +major; “and I kept my eyes wide open while I was +in the Yankee camps.” +</p> +<p>“I see you did. Your information is very +definite, and, I doubt not, very reliable.” +</p> +<p>“My only desire has been to serve my country, +sir,” added Somers very modestly. +</p> +<p>“Well, go and wash your face, so that we can +see what color you are, and I will report your +name to the general, who was inquiring for a useful +person like yourself. I trust that you will +have discretion enough not to mention anything +that has passed between us.” +</p> +<p>“Certainly not, sir. I judge, from what you +have said, that my poor services may be required +for some special service.” +</p> +<p>“That is the idea which I intended to convey. +In a word, the commander of this division wants +information. You have just come from the +Yankee lines, and you know where to look for the +intelligence that will be of the most value to us.” +</p> +<p>“I think I do, sir.” +</p> +<p>“The fact that you have just made your way +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span> +through the Yankee lines shows that you possess +the necessary address.” +</p> +<p>“I thank you for your good opinion; and I assure +you, sir, that I should be very glad to serve +my country in any capacity in which she may require +my humble labors.” +</p> +<p>“Very well, young man.” +</p> +<p>“A plan occurs to me now, by which I could +easily enter the Yankee lines.” +</p> +<p>“Indeed! What is that?” +</p> +<p>“When I ran through the enemy’s pickets, they +fired upon me, and one of them chased me. I +brought him down with my pistol,” replied Somers, +producing the weapon, which he had taken the +precaution to bring with him. “I know just where +that Yankee lies now; I could borrow his uniform, +and go in among the enemy without suspicion.” +</p> +<p>“Very well arranged, young man.” +</p> +<p>The major then directed an orderly to attend to +the wants of the fugitive, and gave the latter +orders to report to him within two hours. Somers +washed his face, and partook of some cold bacon +and corn bread, which constituted the staple of the +rebel rations. He then told the orderly that he +wanted to look round a little, and find his regiment, +if he could; but was informed that the camp +regulations did not permit any strolling about the +camps. He suggested that the officer of the day +would give him a pass, and he returned to the +major to beg this favor. It was readily granted; +and the time for him to report was extended to +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_96' name='page_96'></a>96</span> +four hours, as his regiment was situated at some +distance from the brigade camp, though it belonged +to the same division. +</p> +<p>Thus provided, Somers commenced his tour of +observation. Of course, he had no intention of +visiting the Fourth Alabama; for that would have +been putting his head into the lion’s mouth. We +need only say, that he used his time to the best +advantage for the country in whose service he had +enlisted. He noted the brigades, regiments, and +batteries of artillery, which he saw in his walk; +and arranged a little scheme in his mind, by which +he could remember the number of each. +</p> +<p>In the course of his perambulations, he reached +the Williamsburg road, and was on the point of +extending his observations in the direction of the +railroad, when he was stopped by a sentinel. He +produced his pass, which the rebel soldier could not +read; and he was conducted to the sergeant of the +guard, who was listening to a conversation between +a captain and an old man who appeared to be a +farmer. They were bargaining about some forage +which the captain wanted, and which the farmer +was not disposed to sell. +</p> +<p>“What have you there?” demanded the officer, +as the sentinel brought in the doubtful case. +</p> +<p>“Man with a pass.” +</p> +<p>“Your pass is good up to the Williamsburg +road, and no farther,” said the sergeant when he +had read the document. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span></p> +<p>“I didn’t know where the lines were,” replied +Somers, returning the pass to his pocket. +</p> +<p>“Where are you going?” asked the officer, apparently +not satisfied with the appearance of the +“man with a pass.” +</p> +<p>“Looking for my regiment, sir,” replied Somers, +giving the military salute; which excess of politeness, +however, was lost on the matter-of-fact +captain. +</p> +<p>“What regiment?” +</p> +<p>“The Fourth Alabama.” +</p> +<p>“The Fourth Alabama! What are you doing +over here, then?” +</p> +<p>“I am a stranger in these parts; and I don’t +know where to look. I have just escaped from the +Yankees, and don’t know much about this part of +the country.” +</p> +<p>“What is your name?” +</p> +<p>“Allan Garland, sir.” +</p> +<p>“What!” exclaimed the old farmer, suddenly +becoming interested in the conversation. +</p> +<p>“In my opinion, you are a deserter,” added the +officer in a crabbed tone. “I advise you to arrest +him, sergeant. That pass is good for nothing on +this road.” +</p> +<p>“No, captain, he is not a deserter,” interposed +the farmer with energy. “I know him well; and +he is as true and patriotic a young man as there is +in the Southern Confederacy.” +</p> +<p>Somers looked at the farmer with astonishment. +He did not remember to have seen him before; and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span> +he could not account for the interest he manifested +in his case. +</p> +<p>“What do you know of him, Mr. Raynes?” +</p> +<p>Mr. Raynes! That explained the matter; and +Somers could not help shuddering in the presence +of the man whose son he had buried in the soft mud +of the bog. +</p> +<p>“He is my son’s friend,” replied the farmer. +“Both of them belong to the Fourth Alabama.” +</p> +<p>“That may be, Mr. Raynes; but do you suppose +a man looking for the Fourth Alabama would be +wandering about here?” +</p> +<p>“He is a stranger in Virginia. He came on +from Alabama only a few weeks since, and was +captured while out on a scouting expedition. I +assure you, captain, it is all right; I will vouch +for him.” +</p> +<p>“Very well, Mr. Raynes! If the sergeant is +willing to take your word for it, I have nothing further +to say. Indeed, it is no business of mine; +but our soldiers are allowed to walk over to the +enemy, or back into the woods, without let or +hindrance. It’s a disgrace to the service. Major +Platner gives this man a pass to go all over the +country. Do as you please, sergeant.” +</p> +<p>“I mean to,” replied the sergeant in an undertone; +for he was not pleased at this interference +on the part of a commissary of subsistence, who +had nothing whatever to do with the affair. “I +am satisfied,” he added aloud. +</p> +<p>“Allan, I am very glad to see you; and I thank +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span> +God that you have been enabled to escape from the +Yankees. Have you seen Owen since you got +back?” +</p> +<p>Somers trembled at the question; and, while he +did not dare to tell the old man the truth, the +thought of telling him a falsehood was utterly repulsive +to his nature. It was easy enough to deceive +the enemy in war—his duty called upon him +to do this; but to deceive an old, fond father, in +regard to a true and devoted son, seemed terrible +to him. +</p> +<p>“He was out on picket when I came through,” +he replied after some hesitation. +</p> +<p>“Then you did not meet him. He will be delighted +to see you again; for really the boy is as +fond of you as he is of his sister.” +</p> +<p>Somers found himself unable to answer to the +warm congratulations of the old man, or to enter +into the spirit of the conversation. The staring, +death-sealed eyes of Owen Raynes haunted him; +and, when he attempted to reciprocate the friendly +sentiments of the doting father, his heart seemed +to rise up in his throat, and choke his utterance. +The only consolation he could derive from the remembrance +of the scene in the woods was in the +fact that he had not taken the life of Owen Raynes +himself. He wore his clothes, and had his diary +and letters in his pocket. +</p> +<p>“You are very sad, Allan! I should think you +would be happy to escape from the Yankees. They +would have starved you to death in time.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_100' name='page_100'></a>100</span></p> +<p>“I think not, sir! They are not so cruel as +that,” added Somers, who desired to remove such +a reproach from the mind of the old man. +</p> +<p>“Perhaps they would not willingly starve their +prisoners; but I don’t see how they could avoid it. +They say that the people of the North are suffering +terribly for the want of food. In New York, the +laboring classes have attacked the banks and the +flour-stores, urged on by hunger. There will be +terrible times in the North before many months +have gone by. I pity the people there, though it is +their own fault. I hope God will be merciful to +them, and spare them from some of the consequences +of their own folly. I am thankful that +you have escaped from them.” +</p> +<p>“I don’t think they are quite so badly off as you +say,” answered Somers, provoked by this view of +the condition and resources of the North. “I have +talked with a great many Yankee soldiers, and +they say that plenty abounds in all the Northern +States.” +</p> +<p>“They would tell you so. They are deceived by +their officers.” +</p> +<p>“That’s the way it is done,” added the rebel +sergeant, who had been listening to the conversation. +</p> +<p>“But I saw what rations these soldiers have. +They live like lords.” +</p> +<p>“That’s the very thing which will starve all the +people in the North. Their big armies will eat +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span> +them out of house and home in a few months, +Allan.” +</p> +<p>“I think not, Mr. Raynes.” +</p> +<p>“A gentleman from New York, who got +through the lines last week, says the grass is a foot +high in some of the streets of New York. The +people can’t find anything to do, and are cursing +their rulers for plunging them into this horrid +war.” +</p> +<p>“I think the gentleman from New York lied,” +replied Somers with a smile. “I saw the New +York papers every day while I was in the Yankee +lines; and they are full of advertisements, which +look like business. Why, in one paper I saw four +columns of ‘Wants,’ in which people advertised for +farm-laborers, house-servants, clerks and sailors.” +</p> +<p>“Ah! Allan, those papers are printed to sell in +the Yankee army. I’m sure I hope they are not so +badly off as has been represented. I should not +want my worst enemy to suffer what they are +called upon to endure. It is all their own fault; +but I hope God will be merciful to them.” +</p> +<p>“I think you needn’t feel bad about them,” +added Somers, amused, but indignant at the pitiful +stories which were circulated in the South to +keep up the courage of the people. +</p> +<p>“Let that pass, then. Really, Allan, I am very +glad to see you. You must go to the house with +me. Sue will be delighted to meet you. She talks +about you a great deal; and I can insure you a +warm welcome.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span></p> +<p>“I think I cannot stop to call now; but I will +try to come over in a few days,” replied Somers, +embarrassed beyond measure at the idea of facing +Sue and the rest of the family. +</p> +<p>“Not stop!” exclaimed Mr. Raynes, holding up +his hands with surprise. +</p> +<p>“Not now, sir; I am in no condition to appear +before ladies,” he added, extending his arms so as +to display his tattered garments to the fullest advantage. +“You know a young man is rather particular +about his appearance when he is going into +the company of ladies, and especially into the presence +of <i>some</i> ladies. The fact is, I tore my uniform +all to pieces after I passed through the +Yankee lines.” +</p> +<p>“Never mind your uniform, my boy. It looks +as though it had seen service; and that is the best +recommendation a young man can have to the girls +in these times. You must go, Allan.” +</p> +<p>“Indeed, sir, I hope you will excuse me for a +few days,” pleaded Somers. +</p> +<p>“Come, Allan! this is not kind of you. Sue has +been dying to see you for a year. She was terribly +disappointed when you did not come up with your +regiment, and again when she heard you had joined +without calling upon us. If it had been Owen, she +could not have felt worse when you were captured. +Now you want to disappoint her again.” +</p> +<p>“You need not mention that you have seen me, +Mr. Raynes,” suggested Somers. +</p> +<p>“Not tell her that you have escaped, when she +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span> +is fretting about you every day of her life! That +would be too bad.” +</p> +<p>“You can tell her as much as you please without +informing her that you have seen me.” +</p> +<p>“I could not tell a lie, Allan. It would choke +me,” said the old man solemnly. “You must go +with me.” +</p> +<p>“Let me get another uniform, and it would surprise +her when I come.” +</p> +<p>“No more words, young man. You must go. It +is only a short distance,” replied Mr. Raynes, passing +his arm through that of Somers, and walking +towards his house. “It will be the happiest day +for Sue which she has seen for a year.” +</p> +<p>“Happier for her than it will be for me,” +thought Somers, who was disposed to break away +from the old man, and make his escape. +</p> +<p>By this time, Sue had become an awful bugbear +to the poor fellow. In these days of photographs, +it is more than probable that she had a picture of +the original Allan Garland, and the cheat would be +discovered the moment he showed his face. He +was deliberating a plan for breaking away from +his persistent friend, when a young lady of eighteen +stepped out from the bushes by the roadside, +and hailed the old man. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> +<h3>THE VIRGINIA MAIDEN</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Where have you been, father?” said the +young lady in a very sweet and gentle tone, which, +however, sounded like the knell of doom to poor +Somers. “I have been waiting for you half an +hour.” +</p> +<p>But then, perceiving a stranger with her father, +she drew back, abashed at her own forwardness. +</p> +<p>“Come here, Sue,” said the old man. “Come +here; I want to see you.” +</p> +<p>She advanced timidly from the bushes where +she had been partially concealed from the gaze of +the passers-by. She was certainly a very pleasant +and comely-looking maiden; but, if she had been +the “Witch of Endor,” she could not have been +any more disagreeable to Somers. He was as +fond of adventure as any young man; and if he +could have forgotten that poor Owen Raynes, the +son and the brother, was at that moment lying in +the mud of the swamp; his manly form no more to +gladden the hearts of those who stood before him; +his voice hushed in death, no more to utter the +accents of affection to the devoted father and his +loving sister—if he could have forgotten his relations +with the dead Owen, he might even have +enjoyed the exciting situation in which he was +placed. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span></p> +<p>Sue, with a blushing face and half-averted gaze, +stepped out into the road, and stole a few timid +glances at the young lieutenant. It was quite +evident that she did not have a suspicion of the +identity of the young soldier before her. Her +father appeared to have a vein of romance in his +character, and was disposed to torture her for a +time with the torments of suspense, before he declared +to her the astounding truth, that the young +soldier was her well-known but hitherto unseen +friend from Alabama, the bosom companion of her +brother Owen, and, if everything worked as the +loving conspirators intended, the future husband +of the affectionate maiden. +</p> +<p>She did not like to ask who the stranger was; +and she thought it was very provoking of her +father not to tell her, when she was so fearfully +embarrassed by her position. She continued to +blush; and Somers felt so awkward, that he +couldn’t help joining her in this interesting display +of roses on the cheeks. +</p> +<p>“Don’t you know him, Sue?” demanded the +farmer, when he had tantalized her as long as the +circumstances would warrant. +</p> +<p>“Why, of course I don’t, father!” stammered +the Virginia maiden. +</p> +<p>“Look in his face, and see if you can’t tell,” persisted +Mr. Raynes. +</p> +<p>“How absurd, father!” +</p> +<p>“Absurd, child? Not at all absurd! Haven’t +you his picture in the house? And, if I mistake +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_106' name='page_106'></a>106</span> +not, you have looked at it as many as three times a +day for the last year.” +</p> +<p>“Now, father, you are too bad! I haven’t done +anything of the sort,” protested Sue, pouting and +twisting her shoulders as any country girl, who +had not been trained in a satinwood seminary, +would have done under such trying circumstances. +“You don’t mean to say that is Allan Garland?” +added she, her pretty face lighting up with an expression +of intense satisfaction. +</p> +<p>“But I do, Sue,” replied Mr. Raynes with emphasis. +</p> +<p>“Why, Allan! I am so glad to see you! I was +afraid I should never see you!” exclaimed Sue, +rushing up to the young man, and extending both +her hands, which he felt compelled to accept. +</p> +<p>He was fearful that she would kiss him; and, +though he would have been under obligations to +submit to the infliction, he was not sure that the +operation would not cause him to faint. Fortunately +for him, Sue was reasonable in her behavior; +and he escaped cheaper than he expected, when he +beheld the impetuous charge which the maiden +made upon him. If he had really been Allan Garland, +his reception would have been entirely proper, +and highly creditable to the affectionate nature of +the Virginia damsel. He was not the young gentleman +from Alabama; and he felt as though he had +been flanked on both sides, with no chance to beat +off the enemy in front, or to run away in the rear. +He was only a short distance from a line of rebel +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span> +sentinels, and he did not consider it prudent to +escape by taking to his legs. He did not wear his +fighting socks at this time, and felt that it would +be no disgrace to run away from such an enemy as +that which confronted him. +</p> +<p>“I am very glad to see you, Allan,” repeated +Sue, as the wretched young man did not venture +to use his tongue. +</p> +<p>“Thank you, thank you, Miss Raynes!” said he +at last, when silence seemed even more dangerous +than speech. +</p> +<p>“Miss Raynes! Dear me, Allan, how very formal +and precise you are! You called me Sue in +your letters.” +</p> +<p>“Did I? Well, I didn’t know it,” replied +Somers with a stroke of candor not to be expected +under the circumstances. +</p> +<p>“Certainly you did. I don’t think you ever mentioned +such a person as Miss Raynes.” +</p> +<p>“I am confident I didn’t,” added he with another +touch of candor. “But I will always call you Sue +hereafter, when I have occasion to speak to you.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you, Allan! You begin to sound a little +like yourself.” +</p> +<p>Somers was very glad to hear it, but wished he +had been five miles off, even if it had been in the +very jaws of the Fourth Alabama. +</p> +<p>“You don’t look a bit like your photograph,” +continued Sue, gazing with admiration at the face +of the young man; for which those who ever saw +Lieutenant Somers will cheerfully pardon her. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span></p> +<p>“Do you think so?” +</p> +<p>“I’m sure you don’t.” +</p> +<p>“That’s very strange. Everybody who has seen +my photograph says it looks exactly like me.” +</p> +<p>“I don’t think so.” +</p> +<p>“I gave one to a young lady of my acquaintance, +who said it was perfect.” +</p> +<p>“Indeed! Who was she?” +</p> +<p>“She is a young lady whom I have met only two +or three times.” +</p> +<p>“What is her name?” +</p> +<p>“Lilian Ashford.” +</p> +<p>“What a pretty name!” said Sue, endeavoring +to be magnanimous; though it was evident that she +was troubled by the honest avowal of the young +soldier. +</p> +<p>“Where does she live?” +</p> +<p>“She is at the North, now,” answered Somers, +who could not bear to tell a lie when there was no +need of such a sacrifice. +</p> +<p>He was becoming very uneasy under this rigid +catechizing, and hoped she would not ask any more +questions about Lilian Ashford. He had mentioned +her name with the hope that it might produce +a coldness on her part which would afford +him some advantage. She did not, however, seem +to be annihilated by the prospect of a rival, and +was proceeding to interrogate him still further in +regard to the lady, with whom he was apparently +intimate enough to present her his photograph, +when Mr. Raynes reminded her that they were +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span> +standing in the road, and had better go into the +house. +</p> +<p>“Now, Mr. Raynes, as I have seen Sue, and Sue +has seen me, I think I had better hasten to my +regiment,” suggested Somers. +</p> +<p>“Not yet, Allan,” replied the old man. +</p> +<p>“Do you wish to run away, and leave me so +soon, you monster?” added Sue. “I tell you, sir, +I shall not let you go yet.” +</p> +<p>“But, Sue! you forget that I have just returned +from the Yankees. I was furnished with a pass, +to enable me to find my regiment.” +</p> +<p>“You shall find it in good time.” +</p> +<p>“Come to the house, Allan: we will not detain +you long,” added Mr. Raynes. +</p> +<p>“You must and shall come!” protested Sue, +taking him by the arm, and absolutely compelling +him to go, or be guilty of the most unpardonable +rudeness to the fair Virginia damsel. +</p> +<p>“I should be very glad to go with you, Sue, if +my duty did not call me elsewhere. I am to be +sent off on very important service.” +</p> +<p>“Again?—so soon?” +</p> +<p>“This very day. I may never see you again.” +</p> +<p>“And you would coolly run away and leave me +without even going into the house!” +</p> +<p>“But my duty, Sue!” +</p> +<p>“You will be in time for your duty.” +</p> +<p>“I may be arrested as a deserter.” +</p> +<p>“Nonsense! You have a pass in your pocket.” +</p> +<p>“In spite of the pass, if your father had not +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span> +happened to see me, I should have been arrested, +and might have spent a day or two in the guardhouse +before the case could have been explained.” +</p> +<p>“No more argument, Allan,” said the persevering +girl. “Here is the house; you shall go in and +look at mother, if you don’t stop but a minute. +Besides, I want to see your photograph while you +are present; for I am sure you don’t look any more +like the picture than the picture does like you.” +</p> +<p>“Probably not,” replied Somers, as the resolute +maiden dragged him into the house; where, without +stopping to breathe, she presented him to her +mother, with the astounding declaration, that he +was Allan Garland. +</p> +<p>Mrs. Raynes gave him a cordial Virginia welcome; +and, while he was endeavoring to make +himself as agreeable as possible to the old lady, +Sue rushed up-stairs to procure the faithless photograph. +She returned in a moment with the picture +in her hand, and proceeded at once to institute +a comparison between the shadow and the +substance. +</p> +<p>“Now, stand up here, sir, and let me see,” said +she, as she playfully whisked him round and scrutinized +his features. “I told you it did not look +like you; and I am very sure now that it does not.” +</p> +<p>“Let me see,” added Somers, extending his hand +for the picture. +</p> +<p>“Will you promise to give it back to me?” +</p> +<p>“Certainly I will! You don’t imagine I would +be so mean as to confiscate it?” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span></p> +<p>“I should not care much if you did, now that +I have found out it does not look any more like +you than it does like me,” she answered, handing +him the photograph. +</p> +<p>“Where did you get this picture, Sue?” +</p> +<p>“Where did I get it? Well, that is cool! Didn’t +you send it to me yourself?” And Sue began to +exhibit some symptoms of amazement. +</p> +<p>“I am very sure I never sent you this picture,” +added Somers gravely. +</p> +<p>“You did not?” +</p> +<p>“Never.” +</p> +<p>“Why, Allan Garland!” +</p> +<p>“This is not my picture.” +</p> +<p>“I shouldn’t think it was.” +</p> +<p>Thereupon Mr. Raynes began to laugh in the +most immoderate manner; opening his mouth wide +enough to take in a very small load of hay, and +shaking his sides in the most extraordinary style. +</p> +<p>“What are you laughing at, pa?” demanded +Sue, blushing up to the eyes, as though she already +felt the force of some keenly satirical remark +which was struggling for expression in the mouth +of the farmer. +</p> +<p>“To think you have been looking at that picture +three times a day for a year, studying, gazing +at it; kissing it, for aught I know; and then to +find out that it is not Allan after all!” roared the +Virginia farmer between the outbreaks of his +mirth. “I haven’t done anything but groan since +the war began, and it does me good to laugh. I +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span> +haven’t had a jolly time before since the battle of +Bull Run, as the Yankees call it.” +</p> +<p>“You are the most absurd pa in Virginia. I +didn’t look at it three times a day, I never studied +it, and I’m sure I never kissed it. No wonder Allan +wants to get away, when he finds what an absurd +girl you make me out to be. You think I’m +a fool, don’t you, Allan?” +</p> +<p>“I do not, by any means. I’m sure, if I had your +picture, I shouldn’t have been ashamed to look at +it three times a day,” replied Somers, gallantly +coming to the rescue of the maiden. “But, really, +my Virginia patriarch,” he added, using an expression +which he had found in the correspondence in +his pocket, “I must tear myself away.” +</p> +<p>“You seem to be glad enough to go,” pouted +Sue. +</p> +<p>“Sorry to go, but compelled by the duty I owe +my country to leave you.” +</p> +<p>“When will you come again?” +</p> +<p>“Of course, that question I cannot answer. I +may never see you again. This is a terrible war, +and we cannot tell what a day may bring forth,” +replied Somers solemnly; and the thought was all +the more solemn when he thought of the cold +corpse of the son and brother concealed in the mire +of the swamp. +</p> +<p>He had seen the old man laugh as none but a +happy man can; and he could not help feeling what +a terrible revulsion a few words from him might +cause. He had watched the playful manner of +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span> +Sue, and had joined in the gay raillery of the moment. +A word from him would crush her spirit, +and bow that loving mother to the ground. The +scene had not been one of his own choosing; and +he would gladly escape the necessity of dissembling +before those affectionate hearts. +</p> +<p>“We are on the eve of a terrible battle,” added +the old man very gravely. “Hundreds of our poor +boys went down yesterday, never to rise again. +We tremble when we think of you in the field. I +may never see my son again; for the issue of the +war may depend on the battles of the next few +days.” +</p> +<p>“What do you mean?” +</p> +<p>Mr. Raynes seemed to know more than he had +dared to speak; and Somers was full of interest. +</p> +<p>“The Yankees, who expect to go into Richmond, +will be driven down the Peninsula, where they +came up, like flying sheep, within a week. I have +heard a few words, which satisfies me that great +events are coming.” +</p> +<p>Though it was not supposable that the people +in the vicinity of Richmond knew the plans of +General Lee, from what he had seen, and from +what he had heard from men in power, he had +formed a very correct idea of the intended operations +of the rebel chief; and he stated his views +very clearly to Somers. While he was listening +to the old man’s theory, Mrs. Raynes had spread +her table, and placed upon it such food as was +available for a hasty lunch. She insisted that he +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span> +should partake; and, while he enjoyed the welcome +refreshment, Mr. Raynes told him everything +about the movements of the Confederate army in +the vicinity, with full particulars of the battle of +the preceding day. While the scout was thus answering +the ends of his mission, he was in no hurry +to depart. +</p> +<p>General McClellan’s “change of base” was not +suspected by the rebels at this time. It was their +purpose to flank the Union army on the right and +left, and destroy it effectually. The dispositions +had been made for this purpose; and, as Mr. +Raynes was a man of influence and intelligence, +his information was as reliable as could be deduced +from the preliminary movements of the rebel army. +He was confident of success. The execution of the +plan had already been commenced, and the right +of the Union line was in the act of falling back. +</p> +<p>He expatiated upon the perils of the campaign, +and the terrible fighting which was to be expected; +and manifested the utmost solicitude for the safety +of his son, and hardly less for his guest. +</p> +<p>Somers prolonged his repast, that the old man +might leave nothing unsaid that would be important +for the Union generals to know. Sue occasionally +joined in the conversation; but she was quite +serious now, as she contemplated the perils to +which her brother and her friend from Alabama +must be subjected. +</p> +<p>“Do you know where General Jackson is now?” +asked Somers. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span></p> +<p>“I don’t know exactly where he is; but I know +what part he has to play in the great drama. The +last we heard of him was, that he was watching +McDowell, near Fredericksburg. If McDowell +keeps quiet, Jackson will rush down on the left +flank of the Yankees, and cut off their retreat.” +</p> +<p>“Are you sure?” +</p> +<p>“I am very sure. I can tell you why.” +</p> +<p>Before he had time to tell him why, a knock at +the door disturbed the conference; and a young +man, in a tattered rebel uniform, was ushered into +the room. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> +<h3>THE DIGNIFIED YOUNG REBEL</h3> +</div> + +<p>Lieutenant Somers, who had been very nervous +and uneasy before, was exceedingly annoyed +by the appearance of another actor on the stage. +He had become in some slight degree familiarized +with the awkwardness of his situation; for the fact, +that no suspicion had yet been cast upon his +identity, was encouraging, and he began to have +some confidence in his position, open as it was to an +assault from any direction. The advent of the +tattered stranger was a new cause for alarm, and +he at once became very anxious to beat a retreat. +</p> +<p>There is no night without some ray of light to +gladden it. His first impression was that the visitor +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_116' name='page_116'></a>116</span> +belonged to the Fourth Alabama, and would +readily recognize him as an impostor; but he was +in a measure relieved to find that none of the +family gave the soldier more than a friendly greeting, +which proved him to be a stranger to them as +well as to himself. Yet he might belong to the +Fourth Alabama; and then it occurred to him that +the man had come to inform Mr. Raynes of the +death of his son while on picket duty. +</p> +<p>In the brief period which elapsed between the +advent of the stranger, and the statement of the +object of his visit, Somers was disturbed by a dozen +fearful theories; all of which seemed to end in a +rebel prison at Richmond, and even in a rebel gallows—the +fate of the spy. The minutes were +fearfully long; and, before the momentous question +of the object of the stranger’s visit could be introduced, +he decided to make an abrupt retreat. +</p> +<p>“Well, Mr. Raynes,” said he, approaching the +old man as he put on his cap, “I have already run +a great risk in stopping here so long; and, with +many thanks to you for your kindness and for your +generous hospitality, I must take my departure.” +</p> +<p>“I suppose we cannot keep you any longer, Allan; +but you must promise to call again at the first +convenient opportunity.” +</p> +<p>“I promise you that I will the first time I can +safely do so,” responded Somers warmly, and with +the fullest intention of redeeming his promise. +“Good-by, sir!” +</p> +<p>“Good-by, my dear boy! May you be spared in +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_117' name='page_117'></a>117</span> +the hour when the strong men bite the dust!” said +Mr. Raynes solemnly, as he gave his hand to +Somers. +</p> +<p>“Good-by, Sue!” added the young lieutenant, +taking the hand of the Virginia damsel. +</p> +<p>“Adieu, my brave soldier-boy!” she replied. +</p> +<p>“You are a soldier, I see,” said the stranger, as +Somers approached him on his way out of the +house. +</p> +<p>“Yes, sir,” answered the latter nervously; for +he would gladly have escaped any communication +with the newcomer. +</p> +<p>“What regiment do you belong to?” persisted +the dilapidated soldier. +</p> +<p>What business was that to him? Why should +he trouble himself about other people’s affairs? +It sounded like a very impertinent question to the +excited lieutenant, and he was tempted to inform +the busy-body that it was none of his business; +but, as he had already earned a good character for +civility with the interesting family in whose presence +he still stood, his bump of approbation would +not permit him to forfeit their esteem by so inconsiderate +a reply. +</p> +<p>“Good-by, all!” said he with energy, turning +away from the rebel soldier, and moving towards +the door. +</p> +<p>“What regiment did you say you belonged to?” +demanded the persistent rebel. +</p> +<p>“I didn’t say,” replied Somers, not in the most +gentle tones. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_118' name='page_118'></a>118</span></p> +<p>“Will you oblige me by telling me to what regiment +you belong?” added the rebel. +</p> +<p>“I think I will not,” continued Somers, more +and more displeased with the persistence of the +other. “I came very near being arrested as a deserter +just now, though I have a pass in my pocket; +and I don’t care about exposing myself to any further +annoyance by my own indiscretion.” +</p> +<p>“I assure you I am a friend, and I would not +betray you if I knew you were a deserter,” said the +stranger in very civil tones. +</p> +<p>Thus appealed to, and perceiving that he was +not gaining in the estimation of Mr. Raynes by +his reticence, he decided that he could not make +the matter much worse by answering the question. +</p> +<p>“To the Fourth Alabama,” he replied desperately; +“but you must excuse me; for I am in a tremendous +hurry.” +</p> +<p>“The Fourth Alabama! I thought so,” exclaimed +the stranger with a pleasant smile, as +though the information was particularly agreeable +to him. “I belong to the Fourth Alabama +myself.” +</p> +<p>“Do you, indeed?” added Somers with the most +intense disquiet, wishing all the time that the soldier +had been in Alabama, or anywhere but in the +house of Mr. Raynes. +</p> +<p>“Can you tell me where the regiment is?” +</p> +<p>“I cannot. I have been looking for it myself +for the last two hours. As I can be of no assistance +to you, you will excuse me if I leave you.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_119' name='page_119'></a>119</span></p> +<p>“Not so fast, comrade; I will go with you. I +have some directions which I think will enable us +to find the regiment; and, if you please, I will bear +you company.” +</p> +<p>Somers did not please; but he could hardly refuse +the offer without exciting the suspicion of the +family, which he felt might be fatal to him. It +would be better to depart with the member of the +Fourth Alabama, and part company with him by +force of stratagem when they had left the house. +</p> +<p>“I won’t keep you waiting but a minute. I +called here to see my friends; but none of them +seem to know me. You are Mr. Raynes, I presume?” +continued the soldier, addressing the old +man. +</p> +<p>“I am; but I don’t remember to have ever seen +you before,” replied the farmer. +</p> +<p>“You never did, sir; but I will venture to say +that my name is well known in this house,” added +the soldier with a mysterious smile, which caused +Somers to dread some new development that would +compromise him. +</p> +<p>“Ah!” said Mr. Raynes, ever ready to welcome +any one who had the slightest claim upon his hospitality. +</p> +<p>“I am well acquainted with your son, Owen; +I suppose I shall not be disputed here, when I say +that he is the best fellow in the world. Don’t you +know me now?” demanded the tantalizing rebel, +who appeared to be very anxious to have his +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_120' name='page_120'></a>120</span> +identity made out in the natural way, and without +any troublesome explanations. +</p> +<p>“Really, I do not,” answered Mr. Raynes, much +perplexed by the confident manner of the visitor. +</p> +<p>“This is Sue, I suppose?” pursued the soldier, +advancing to the maiden, and extending his dirty +hand; which, however, was not much dirtier than +that which she had so eagerly grasped before. +“Don’t you know who I am, Sue?” +</p> +<p>“I do not, sir,” she replied rather coldly. +</p> +<p>“When I tell you that I belong to the Fourth +Alabama, don’t you know me?” +</p> +<p>“I do not, sir.” +</p> +<p>“And when I tell you that I am the intimate +friend of your brother Owen?” +</p> +<p>Allan Garland stood by the door; and, of course, +it was not he; therefore she could not, by any possibility, +conceive who he was; and she said so, in +terms as explicit as the occasion required. +</p> +<p>“I live in Union, Alabama, when I am at home. +Don’t you know me <i>now</i>, Sue?” persisted the perplexed +visitor, who, perhaps, began to think he had +entered the wrong house. +</p> +<p>If the veritable Allan Garland, however little +his photograph resembled him, had not stood by +the door, she would have been rejoiced to see him, +and to recognize in him her unknown friend and +correspondent. As it was, she did not know him; +and she was candid enough to express her conviction +without reserve, in spite of the disagreeable +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_121' name='page_121'></a>121</span> +effect which her want of perception seemed to produce +upon the mind of the stranger. +</p> +<p>“This is very strange,” said the soldier, taking +off his cap, and rubbing his head to quicken his +faculties, which seemed to have led him into some +unaccountable blunder. “Will you be kind enough +to inform me who lives in this house?” +</p> +<p>“Mr. Raynes,” replied Sue, quite as much mystified +as the stranger seemed to be. +</p> +<p>“There is some mistake; but I can’t make out +what it is,” said the stranger. +</p> +<p>“I cannot wait any longer,” said Somers, who +had been riveted to the spot by the astounding +revelation to which he had just listened. +</p> +<p>He had been almost paralyzed by the words of +the rebel, in whom he promptly recognized the +young man whose name and antecedents he had +borrowed for the present occasion. His first impression +was to take to his heels, and to run away; +but a certain worldly prudence prevented him from +adopting this doubtful policy. If you attempt to +run away from an angry dog, he will certainly bite +you; whereas, by facing him boldly, you may escape +all injury. This fact, which Somers had fully exemplified +in his own experience before he left +Pinchbrook, was the foundation of his action. Seeing +that the stranger was perplexed and annoyed +by the failure of the family to recognize him, even +after he had told them everything except his name, +he decided that he might safely retire under the +plea of haste. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_122' name='page_122'></a>122</span></p> +<p>“I beg your pardon, sir, for this intrusion,” said +the soldier, blushing with mortification as he retreated +a pace towards the door. “You will excuse +me, Miss Raynes, for my unwarrantable +familiarity; but I have made a blunder, or you +have,” he added rather bitterly. “Perhaps, when +Owen comes to introduce me, you will know me +better.” +</p> +<p>“Owen’s friends are my friends, young man; +and you are as welcome as my son would be, whoever +you are.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you, sir; but, with many regrets for this +intrusion, I will take my leave.” +</p> +<p>“No, no, my young friend,” interposed the old +man. “You must not leave us in this manner. It +is true, we do not recognize you; but you are none +the less welcome on that account.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you kindly, sir. I have deceived myself +into the belief that I was better known here +than I find I am. It was weak in me to thrust +myself across your threshold without an introduction; +and, if you will pardon me, I will leave you, +with the promise to come again with Owen.” +</p> +<p>“Not yet, sir; at least, not till you have told +us who you are.” +</p> +<p>“Excuse me; but I must go now,” replied the +young rebel with an exhibition of gentle dignity, +which quite won the heart of Somers, as it did that +of the family. +</p> +<p>“Pray, give me your name, sir,” interposed Sue, +whose woman’s curiosity could no longer endure +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_123' name='page_123'></a>123</span> +the silence which maidenly reserve had imposed +upon her, especially as the stranger proposed to +depart without solving the mystery. +</p> +<p>“You’ll excuse me, Miss Raynes, if I decline for +the present. My comrade is in a desperate hurry, +and it is not reasonable for me to detain him any +longer.” +</p> +<p>“But, young man, you wrong me, you wrong +my daughter, and above all, you wrong my son, +who is your friend, by leaving in this manner,” +said Mr. Raynes earnestly. “You actually charge +us with a want of hospitality by this abrupt withdrawal.” +</p> +<p>“You will pardon me, sir, for saying it; but +after the description I have given of myself, if you +do not know me, I am compelled to believe that +it is because you do not wish to know me.” +</p> +<p>“That is very unjust, and we do not comprehend +the force of the remark.” +</p> +<p>“Why, sir, I have written to you, and to your +daughter, and your daughter has written to me; +and now you seem never to have heard of me. I +have told you that I reside in Union, Alabama; +and that I am a friend of Owen.” +</p> +<p>“We know a young man from that town very +well, though we never saw him. His name is Allan +Garland; but it is impossible that you should +be the person.” +</p> +<p>“I must go, comrade,” said Somers desperately, +as he rushed out of the door. +</p> +<p>“Wait a moment!” exclaimed Mr. Raynes, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_124' name='page_124'></a>124</span> +grasping him by the arm; for the old farmer +seemed to think his presence was necessary to the +perfect unraveling of the mystery. “It seems to +me you ought to know this young man, if none of +us do.” +</p> +<p>“I do not, Mr. Raynes; never saw him before in +my life,” protested Somers, feeling very much like +a condemned criminal. +</p> +<p>“My name is Allan Garland,” quietly continued +the dignified young rebel. “I am, undoubtedly, +the person to whom you allude.” +</p> +<p>“Impossible!” exclaimed Mr. Raynes, still holding +Somers’s arm with the grasp of a vise. +</p> +<p>“Impossible!” almost shouted the fair Sue, more +excited than she would have been, if, through +patient reading, she had arrived at the last chapter +of a sensational novel, where the pin is pulled out +and all the villains tumble down to perdition and +all the angels stumble upon their apotheosis. +</p> +<p>“Impossible!” chimed in Mrs. Raynes, who had +preserved a most remarkable silence, for a woman, +during the exciting incidents we have transcribed. +</p> +<p>“May I be allowed to inquire why you think +it is impossible?” calmly demanded the gentle +rebel, who, in his turn, was amazed at the singular +course of events. +</p> +<p>Sue did not know what else to do; so she sat +down in a chair, and laughed with hysterical +vehemence at the strange aspect of the affair. The +old man opened his eyes, and opened his mouth; +but he did not forget to hold on with all his might +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_125' name='page_125'></a>125</span> +to the arm of the unfortunate lieutenant, who was +just then picturing to himself the interior of a +rebel dungeon; which view suddenly dissolved into +an indistinct representation of a tree, from a stout +limb of which was suspended a rope, hanging down +over a cart—these latter appurtenances being +symbolical of the usual rebel method of hanging a +spy. +</p> +<p>The affair, which had been growing desperate +for some time, had now actually become so to poor +Somers. He placed his hand upon his revolver, +in the breast-pocket of his coat; but some prudential +considerations interposed to prevent him from +using it. The house was on a line of rebel sentinels. +Whole divisions of Confederate infantry, +artillery and cavalry, were encamped around him, +and any violent movement on his part would have +been sure to result in an ignominious disaster. +The doughty old farmer, who was not less than +six feet three in his stockinged feet, held on to him +as a drowning man clings to a floating spar. It +was not possible to get away without resorting to +violence; and if he offered any resistance to what, +just then, looked like manifest destiny, the rebel +soldier would become an ally of the farmer, and +the women could call in the sentinels, if nothing +more. +</p> +<p>“Really, Mr. Raynes, you are very unkind to +detain me, when I tell you that my leave has +nearly expired,” said Somers, when he had fully +measured the situation; which, however, was done +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_126' name='page_126'></a>126</span> +in a tithe of the time which we have taken to +transcribe it. +</p> +<p>“Young man, there is some <i>mistake</i>,” said Mr. +Raynes, placing a wicked emphasis on the word, +which went to the very core of the scout’s heart. +“This man says he is Allan Garland, and you say +you are Allan Garland. One of you is an impostor. +Neither of you shall go till we determine +which is the one. Sue, bring out your photograph +again.” +</p> +<p>“Oh, dear!” gasped Somers, as in a fit of momentary +despondency, he gave himself up for lost, +when the maiden went for the picture. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> +<h3>AN UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL</h3> +</div> + +<p>Miss Sue hastened to procure the photograph, +which she had placed in her mother’s room after +it had been fully discussed by herself and the supposed +original. At the same time, her father conducted +Somers into the room again; and, being +fully conscious of his desire to get away, he kept +a watchful eye upon him, though he removed his +grasp from the arm. The rebel soldier looked on +in utter amazement at the singular proceedings of +all the party, and seemed utterly unable to comprehend +the meaning of them. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_127' name='page_127'></a>127</span></p> +<p>“Here is the picture,” said Sue, returning with +the photograph in her hand; “but I don’t see that +it looks any more like you than it does like the +other gentleman;” and she proceeded to institute +a comparison between the new claimant and the +picture. +</p> +<p>Somers began to cherish a faint hope again, and +to be very grateful for the general truth, that +photographs do not always look like the originals. +This encouragement, slight as it was, gave our hero +a new inspiration, and in a measure restored his +impudence; which, under the pressure of circumstances, +had begun to give way. +</p> +<p>“I am sure it does not look at all like you,” continued +Sue, after she had patiently balanced all the +points of resemblance, and all the points of disagreement. +</p> +<p>“You should remember that the picture was +taken more than a year ago; and that I have been +an invalid for ten months of the time,” suggested +the rebel soldier. +</p> +<p>“That may be; but I am sure this picture could +never have been taken for you.” +</p> +<p>“Let me see it, if you please?” +</p> +<p>Sue handed him the card, and he glanced at it +with an expression of great curiosity. +</p> +<p>“Where did you get this picture?” demanded he. +</p> +<p>“It was sent to me by the original,” replied she. +</p> +<p>“This is not my picture.” +</p> +<p>“That is just what the other gentleman said; +and I am perfectly willing to believe both of you.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_128' name='page_128'></a>128</span></p> +<p>“But I sent you a picture of myself, though this +is not the one.” +</p> +<p>“Well, that is very singular.” +</p> +<p>“If you will remember, there were two in the +same letter; the other was a young man whom +Owen was acquainted with, and who desired something +to remember him by. He is in a Mississippi +regiment now.” +</p> +<p>“Dear me! what a blunder!” exclaimed Sue, +laughing heartily. “I am sure I took the best looking +of the two for Allan Garland’s.” +</p> +<p>“Perhaps that is not very complimentary to me; +but where is the other picture?” +</p> +<p>“I put it in Owen’s room. I told him what I +had done with the two pictures; but he has been +at home so little, that I suppose he never looked +at them. I will get the other.” +</p> +<p>“We are beginning to get a little light on the +subject,” said Mr. Raynes, when his daughter had +left the room. +</p> +<p>“And I think you will let a little light through +my body with a bullet-hole,” added Somers, whose +last hope was gone again, though his impudence +still remained. +</p> +<p>“Be patient, young man; we shall soon see the +mystery explained, and be able to inform you +whether you are Allan Garland or not.” +</p> +<p>“I am sorry to put you to so much trouble, Mr. +Raynes; but you will remember that I was very +much opposed to coming into your house at all; +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_129' name='page_129'></a>129</span> +that I was literally dragged in by yourself and +your daughter.” +</p> +<p>“And you will also remember that I saved you +from arrest, when you gave your name as Allan +Garland, of the Fourth Alabama. I think I have +imparted to you some very valuable information; +and I intend to see what use is to be made of it, +before I take my eyes off you.” +</p> +<p>“You are very affectionate, Mr. Raynes; and, in +behalf of the great Southern Confederacy, I thank +you for the zeal and loyalty which you have displayed,” +replied Somers boldly; for it was plain +that nothing but the most brazen impudence could +save him. +</p> +<p>“You are a bold youth, and it is plain that you +have brilliant talents; I hope they have not been +abused.” +</p> +<p>“They have been, and will continue to be, used +in the service of my suffering country.” +</p> +<p>“I like you, and I hope everything is all right +about you; but I cannot see your object in coming +here under an assumed name.” +</p> +<p>“Then you have decided the case against me—have +you?” said Somers, glancing at the rival +Allan. +</p> +<p>“Perhaps I was a little too fast,” added the old +man, mortified to find that his character for strict +justice had been compromised by this hasty avowal. +</p> +<p>Sue was absent a long time; and it was clear +that the photograph had been mislaid. Somers +was in hopes she would not be able to find it; +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_130' name='page_130'></a>130</span> +though he had but a meager expectation of over-throwing +the claims of his rival to the name of +Allan Garland. It was a hot day, and the windows +of the house were all open. His legs seemed to +promise the only satisfactory solution of the problem; +and while he was considering the propriety of +jumping out through one of the open windows, and +trusting to them for safety, Sue returned with the +photograph. +</p> +<p>“This looks more like you than the other; and +more like you than it does like the other gentleman,” +said Sue. +</p> +<p>The rebel soldier took the card, and acknowledged +that it was his photograph; at the same time, +he was compelled to allow that it was but an indifferent +likeness of himself. His hard service in +the army had changed his appearance much. Sue +gazed at the picture, and at the original, and her +father did the same; but both of them were in +doubt. +</p> +<p>“There, sir! I have waited patiently for you +to end this farce,” said Somers, in deep disgust +apparently. “You have looked at the pictures, +and you are not satisfied yet. I can stand it no +longer; I am tired of the whole thing. You have +treated me very handsomely, and I am grateful to +you for your kindness to me; but I cannot and will +not remain any longer.” +</p> +<p>Somers spoke decidedly, and was fully resolved +to use his pistol, if occasion required. He was not +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_131' name='page_131'></a>131</span> +willing to remain for a decision to be made between +him and the other claimant. +</p> +<p>“I will go with you, brother Allan Garland,” +said the rebel soldier facetiously; “I think between +us we can readily decide which is the right man.” +</p> +<p>“I am ready.” +</p> +<p>“But we desire to be satisfied, especially in regard +to this young man, who was suspected of +being a deserter, and for whom I feel that I am +responsible,” said Mr. Raynes. +</p> +<p>“I can do nothing for you, sir,” replied Somers. +</p> +<p>“But I can do something for you; and I propose +to take you to the sergeant where I found you, and +let the military authorities decide,” continued the +old man, whose ire was roused, as he moved towards +the impudent young man. +</p> +<p>“I propose that you shall do nothing of the +kind,” answered Somers, drawing the pistol, and +cocking it for use. +</p> +<p>“Don’t, father, don’t!” exclaimed Sue, rushing +between Mr. Raynes and the active youth, pale +with terror. +</p> +<p>Somers would have been very unwilling to use +his weapon on the old man. He pitied him, and +could not help thinking of the terrible blow which +was in store for him when he should hear that his +only son had been killed. He hoped that something +would interpose to prevent any violence, and +he expected much from the gentle dignity of the +young rebel. +</p> +<p>“I am sorry that you compel me to draw this +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_132' name='page_132'></a>132</span> +pistol,” added Somers; “yet nothing but the duty +I owe to myself and my country would permit me +to use it upon those who have treated me so +kindly.” +</p> +<p>“I will be responsible for him,” said Allan Garland—the +real one; for there could be no doubt +that he was what he claimed. +</p> +<p>“You shall not go near him, father! He will +kill you!” cried Sue, terrified, as her father attempted +to push her aside, and advance upon the +armed young man. +</p> +<p>“Come! brother Allan,” said the soldier: “we +can best end this scene by leaving the house.” +</p> +<p>As they approached the door, a hand was placed +on the handle outside; but the old man had taken +the precaution to fasten it, in order to insure the +safety of his prisoner. A heavy knock succeeded. +</p> +<p>“Who is that?” gasped Sue, afraid that any +newcomer would only complicate the difficulties of +the moment, and that the bold youth would be +compelled to use his pistol. +</p> +<p>“Perhaps it is Owen,” replied the old man, a +little calmer than before. +</p> +<p>“I hope it is.” +</p> +<p>The words sent a shudder through the frame +of Somers, as he again thought of Owen Raynes, +cold and dead in his oozy grave in the swamp. +</p> +<p>“Open the door,” said a voice from without. +</p> +<p>Allan Garland drew the bolt, and threw the door +wide open. +</p> +<p>“Why, Allan, my dear fellow!” exclaimed a +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_133' name='page_133'></a>133</span> +young man who stood at the outside of the door +in his shirt sleeves, as he grasped both of the rebel +soldier’s hands, and proceeded to make a most +extravagant demonstration of rejoicing. “I am +glad to see you!” +</p> +<p>“Owen, my dear boy!” replied Allan Garland, +as he returned with equal warmth the salutation +of the newcomer. +</p> +<p>“Where did you come from, Allan? I had +given you up for lost?” +</p> +<p>“I escaped from the Yankees the next day after +I was taken, and have been beating about the +woods ever since.” +</p> +<p>Somers was thrown all aback by this arrival, +which was certainly the most remarkable one that +had taken place during the day. He couldn’t help +feeling very much like the hero of a sensational +novel; and realized the very original idea that +truth is stranger than fiction. He could not exactly +account for the presence of Owen Raynes, +whom he had satisfactorily buried in the swamp, +and whose clothes he had the honor to wear at that +moment. He did not believe in things supernatural, +and it never occurred to him that the form +before him might be the ghost of Owen. +</p> +<p>“I am glad you have come just as you did, +Owen,” said Mr. Raynes. +</p> +<p>“So am I; otherwise I might not have met Allan. +But who is this?” he added, glancing at +Somers. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_134' name='page_134'></a>134</span></p> +<p>“Your most obedient servant,” replied Somers, +trying to pass him in the narrow entry. +</p> +<p>“Stop, young man!” shouted the old man. +“Don’t let him go, Owen!” +</p> +<p>“Who is he?” +</p> +<p>“His name is Allan Garland, of Union, Alabama; +and he is a private in the Fourth Alabama,” +replied Allan with a smile, as Owen placed himself +between Somers and the door. +</p> +<p>“What!” +</p> +<p>Mr. Raynes, being the oldest man present, was +entitled to the position of spokesman; and he made +a very prolix statement of all the events which had +transpired since he first saw the pretended Allan +Garland. +</p> +<p>Owen Raynes was a very good-natured young +man, and the recital of the affair amused him exceedingly. +He did not fly into a passion, being a +very amiable and reasonable rebel; and seemed to +regard the whole thing as a stupendous joke. +</p> +<p>“Then your name is Allan Garland, is it?” demanded +he, with a broad laugh still playing on his +lips. +</p> +<p>“That is my name at present,” replied Somers. +</p> +<p>“But have you no other name?” +</p> +<p>“None worth mentioning.” +</p> +<p>“Good! To what regiment do you belong?” +</p> +<p>“To the Fourth Alabama, Colonel Jones; but +I have already told your respected father all the +facts relating to myself, and some relating to you.” +</p> +<p>“Say, is this a joke, a sell?” demanded Owen. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_135' name='page_135'></a>135</span></p> +<p>“I suppose that would be a very proper interpretation +to put upon it.” +</p> +<p>“You seem to be a good fellow, and deal in +four-syllable words.” +</p> +<p>“Now, as you seem to have the best of the joke, +I hope you will not detain me any longer. I have +a pass in my pocket to prove that I am all right; +and, as I am in a great hurry, I must move on.” +</p> +<p>“Not till you explain the joke. Eh? What’s +this? Where did you get this coat?” said Owen, +glancing at the garment which Somers wore. +</p> +<p>“This is the key to the joke.” +</p> +<p>“The key to it! I am of the opinion that this +is my coat,” replied Owen, as he felt of the garment, +and turned up the lapel. +</p> +<p>“May I be allowed to inquire where you left +your coat?” asked Somers, who was quite curious +to know how Owen Raynes happened to be alive +just at that moment. +</p> +<p>“Certainly you may; but first let me ask where +you found it.” +</p> +<p>“Over by the picket-line beyond the hill,” replied +Somers. +</p> +<p>“Just so. A young fellow in a Mississippi regiment, +encamped next to ours, borrowed it of me +last night, when he was detailed for picket-duty. +The poor fellow had no coat, and picket-duty is +rather steep at night when a man has no clothes. +He is a good fellow, in poor health; and I lent him +mine.” +</p> +<p>“The nights are cool, but the days are hot,” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_136' name='page_136'></a>136</span> +added Somers. “He took it off, and left it on the +edge of the woods, where I found it. I didn’t know +that it belonged to anybody. I found some papers +and a diary in the pocket——” +</p> +<p>“Did I leave my papers in the pocket? Well, +that was stupid,” interrupted Owen. +</p> +<p>“I read the papers with a great deal of interest. +Seeing frequent allusions in them to Allan Garland, +I took the liberty to appropriate the name +myself; for the owner of it seemed to be a very +good fellow.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you!” said Allan; “but, as you seem to +have no further use for it, I see no objection to +your giving your own name.” +</p> +<p>“On the contrary, there are some very strong +objections, and I must trouble you for the use of +your name an hour or two longer.” +</p> +<p>“Oh, very well! I am satisfied,” replied Allan. +</p> +<p>“So am I.” +</p> +<p>“But I am not,” interposed Mr. Raynes. “I +think the fellow is an impostor, if nothing worse.” +</p> +<p>“Anything you please; but my time is out, and +I must report for duty,” replied Somers boldly, as +he took off the borrowed coat, and restored it to +the owner. “I am very much obliged to you for +the use of this garment. When we meet again, I +trust we shall understand each other better.” +</p> +<p>Owen Raynes was an easy-going young man; +familiar with the practical jokes of the army, enjoying +them with the most keen relish when no +one’s feelings were hurt, and no damage was done +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_137' name='page_137'></a>137</span> +to person or property. He was not, therefore, +disposed to put a serious construction on what +seemed to him to be one of these farces; but his +father took an entirely different view of the affair. +He wanted to argue the question, and show that +it could not be a joke; but Somers was too impatient +to listen to any eloquence of this description. +</p> +<p>Sue, who had now actually found the young +man who had been indicated as her “manifest +destiny,” was in no hurry to part with him; and +when the father proposed that Owen and Allan +should accompany the impostor, as he insisted +upon calling him, to the brigade headquarters, +where his pass was dated, she decidedly objected to +the proposition. The earnestness of Mr. Raynes, +however, at last vanquished her and the young +man; and they started to escort our young lieutenant +to the place indicated. +</p> +<p>Now, Somers, being a modest man, as we have +always held him up to our readers, and being +averse to all the pomp and parade of martial glory +in its application to himself, was strongly averse +to an escort. He preferred to go alone, tell his +own story, and fight his own battles, if battles +there were to be fought. Owen and Allan were +unutterably affectionate. They received him into +their small circle of fellowship, and stuck to him +like a brother. They were both good fellows, +splendid fellows; and, under ordinary circumstances, +Somers would have been delighted to cultivate +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_138' name='page_138'></a>138</span> +their friendship. As it was, he ungratefully +resolved to give them the slip at the first convenient +opportunity. +</p> +<p>Unhappily for him, no opportunity occurred, +for his zealous friends would not permit him to go +a single rod from them; and Somers had about +made up his mind to trust the matter to the judgment +of Major Platner, who had shown a remarkable +discrimination during the former interview, +when the trio came to a line of sentinels guarding +a brigade camp. +</p> +<p>“What regiment do you belong to?” demanded +the guard. +</p> +<p>“Fourth Alabama,” replied Owen. +</p> +<p>“You can’t pass this line, then.” +</p> +<p>“But I have a pass,” interposed Somers. +</p> +<p>“Show your pass.” +</p> +<p>Somers showed the important document, which +the sentinel, after a patient study, succeeded in +deciphering. +</p> +<p>“Your pass is right—pass on; but you can’t go +through,” he added to Owen and Allan. +</p> +<p>Owen explained. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> +<h3>THE REBEL DIVISION GENERAL</h3> +</div> + +<p>The sentinel listened very patiently to the explanation +of Owen Raynes; but, as he proceeded, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_139' name='page_139'></a>139</span> +the face of the soldier relaxed till his muscles had +contracted into a broad grin. The sergeant of the +guard was then sent for, and the explanation repeated. +At its conclusion, both the sentinel and +the sergeant seemed to be disposed to laugh in the +faces of the twin friends, so keenly were the former +alive to the ludicrous. +</p> +<p>“That’s a very pretty story, my men! You, +without the pass, are going to see that everything +is right about the man that has the pass; in other +words, the devils are going to see that the angels +don’t do anything wicked,” said the sergeant, +laughing at the awkward position of Owen and +Allan, and perhaps quite as much at the sharpness +of his own illustration. +</p> +<p>“We are entirely satisfied in regard to this +young man,” said Owen; “but we have come in +order to satisfy another person, who believes that +he is an impostor. We promised to take him to +Major Platner.” +</p> +<p>“You can’t enter these lines without a pass,” +replied the sergeant firmly. “This man can go +through; for he has a pass,” he added to Somers. +</p> +<p>“As I am all right, and in a hurry, I will proceed +to the brigade headquarters,” said Somers. +“Now, good-by, my friends; I am very glad to +have met you, and much obliged to you for the +trouble you have taken to come so far with me.” +</p> +<p>“You take it coolly,” laughed Owen. +</p> +<p>“Perhaps, if you desire to go to the brigade +headquarters, the sergeant will let you pass, if I +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_140' name='page_140'></a>140</span> +will vouch for you,” continued Somers with great +good humor. +</p> +<p>“We are not very particular.” +</p> +<p>“What do you say, sergeant?” +</p> +<p>“My orders are to permit no stragglers from +other camps to pass these lines, and I shall obey +my orders to the letter,” replied the official, who, +for some reason or other, seemed to be prejudiced +against Somers’s friends. +</p> +<p>“Stragglers!” exclaimed the sensitive Allan. +“I think we have gone far enough.” +</p> +<p>“I think you have,” added the sergeant; “and, +if you don’t leave at once, it will be my duty to +arrest you.” +</p> +<p>“Whew!” exclaimed Owen. “That would be +carrying the joke altogether too far. I think my +<i>pater</i> ought to be satisfied with what we have +done.” +</p> +<p>“Move on,” said the sergeant. +</p> +<p>They did move on; and Somers, attended by the +officer of the guard, walked towards headquarters. +</p> +<p>“Those are the coolest fellows that ever came +near my lines,” said the sergeant. “Men without +a pass looking out for one who has a pass!” +</p> +<p>“Well, they are good fellows; but I played a +joke upon them, which makes them a little sour +towards me,” replied the scout. “I am even with +them now.” +</p> +<p>“What was the joke?” demanded the sergeant, +who was filled with interest at the mention of +the word. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_141' name='page_141'></a>141</span></p> +<p>Somers gave him a modified account of the affair +at the house of Mr. Raynes; which he embellished +a little for the occasion, to allay any suspicion +which might arise in the mind of the auditor. But +the officer of the guard had no suspicion. Why +should he have any? for Somers, armed with a pass +signed by the officer of the day, was walking as +directly as he could towards the headquarters. +The sergeant of the guard left him when they +reached the guard tent; and Somers proceeded to +report in due form to the major, whom he found +smoking his cigar under a tree as complacently as +though there was not a traitor or a spy in the land. +</p> +<p>“Well, young man! you have returned promptly +at the time specified,” said the major, as Somers +very deferentially touched his cap to this magnate +of the rebel army. +</p> +<p>“Yes, sir; I have endeavored to discharge my +duty faithfully,” replied Somers. +</p> +<p>“Did you find the regiment?” +</p> +<p>“No, sir; I lost my way; and finding I should +not have time to go to the place where it is, without +overstaying my time, I hastened back, knowing +that the service upon which you wished to employ +me was very important indeed.” +</p> +<p>“You did right, young man. Where is your +coat?” +</p> +<p>“It was one I picked up just after I had passed +the lines, and a soldier down below claimed it. I +gave it up when he convinced me it was his +property.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_142' name='page_142'></a>142</span></p> +<p>“You are very honest as well as patriotic.” +</p> +<p>Somers bowed, but made no reply to the compliment; +which, however, was fully appreciated. +</p> +<p>“You seem to be a young man of good address, +and you can render your country a great service, +but it will be at the peril of your life,” said the +major with impressive formality. +</p> +<p>“I am willing to serve my country, even with +my life.” +</p> +<p>“I do not doubt it. I was impressed by your +manner, and I have recommended you to the general +for the service he has in view. I hope you +will do credit to the selection I have made; for +the most important duty which a commander has +to perform is to select proper persons for the execution +of special missions.” +</p> +<p>“I will endeavor to serve my country to the best +of my ability; and I am satisfied that I can go all +over the Yankee camps without difficulty.” +</p> +<p>“Very well! You have confidence in yourself; +and that is the first requisite of success. If you +discharge this duty with fidelity and skill, you +may be sure of being made a sergeant the moment +you return.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you, Major Platner. I am very grateful +to you, sir, for the opportunity you thus afford +me to distinguish myself.” +</p> +<p>“You will find me a good friend, if you are +faithful and intelligent.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you, sir.” +</p> +<p>“Now you shall go with me to General M——’s +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_143' name='page_143'></a>143</span> +headquarters, and he will give you your final instructions.” +</p> +<p>Major Platner led the way; and Somers reverently +followed a pace or two behind him, flattering +the officer in every action as well as word. +They reached the division headquarters, and our +hero was ushered into the presence of the general. +He was a large, red-faced man, and had evidently +taken all the whiskey he could carry, at his dinner, +from which he had just returned. +</p> +<p>“What have you got there, Platner?” demanded +the general, in a tone so rough, that Somers was +reminded of the ogre in Jack the Giant-killer. +</p> +<p>“The young man of whom I spoke to you this +forenoon. He is a person of remarkable address, +courage and skill; and is just the man you need.” +</p> +<p>“All right; adieu, major!” added the general, +bowing to the other. +</p> +<p>Major Platner took the hint, and took himself +off, leaving Somers standing alone and somewhat +abashed in the presence of the great man. +</p> +<p>“Young man!” said, or rather roared, the rebel +general, as he raised his eyes from the ground, +and fixed them with a half-drunken leer upon our +hero. +</p> +<p>“Sir!” +</p> +<p>“How much whiskey can you drink without +going by the board?” +</p> +<p>Somers did not know, had never tried the experiment, +and was utterly opposed to all such +practices. But he desired to conciliate the tipsy +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_144' name='page_144'></a>144</span> +general; and, if he had not been fearful of being +put to the test, he would have signified his belief +that he could carry off half a dozen glasses. As +it was, he did not dare to belie his principles. +</p> +<p>“Not any, sir! I never drink whiskey,” he replied, +with the utmost deference in his tones. +</p> +<p>“Hey?” gasped General M——, darting a sudden +glance at the young man. +</p> +<p>“I never drank a glass of whiskey in my life, +sir,” added Somers. +</p> +<p>The general jumped off his camp-stool with a +sudden jerk, and stared at our lieutenant in silence +for an instant. +</p> +<p>“Give me your hand,” said he. +</p> +<p>Somers extended his hand. +</p> +<p>“Yes! you are flesh and blood. You are the first +man I ever saw that never drank a glass of +whiskey. You drink brandy, don’t you?” +</p> +<p>“No, sir! I never drank a glass of liquor or +wine of any kind in my life.” +</p> +<p>“Give me your hand,” said the general again. +</p> +<p>“Flesh and blood! You are the first man I ever +saw that never drank a glass of liquor or wine of +any kind. ’Tis a bad practice,” he added with an +oath. +</p> +<p>“I think so, sir,” replied Somers with due +deference. +</p> +<p>“Young man!” +</p> +<p>“Sir.” +</p> +<p>“The greatest enemy—hic—that the Confederate +army has to contend against is whiskey. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_145' name='page_145'></a>145</span> +Yes, sir! whiskey. If the Confederate States of—hic—of +America ever win their independence, +it will be when the whiskey’s all gone.” +</p> +<p>“I am very glad to hear officers of your high +rank condemning the practice,” said Somers, alive +to the joke of the general’s proceedings, but prudently +looking as serious as though it had been +a solemn tragedy instead of an awful farce. +</p> +<p>“Yes, sir! I’m opposed with all my might to +the practice. Yes, sir! Whiskey is the greatest +enemy I have on the face of the footstool, young +man.” +</p> +<p>Somers believed him. +</p> +<p>“Always be temperate, young man. You are in +the sunshine of—hic—of life. Never drink +whiskey. It will ruin your body and soul. Don’t +touch it, young man,” added he, as he sank back +on the camp-stool, whose center of gravity was +nearly destroyed by the shock, and closed his eyes, +as if overcome by the potency of his great enemy, +which was just then beginning to have its full +effect, and which produced a tendency to sleep. +</p> +<p>“I will endeavor to profit by your good advice, +sir,” said Somers. +</p> +<p>“That’s right; do so,” added the general, as he +jerked up his head to banish the drowsy god, who +was struggling for the possession of his senses. +“That will do, young man. You may go now.” +</p> +<p>The general, in his drunken stupor, had certainly +forgotten the business for which Major Platner +had brought him to the division headquarters; +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_146' name='page_146'></a>146</span> +and Somers began to fear that he should have no +errand that day. +</p> +<p>“I beg your pardon, general; but Major Platner +was kind enough to say that you had some service +for me to perform.” +</p> +<p>“Eh?” demanded he, tossing up his head again. +</p> +<p>Somers repeated the remark more explicitly than +before. +</p> +<p>“Exactly so; I remember. Do you know what +I was thinking about just then, young man?” said +the general, spasmodically leaping to his feet again, +as though the thought was full of inspiration. +</p> +<p>“No, sir; a man in my humble position could +hardly measure the thoughts of a great man in +your situation.” +</p> +<p>“I’ll tell you; I was thinking about issuing a +division general order on the subject of temperance. +What do you think of it?” +</p> +<p>“It would be an excellent idea,” replied Somers. +</p> +<p>“Young man!” +</p> +<p>“Sir.” +</p> +<p>“I believe you said—hic——” +</p> +<p>Somers did not say anything of the sort; but +he waited patiently for the rebel general to recover +the idea which he appeared to have lost. +</p> +<p>“I believe you said you never drank any +whiskey?” +</p> +<p>“I never did, sir.” +</p> +<p>“Then you never was drunk?” +</p> +<p>“Never, sir.” +</p> +<p>“Young man!” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_147' name='page_147'></a>147</span></p> +<p>“Sir.” +</p> +<p>“Are you a—hic——” +</p> +<p>Somers was not a “hic;” but he was an impatient +young man, and very anxious to be instructed +in regard to his difficult and dangerous mission. +</p> +<p>“Are you a minister of the gospel?” demanded +the general, after a mighty effort. +</p> +<p>“No, sir; I am not.” +</p> +<p>“I’m sorry for—hic—for that; for I wanted to +appoint you a division chaplain, to preach against +whiskey to the general officers. Some of them +are—hic—drunken fellows, and no more fit for +a command than the old topers in the streets of +Richmond.” +</p> +<p>“I am sorry I am not competent to fill the office; +but I think, if you should lecture them yourself, +it would have a better effect.” +</p> +<p>“My words are—hic—powerless. They laugh +when I talk to them about the error of their ways,” +added he with a string of oaths, which seemed to +exhibit a further necessity for a chaplain on the +division staff. +</p> +<p>“I beg your pardon, sir; but I am afraid your +interest in the moral welfare of your officers——” +</p> +<p>“That is it, young man!” interrupted the +drunken general, catching at his idea with remarkable +promptness. “My interest in the moral welfare +of my—hic—of my officers! You are a trump, +young man [big oath]. You are a major now?” +</p> +<p>“No, sir.” +</p> +<p>“Only a captain?” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_148' name='page_148'></a>148</span></p> +<p>“No, sir; nothing but a private.” +</p> +<p>“Then you shall be a captain. I haven’t heard +any such—hic—sentiments as you expressed used +in this division before. You ought to be a—hic—a +brigadier-general.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you, sir. You are very kind. I came +to you for instructions in regard to my mission +over to the enemy.” +</p> +<p>“Bless me! yes; so you did. Well, I have not +written them yet.” +</p> +<p>“I only want a pass from you, general, with +such verbal instructions as you may please to give +me.” +</p> +<p>“So you do; the fact of it is, my interest in the +moral welfare of my men had driven the matter +out of my mind.” +</p> +<p>The general called an orderly; and Somers was +sent off to the adjutant for the pass, which was +given to him under the name he had assumed. +When he returned, the general was sound asleep +on his camp-stool, rolling about like a ship in a +gale, with a prospect of soon landing at full length +on <i>terra firma</i>. Somers would gladly have received +some military information from the general, +who was in a condition to tell all he knew; +which, however, could not have been much, under +the circumstances. He concluded that it would be +best for him not to awaken the tipsy moralist; and, +after waiting a short time on the spot to avoid +suspicion, he joined Major Platner, who was smoking +his cigar under a tree near the headquarters. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_149' name='page_149'></a>149</span></p> +<p>“Well, young man, did you obtain your instructions?” +</p> +<p>“Yes; all I require.” +</p> +<p>“Perhaps we ought to have seen the general before +dinner,” added the major, using the remark as +a “feeler” to induce his companion to inform him +what had transpired during the interview. +</p> +<p>“Perhaps it would have been more agreeable +to the general. However, he seemed to be in a +very talkative mood.” +</p> +<p>“He commonly is after dinner.” +</p> +<p>“He is a very jovial, good fellow.” +</p> +<p>“Very.” +</p> +<p>“But he appears to feel a deep interest in the +moral welfare of those under his command. He +expressed himself as very averse to habits of +intemperance.” +</p> +<p>“Humph!” coughed the major. +</p> +<p>“He said that whiskey was the great enemy the +army has to contend against, and intends to issue +a general order directed at the vice of intemperance.” +</p> +<p>“Did he?” +</p> +<p>“He did; but I ought to add, that he took me to +be a major in the service; a mistake which was +very natural, since I wore no coat.” +</p> +<p>“Very natural—after dinner,” replied Major +Platner suggestively. +</p> +<p>“I told him I never drank any strong drink; +and he kindly advised me never to do so.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_150' name='page_150'></a>150</span></p> +<p>“The general is a brave man, and I hope he +will be able to overcome all his enemies.” +</p> +<p>The major permitted the conversation to go by +default, and Somers respectfully dropped a pace +or two behind him. They reached the brigade +headquarters, and then repaired to the guard tent, +from which the scout took his departure upon his +arduous and difficult mission, with the best wishes +of the rebel officers. +</p> +<p>With his pass he had no difficulty in going +through any line, and made his way down to the +woods on the left of the open fields. He began to +feel easier when he had passed the field-works, and +experienced a sensation of exultation as he thought +of the reception which awaited him at headquarters +as well as in the regiment. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> +<h3>THE SHARPSHOOTER IN THE WOODS</h3> +</div> + +<p>Somers found the picket guard nearer the rebel +line than he had anticipated; but the exhibition +of his pass, which had been prepared with special +reference to this purpose, prevented any long detention, +though a sergeant had to be called who +was scholar enough to read the mysterious document. +</p> +<p>“I reckon you haven’t got the best place to go +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_151' name='page_151'></a>151</span> +through,” said the sergeant, after he had examined +the pass, and satisfied himself of its correctness. +</p> +<p>“Why not?” +</p> +<p>“There’s a whole squad of Yankees a good piece +in there,” he replied, pointing in the direction of +the Federal lines. “They’ve been there all day +watching for something.” +</p> +<p>“What do they want?” +</p> +<p>“There was a man run through the line this +forenoon from their side, and I reckon they are +trying to find him.” +</p> +<p>“Was he a Yank?” asked Somers, desirous of +obtaining their idea of the fugitive. +</p> +<p>“Dunno what he was. We didn’t see him till he +got a good piece behind us. We were chasing the +Yanks who run away when they saw us.” +</p> +<p>This was satisfactory to our scout; for the sergeant +appeared to have no knowledge that would +be dangerous to him, and none of the graybacks +recognized the pants he wore. He advanced cautiously, +as though he was afraid of stumbling upon +the squad of Yankees described by the sergeant, till +he could no longer be seen by the pickets. The last +obstacle seemed to be overcome; and he hastened +to the place where he had concealed his uniform, +which he wished to put on before he approached +the pickets on the other side. It was now nearly +dark, and he had no time to spare; for, if he approached +his own men in the darkness, he would +be in danger of being shot before they discovered +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_152' name='page_152'></a>152</span> +who he was, though he had full confidence in the +discretion of Hapgood. +</p> +<p>Without difficulty, he found the place where he +had concealed his clothes; and, after assuring himself +that none of the rebel pickets were in sight, +he hastily put them on. To prevent any unpleasant +suspicions, he took the precaution to hide the +gray pants he had worn, in the long grass of the +swamp, so that they need not attract the attention +of any stroller who might pass in that direction. +Though we have frequently held our hero up as a +model of modesty, we are compelled to acknowledge +that he felt exceedingly well satisfied with +himself on the present occasion. He felt that he +had done what, in the homely vocabulary of the +boys of Pinchbrook, might well be called “a big +thing.” +</p> +<p>He had fully and successfully accomplished the +arduous purposes of his mission. He had examined +the positions, and counted the forces of the +rebels. He had received very valuable information +from Mr. Raynes, and from others whom he had +encountered in his walk through the enemy’s lines. +He was satisfied that he should receive a warm +welcome from those who had sent him upon the +perilous tour. He had earned the first bar to his +shoulder-straps, and was proud of his achievement. +</p> +<p>The work had been done, and he was within a +short distance of the Union lines—within a short +distance of the devoted Hapgood, who was patiently +but anxiously waiting to give him a soldier’s +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_153' name='page_153'></a>153</span> +reception. Above all, he was safe; and he +trembled when he thought of the perils through +which he had passed, of the consequences which +must have followed the discovery of his real character. +As he thanked God for the boon of life +after the battle was over, so now he thanked Him +for the signal success which had crowned his labors +in the good cause. The last article of his raiment +was put on and adjusted; he rose from the ground +to walk towards the Union lines. +</p> +<p>“I say, Yank, you look better’n you did ’fore +yer changed your clothes,” said a voice, which +struck his ear with startling distinctness. +</p> +<p>Somers looked in the direction from which the +voice came, and discovered a villainous-looking +countenance, that had just risen from the tall +swamp-grass, within a couple of rods of the +spot where he stood. The man was unmistakably +a rebel—one of the most savage and implacable +of rebels at that; such a character as we read of +in connection with slave-hunts in Mississippi, or +“free fights” in Arkansas. He wore a long, +tangled beard; and his hair had probably never +known the use of a comb. The grayback looked +as cool and impudent as though he was perfectly +assured of his prey, and intended to torture his +victim with his tongue, as he would with his knife +or his rifle if occasion required. +</p> +<p>“I say, Yank, you look better’n yer did ’fore +yer changed your colors,” repeated the rebel, as he +received no reply to his first salutation. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_154' name='page_154'></a>154</span></p> +<p>Somers looked at him again; indeed, he had +hardly taken his eyes off the savage-looking fellow, +who would have made a very good representative +of Orson in the fairy story. He held a rifle +in his hand, the muzzle of which could easily be +brought to bear upon his victim. Our lieutenant +at once understood the humor of the fellow; and, +having recovered his self-possession in the momentary +pause, he determined not to be behind his foe +either in word or in deed. +</p> +<p>“I say, reb, when did you shave last?” demanded +Somers, with something as near akin to +a laugh as he could manufacture for the occasion. +</p> +<p>“’Fore you was born, I reckon, Yank,” replied +the rebel; “and I sha‘n’t shave ag’in till after +you’re dead. But I reckon I sha‘n’t hev ter wait +long nuther.” +</p> +<p>“I suppose you don’t know what a comb is for, +do you?” continued Somers, who was, however, +thinking of some method by which he might get +out of this scrape. +</p> +<p>“I reckon I’ve heerd about such things; but Joe +Bagbone ain’t a woman, and don’t waste his time +no such way. I say, stranger, you’ve got about +three minutes more to live.” +</p> +<p>“How long?” +</p> +<p>“Three minutes, stranger, I’ve sat here by +them clothes, like a dog at a ’possum’s nest, all the +arternoon. Now I’ve treed the critter, and I’m +gwine to shoot him.” +</p> +<p>“Is that so?” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_155' name='page_155'></a>155</span></p> +<p>“That’s so, stranger.” +</p> +<p>“Do you usually shoot any man you happen to +meet in the woods?” +</p> +<p>“Well, I don’t reckon we do, every man; but +some on ’em we does. I calkilate you got on Tom +Myers’s clothes now, and yer shot the man ’fore +you took the rags.” +</p> +<p>“I didn’t shoot him.” +</p> +<p>“No matter for that, stranger; he was shot by +a Yank, and you’ve got to settle the account.” +</p> +<p>Somers began to be of the same opinion himself. +The grayback had evidently found the clothes, and +suspected the purpose for which they were concealed. +It was possible he had even more definite +information than this; for he seemed to be prepared +for precisely what had taken place. +</p> +<p>“My friend——” +</p> +<p>“I’m not your friend, stranger. You kin say +anything you like, if yer don’t insult me; Joe Bagbone +don’t take an insult from any live man.” +</p> +<p>“Well, Joe Bagbone,” continued Somers, who +was disposed to parley with the fellow to gain +time, if nothing else, “if you shoot me, you will +make the worst mistake you ever made in your +life; and I can prove it to you in less than five +minutes.” +</p> +<p>“No, yer can’t, stranger. Don’t waste yer time +no such way. If yer want ter say yer prayers, +blaze away lively, ’cause three minutes aren’t long +for a man to repent of all his sins.” +</p> +<p>“I have a pass from General M——, which permits +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_156' name='page_156'></a>156</span> +me to go in safety through these lines,” persisted +Somers. “The sergeant above just examined +it, and passed me through.” +</p> +<p>“Don’t keer nothing about yer pass. I respects +Jeff Davis just as much as the best man in Mississip’. +If yer had a pass from him, you mought as +well not have it as have it. Tom Myers was killed, +and somebody’s gwine up for him.” +</p> +<p>“But I have important business on the other +side.” +</p> +<p>“I knows that, stranger,” replied the imperturbable +Joe Bagbone. “It don’t make no difference.” +</p> +<p>“I am sent over by General M——. I belong +to the Fourth Alabama.” +</p> +<p>“Shet up! Don’t tell no lies, ’cause yer hain’t +got no time ter repent on ’em.” +</p> +<p>“Then, if I understand it, you mean to murder +one of your own men in cold blood.” +</p> +<p>“Nothin’ of the sort; only gwine to shoot a +Yank.” +</p> +<p>Somers looked into that hard, relentless eye; +but there was not the slightest indication of any +change of purpose. He felt that he stood in the +presence of his executioner. All the errors of his +past life crowded upon him, and the grave seemed +to yawn before him. +</p> +<p>“Call the sergeant above, and he will satisfy +you that I am all right,” said he, making one more +effort to move the villain from his wicked purpose. +</p> +<p>“Don’t want the sergeant. Yer time’s out, +stranger.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_157' name='page_157'></a>157</span></p> +<p>“Let me call him, then.” +</p> +<p>“If yer do, I’ll fire. Say yer prayers now, if +yer mean ter; but I reckon the prayers of a Yank +ain’t of much account,” replied Joe with a sneer. +</p> +<p>Somers stood within a few feet of a large tree. +Joe had several times raised his rifle to his shoulder; +but, when he magnanimously offered his victim +the last moment of grace, he dropped it again; +and our lieutenant, taking advantage of this interval, +darted behind the tree. Joe raised his piece +quicker than a flash; but he did not fire, for the +reason that he could not secure a perfect aim, and +because he was sure of a better opportunity. Our +lieutenant, who had carefully preserved his revolver +during the various changes he had made in +his dress, now took it from his pocket, and prepared +to contest the field like a man. +</p> +<p>The grayback, chagrined at this movement on +the part of his victim, whom he had evidently +intended to intimidate by his coolness and his ferocious +words, rose from his seat in the long grass, +and moved towards the tree behind which Somers +had taken refuge. Probably he was not aware +that the Yankee was armed; for he adopted none +of the precautions which such a knowledge would +have imposed upon any reasonable man. +</p> +<p>“Come out from that tree, stranger, or you shall +die like a hog, with a knife; not like a man, with +a rifle-ball.” +</p> +<p>“I intend to die by neither,” said Somers resolutely, +as he discharged his pistol in the direction +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_158' name='page_158'></a>158</span> +from which the voice of the grayback came; for +he dared not take aim, lest the bullet of the ruffian +should pierce his skull. +</p> +<p>He might as well have fired into the air, so far +as any injury to his enemy was concerned; but the +report had the effect to assure the rebel that he +was armed, and thus put an end to his farther advance +in that direction. Somers listened with +intense anxiety to discover the next movement of +his wily persecutor. He had only checked, not +defeated him; and an exciting game was commenced, +which promised to terminate only in the +death of one of the belligerents. Somers hoped +that the discharge of his pistol would bring the +sergeant down to his relief; but then to be discovered +in Federal uniform was about equivalent +to being shot by his relentless foe, burning to revenge +the death of Tom Myers. +</p> +<p>The report of pistols and muskets was so common +an occurrence on the picket-lines as to occasion +nothing more than a momentary inquiry. No +one came for his relief, or his ruin, as the case +might be; and he was left to play out the exciting +game by himself. The grayback, with a wholesome +regard for the pistol, had retired beyond the +reach of its ball, while he was still a long way within +rifle-range of his doomed enemy. Somers dared +not look out from the tree to obtain even a single +glance at the foe; for he knew how accurate is +the aim of some of these Southern woodsmen. He +had nothing to guide him but the rustling of the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_159' name='page_159'></a>159</span> +dried branches beneath his tread, or the occasional +snapping of a twig under his feet. +</p> +<p>Joe Bagbone, after retreating beyond pistol-shot +from the tree, had commenced describing a circle +which would bring him into a position that commanded +a view of his concealed victim. It must +be confessed that Joe’s tactics were singularly deficient +in range; for nothing but a surprise could +make them successful. While he was moving a +hundred rods to secure his position, Somers could +defeat his purpose by taking a single step. As +soon as he determined in what direction his persecutor +was going, he changed his position; and +Joe discovered the folly of his strategy, and sat +down on a stump to await a demonstration on the +part of his victim. +</p> +<p>The game promised to be prolonged to a most +unreasonable length; and Somers, now in a +measure secure of his life, was impatient to join +his anxious companions, with whom he had parted +in the forenoon. He was satisfied that Joe would +never abandon the chase, and the slightest indiscretion +on his own part would result in instant +death. It was a fearful position, and one which +was calculated to wear terribly upon his nerves. +He was anxious to bring the contest to a conclusion; +and, while he was debating in his own mind +the chances of escaping by a sudden dash in the +direction of the Union lines, a happy thought in +the way of strategy occurred to him. +</p> +<p>He had determined as nearly as he could the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_160' name='page_160'></a>160</span> +situation of his bull-dog opponent, and thought +that, if he could draw his fire, he might get out of +range of his rifle before it could be reloaded. +Placing his cap on the barrel of his pistol, he +cautiously moved it over, just as it would have +appeared to the rebel if his head had been inside +of it, and projected it a little beyond the tree. He +withdrew it suddenly two or three times to increase +the delusion in the mind of his enemy. He +could not see the effect of the stratagem; but he +was hopeful of a satisfactory result. He continued +to repeat the operation with the cap, till +he was confident Joe was not to be fooled in this +way. He was probably one of the sharpshooters, +and had too often fired at empty caps to be caught +in this manner when success depended upon the +single charge of his rifle. +</p> +<p>Somers did not despair, but slipped off his coat; +and, rolling it up so as to form the semblance of +a head, he placed the cap upon the top of the +bundle, and cautiously exposed the “dummy” on +the opposite side of the tree. The crack of Joe’s +rifle instantly followed this exhibition, and Somers +felt the blow of the ball when it struck the cap. +The critical moment had come; and, without the +loss of a second, our lieutenant darted towards +the Union lines. This movement was followed by +a shrill yell from the Mississippian, which might +have been a howl of disappointment at his failure; +or it might have been intended to startle, and thus +delay the fugitive. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_161' name='page_161'></a>161</span></p> +<p>Somers had listened to that battle yell too many +times to be moved by it, especially when uttered by +a single voice; and, with all the speed of which his +limbs were capable, he fled to the arms of his +friends. Joe was not content to give up the battle; +and, dropping his rifle, he drew his long knife, and +gave chase. They made a long run of it; and it +was only ended when Tom heard the demand of +his faithful sergeant— +</p> +<p>“Who goes there?” +</p> +<p>“Friend,” gasped Somers, utterly exhausted by +his exertions. +</p> +<p>“Lieutenant Somers? God be praised!” replied +Hapgood, instantly recognizing his voice. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> +<h3>RETURN TO THE CAMP</h3> +</div> + +<p>The moment Somers was recognized, Hapgood +and his party rushed forward, rightly judging, +from the rapidity of his motions, that he was pursued. +The sharp eye of the veteran sergeant was +the first to perceive the ferocious Mississippian, +who, undaunted by the appearance of the Union +soldiers, continued the pursuit as long as there +was even a gleam of hope that he could overtake +his intended victim. He was only a few paces behind +the lieutenant when the latter was discovered. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_162' name='page_162'></a>162</span></p> +<p>Hapgood raised his musket and fired, just as +the implacable pursuer abandoned the chase, and +turned his steps back to the rebel line. He staggered +for a few paces more, and fell just as a dozen +other muskets were leveled at him. He appeared +to have been hit in the leg; for he did not fall flat +upon the ground, as he would if he had been struck +in a vital part, but sank down to a sitting posture. +</p> +<p>The Union men rushed up to him, and found +that the supposition was correct; the ball had +passed through the fleshy part of his thigh, disabling, +but not dangerously wounding him. The +ruffian—we do not call him so because he was a +rebel, but he was naturally and by education just +what the term indicates—was as savage and implacable +as before. +</p> +<p>“Better leave me where I am, Yanks,” said he; +“’case, if I get well, I shall be the death of some +of you. You kin shoot me through the head if you +like.” +</p> +<p>“Don’t consarn yourself about us, reb,” replied +Hapgood. “We’ll take good care that you don’t +hurt yourself, or any one else, while you are in our +hands.” +</p> +<p>“Mebbe you will, Yanks; but, just as sure as +you was born, I’ll hev the heart’s blood of that +younker as fotched Tom Myers down.” +</p> +<p>“Who’s Tom Myers?” demanded the veteran. +</p> +<p>“The man that you Yanks killed this forenoon.” +</p> +<p>“Whose heart’s blood do you want?” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_163' name='page_163'></a>163</span></p> +<p>“That younker with the badge on his shoulder; +the un I chased in.” +</p> +<p>“He didn’t kill Tom Myers, or any other man.” +</p> +<p>“Show me the man, then,” growled the rebel, +now beginning to feel the pain of his wound. +</p> +<p>“I’m your man. I brought Tom Myers down,” +replied Hapgood, anxious to remove any cause of +peril from his <i>protégé</i>. +</p> +<p>“Did yer?” +</p> +<p>“Sartin I did; saw him drop when I fired.” +</p> +<p>“Then, stranger, yer kin make up yer mind to +die like a hog within ten days. I tell yer, Yank, +there ain’t bolts and bars enough in Yankee land +to keep me away from yer. You kin shoot me if +yer like now, and that’s all the way yer kin save +yerself.” +</p> +<p>“Well, reb, you are great at blowing; but I’ve +seen a good many jest sich fellers as you be. I’ve +fit with ’em, and fit agin’ ’em; and I tell you, your +uncle can take keer of just as many of you as can +stand up between here and sundown. Put that in +your hopper, reb; and the sooner you dry up, the +sooner you’ll come to your milk. We’ll take keer +on you like a Christian, though you ain’t nothin’ +but a heathen. Here, boys, make a stretcher, and +kerry him along. Take that jack-knife out of his +hand fust, and keep one eye on him all the time.” +</p> +<p>Having thus delivered himself, Sergeant Hapgood +hastened to the spot where Somers had seated +himself on the ground to recover his wind and rest +his weary limbs. The terrible excitement of the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_164' name='page_164'></a>164</span> +last hour seemed to fatigue him more than the previous +labors of the whole day; and he was hardly +in condition to march to the division headquarters, +where he was to report the success of his mission. +</p> +<p>“Oh, Tom—I mean Lieutenant Somers—I’m +glad to see you!” exclaimed the veteran as he +grasped both the hands of the young soldier. +</p> +<p>“Thank you, uncle; I’m just as glad to see you +as you can be to see me,” replied Somers. +</p> +<p>“You’re all tuckered out, Somers.” +</p> +<p>“I had to run for some distance, with the odds +against me; but I shall get rested in a little while.” +</p> +<p>The sergeant began to ask questions; and, as +soon as he had recovered his breath, Somers gave +him a brief sketch of his adventures, dwelling +mainly on the last and most thrilling event of the +day. +</p> +<p>“I can hardly believe that I am alive and well +after all that has happened,” said he in conclusion. +“That was the most bloodthirsty villain I ever +encountered in the whole course of my life.” +</p> +<p>“If you say shoot him, leftenant, it shall be done +quicker’n you can say Jack Roberson,” added Hapgood, +indignant at the conduct of the savage rebel. +</p> +<p>“Of course, I don’t say anything of that kind. +It would be murder to do anything of that sort +while he is our prisoner.” +</p> +<p>“He desarves hanging more’n Kyd the pirate +did; and if I had my way, he’d swing afore sunrise +to-morrow. He’s a consarned heathen!” +</p> +<p>“Never mind him; only keep him safe, and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_165' name='page_165'></a>165</span> +where he can’t do any mischief; for he is wicked +enough to kill the man that feeds him.” +</p> +<p>“I’m only sorry I didn’t hit him a little higher +up, where I hit the other feller this mornin’,” +added the veteran. “How do you feel now, +leftenant?” +</p> +<p>“I am improving. I shall be ready to go with +you in a few moments more.” +</p> +<p>After sitting on the stump half an hour longer, +he was in condition to march; but the danger was +past, the tremendous excitement had subsided, and +his muscles, which had been strained up to the +highest tension, seemed to become soft and flaccid. +The party passed the Union pickets, and reached +the headquarters of the division general, who had +just finished his supper. +</p> +<p>“Somers! by all that is great and good!” exclaimed +the general, who probably never expected +to see the scout again. +</p> +<p>“I have come to make my report, sir,” replied +the lieutenant. +</p> +<p>“You are all used up. You look as though you +could hardly stand up.” +</p> +<p>“I am very tired, sir,” added Somers languidly. +</p> +<p>“Sit down, then. Here, Peter,” he added, addressing +his servant, “bring in a glass of whiskey +for Lieutenant Somers.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you, general; I never drink anything +stronger than coffee.” +</p> +<p>“But a little whiskey would do you good in your +present condition; you need it.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_166' name='page_166'></a>166</span></p> +<p>“I thank you, general; I never drink whiskey, +as I had occasion to say to a rebel general of division +to-day.” +</p> +<p>“Eh? ’Pon my conscience! Were you asked to +drink by a rebel major-general?” demanded the +officer, greatly surprised at the statement of the +scout +</p> +<p>“Not exactly, sir. About the first question he +asked me was, how much whiskey I could drink +without going by the board.” +</p> +<p>“Who was he? Bring coffee, Peter.” +</p> +<p>“General M——.” +</p> +<p>“So I supposed. He is a jovial, good-hearted +fellow; but I’ll wager my shoulder-straps he was +tight at the time,” laughed the general. +</p> +<p>“Very tight, sir.” +</p> +<p>“Well, he is a fighting man, drunk or sober; but +I should rather lead than follow him in action. +Where have you been all day?” +</p> +<p>“Shall I tell my story in full, or only give you +the information I obtained?” +</p> +<p>“Tell the story, so that I can determine whether +the information is good for anything or not.” +</p> +<p>Somers drank the tin cup of coffee which the +general’s servant brought to him, and then proceeded +to relate the incidents of the day in the +rebel camp. His distinguished auditor, who, in +the Army of the Potomac, had well earned the +title of “the bravest of the brave,” listened with +eager interest to the details of the lieutenant’s +story, asking occasional questions upon points +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_167' name='page_167'></a>167</span> +which were not only calculated to elicit particular +information, but to display the skill and intelligence +of the scout. The interview was prolonged +for several hours; and at its close a staff-officer +was despatched to the corps commander; for what +purpose, of course, Somers had no intimation. +</p> +<p>“Lieutenant Somers, you have earned your promotion; +and if you don’t have it, it will be because +I have not influence enough to procure it. You +have done well.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you, sir.” +</p> +<p>“Your friend, Senator Guilford, shall hear of +you within forty-eight hours.” +</p> +<p>“I beg your pardon, sir; but, grateful as I am +to Senator Guilford for the interest he has expressed +in me, I don’t care to be patronized by any +man in civil life.” +</p> +<p>“Whew!” laughed the general. “I wish some +of our colonels and brigadiers would take a lesson +from you. Never mind, Lieutenant Somers; you +will deserve all you ever get.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you, sir.” +</p> +<p>“Go to your quarters now. Here,” he added, +dashing off a note at his table, in which he desired +that Somers might be excused from duty for +the next two days, to enable him to recover from +the fatigues of his arduous expedition. +</p> +<p>I need not inform my readers how soundly our +hero slept in his shelter tent that night, nor how +his slumbers were disturbed by a horrid rebel with +a bowie-knife, and a horrid feminine monstrosity +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_168' name='page_168'></a>168</span> +which seemed to be called Sue by her attendant +demons; but he slept as a tired boy only can sleep. +</p> +<p>The next morning the brigade was relieved from +picket duty, and the regiment returned to its +camp. Captain de Banyan had neither seen nor +heard from his young friend since his departure +on the forenoon of the preceding day. Of course +he was overjoyed to see him, as well as intensely +curious to know where he had been, what he had +done, and whether he had been promoted. Somers +told his adventures to the mess, omitting such +military information as was “contraband” in the +camp. +</p> +<p>“Somers, my dear fellow, you are a man after +my own heart!” exclaimed the captain, grasping +his hand, and wringing it with all the enthusiasm +of his fervid nature. “Somers, my boy, did you +ever hear of a man having his double?” +</p> +<p>“I have read of such things in old legends.” +</p> +<p>“I believe in it, Somers. You are my double! +You are my second self! You are as near like me +as one pea is like another! Just before the battle +of Magenta——” +</p> +<p>At this interesting point in the conversation, the +officers of the mess burst into an involuntary roar +of laughter, ending up Magenta with a long dash. +</p> +<p>“Not exactly like you, Captain de Banyan,” +added Somers. +</p> +<p>“You can’t tell half so big a story,” said Lieutenant +Munroe. +</p> +<p>“Gentlemen,” interposed the captain with dignity, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_169' name='page_169'></a>169</span> +“you interrupted me at the wrong moment. +I was about to prove to you wherein Lieutenant +Somers was my double; and with your permission, +I will proceed with my argument. Just before the +battle of Magenta, I was sent out on a scout; and +I went at the particular request of the Emperor +Napoleon, who—permit me to add, in the presence +of a company which seems to be inimical to my +antecedents, if not to me—had unlimited confidence +in my ability to perform this delicate duty +with skill and success. Well, gentlemen, I passed +our pickets; of course I mean the French pickets; +for I was, as you are all aware, a colonel in the +French infantry at that time.” +</p> +<p>“We are all aware of it,” laughed Munroe—“over +the left.” +</p> +<p>“That is a slang phrase, and repulsive to the +ears of a cultivated gentleman. As I was saying, +gentlemen, I passed our pickets, and soon encountered +a Russian general of division.” +</p> +<p>“Russian?” +</p> +<p>“Austrian, I should have said; and I thank you, +Somers, for the correction. I suppose he was making +the grand rounds with the officer of the day. +Be that as it may, he considered it his duty to stop +me; and I was under the disagreeable necessity +of putting a bullet through his head. He was a +count, and the father of a large family; however, +I could not help it, though I was sorry to make +orphans of his children. I stepped into his uniform +without the delay of a moment.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_170' name='page_170'></a>170</span></p> +<p>“Where was the sergeant of the guard, the +officer of the day, and the sentinels?” demanded +Lieutenant Munroe. +</p> +<p>“I beg you will not interrupt me, Lieutenant +Munroe, with these ill-timed remarks, which are +merely intended to throw discredit on my character +for truth and veracity. I remarked, that I +stepped into the uniform of the defunct major-general. +To abbreviate the narrative somewhat, +I walked through the Austrian lines for three +hours, till I had discovered the position of the infantry, +cavalry and artillery. But the most singular +part of the affair was, that, when the long roll +was beat once during that eventful night, I placed +myself at the head of the departed general’s division, +and maneuvered it for an hour on the field, +intending to place it in such a position that the +French could capture it. Unfortunately, no attack +was made by the Emperor’s forces, and I +could not carry out my plan.” +</p> +<p>“Can you talk the Austrian lingo, captain?” +asked Munroe. +</p> +<p>“Of course I can,” replied De Banyan with dignity. +</p> +<p>“Here, Schrugenheimer, let us have a specimen +of the lingo!” said the tormentor, appealing to a +German officer. “Ask him some questions in your +own language.” +</p> +<p>“Gentlemen, if my word is not sufficient, I shall +not condescend to demonstrate what I have said. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_171' name='page_171'></a>171</span> +You will notice the similarity between the adventures +of Lieutenant Somers and my own.” +</p> +<p>The officers of the mess all laughed heartily at +the conclusion of the comparison; for the story, +like a fairy tale, was pleasant to hear, but hard to +believe. But weightier matters than these were at +hand for these gallant men; and before night the +gay laugh had ceased, and they had nerved themselves +for the stern duties of the hour. Cannon +had been thundering to the right of them for three +days; and in the afternoon they had seen the smoke +of burning bridges, which assured them that their +communications with White House had been cut +off. At night, orders were given to have the men +ready to move, and to prepare for a hurried march. +Extra stores were destroyed, clothing thrown +away, and tents were cut in pieces, or otherwise +rendered useless to the next occupants of the +ground. Everything to be transported was reduced +to the smallest possible compass. +</p> +<p>These orders were ominous of disaster; but on +the following morning a general order was read, +to the effect that all was right. The troubled expression +on the countenances of officers and men +indicated their incredulity; for the destruction in +which they had been engaged belied the words of +the order. The brigade was then moved back three +miles from the camp. A portion of the regiment +was posted near a house, in which was a bedridden +old woman, attended by her daughter. The rebels +were advancing by the Williamsburg road, and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_172' name='page_172'></a>172</span> +soon had a battery of artillery in position to shell +the vicinity of the house. +</p> +<p>It was an intensely hot day. Captain de Banyan +sat asleep on the fence near the house. He was +very much exhausted by the labors of the two preceding +nights on picket, and at the destruction of +the stores; and while Somers was watching the +progress of the battle on the right, where a sharp +fight was in progress, a shell screamed between +them, and struck the house about a foot from the +ground. +</p> +<p>“That reminds me of the night before Magenta,” +said the veteran, opening his eyes, without +even a start. “A hundred-pounder shell knocked +my hat off, and then passed through the two open +windows at each gable of a house, without even +breaking a pane of glass.” +</p> +<p>“A narrow escape for you and for the house,” +replied Somers with a languid smile. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> +<h3>GLENDALE AND MALVERN HILLS</h3> +</div> + +<p>Captain de Banyan was as cool and indifferent +to danger as though he had been shot-proof. +Cannon-balls and shell flew through the air; but the +veteran paid no attention to them—except that +once in a while they reminded him of Magenta, or +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_173' name='page_173'></a>173</span> +some other of the numerous battle-fields where he +had displayed his valor. There was little fighting +for our regiment at this point, though there was a +sharp action on the right of the position. +</p> +<p>The rebels attacked our forces with tremendous +vigor at Savage’s Station. It was believed by their +generals that the Union army was utterly demoralized; +that it was retreating in disorder towards +the James River; and that a vigorous onslaught +would result in its capture. The first intimation +of the blunder was received at Savage’s Station, +where the Confederates were decisively repulsed; +yet the hope was not abandoned of ending the war +by the destruction of the Army of the Potomac. +The hosts of the rebellion were poured down the +roads, where they could intercept the loyal forces; +and the full extent of their blunder was realized +only at Malvern Hills. +</p> +<p>At noon our regiment marched through White +Oak Swamp, and late in the evening bivouacked +in a field near the road. During all this time the +road was filled with troops, and with trains of +army wagons on their way to the new “base.” +Very early the next morning, the march was resumed. +It was an exceedingly hot day, and the +troops suffered severely from the heat. Somers +was nearly exhausted when the regiment halted +at noon near a church, which the surgeons had already +occupied as a hospital. But nothing could +disturb the equanimity of Captain de Banyan. If +an opportunity offered, he rested, and went to +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_174' name='page_174'></a>174</span> +sleep amid the screaming shells as readily as +though he had been in his chamber in the “Fifth +Avenue.” It was not quite so hot as it was at +Magenta, nor the march quite so severe as before +Solferino, nor the shot quite so thick as at Chapultepec. +He never grumbled himself, and never +permitted any one else to do so. If Somers ventured +to suggest that events were rather hard upon +him, he wondered what he would have done if he +had been at Magenta, Solferino, Balaclava, or +Chapultepec. +</p> +<p>Somers was disposed to make the best of the +circumstances; and though hungry, tired and +nearly melted, he sustained himself with unfaltering +courage amid the trials of that eventful march. +All day long, the tide of army wagons and cattle +flowed down the road; and the brigade remained +near the church at Glendale, waiting for them to +pass. At dark the order was given to move forward, +while the roar of cannon and musketry reverberated +on the evening air, assuring the weary +veterans that the baptism of blood was at hand for +them, as it had been before for their comrades +in arms. +</p> +<p>The regiment followed a narrow road through +the woods, which was thronged with the <i>débris</i> +of the conflict, hurled back by the fierce assaults +of the rebels. The cowardly skulkers and the noncombatants +of the engaged regiments were here +with their tale of disaster and ruin; and, judging +from the mournful stories they told, the once proud +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_175' name='page_175'></a>175</span> +Army of the Potomac had been utterly routed and +discomfited. Cowards with one bar, cowards with +two bars, cowards with no bar, and cowards with +the eagle on their shoulders, repeated the wail of +disaster; and the timid would have shrunk from +the fiery ordeal before them, if the intrepid officers +and the mass of the rank and file had not been +above the influence of the poltroons’ trembling +tones and quaking limbs. +</p> +<p>“Forward, my brave boys! I’ve been waiting +all my lifetime for such a scene as this!” shouted +Captain de Banyan, as he flourished his sword +after the most approved style. +</p> +<p>“Don’t mind the cowards!” said Somers, as the +stragglers poured out their howls of terror. +</p> +<p>There was little need of these stirring exhortations; +for the men were as eager for the fight as +the officers, and laughed with genuine glee at the +pitiful aspect of the runaways. They advanced +in line of battle to the support of the hard-pressed +troops in front of them, and poured a withering +fire into the enemy. With that fiendish yell which +the Southern soldiers invariably use in the hour of +battle, they rushed forward with a fury which was +madness, and into which no fear of death entered. +</p> +<p>“They are coming!” shouted Somers, as the +legions of rebellion surged down upon the line, +yelling like so many demons, as though they expected +the veterans to be vanquished by mere noise. +“Stand steady, my men!” +</p> +<p>“That reminds me of the Russian advance at +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_176' name='page_176'></a>176</span> +Magenta,” said Captain de Banyan, who happened +to pass near the spot where Somers stood. +</p> +<p>“The Austrians, you mean,” replied Somers, +trying to keep as cool and unmoved as his companion. +</p> +<p>“Excuse me; I meant the Austrians,” replied +the captain. “The fact is——Forward, my brave +fellows!” roared he as the order came down the +line. +</p> +<p>The enemy had been temporarily checked, and +the brigade advanced to pursue the advantage +gained. They poured another terrible volley into +the rebels; when a regiment of the latter, infuriated +by whiskey and the fierce goadings of their +officers, rushed down with irresistible force upon +a portion of the Union line, and succeeded in making +a partial break in our regiment. The only remaining +line officer in one of the companies where +the rupture occurred was wounded at this critical +moment, and borne under the feet of the excited +combatants. +</p> +<p>“Lieutenant Somers, take command of that company!” +shouted the colonel, as he dashed towards +the imperiled portion of the line. +</p> +<p>Somers made haste to obey the order when the +line was giving way before the impetuous charge. +He felt that the safety of the whole army depended +upon himself at that momentous instant, and that +on the salvation of the army rested the destiny of +his country. What was the life of a single man, +of a hundred thousand even, compared with the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_177' name='page_177'></a>177</span> +fearful issue of that moment? It was the feeling +of the young soldier, and he was ready to lay down +his life for the flag which symbolized the true +glory of the nation. +</p> +<p>“Rally round me!” he cried, as he discharged +his revolver into the breast of a brave captain who +was urging his company forward with the most +unflinching resolution. “Down with them!” he +shouted, as he waved his sword above his head. +</p> +<p>“Hurrah!” roared a brave sergeant near him, +and the cry was taken up by the gallant fellows +who had been pressed back by sheer force of numbers. +</p> +<p>“Forward!” shouted Somers, as he dashed +down a bayonet, which would have transfixed him +on the spot if he had not been on the alert. +</p> +<p>The men rallied, and stood boldly up to the +work before them. They were inspired by the example +of the young lieutenant; and the rebel regiment +slowly and doggedly retired, leaving many +of their number dead or wounded on the field, and +a small number as prisoners in the hands of +Somers’s new command. +</p> +<p>After alternate repulses and successes, the rebels +were signally +defeated and driven back. It was +a sharp and decisive struggle; but again had the +army been saved from destruction, and the long +line of army wagons still pursued its way in safety +towards the waters of the James. +</p> +<p>Again had the rebel general’s brilliant calculation +failed. His troops, maddened by the fires of +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_178' name='page_178'></a>178</span> +the whiskey demon, had done all that men or fiends +could do; but the trained valor of the Army of the +Potomac had again saved the country. Onward +it marched towards the goal of safety under the +sheltering wings of the gunboat fleet in the river. +</p> +<p>All night long the men marched, with frequent +intervals of rest, as the movements of the army +trains required them. There was no sleep, even +after that hard-fought battle; no real rest from the +exciting and wearing events of the day. There was +little or no food to be had; and the fainting soldiers, +though still ready to fight and march in +their weakness, longed for the repose of a few +hours in camp. But not yet was the boon to be +granted. On the following morning, our regiment +arrived at Malvern Hills, where they were again +formed in line of battle, in readiness to receive +the menacing hosts of the rebels. +</p> +<p>“We are all right now, Somers,” said Captain +de Banyan while they were waiting for the onset. +</p> +<p>“Not quite yet, captain. Don’t you see those +signal-flags on the houses yonder?” +</p> +<p>“They mean something, of course. I did not +intend to say there will be no fighting; only, that +we have a good position, and all the rebels in the +Confederacy can’t start us now.” +</p> +<p>“Those flags indicate that the rebels are moving.” +</p> +<p>“Let them come; the sooner the better, and the +sooner it will be over. Hurrah!” exclaimed the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_179' name='page_179'></a>179</span> +captain, as the inspiring strains of the band in +the rear saluted his ears. +</p> +<p>Cheer after cheer passed along the extended +lines as the notes of the “Star-spangled Banner” +thrilled the hearts of the weary, fainting soldiers. +The bands had not been heard during the operations +in front of Richmond; and their music, as +Sergeant Hapgood expressed it, “sounded like +home.” +</p> +<p>“That does me good, Somers,” continued the +captain. “There’s nothing like music for the +nerves. It wakes men up, and makes them forget +all their troubles. Forward, the light brigade!” +he added, flourishing his sword in the air. “I suppose +you know that poem, Somers?” +</p> +<p>“Of course; I know it by heart; read it in school +the last day I ever went.” +</p> +<p>“Did you, indeed?” +</p> +<p>“Nothing very singular about that, is there?” +</p> +<p>“Rather a remarkable coincidence, I should +say,” replied the captain with easy indifference, +as he twirled his sword on the ground. +</p> +<p>“I don’t see it.” +</p> +<p>“You read the poem at school, and I was in that +charge.” +</p> +<p>“You?” +</p> +<p>“Yes, my boy. I was a captain in that brigade. +But what called the circumstance to my mind was +the music which struck up just now. I had a bugler +in my company who played ‘Hail, Columbia’ during +the whole of the fight.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_180' name='page_180'></a>180</span></p> +<p>“‘Hail, Columbia?’” demanded Somers. +</p> +<p>“Certainly; the fellow had a fancy for that +tune; and though it wasn’t exactly a national +thing to the British army, he always played it +when he got a chance. Well, sir, I think that bugler +did more than any other man in the charge of +the light brigade. He never lost a note, and it +fired the men up to the pitch of frenzy.” +</p> +<p>“He was a brave fellow,” replied Somers languidly; +for he was too thoroughly worn out to appreciate +the stories of his veteran companion. +</p> +<p>“He was the most determined man I ever met +in my life. He was killed in the charge, poor fellow; +but he had filled his bugle so full of wind, +that the music did not cease till full five minutes +after he was stone-dead.” +</p> +<p>“Come, come, captain! that’s a little too bad,” +said Somers seriously. +</p> +<p>“Too bad? Well, I should not be willing to +take oath that the time was just five minutes after +the bugler died. I did not take out my watch, and +time it; and, of course, I can only give you my +judgment as to the precise number of minutes.” +</p> +<p>“You are worse than Baron Munchausen, who +told a story something like that; only his was the +more reasonable of the two.” +</p> +<p>“Somers, my boy! you have got a villainously +bad habit of discrediting the statements of a +brother-officer and a gentleman,” said Captain de +Banyan seriously. +</p> +<p>“And you have got a bad habit of telling the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_181' name='page_181'></a>181</span> +most abominable stories that ever proceeded from +the mouth of any man.” +</p> +<p>“We’ll drop the subject, Somers; for such discussions +lead to unpleasant results. Do you see +that rebel battery?” added the captain, pointing +to a road a mile off, where the enemy had taken +position to shell the Union line. +</p> +<p>“I see it.” +</p> +<p>The rebel battery opened fire, which was vigorously +answered by the other side. The scene began +to increase in interest as the cannonade extended +along the whole line; and, through the entire +day, there raged the most furious artillery +conflict of the war. The rebel masses were hurled +time after time against the Union line; but it +maintained its position like a wall of iron, while +thousands of the enemy were recklessly sacrificed +in the useless assault. General M—— had probably +drunk more than his usual quantity of whiskey; +and, though he was as brave as a lion, hundreds of +his men paid the penalty with their lives of his +rashness and indiscretion. +</p> +<p>Night came again upon a victorious field, while +hundreds of weeping mothers in the neighboring +city sighed for the sons who would return no more +to their arms; and while mothers wept, fathers +groaned and sisters moaned, the grand army of +the Confederacy had been beaten, and the proud +rulers of an infatuated people were trembling for +their own safety in the presence of the ruin with +which defeat threatened them. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_182' name='page_182'></a>182</span></p> +<p>After the battle commenced the movement of the +Army of the Potomac down the river to Harrison’s +Landing. The rain fell in torrents, and the +single road was crowded with troops and wagons. +Though the exhausted soldiers slept, even while +the guns of the enemy roared in front of them, and +during the brief halts which the confusion in the +road caused, there was no real repose. The excitement +of the battle and the retreat, and the undefinable +sense of insecurity which their situation +engendered, banished rest. Tired Nature asserted +her claims, and the men yielded to them only when +endurance had reached its utmost limit. +</p> +<p>At Harrison’s Landing, the work of intrenching +the position was immediately commenced; and it +was some days before the army were entirely assured +that defeat and capture were not still possible. +The failure of the campaign was not without +its effect upon the troops. They felt, that, instead +of marching under their victorious banners into +the enemy’s capital, they had been driven from +their position. It was not disaster, but it was +failure. Though the soldiers were still in good +condition, and as ready as ever to breast the storm +of battle, they were in a measure dispirited by the +misfortune. +</p> +<p>General McClellan and General Lee had each +failed to accomplish his purpose. It was the intention +of the latter to send Stonewall Jackson into +the rear of the Union army, cut it off from its base +of supplies, and then attack in front and on the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_183' name='page_183'></a>183</span> +left. The plan was defeated by General McClellan’s +change of base, which was forced upon him +by the cutting-off of his communications with the +Pamunkey River. The Union generals, who were +first attacked on the right, supposed they were +confronted by Jackson, who had come down to +flank them in this direction; while Lee intended +that he should attack farther down the Peninsula. +Each commanding general, to some extent, +mistook the purpose of the other. Whatever errors +were made by the grand players in this mighty +game, about one thing there can be no mistake—that +the courage and fortitude of the rank and file +saved the Army of the Potomac, and pushed aside +the mighty disaster in which its ruin would have +involved the country. All honor to the unnamed +heroes who fought those great battles, and endured +hardships which shall thrill the souls of Americans +for ages to come! +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> +<h3>LIEUTENANT SOMERS HAS A NEW SENSATION</h3> +</div> + +<p>The experience of the soldiers at Harrison’s +Landing, for a month following their arrival, was +not of the most agreeable nature; and consisted +of too large a proportion of exercise with pick and +shovel to be very pleasant to those who had not +been accustomed to handling these useful implements. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_184' name='page_184'></a>184</span> +Intrenchments and batteries were constructed; +and the position was as carefully fortified +as the genius of the distinguished engineer in command +could suggest, and as thoroughly as though +he expected to spent the balance of the term of his +natural life at this place. +</p> +<p>The army was soon in a condition to defy the +operations of the enemy, who were wise enough +not to molest it. Somers, in common with the rest +of the command, recovered from the severe trials +of the movement from White Oak Swamp, and +again longed for active operations. About two +weeks after the cessation of active operations, the +official documents which announced his promotion +to the rank of first lieutenant came down to the +army; but this was a foregone conclusion. He had +won his first bar by his scouting services, and his +commission was expected for a fortnight before its +arrival. It did not, therefore, cause him any surprise; +and was so small an elevation, that his comrades +hardly congratulated him upon its reception. +</p> +<p>A fortnight later, there came a startling sensation +to thrill him with satisfaction and delight. +An orderly from the division headquarters summoned +him to attend upon the general. The message +startled him; for it indicated some momentous +event to him, and he hastily prepared to obey +the order. +</p> +<p>“You are in luck again,” said De Banyan, grasping +his hand. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_185' name='page_185'></a>185</span></p> +<p>“Perhaps not,” replied Somers, bewildered at +the suggestion. +</p> +<p>“I know you are, my dear boy. I was sent for +just four weeks after the battle of Solferino, and +made a brigadier-general,” persisted the captain. +</p> +<p>“Ah! then you are General de Banyan?” +</p> +<p>“No, no; I dropped the title when I ceased to +hold the office.” +</p> +<p>“That was modest, general.” +</p> +<p>“Captain, if you please.” +</p> +<p>“You are entitled by courtesy to the use of the +title, and you shall not be robbed of any of your +honors.” +</p> +<p>“As a particular favor, Somers, never call me +general. I do not wish to rise above my actual +rank. I have never mentioned the little circumstance +of my promotion before. Your good fortune +was so similar to my own, that I was surprised +into doing so.” +</p> +<p>“What do you mean by my good fortune, +captain?” +</p> +<p>“Why, you are promoted again. I will bet my +year’s pay you have had another lift.” +</p> +<p>“Nonsense! I have just been promoted.” +</p> +<p>“Bah! what was that to a man of your merit, +with a Senator to speak at court for you? A petty +first lieutenancy is nothing for a brilliant fellow like +you.” +</p> +<p>“I am not half so brilliant a fellow as you declare, +and I think that a commission as first lieutenant +is a big thing for a young man like me. I’m +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_186' name='page_186'></a>186</span> +sure I never had an idea of being an officer at all; +and, when I was made a sergeant, I didn’t think I +deserved it.” +</p> +<p>“What do you suppose a major-general can +want with you? You have heard from Senator +Guilford once before, and I am satisfied you will +hear from him again. Now, Somers, what do you +suppose the general wants of you?” +</p> +<p>“I don’t know; I think it very likely he wants a +man of my size to go up the river, or on the other +side, scouting; nothing more than that, I am satisfied. +But I must obey the order,” added Somers, +who had been making his preparations during the +conversation. +</p> +<p>“Well, good-by, my boy; and I shall have to +stand one side for you after this, and salute you as +major.” +</p> +<p>“As what?” +</p> +<p>“Major.” +</p> +<p>“How absurd you are, captain! You always +talk like a sensible fellow; that is, when you mean +what you say.” +</p> +<p>“A hard hit; and very likely the first thing you +do, when you get to be a major, will be to arrest +me for lying.” +</p> +<p>“Your hit is the hardest, my dear captain. We +have seen some hard times together; and you may +be sure that whatever I am, I shall never forget +you.” +</p> +<p>“That’s hearty, my boy! Your hand once +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_187' name='page_187'></a>187</span> +more,” replied De Banyan, extending his own. +“After the battle of Solferino——” +</p> +<p>“Really, captain, you must excuse me this time, +or the general will put me under arrest for my +want of promptness, instead of sending me on +special duty.” +</p> +<p>“Well, good luck to you, Somers,” said the captain +as the lieutenant started for the division headquarters. +</p> +<p>As he passed out of sight, an expression of sadness +settled down upon Captain de Banyan’s face. +He looked disappointed and uncomfortable, and it +is quite probable that he envied the good fortune +of his young companion in arms. If Somers had +been brave, and attentive to his duty, he had been +no less so himself; and he could not help feeling +that the destruction of those railroad cars had +made the young man’s fortune; that his rapid advancement +was a mere stroke of good luck. +</p> +<p>Lieutenant Somers, wondering what could possibly +be wanted of him, hastened to the headquarters +of the division. He had no faith whatever in +the prognostications of Captain de Banyan, and +was too modest to believe that he had done anything +to merit another promotion so soon. Recalling +the incidents of his career since his eventful +expedition within the rebel lines, there was +nothing in his conduct to merit even the notice of +his superiors, unless it was what others called his +skill and courage in rallying the broken company +at Glendale. He had been warmly praised for +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_188' name='page_188'></a>188</span> +this act; but he deemed it of little importance, for +the memory of Williamsburg cast into the shade +anything that had occurred to him since that bloody +day. +</p> +<p>He was ushered into the presence of the general, +who gave him the kindly welcome which he always +bestowed upon those of humble rank. Now, +Somers cherished an intense admiration for this +distinguished officer, and esteemed it a greater +honor to stand in his presence than in that of the +most powerful sovereign of the earth. +</p> +<p>“Lieutenant Somers?” said the general, extending +his hand; a piece of condescension which made +our officer blush, and appear as awkward as a +country school-boy. +</p> +<p>“Yes, sir; thank you, sir,” stammered Somers, +as he took the proffered hand. +</p> +<p>“You behaved well at Glendale, Somers,” said +the general bluntly. +</p> +<p>“I endeavored to do my duty, general.” +</p> +<p>“You did well on that scout, too; and I’m going +to send you out on another, if you have any fancy +for such work.” +</p> +<p>“I will do the best I can.” +</p> +<p>“But, my brave fellow, I wish you to be very +careful; for we can’t afford to lose officers like +you.” +</p> +<p>“I am always careful, general,” said Somers +with a smile. +</p> +<p>“Can you handle a boat?” +</p> +<p>“Yes, sir; I was brought up among boats.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_189' name='page_189'></a>189</span></p> +<p>“You will go over the river. There is rebel +cavalry over there, and very likely a considerable +force of infantry. I am inclined to think they are +building batteries in the woods, to close up the +navigation of the river, or perhaps to shell us out +of our position. In a word, I am instructed to +solve the problem, and I have selected you to do +the work. What do you say?” +</p> +<p>“I am all ready, sir, to undertake that, or any +service to which I may be ordered.” +</p> +<p>“That’s the right spirit, Captain Somers; and +I thank you for the promptness with which you +enter into my plans. I am satisfied, captain, that +you will discharge the duty to my entire satisfaction.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you, sir.” +</p> +<p>“Well, Captain Somers, you shall take what +force you think necessary. As it will not be prudent +for you to go over before dark, you may make +up your plan, and I will listen to the details before +you go. How many boats shall you want, +captain?” +</p> +<p>“Only one, sir,” replied Somers promptly; +though he was wondering with all his might how +the general happened to make so many blunders +in regard to his military title, for he had called +him captain four or five times. +</p> +<p>“Only one? You will need force enough to protect +you, captain,” replied the general. +</p> +<p>Captain again! +</p> +<p>“I do not intend to fight the whole rebel army, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_190' name='page_190'></a>190</span> +if it is over there. I do not propose to take more +than half a dozen men with me.” +</p> +<p>“I think that is a sensible view of the enterprise; +for the more men you take, the greater your +chances of being discovered. Select your own men, +Captain Somers.” +</p> +<p>Captain Somers! The general had certainly +forgotten that he was only a first lieutenant, or +else he was amusing himself at his modest subordinate’s +expense. +</p> +<p>“I know of several men in our regiment who are +just what I want,” replied Somers, hardly able to +speak from embarrassment, on account of the general’s +often-repeated mistake. +</p> +<p>“Very well; you shall have the necessary authority +to select whom you please. You may go +now, and arrange your plans.” +</p> +<p>Somers saluted the general, and was about to +retire, when the thought occurred to him that he +might at least gratify his friend Captain de Banyan, +and perhaps bring him favorably to the general’s +notice. +</p> +<p>“May I be allowed to select an officer to go with +me?” he asked. +</p> +<p>“Certainly, if you desire; but you will remember +that you are a young officer, going out on difficult +and dangerous service, and that officers will +not be so obedient as privates,” suggested the general. +“Whom do you desire to go with you?” +</p> +<p>“Captain de Banyan, of our regiment.” +</p> +<p>“Captain! Why, then he will be your equal in +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_191' name='page_191'></a>191</span> +rank, and by priority of commission, your superior.” +</p> +<p>“We shall agree remarkably well, general, +though he is my superior in rank, without regard +to dates,” replied Somers, who by this time had +come to the conclusion that the general meant +something by calling him captain. +</p> +<p>“No; you are both captains,” added the general +with apparent indifference. +</p> +<p>“I beg your pardon, general; you have probably +forgotten that the commission which was forwarded +to me only about two weeks ago was that +of first lieutenant.” +</p> +<p>“I remember all about it, Captain Somers; but, +by the time you reach your quarters, there will be +another commission there for you. By the way, +captain, do you remember Senator Guilford?” +</p> +<p>“I do, general; I have good reason to remember +him; for he takes a deep interest in my affairs,” replied +Somers, whose brown face was red with +blushes. +</p> +<p>“Has a pretty daughter, hasn’t he? Fell out of +a railroad car and broke her arm, didn’t she?” +</p> +<p>“That was the only time I ever saw her, general,” +stammered Somers; “and probably I shall +never see her again.” +</p> +<p>“Why, you are as cold-blooded as a frog! Why +don’t you write to the damsel, and tell her you are +still alive, if you can’t think of anything else to +say?” +</p> +<p>“I don’t like to curry favor with great folks.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_192' name='page_192'></a>192</span></p> +<p>“I like that, captain. But you must attend to +your duty now. You may have Captain de—what’s-his-name—if +you like.” +</p> +<p>“Captain de Banyan, sir. He is a brave and +noble fellow.” +</p> +<p>“Your friend, eh?” +</p> +<p>“Yes, sir.” +</p> +<p>“Well, I remember him. He is certainly a brave +fellow; for I noticed him at Glendale.” +</p> +<p>“At Oak Grove he captured the enemy’s sharpshooters, +who were lodged in the old house.” +</p> +<p>“I thought you did that.” +</p> +<p>“No, sir; I was under Captain de Banyan’s +orders at the time.” +</p> +<p>“I see; and I will remember that, Captain +Somers. By the way, it would be well for you to +write to Senator Guilford, just to inform him of +your promotion. He has done good service for +you, though I have no hesitation in saying your +promotion would have been certain without his +aid.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you, general,” replied Somers, who +fully understood the meaning of that significant +remark. +</p> +<p>We regret that the good conduct of our hero has +destroyed the fitness of the title which we had +chosen for our humble volume; but we will venture +to say that our sympathizing readers will rejoice +with him in his advancement. +</p> +<p>Captain Somers! The idea seemed to him as big +as a mountain, when he withdrew from the presence +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_193' name='page_193'></a>193</span> +of the general, who evidently experienced a +deep satisfaction in the result of his recommendation +to the authorities, and had humorously chosen +this method of communicating the welcome news. +The earth seemed to be as elastic as India-rubber +under the feet of the new-made captain, as he +hastened back to the camp of the regiment. +</p> +<p>He could hardly believe his senses; it was so +strange that a young man like him should attain +to this high rank. He wanted to “crow;” and perhaps +he would have done so, if he had not considered +that he must maintain the dignity of his +new office. +</p> +<p>“Captain Somers, I greet you!” exclaimed De +Banyan on his return to camp. +</p> +<p>“Who told you I was a captain?” laughed +Somers. +</p> +<p>“This document,” replied he, handing him the +ponderous official envelope. “I congratulate you, +my boy; though I’m rather disappointed to find +you are not a major.” +</p> +<p>“Nonsense, captain! I would have declined a +major’s commission.” +</p> +<p>“Declined it!” gasped De Banyan. “Well, I +don’t know but you would. You are the only +officer I ever knew to decline a glass of wine, and I +don’t know but you would decline a major’s commission.” +</p> +<p>“I certainly would. Why, I’m only a boy; and +I don’t know but I ought to decline even a captain’s +commission. I’m only eighteen years old.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_194' name='page_194'></a>194</span></p> +<p>“What of that? There’s the Fourth Vermont +over there—the colonel of that regiment isn’t +twenty-one yet, and there isn’t a better or braver +officer in the army. If you decline, I’ll cross you +off from my list of friends. Why, at Balaclava, +when I was——” +</p> +<p>“Balaclava and blarney!” exclaimed Somers +impatiently. +</p> +<p>“I was only going to say, that I was but seventeen +when I was made a captain in the British +army.” +</p> +<p>“I have been a brigadier in my own imagination, +just as you were a captain, when you were seventeen. +But never mind that; I am going on a scout; +have got my orders.” +</p> +<p>“Ah, my boy! you are going to celebrate the +arrival of your commission by active duty. I wish +the generals would think of me when they want +something handsome done.” +</p> +<p>“What do you say to going with me?” +</p> +<p>“I would thank my stars for the chance.” +</p> +<p>“Well, then I have orders for you.” +</p> +<p>“Somers, my dear fellow, you touch my heart-strings!” +cried the captain, jumping up, and +throwing his arms around Somers in the most extravagant +manner. +</p> +<p>“On one condition,” added Captain Somers. +</p> +<p>“Any condition you please.” +</p> +<p>“You are my superior; but——” +</p> +<p>“I know all about it. I will go as a volunteer, +and you shall command the expedition.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_195' name='page_195'></a>195</span></p> +<p>“We will work together.” +</p> +<p>“With all my heart.” +</p> +<p>Somers then selected six men for the service, +with special reference to their skill as boatmen, and +ordered them to make the necessary preparations +for duty. As there were still several hours to spare +before dark, he used a portion of this time in writing +a letter to his mother, informing her of the remarkable +fortune that had attended him; and another +to Senator Guilford, thanking him for the +kind interest he had manifested in his welfare, in +the postscript of which he wrote the history of Captain +de Banyan’s valuable services, and modestly +added that any favor conferred on his friend would +ever be gratefully remembered by the writer. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX</h2> +<h3>OVER THE RIVER</h3> +</div> + +<p>Captain Somers, as we are hereafter to call +him, was proud and happy in the distinction which +had been bestowed upon him; but he had some +doubts whether he had fully earned his promotion. +He had done as much as any, and more than some. +Yet it seemed to him just as though nothing short +of the capture or annihilation of a whole brigade +of the enemy’s forces could entitle him to such a +distinguished honor, especially as he was only +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_196' name='page_196'></a>196</span> +eighteen years of age. He was afraid that Senator +Guilford had exerted too much influence in his +favor; but the general of the division had assured +him he had won his promotion, and would have +received it in time, even without the powerful aid +of the honorable gentleman at Washington. +</p> +<p>This thought comforted him; and he only hoped +that his friend De Banyan would be as highly +favored as he had been. The valiant captain, in +spite of his glaring faults, was a good fellow, a +fine officer, and very popular with his inferiors as +well as his superiors. He had become very much +attached to Somers, and had proved by many substantial +acts that he was animated by a warm regard +for him. Though he talked a great deal +about the favor of high officials in securing his promotion, +he had never hinted a wish that Somers +should attempt to influence his powerful friend to +do anything for him. +</p> +<p>Somers said nothing to the captain about the +letter he had written. If anything was done, he +wished to have his friend surprised as he had been. +But he had only slight hopes that anything would +be accomplished by his application. Though Captain +de Banyan had always behaved well in battle, +and had always faithfully discharged his duties +in the camp and on the march, there was something +like a mystery hanging about him, which had a +tendency to prejudice the officers against him. +While they admired his bravery, and enjoyed his +society, there was a certain lack of confidence, resulting +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_197' name='page_197'></a>197</span> +from a want of knowledge of his antecedents. +</p> +<p>De Banyan always evaded any allusion to his +former residence or occupation. He desired to be +regarded as a soldier of fortune, who had fought +with every nation that had a quarrel with its neighbors. +Where he was born, where he had lived, or +how he obtained his commission, were secrets +locked up in his own breast. Somers had some +doubts in regard to him, and was constantly afraid +that he should hear more of the captain than it +would be pleasant to know. +</p> +<p>Captain Somers reported his arrangements in +due form to the general, and they were approved. +About nine o’clock in the evening, he, with his little +party, embarked on the river, and the rowers +pulled towards the opposite shore. Of course, it +was necessary to use the utmost caution; for a rebel +picket on the opposite bank of the river might suddenly +put an end to the career of some of the party. +</p> +<p>“I think we are making a mistake, Captain +Somers,” said De Banyan in a whisper, when they +had gone about half way across the river. +</p> +<p>“So do I; but it is not too late to correct the +error,” replied Somers, as he turned the bow of +the boat down the river. +</p> +<p>“I believe you are my double, Somers; for you +know my thoughts before I utter them.” +</p> +<p>“I was just thinking, when you spoke, that we +were running into a nest of the enemy.” +</p> +<p>“Just before the battle of the Alma, I went on +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_198' name='page_198'></a>198</span> +just such an expedition as this; but we went down +the river beyond the enemy’s lines, and doubled up +in the rear of them; thus finding out all we wanted +to know.” +</p> +<p>“That is what I propose to do.” +</p> +<p>“Captain Brickfield and myself landed, and +walked sixty-four miles between nine o’clock in the +evening and four o’clock in the morning,” added +Captain de Banyan. +</p> +<p>“How far?” +</p> +<p>“Sixty-four miles.” +</p> +<p>“Good!” exclaimed Somers. “Did you walk +all the way?” +</p> +<p>“Every step.” +</p> +<p>“It was tip-top walking, De Banyan—a little +more than nine miles an hour.” +</p> +<p>“Do you doubt the story?” +</p> +<p>“I don’t doubt that it is a story.” +</p> +<p>“Now, that isn’t kind of you, Somers, to be perpetually +throwing discredit upon everything I +say,” replied the captain, apparently much hurt. +</p> +<p>“You mustn’t say such things, then. You don’t +expect any man in his senses to believe that you +walked over nine miles an hour, and followed it for +seven hours?” +</p> +<p>“I was tougher then than I am now.” +</p> +<p>“And you can tell a tougher story now than you +could then, I’ll warrant.” +</p> +<p>“There it is again!” +</p> +<p>“Now, my dear fellow, I’m afraid you will die +with an enormous fib in your mouth.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_199' name='page_199'></a>199</span></p> +<p>“Come, Somers, you are taking a mean advantage +of my friendship. You know that I like +you too well to quarrel with you.” +</p> +<p>“Silence!” said Somers earnestly. “There is a +boat coming out from the rebel side of the river.” +</p> +<p>The water was covered with vessels of every description +in the vicinity of Harrison’s Landing; +and the boat had just emerged from this forest of +masts and smokestacks. It was time to be entirely +silent again; for the rebels were on the alert in +every direction, watching to strike a blow at the +grand army, or to pick up individual stragglers +who might fall in their way. The boat which +Somers had discovered was approaching from the +rebel side of the river; and to be seen by the enemy, +at this point of the proceedings, would be fatal to +the expedition. +</p> +<p>“Who goes there?” said a man in the rebel boat. +</p> +<p>“Friends!” replied Somers. +</p> +<p>“Who are ye?” +</p> +<p>The tones were so unmistakably Southern, that +there could be no question in regard to the party +to which the boat belonged. +</p> +<p>“Officers examining the enemy’s lines,” replied +Somers. +</p> +<p>At the same time he ordered his crew to pull, +and steered the boat so as to run her alongside the +other. On the way, he whispered to the men his +instructions; and, as soon as they were near +enough, they leaped on board the rebel boat, and +captured her astonished crew before they had time +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_200' name='page_200'></a>200</span> +to make any resistance. No doubt they thought +this was very rude treatment to receive from the +hands of those who professed to be their friends; +but they had discovered their mistake by this time, +and it afforded a sufficient explanation of the +seeming inconsistency. +</p> +<p>The capture of this boat involved the necessity +of returning to the nearest steamer in the river to +dispose of the prisoners. On the way back, Somers +and De Banyan conversed with the rebels on general +topics; for the latter refused to say anything +which could be of service to their enemy. After +the captives had been delivered on board the +steamer, our party decided to take the boat which +had been captured, instead of the one they had +brought from the landing; for there were some +peculiarities in its construction, which made it a +safer conveyance in rebel waters than the other, +the approach of which would excite suspicion if +seen. +</p> +<p>Again they pulled down the river, and passed the +point from beyond which the rebel boat had approached +them. The shore was probably lined with +pickets; and the wisdom of exchanging the boats +was now more apparent to them than before. +Somers steered into a little inlet or bay beyond the +point, and at the head of it found a creek flowing +into the river. It was wide and deep at the outlet; +and he decided to ascend it. +</p> +<p>“How was it, Andy?” said a voice from the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_201' name='page_201'></a>201</span> +shore, after the boat had advanced a few rods up +the creek. +</p> +<p>“All right!” replied Somers at a venture; +though he was somewhat startled by the question. +</p> +<p>“Have the Yankees any picket boats out?” demanded +the man on shore. +</p> +<p>“Haven’t seen any.” +</p> +<p>“How far up have you been?” +</p> +<p>“About two miles,” answered Somers, continually +coughing to account for any change in his +voice which might be apparent to his friend on +shore. +</p> +<p>“The fire-steamer is all ready,” added the voice; +“and it is about time to go to work.” +</p> +<p>“The fire-steamer!” exclaimed Somers in a low +tone. +</p> +<p>“They are going to burn the vessels in the +river,” added De Banyan. +</p> +<p>“What shall we do?” +</p> +<p>“We must stop their fun at all hazards,” replied +the valiant captain promptly. +</p> +<p>“What are you stopping there for, Andy? Why +don’t you pull up the creek?” continued the man +on shore. +</p> +<p>“My name isn’t Andy,” said Somers; “and I +don’t fully understand this business.” +</p> +<p>“Who are you, then?” replied the rebel. “What +has become of Andy?” +</p> +<p>“He has got another job, and sent me to do this +one,” answered Somers, whose ready wit had +adopted a plan to defeat the purpose of the enemy. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_202' name='page_202'></a>202</span></p> +<p>“Who are you?” +</p> +<p>“Tom Leathers. Andy sent me up to attend to +this matter. Where is the fire-steamer?” +</p> +<p>“About half a mile farther up the creek. But +where is Andy?” +</p> +<p>“Some general sent for him; and he has gone to +Richmond. I reckon the iron-clad’s coming down +soon.” +</p> +<p>“Can you take care of the steamer?” +</p> +<p>“Certainly I can.” +</p> +<p>“Are you a pilot?” +</p> +<p>“Pilot enough for this business.” +</p> +<p>“I understand it all. Andy was afraid to do +this job, and has backed out.” +</p> +<p>“I only know what he said to me,” replied +Somers innocently. +</p> +<p>“Well, pull up the creek, and don’t waste any +more time in talking about it.” +</p> +<p>“I haven’t wasted any time. You have done all +the talking yourself,” replied Somers, who thought +he should not be a consistent Southerner if he did +not growl. +</p> +<p>Somers directed the men to pull again, and the +boat advanced up the creek till the steamer appeared. +She was a small, worn-out old craft, +which had probably dodged into the creek when the +Union fleet came up the river. The man who had +spoken from the shore reached the place almost +as soon as the boat. He was dressed in the gray +of the Confederate army, and was evidently an +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_203' name='page_203'></a>203</span> +officer detailed to perform the duty of fitting out +the fire-ship. +</p> +<p>“This is a most remarkable proceeding on the +part of the pilot,” said the officer. +</p> +<p>“I can’t help it. You needn’t growl at me about +it. If you don’t want me, I don’t want the job,” +replied Somers sourly. +</p> +<p>“Don’t be impudent to me,” added the officer. +</p> +<p>“And don’t you be impudent to me,” said +Somers. “I’m not one of your men.” +</p> +<p>“Silence! or I shall put you under arrest.” +</p> +<p>“No, you won’t.” +</p> +<p>“Do you know the channel of the river?” +</p> +<p>“Of course I do. What do you suppose Andy +sent me here for?” snarled Somers. +</p> +<p>“Keep a civil tongue in your head, man.” +</p> +<p>“You had better show me how to do it first. +Come, Graves,” he added, turning to De Banyan, +“we are not wanted here, and we will go home +again.” +</p> +<p>“Who is that man with you?” +</p> +<p>“Graves.” +</p> +<p>“Where did you get all these men?” +</p> +<p>“They came with me to see the fun, and help the +thing along.” +</p> +<p>The officer stepped on board of the steamer, and +Somers and De Banyan joined him on the deck. +</p> +<p>“I think I’ve seen you somewhere.” +</p> +<p>“I think very likely; I was there once.” +</p> +<p>“You are a crusty young cub; but it may be +you know your duty.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_204' name='page_204'></a>204</span></p> +<p>“Of course I do; and as for being crusty, I +treated you like a gentleman till you began to snarl +at me.” +</p> +<p>“Well, well, my friend, we will rub out the past +and begin again,” said the officer pleasantly. +</p> +<p>“With all my heart, if you say so,” replied +Somers with equal suavity. +</p> +<p>“This is a very important enterprise, and we +want to teach the Yankees that it will be better +for them to stay at home next time they want to +come down South. What is your name?” +</p> +<p>“Tom Leathers. What’s yours? Andy told +me; but I’ve forgotten.” +</p> +<p>“Captain Osborn.” +</p> +<p>The rebel officer proceeded to give the supposed +pilot very full instructions in regard to the steamer, +which was to be run up the river to City Point, set +on fire, and then abandoned to float with the current +through the thickest of the Federal fleet, blowing +up gunboats, and consuming transports by the +hundred. The fire-steamer had been loaded with +pitch-wood, tar, pitch and turpentine; and Captain +Osborn was satisfied that the plan, if thoroughly +carried out, would cause tremendous havoc +among the Yankee vessels. He rubbed his hands +with delight as he contemplated the prospect of +driving the “Hessian” fleet from the river, and +starving the Union army out of its position. +</p> +<p>An engineer and two firemen, whom they found +on board the steamer, were all the crew she had, +and all she needed besides the pilot. They had got +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_205' name='page_205'></a>205</span> +up steam, and the vessel was all ready to move on +her errand of destruction when the word should +be given. +</p> +<p>“Now you are all ready,” said Captain Osborn +when he had completed his instructions. “You +will hoist the American flag, and pretend you are +a Yankee, if they attempt to stop you on your way +up the river.” +</p> +<p>“I can do that to a charm,” replied Somers. +“I am all ready. Where is Graves? Hallo, +Graves!” he shouted, when he found that his companion +had left his side to take a look at the other +parts of the steamer. +</p> +<p>“Here I am, Tom,” answered Graves, emerging +from the engine-room, where he had been talking +with the presiding genius of that department. +</p> +<p>“Run up the colors.” +</p> +<p>“Ay, ay, sir!” replied De Banyan. +</p> +<p>The colors went up, and other preparations were +made for the great enterprise. +</p> +<p>“Cast off that stern line!” said Somers. “Make +fast your painter on the port quarter,” he added +to the man in the boat; and no doubt by this time +Captain Osborn was fully satisfied that he was perfectly +familiar with the management of a steamer. +</p> +<p>Now, Somers was very well satisfied that he +should run the steamer aground before he rounded +the first point in the river, and he had wisely concluded +not to undertake so rash an enterprise. Besides, +he did not come over there to be the skipper +of a steamer; he had other and even more important +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_206' name='page_206'></a>206</span> +duties to perform. He was much more interested +in certain rebel batteries which were believed +to be in process of construction farther up +the river. But Captain Osborn was an unreasonable +man, and demanded the execution of his plan. +He was determined to see a conflagration, and +Somers was equally determined to gratify him. +</p> +<p>Our pilot discovered the value of his limited +nautical experience in Pinchbrook Harbor; for it +enabled him to convince the rebel officer that he +was a full-fledged “salt,” and was entirely at home +on the deck of any vessel that could float in the +waters of the James. The stern-line and the bow-line +were cast off; and Somers stood in the little +wheel-house, ready to ring the bells. Captain +Osborn had just stepped on shore, intending to +mount his horse and ride up the river, where he +could see the conflagration when it came off. +</p> +<p>Just then, there was a tremendous commotion +among the firemen and engineer; and, a moment +later, a broad, bright sheet of flame rose from the +heap of combustibles in the after-part of the +steamer. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<h2>CHAPTER XX</h2> +<h3>CAPTAIN DE BANYAN FINDS AN OLD FRIEND</h3> +</div> + +<p>Both Somers and De Banyan flew to the rescue, +and made a most enthusiastic attempt to check +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_207' name='page_207'></a>207</span> +the fire; but the raging element was now past control. +The flames spread through the combustible +material which had been stored on the deck; and +they were compelled to abandon the ill-starred +steamer with the utmost precipitation, in order to +save their own lives. +</p> +<p>De Banyan had rolled up an old newspaper, +making of it a kind of torch, some three feet in +length, which he had inserted in a mass of pitch-wood +shavings, and set the end on fire. It had +burned long enough to remove suspicion from him; +and, when the pilot and crew went on shore, Captain +Osborn had no idea of the trick of which he +had been made the victim. Our scouts kept up appearances +in the most remarkable manner, and +Somers was only afraid that his zealous companion +would overdo the matter. +</p> +<p>“What do you mean by that, Captain Osborn?” +demanded Somers, as he shook the cinders from +his clothes in the presence of the rebel officer. +“Did you intend to sacrifice our lives?” +</p> +<p>“Yes; burn us up before we had time to leave +the old hulk!” added De Banyan furiously. “I +thought we were to light the fire ourselves.” +</p> +<p>“I didn’t do it,” replied Captain Osborn. +</p> +<p>“You didn’t? Who did do it, then?” persisted +Somers. +</p> +<p>“I don’t know.” +</p> +<p>“Well, I don’t know; but, in my opinion, you +did it yourself.” +</p> +<p>“You are an idiot! Do you think I would destroy +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_208' name='page_208'></a>208</span> +the work of my own hands?” added the rebel +warmly. +</p> +<p>“Well, I supposed you fired the train so as to be +sure the thing was done right.” +</p> +<p>“You are a fool, or else you didn’t suppose any +such thing.” +</p> +<p>“I didn’t know but what you had one of those +clock machines, that touch a thing off at a certain +time. Well, how did it happen, then?” +</p> +<p>“I don’t know; perhaps from a spark from the +fire. No matter how it was done now. It is done, +and can’t be helped. I have lost the satisfaction of +seeing half the Yankee fleet burnt up. I would +rather have given a year’s pay than have had this +accident happen.” +</p> +<p>“Haven’t they got most ready for the Yankee +fleet above here?” asked Somers as carelessly as he +could. +</p> +<p>“What do you mean?” +</p> +<p>“They are building batteries up above, to knock +the Yankees into pieces, aren’t they?” +</p> +<p>“Perhaps they are.” +</p> +<p>“Well, Captain Osborn, I don’t believe your +plan would have succeeded if the steamer hadn’t +caught afire.” +</p> +<p>“Don’t you? Why not?” +</p> +<p>“Suppose the Yankees had stopped us on our +way up, and come on board the steamer. Don’t +you think they would have known what she was +for?” +</p> +<p>“Perhaps they would.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_209' name='page_209'></a>209</span></p> +<p>“Of course they would. Why didn’t you fit out +your steamer up the river?” +</p> +<p>“We haven’t so many steamers that we can +afford to burn them up. We took this one because +she happened to be in the creek, where the Yankees +could capture her at any time they pleased.” +</p> +<p>“It wouldn’t need a steamer above the fleet; a +raft would do just as well. I think I shall go up +the river, and see what can be done. Well, boys,” +added Somers to the men in the boat, “there will +be no fun to-night, and you may as well go home.” +</p> +<p>As this order was in conformity with previous +instructions, the men pulled down the creek to its +mouth, where they could remain concealed till their +officers returned. +</p> +<p>By the light of the burning steamer, Captain +Osborn had attentively scanned the features of the +pilot and his companion, apparently for the purpose +of determining where he had seen the former. +As they had both dressed themselves for the occasion, +they submitted to his scrutiny without fear. +When he had finished his survey, he mounted his +horse, which was fastened to a tree near the creek, +and had become very restive as the glaring fire +scattered burning cinders near him. As the rider +had no further use for our enterprising operatives, +he bestowed no further notice upon them, and rode +off to report to his commanding officer the failure +of the hopeful enterprise. +</p> +<p>“Well, we have done some good by coming over +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_210' name='page_210'></a>210</span> +here,” said Captain de Banyan as the officer galloped +up the road above the creek. +</p> +<p>“Hush, captain!” replied Somers. “You forget +where you are.” +</p> +<p>“No, I don’t; we are alone.” +</p> +<p>“Perhaps not; the trees have ears sometimes.” +</p> +<p>“Well, where are you going now?” +</p> +<p>“Up the river. We will take a walk up to the +batteries, if there are any there.” +</p> +<p>They proceeded in the direction indicated for +about three miles without being molested, or even +challenged by a sentinel. The Army of the Potomac +had been on the other side of the river nearly +a month, and had ceased to be a curiosity to the +rebel inhabitants in the vicinity; and like sensible +people, as they were in this respect if in no other, +they devoted the hours of darkness to sleep. On +the shore opposite the camp, they found a battery +of artillery. Rude field-works had been constructed +near the water, on which the guns of the +company had been placed. Our travelers were too +modest to make the acquaintance of the rebels, and +kept at a respectful distance from them, crawling +on the ground near enough to ascertain the force +of the enemy. +</p> +<p>Taking to the fields for greater safety, the scouts +went up the river several miles farther, without +making any discoveries worthy of notice. The object +of the excursion had been fully accomplished; +and they began to retrace their steps towards the +creek, where the boat was waiting their return. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_211' name='page_211'></a>211</span> +When we are well employed, time passes away very +rapidly; and our adventurers had taken no note +of its passage. Before they had made a single +mile, the bright streaks of day in the east warned +them that they had remained too long for their own +safety. +</p> +<p>The prospect of being examined by rebel officers +in broad daylight was not pleasant; and, increasing +their speed, they walked by the shortest way towards +the creek. When they had passed the battery +of artillery, they abandoned the fields, through +which they could make but slow progress, for the +road. They had three miles farther to go, and it +was now nearly sunrise. +</p> +<p>“I think we must have lost two or three hours,” +said Somers as they hastened on their way. “I +had no idea that it was more than two o’clock in +the morning when we turned about.” +</p> +<p>“Nor I,” replied De Banyan. “We must have +spent two or three hours in crawling on the ground +about that battery.” +</p> +<p>“I don’t see where the time is all gone.” +</p> +<p>“It goes fast when we are busy. When I was in +the Crimea——” +</p> +<p>“Never mind the Crimea now,” protested +Somers, who was in no mood for his companion’s +fibs. +</p> +<p>“Don’t be crusty, Somers.” +</p> +<p>“I did not mean to be crusty; but you know my +opinion about those stories of the Crimea and the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_212' name='page_212'></a>212</span> +Italian war, and I don’t think it is a good plan to +talk so much over here.” +</p> +<p>“As you please; it is your turn to speak next.” +</p> +<p>“I meant no offense.” +</p> +<p>“I know you didn’t, Somers; but you reproved +me, and I can only hold my peace; for you are the +commander of this expedition.” +</p> +<p>“You know I like you as a brother; but I don’t +like those silly yarns about your impossible achievements. +Hark! What’s that?” +</p> +<p>This last remark was caused by the sound of +horses’ feet behind them; and our travelers looked +back with eager interest to ascertain what was approaching. +It was a body of cavalry, which had +just swept round a bend of the road, and was now +in plain sight of them. +</p> +<p>“That won’t do,” said De Banyan with energy. +“We must conceal ourselves.” +</p> +<p>“I think they have seen us, and we may as well +make the best of it. If we hide, they will certainly +suspect us.” +</p> +<p>“They have not seen us yet. They are half a +mile off,” replied the captain, as he retired to the +field by the side of the road. +</p> +<p>Somers followed him, though he did not fully +approve the policy of his friend. They walked a +short distance till they came to a covert of bushes, +in which they concealed themselves. +</p> +<p>“I think we have made a mistake. The dog always +bites when you attempt to run away from +him,” said Somers. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_213' name='page_213'></a>213</span></p> +<p>“I don’t think they saw us,” persisted De Banyan. +“If they did, we can tell as good a story +here as we could in the road.” +</p> +<p>“I always believe in facing the music. I have +found that impudence will carry a man a great +deal farther and a great deal faster than his legs +can.” +</p> +<p>“Perhaps you are right, Somers. When I was +in Italy——” +</p> +<p>“Bah! Don’t say Italy or Crimea again till +we reach the other side of the river,” interposed +Somers, who was too seriously affected by the +perils of their situation to be willing to listen to +any of his companion’s hallucinations. +</p> +<p>“Just as you please, Somers,” answered the captain, +unmoved by the rebuff; “but, when I was +doing scout duty before the battle of Magenta, I +saw the advance of the Austrians coming up behind +me. I crawled into a haystack, and remained there +while the whole army of the Austrians, about four +hundred thousand men, passed by me.” +</p> +<p>Somers could not but smile at the infatuation of +his friend, who at such a perilous moment could +indulge in such a vicious practice as that of inventing +great stories. He did not even ask him how +long it took the Austrian army to pass the haystack, +whether they had haystacks in Italy, nor if +it was probable that such an army would pass +over a single road. He waited patiently, or impatiently, +for the approach of the rebel cavalry, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_214' name='page_214'></a>214</span> +which soon reached the road near the bushes where +they were hidden. +</p> +<p>To his consternation, they came to a dead halt; +and he could see the men gazing earnestly in the +direction they had retired. Then half a dozen of +the troopers entered the field, and rode directly +towards the covert of bushes. +</p> +<p>“We are caught!” whispered Somers. +</p> +<p>“That’s so. Just after the battle of Palestro, +when I——” +</p> +<p>“Hush!” +</p> +<p>“Hush it is,” replied De Banyan, as coolly as +though he had been under his shelter tent on the +other side of the James. +</p> +<p>Taking a knife from his pocket, he began to cut +away at a straight bush which grew near him, and +was thus busily employed when the soldiers +reached the spot. Somers stretched himself on the +ground, and waited the issue of the event; deciding +to let his companion, who had got him into the +scrape, extricate him from it. The coolness of the +captain, and the peculiar manner he assumed, convinced +him that he had some resources upon which +to draw in this trying emergency. +</p> +<p>“Hallo, there!” shouted one of the troopers +savagely, as though he intended to carry consternation +in the tones of his voice. +</p> +<p>“How are you, old hoss?” inquired De Banyan, +as impudently as though he had been the lord of +the manor. +</p> +<p>“What ye doin’ in here?” demanded the horseman, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_215' name='page_215'></a>215</span> +as he forced his animal into the bushes far +enough to obtain a full view of both of the +fugitives. +</p> +<p>“Well, old hoss, if Heaven gin you two eyes, +what were they gin to ye fur?” replied the captain, +still hacking away at the sapling. +</p> +<p>“What d’ye run for when you saw us coming?” +</p> +<p>“Didn’t run.” +</p> +<p>“Yes, yer did.” +</p> +<p>“You know best, then.” +</p> +<p>“What d’ye come in here fur?” +</p> +<p>“Don’t ye see what I came in here for?” replied +De Banyan, as he finished cutting off the bush, and +proceeded to trim off the branches. +</p> +<p>“Who are you?” +</p> +<p>“Well, old hoss, I’m the brother of my father’s +oldest son.” +</p> +<p>“What’s yer name?” +</p> +<p>“Hain’t got any; had a difficulty with the district +attorney in our county, and lost it.” +</p> +<p>“Come out here, and show yerself. The cap’n +wants to see yer down to the road.” +</p> +<p>“Just goin’ down there. Say, you hain’t got a +spare hoss in your caravan, have you? I’m gettin’ +amazin’ tired.” +</p> +<p>“Come out, both of you. I can’t stay here all +day.” +</p> +<p>“Needn’t wait for me; I’m in no hurry,” answered +the captain, as he slowly emerged from the +bushes, followed by Somers. +</p> +<p>“But I shall wait for yer; and, if yer don’t step +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_216' name='page_216'></a>216</span> +along lively, I’ll let yer know how this cheese-knife +feels.” +</p> +<p>“Don’t distress yourself to do anything of the +sort,” said De Banyan; and he hobbled along on +his new-made cane. +</p> +<p>A walk of a few rods brought them to the road, +where the commander of the company was impatiently +awaiting their arrival. He looked daggers +at the travelers, and evidently intended to annihilate +them by the fierceness of his visage. +</p> +<p>“Give an account of yourself,” said he. +</p> +<p>“We’re no account,” replied De Banyan. +</p> +<p>“I’ve seen you before,” continued the cavalry +commander, gazing intently at the captain. +</p> +<p>“No; you saw me behind.” +</p> +<p>“That sounds like you. Why, really, it is Barney +Marvel.” +</p> +<p>“Who?” demanded De Banyan with an expression +of humor. +</p> +<p>“Barney Marvel! Don’t you know your own +name? Give us your hand, Barney,” added the +officer, as he extended his own. +</p> +<p>“Well, cap’n, perhaps I’m Barney what’s-his-name; +but, ’pon my word, I don’t think I am;” +and De Banyan wore a troubled expression, even +to the eyes of his anxious companion. +</p> +<p>“Don’t be modest about it, Barney. You left us +rather unceremoniously; but I hope you’ll be able +to show that it was all right.” +</p> +<p>“’Pon my word it was all right, though I +haven’t the least idea what you mean.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_217' name='page_217'></a>217</span></p> +<p>“Haven’t you, indeed, Barney?” laughed the +captain, who, in spite of his present happy manner, +was evidently as much puzzled as the other party. +</p> +<p>“’Pon my word, I haven’t.” +</p> +<p>“Do you mean to say you are not Barney Marvel, +formerly a lieutenant in the Third Tennessee?” +</p> +<p>“Not if I know it.” +</p> +<p>“I suppose I understood your position, Barney; +but I advise you not to deny facts.” +</p> +<p>“I never deny facts, captain; you haven’t told +me your name yet.” +</p> +<p>“No need of that. Now, be honest, Barney. +Tell us all about it. There wasn’t an officer in the +regiment that didn’t mourn you as a brother when +you left us.” +</p> +<p>“I’m very much obliged to them,” replied De +Banyan lightly; but even Somers began to have +some doubts in regard to his popular friend. +</p> +<p>“How are Magenta, Solferino, and the Crimea, +now-a-days?” demanded the officer. +</p> +<p>“Never heard of such places. Don’t know much +about geography,” answered the captain. +</p> +<p>Somers was confounded when the officer repeated +these words, which was proof positive that +he was the man whom the captain represented him +to be. +</p> +<p>“Sergeant, dismount, and tell me if you find B. +M. on that man’s right arm.” +</p> +<p>The sergeant obeyed, and, with the assistance of +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_218' name='page_218'></a>218</span> +another, bared the captain’s arm, where they +found, plainly marked in India ink, the initials +B. M. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI</h2> +<h3>THE THIRD TENNESSEE</h3> +</div> + +<p>Probably there was no one in either party who +was so thoroughly bewildered by the incident which +had just transpired as Captain Somers. The mystery +of his companion’s antecedents was in a fair +way to be cleared up, though in a very unsatisfactory +manner to those most intimately concerned. +The conversation, and the verification of the rebel +officer’s statements, showed that De Banyan was +not De Banyan; that the brave and brilliant Federal +officer was not a Federal officer; that, of all he +had been, only the “brave” and “brilliant” remained. +</p> +<p>It was painfully evident that the bold and dashing +captain was, or had been, a rebel officer. +Somers was terribly shocked at the discovery, even +while it was a satisfaction to have the mystery of +his companion’s previous life explained. For the +time, he forgot the perils of his own situation in +the interest he felt in the affairs of his friend. Perhaps +De Banyan was a spy, who had been serving +in the Union army for the purpose of conveying information +to the enemy. He had been very glad +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_219' name='page_219'></a>219</span> +of the opportunity to cross the river; and it seemed +probable to our hero that he wished to return to +his friends. It is true, the efficient services of the +captain in the Army of the Potomac, his readiness +at all times to fight the rebels, and especially his +shooting down the enemy’s pickets in the swamp, +were not exactly consistent with such a record; but +perhaps he had done these things to keep up appearances, +and thus enable him the better to promote +the objects of the rebellion. +</p> +<p>He was anxious to hear the captain’s explanation +of these gross charges; but, of course, that was +utterly impracticable at present. In the meantime, +there was no room to doubt that the cavalry +officer had all the truth on his side. He had hinted +very strongly that De Banyan was a deserter; but +he might have deserted for the purpose of performing +the special duty which had been assigned to +him. Officers and soldiers, sent out as spies, had +often incurred the odium of such a reputation, in +order to keep their own counsels, and serve their +country the more faithfully. +</p> +<p>If Captain de Banyan was a deserter in appearance +only, he would, of course, soon be able to +make his fidelity and patriotism apparent to the +rebel authorities; and being a patriot, in the +traitor use of the word, he could not do less than +denounce his companion as a Federal spy. Whatever +turn the affair might take, Somers felt that his +own chances of escape were every moment becoming +beautifully less. If De Banyan was a faithful +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_220' name='page_220'></a>220</span> +rebel, there was proof positive that his companion +was a spy; if not, he was in the company of a deserter, +and would be subjected to all manner of +suspicion. +</p> +<p>De Banyan still held his head up, and did not +lose his impudence, even after the letters had been +found upon his arm. He did not appear to be at +all confused by the discovery and the triumph of +the cavalry officer’s argument. He punched +Somers in the side with his elbow; but the latter +was unable to divine the significance of this movement. +</p> +<p>“Well, Barney, I wish somebody else had caught +you instead of me; for it is not pleasant to find an +old friend under such circumstances.” +</p> +<p>“If you please, captain, I haven’t the pleasure of +knowing your name.” +</p> +<p>“Come, Barney, don’t keep up this farce any +longer.” +</p> +<p>“I was about to beg the favor, that you would +not call me by that offensive name any longer.” +</p> +<p>“You seem to be changing your colors very +rapidly,” laughed the officer. “When I first saw +you, you were a rough-spoken fellow; but now you +use the language of a polished gentleman. Barney, +you and I were good friends in the Third Tennessee; +and, though I am sorry to meet you under +these circumstances, we must both make the best +of it.” +</p> +<p>“I tell you, captain, you are entirely mistaken +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_221' name='page_221'></a>221</span> +in your man. I never was in Tennessee in my +life.” +</p> +<p>“Good! You were always celebrated for monstrous +stories; and they are fully in keeping with +your past history. Well, since you refuse to recognize +an old friend, of course I shall be excused for +any unpleasant measures to which I may be compelled +to resort.” +</p> +<p>“Anything you please, captain, so long as you +refrain from calling me Barney, which in my estimation +is a low and vulgar cognomen, that I am +unwilling to have applied to me.” +</p> +<p>“Who is the man with you?” demanded the +officer in more business-like tones. +</p> +<p>“His name is Tom Leathers; he’s a pilot on the +James. We refer you to Captain Osborn for evidence +of our character. We came here to do a job +for him.” +</p> +<p>“All right, then. Captain Osborn lodges at the +next house on this road, and we will let him speak +for the other man. He can’t speak for you; for I +know you better than he does, or any other man +who has not served in the Third Tennessee. As +you were going this way, you can walk along with +us.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you for the polite invitation, and this +is a handsome escort for a man of my humble +pretensions.” +</p> +<p>The captain of the company ordered his men to +keep back, and Somers and De Banyan walked by +the side of his horse, a few yards in advance of the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_222' name='page_222'></a>222</span> +platoons. He had evidently adopted this method +to draw out his prisoners; for as such our officers +were compelled to regard themselves. +</p> +<p>“Marvel, you used to be a very sensible fellow +when you were in the Third Tennessee,” said the +rebel captain. “I am surprised to see you adopting +such a stupid method to conceal your identity.” +</p> +<p>“I had good reasons for it,” replied De Banyan, +casting his eyes behind him, as if to assure himself +that none of the soldiers were within hearing. +</p> +<p>“What reasons?” asked the officer curiously. +</p> +<p>“I should think a man of your discretion would +easily understand the reason, without any explanation. +If I am to be tried for any offense, I don’t +want to be judged by a whole company of cavalry. +You know I always took pride in my reputation.” +</p> +<p>“I used to think so; but, when we missed you +one day, we got rid of that opinion in the Third +Tennessee.” +</p> +<p>“Then you wronged me; for I have faithfully +served my country from that day to this.” +</p> +<p>“I am glad to hear it, and I hope you will be able +to prove what you have said. How came you +here?” +</p> +<p>“I came over from the other side of the river +last night. You intimated that my departure from +the Third was not all regular,” added the captain. +</p> +<p>“In a word, it was understood that you had +deserted.” +</p> +<p>“That was a mistake.” +</p> +<p>“I am very glad to hear it; but you will remember +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_223' name='page_223'></a>223</span> +that your loyalty to the Southern Confederacy +was not above suspicion when you joined the +regiment.” +</p> +<p>De Banyan punched Somers with his elbow at +these words, as though he wished him to take particular +notice of them; but his admiring friend +needed no such admonition to induce him to give +strict attention to the statement, for it was the +most satisfactory remark he had heard during the +interview. Captain de Banyan rose twenty-five +per cent in his estimation at the utterance of those +words, however injurious they were in the opinion +of him who had spoken them. There was hope for +the captain; and Somers trusted that he would be +able fully to exonerate himself from the foul +charge, when the occasion should permit such an +exposition. +</p> +<p>“My loyalty ought to be considered above suspicion, +and those who know me best do so regard +it,” added De Banyan as he administered another +mild punch on the ribs of his fellow-sufferer. “I +was taken by the Yankees, in short; and, at the +first convenient opportunity, I have come over to +see you again.” +</p> +<p>“I hope it is all right, Barney; but I am afraid +it is not.” +</p> +<p>“I shall be able to clear myself of every imputation +of disloyalty, before the proper tribunal.” +</p> +<p>“How did you get over?” +</p> +<p>“I have been following the fortunes of the +Yankee army till last night; when I took a boat, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_224' name='page_224'></a>224</span> +and came over the river. On the way I met a pilot +whose name was Andy, who turned me over to this +man, who is also a pilot, and came down to take +out a fire-ship.” +</p> +<p>“The one that was burned in the creek last +night?” +</p> +<p>“The same. I refer you to Captain Osborn for +the truth of the last part of my statement; though +the time was when you did not ask me to bring +vouchers for what I said.” +</p> +<p>“For nothing, except your stories of the Crimea +and the Italian war,” replied the captain of cavalry +with a significant smile. “I must do you the justice +to say, that I never knew you to tell a falsehood +on any matter connected with your social or +business relations.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you for so much,” replied De Banyan. +“Now that I have made it all right, I suppose you +needn’t trouble yourself to attend to my affairs +any further.” +</p> +<p>“No trouble at all, I assure you. Under the circumstances, +I shall feel it my duty to deliver you +into the hands of my superiors, and they can do as +they please with you. But I sincerely hope that +you will be able to vindicate your character from +the stain which rests upon it.” +</p> +<p>“I don’t think it needs any vindication.” +</p> +<p>“There is some difference of opinion between +us on that point. Where are you going now?” +</p> +<p>“To Richmond,” replied De Banyan promptly; +and perhaps he intended to go there with the Army +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_225' name='page_225'></a>225</span> +of the Potomac, though its present prospects of +reaching the rebel capital were not very favorable. +</p> +<p>“This is not the way to Richmond. Your stories +don’t agree very well.” +</p> +<p>“I thought it was; or rather to Petersburg, and +from there we expected to get a ride up in the +cars.” +</p> +<p>“Oh, very well! I can procure you a pass to +Richmond,” added the rebel. +</p> +<p>“And an escort to attend us, I suppose,” replied +De Banyan with a smile. +</p> +<p>“A small one; but here is the house where Captain +Osborn lodges. If he knows your friend here, +and can vouch for his loyalty, all well; if not, we +shall not part two such loving friends.” +</p> +<p>Captain Osborn had not risen when the company +of cavalry reached his quarters; but he was called +from his bed, and appeared in front of the house +in the worst possible humor; for, being human, he +did not like to have his slumbers disturbed by unseasonable +calls. As Somers feared Captain Osborn +denied all knowledge of the prisoners, except +so far as related to his interview with them during +the night. He had never seen either of them before; +and he even took the trouble to add that he +didn’t believe the young fellow was a pilot, which +was gratuitous and uncalled for on his part. +</p> +<p>“Well, Marvel,” added the cavalry officer rather +coldly, “this business is settled very much as I supposed +it would be. I shall have to send you up +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_226' name='page_226'></a>226</span> +to Richmond, where, if your stories are all true, +I doubt not you will be able to clear yourself.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you, captain. You are the same affectionate +fellow you used to be when you were a lieutenant +in the Third Tennessee,” replied De Banyan +with a sneer; for it was evident that he was not at +all pleased with the result of the affair. +</p> +<p>Four soldiers were detailed from the company +to conduct the prisoners to a certain camp near the +railroad at City Point, and there deliver them over +to the keeping of an officer whose name was mentioned. +</p> +<p>“Good-morning, captain,” said De Banyan with +forced gayety. +</p> +<p>“Good-morning, Marvel, and success to you.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you.” +</p> +<p>“By the way, Barney, if there is anything I can +do for you, don’t fail to call upon me; that is, anything +consistent with the duty of a faithful officer.” +</p> +<p>“Such a remark was entirely uncalled for,” said +De Banyan with dignity. “Do you think I would +ask an officer to sacrifice his conscience?” +</p> +<p>“Excuse me, Barney. I meant no offense,” +added the rebel captain, touched by the proud and +dignified manner of his former friend. +</p> +<p>“Your words and your conduct are in keeping +with each other.” +</p> +<p>“Really, Barney, I meant nothing by the +remark.” +</p> +<p>“Then it was the more unmanly to make it.” +</p> +<p>“I am still your friend. In proof of it, permit +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_227' name='page_227'></a>227</span> +me to do you a favor,” pleaded the rebel, much +concerned at the wound he had inflicted on the sensitive +nature of his late associate in the Third Tennessee. +</p> +<p>“I ask no favors,” answered De Banyan +proudly. +</p> +<p>“You are too hard upon me. Upon my word, I +meant no offense. As a proof of my friendship, +I will take your parole of honor not to escape, and +you shall report at Richmond at your own pleasure. +If you have any interest in this young man, +I will allow him the same favor.” +</p> +<p>“After what has happened, I cannot accept a +favor at your hands. I can’t see how an officer +who doubts my word should be willing to take my +parole.” +</p> +<p>“As you please, Marvel,” added the captain petulantly. +“I can do no more for you.” +</p> +<p>Somers was greatly relieved when the rebel officer +rode off, followed by his company. He had +trembled with anxiety, when the parole was offered +to De Banyan, lest he should accept it, and thus +compel him to do the same. Although he could +not see how it was to be brought about, he intended +to escape from the hands of his captors at the first +convenient opportunity, with or without De Banyan, +as the case should demand. +</p> +<p>One of the four troopers detailed to guard the +prisoners was a sergeant, who intimated to them +that they might take up the line of march for the +camp where they were bound. To preclude the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_228' name='page_228'></a>228</span> +possibility of an escape, he ordered two of his men +to ride ahead of the captives, while himself and +the other followed in the rear. The little procession +moved off; and there was never a sadder-hearted +young man than Somers, who, were his +true character discovered, was liable to the pains +and penalties of being a spy. +</p> +<p>“Sergeant, have you been to breakfast?” demanded +De Banyan, after they had walked a +couple of miles, and were passing a farm-house. +</p> +<p>“No, sir.” +</p> +<p>“I smell fried bacon, and am willing to pay for +breakfast for the whole party. What do you +say?” +</p> +<p>“There is nothing in my orders to prevent me +from taking up your offer; and I will do it, if you +will agree not to run away while we are at the +house,” replied the prudent soldier. +</p> +<p>“How shall we run away, with four men watching +us?” demanded De Banyan. +</p> +<p>The sergeant seemed to be satisfied with this +argument; and they entered the house, where +breakfast was soon in preparation for them. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII</h2> +<h3>THE REBEL FARM-HOUSE</h3> +</div> + +<p>Somers, besides the chagrin caused by his capture, +was greatly disturbed by the astounding discoveries +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_229' name='page_229'></a>229</span> +he had made in regard to Captain de +Banyan. He was extremely anxious to obtain an +opportunity to converse with him in relation to his +disgraceful antecedents; but the presence of the +rebel soldiers prevented him from saying a word. +Yet his looks must have betrayed the distrust he +felt in his companion; for De Banyan seemed to +study his face more than the faces of their captors. +</p> +<p>By this time, the six trusty soldiers who had +been selected to participate in the enterprise must +have given them up, and returned to the camp with +the sad story of their capture. It was mortifying +to Somers to have such a report carried to the general +of the division; for it seemed to be an imputation +upon his skill and tact; but he found some consolation +in believing that he should not have been +taken if it had not been for his unfortunate connection +with Captain de Banyan, who was rash +beyond measure in venturing within the rebel lines, +unless he really meant to return to the Third Tennessee. +</p> +<p>Whatever the captain was, and whatever he intended +to do, Somers could not believe that his late +friend had deliberately betrayed him into the +hands of the enemy. It might be so; or it might be +that to save himself from the consequences of his +alleged desertion, he would claim to have been +always a faithful adherent of the Southern Confederacy. +Somers was perplexed beyond description +by the perils and uncertainties of his situation. +He had, in fact, lost confidence in his companion; +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_230' name='page_230'></a>230</span> +and the result was, that he resolved to make his +escape, if he could, from the hands of the rebels +without him. Under other circumstances, he would +have deemed it infamous to harbor, for an instant, +the thought of deserting a friend in the hour of +extremity; and nothing but the remembrance of the +Third Tennessee could have induced him to adopt +such a resolution. Having adopted it, he kept his +eyes wide open for any opportunity which would +favor his purpose. His curiosity, excited to the +highest pitch to know what the captain could say +in defense of the heinous charge which had been +fastened upon him by the rebel cavalry officer, and +which he himself had substantiated, rendered the +intention to part company with him very disagreeable; +but the terror of a rebel prison, and perhaps a +worse fate, were potent arguments in its favor. +</p> +<p>In the course of half an hour, the breakfast was +ready, and the party sat down with a hearty relish +to discuss it. The fried bacon and biscuit were +luxuries to Somers, and he partook of them with a +keener satisfaction than he did of the costly viands +of the “Continental” and the “National;” but, +deeply as he was interested in this pleasant employment, +he hardly ceased for a moment to think of +the grand project of making his escape. For the +time, this had become the great business of existence, +and he banished from his mind all minor +questions. +</p> +<p>Opportunity is seldom wanting to those who are +resolutely determined to do great deeds. Only the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_231' name='page_231'></a>231</span> +slow-molded and irresolute want a time and a +place. The breakfast was finished, and the troopers +and their prisoners were on excellent terms with +each other long before the conclusion of the repast. +Eating and drinking promote the social feeling; +and Captain de Banyan was as brilliant as he had +ever been in the camps of the Chickahominy. He +made the rebels laugh, and excited their wonder +by the most improbable stories in which even he +had ever indulged. It would have been impossible +to distinguish between the captives and the captors; +for the latter were extremely considerate, as +they had probably been instructed to be by the captain +of the company. +</p> +<p>When the meal was finished, the troopers rose, +and proposed to resume the journey. De Banyan +paid the bill in gold; for there was still a small +portion of the precious metal in the army. +</p> +<p>“Now we are ready,” said the sergeant; “and +we will get our horses. It’s a pity we haven’t +horses for you; but, when you get tired, we will +give you the use of the saddles for a time.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you, my friend. That’s handsome. +You remind me of a Russian major-general, who +insisted that I should ride his animal while he +walked by my side, after I was taken prisoner in the +battle of Austerlitz.” +</p> +<p>“He was a good fellow,” replied the sergeant, +who probably did not remember the precise date of +the celebrated battle quoted by the versatile captain. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_232' name='page_232'></a>232</span> +“We shall not be behind him; and, if you +like, you shall have the first ride on my horse.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you; but I couldn’t think of depriving +you of your horse, even for a moment.” +</p> +<p>“Well, we will settle all that by and by. Come +with me now, if you please,” said the sergeant, as +he led the way out of the house. +</p> +<p>As very little attention seemed to be paid to +Somers—for the rebels evidently did not regard +him as either a slippery or a dangerous person—he +was permitted to bring up the rear. Now, it is +always mortifying to be held in slight esteem, +especially to a sensitive mind like that of our hero; +and he resented the slight by declining to follow the +party. Near the outside door, as they passed out, +he discovered another door, which was ajar, and +which led up-stairs. Without any waste of valuable +time, he slyly stepped through the doorway, +and ascended the stairs. The rebels were so busy +in listening to the great stories of Captain de Banyan, +that they did not immediately discover the +absence of the unpretending young man. +</p> +<p>When our resolute adventurer saw the stairs +through the partially open door, they suggested to +him a method of operations. It is true, he did not +have time to elaborate the plan, and fully determine +what he should do when he went up-stairs; +but the general idea, that he could drop out of a +window and escape in the rear of the house, struck +him forcibly, and he impulsively embraced the opportunity +thus presented. The building was an +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_233' name='page_233'></a>233</span> +ordinary Virginia farm-house, rudely constructed, +and very imperfectly finished. On ascending the +stairs, Somers reached a large, unfinished apartment, +which was used as a store-room. From it +opened, at each end of the house, a large chamber. +</p> +<p>No place of concealment, which was apparently +suitable for his purpose, presented itself; and, without +loss of time, he mounted a grain chest, and +ascended to the loft over one of the rooms; for the +beams were not floored in the middle of the building. +The aspect of this place was not at all hopeful; +for there were none of those convenient +“cubby holes,” which most houses contain, wherein +he could bestow his body with any hope of escaping +even a cursory search for him. +</p> +<p>In the gable end, on one side of the chimney, +which, our readers are aware, is generally built +on the outside of the structure, in Virginia, was a +small window, one-half of which, in the decay of +the glass panes, had been boarded up to exclude +the wind and the rain. The job had evidently been +performed by a bungling hand, and had never been +more than half done. The wood was as rotten as +punk; and without difficulty, and without much +noise, the fugitive succeeded in removing the board +which had covered the lower part of the window. +</p> +<p>By this time the absence of the prisoner had +been discovered, and the rebels were in a state of +high excitement on account of it; but Somers was +pleased to find they had not rightly conjectured +the theory of his escape. He could hear them +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_234' name='page_234'></a>234</span> +swear, and hear them considering the direction in +which he had gone. Two of them stood under the +window, to which Somers had restored the board +he had removed; and he could distinctly hear all +that they said. +</p> +<p>“Of course he did,” said one of them. “He +slipped round the corner of the house when we +came out.” +</p> +<p>“If he did, where is he? It’s open ground +round here; and he couldn’t have gone ten rods +before we missed him.” +</p> +<p>“The captain will give it to me,” replied the +other, whose voice the fugitive recognized to be +that of the sergeant. +</p> +<p>“We shall find him,” added the other. “He +can’t be twenty rods from here now.” +</p> +<p>“I did not think of the young fellow running +off, but kept both eyes on the other all the time; +for I thought he wasn’t telling all those stories +for nothing.” +</p> +<p>“Maybe he is in the house,” suggested the other. +</p> +<p>Somers thought that was a very bad suggestion +of the rebel soldier; and, if there had been any +hope of their believing him, he would himself have +informed them that he was not in the house, and +reconciled his conscience as best he could to the +falsehood. +</p> +<p>“Can’t yer find ’em?” demanded a third person, +which Somers saw, through the aperture he had +left between the board and the window, was the +farmer. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_235' name='page_235'></a>235</span></p> +<p>“We haven’t lost but one.” +</p> +<p>“He can’t be fur from this yere.” +</p> +<p>“Isn’t he in the house?” demanded the sergeant +anxiously. +</p> +<p>“No; I saw them both foller yer out.” +</p> +<p>“So did I,” added the farmer’s wife, who had +come out to learn the cause of the excitement. +</p> +<p>“Well, then, we must beat about here, and find +him;” and the party beneath the window moved +away in the rear of the house. +</p> +<p>Thus far, the project was hopeful; but it was apparent +to Somers that the rebels would not leave +the place without searching the house, after they +had satisfied themselves that the fugitive was not +hidden in any of the out-buildings of the farm. If +they did so, his situation would at once become +hopeless, if he remained where he was. The remembrance +of his former experience in a chimney, +in another part of Virginia, caused him to cast a +wistful eye at the great stone structure which +adorned the end of the building. At that time, he +had occupied his smoky quarters with the knowledge +and consent of the lady of the house. But +now his secret was lodged in his own breast alone; +not even Captain de Banyan knew where he was, +or what he proposed to do. +</p> +<p>When the party beneath the window left the +place, he carefully removed the board, and thrust +out his head to reconnoiter the position. The only +way by which he could enter the chimney, which +his former experience and prejudice assured him +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_236' name='page_236'></a>236</span> +was the only safe place in the vicinity, was by the +top. To achieve such a result was a difficult piece +of gymnastics, even if it could have been performed +without reference to any spectators; but to accomplish +it without being seen by any of the party below +was as near an impossibility as any impracticable +thing could be. +</p> +<p>The rebels, both civil and military, were now out +of sight; but he doubted not from his eyrie on the +ridge-pole of the house, if he could reach it, they +could all be seen. Somers was as prudent as he +was bold, and he decided not to run any risks until +necessity should absolutely compel such a course. +Quietly ensconcing himself beneath the window, +where he could hear what transpired below, he +waited the issue; but he had studied out the precise +steps which it would be necessary for him to take +in order to reach the roof of the house. He knew +exactly where his right and his left foot were to be +successfully planted to achieve his purpose, when +it could no longer be postponed. But he indulged +a faint hope that the rebels would widen the area +of their search, and finally abandon it when it +should be unsuccessful. +</p> +<p>A long quarter of an hour elapsed—long enough +to be an hour’s time as its ordinary flow is measured; +so burdened with intense anxiety was each +second that made up its sum total. The rebels, +assisted by the farmer and his wife, who were now +hardly less zealous than the soldiers, had examined +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_237' name='page_237'></a>237</span> +every hole and corner in the vicinity of the house, +without finding the escaped prisoner. +</p> +<p>“I tell you, he must be in the house,” said the +sergeant, as the party paused under the window +on their return to the front of the house. +</p> +<p>“Of course, ye kin look in the house if yer like; +but I see ’em both go out of the door with yer,” +persisted the farmer. +</p> +<p>“We will search the house,” added the sergeant +resolutely. +</p> +<p>“Yer kin, if yer like; but I hope yer won’t lose +the other feller while ye’re looking for this one.” +</p> +<p>“I told Gordon to shoot him if he attempted to +get away; and I can trust Gordon.” +</p> +<p>They passed out of hearing, and Somers felt that +his time had come. But, as we have several times +before had occasion to remark, strategy is successful +in one only by the blunders and inertness of the +other; and he cherished with increased enthusiasm +his project of hiding in the chimney. Neither the +farmer nor the soldiers were trained detectives, +and the blunder they made which rendered +Somers’s strategy more available was in hunting in +crowds instead of singly. They all entered the +house together; and even Gordon, in charge of the +other prisoner, conducted him to the interior, that +he might have the pleasure of seeing the fugitive +unearthed. +</p> +<p>Taking down the board, Somers emerged from +the little window, and, by the steps which he had +before marked out, ascended to the roof; a difficult +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_238' name='page_238'></a>238</span> +feat, which would have been impossible to one +whose father was not the master of a vessel, and +who had not explored a ship from the step to the +truck of the mainmast. It was done, safely done, +and without much noise, which would have been +as fatal as a fall. As he sprang from the window +still to a projecting stone in the chimney, he heard +the steps of the whole party on the stairs below. +He was not an instant too soon in the execution +of his project; and, when he reached the ridge-pole +of the house, he paused to recover the breath which +he had lost by excitement and exertion. +</p> +<p>The pursuers occupied some time in examining +the store-room and the adjoining chambers, and he +had a sufficient interval for rest before he renewed +his labors. But in a few moments he heard the +noise caused by the party ascending to the loft over +the room beneath him, and the movement could no +longer be delayed. +</p> +<p>“I tell yer, sergeant, the feller isn’t in here!” +protested the farmer violently, and in a tone loud +enough for Somers to hear him on the roof. “Be +keerful there, or you’ll break down the plastering.” +</p> +<p>Somers could not hear what the sergeant said +in reply; but the farmer was so earnest in his protest +against any further search of his house, that +the fugitive was almost willing to believe that the +protester knew he was in the house, was his friend, +and meant to save him from the hands of his +enemies. But this supposition was too absurd to +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_239' name='page_239'></a>239</span> +be tolerated, for the farmer could have no possible +interest in his welfare. +</p> +<p>While watching, he had taken off his shoes, and +thrust one into each side-pocket of the old blouse +he wore, partly to save noise, and partly to prevent +his feet from slipping on the smooth stones of the +chimney. Thus prepared, he climbed to the top, +and commenced the descent of the smoky avenue. +He found the opening much smaller than that of +his previous experience in chimneys; and, after he +had descended a few feet, the place became inconveniently +dark. He could no longer hear the steps +or the voices of his pursuers; and he had begun to +congratulate himself on the ultimate success of +his stratagem, when his foot struck upon something +which moved out of his way. It was an animal—perhaps +a cat. He moved on. +</p> +<p>“Quit! Lemme alone!” said a snarling voice +beneath him. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII</h2> +<h3>THE MAN IN THE CHIMNEY</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Lemme alone!” repeated the voice in the +chimney several times before Somers could make up +his mind as to the precise nature of the adventure +upon which he had stumbled. +</p> +<p>There was another man in the chimney; and this +was the full extent of his knowledge in regard to +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_240' name='page_240'></a>240</span> +the being who had stepped into his darkened path. +A succession of exciting questions presented themselves +to his mind, all of which were intimately +connected with the individual with whom, for the +moment, his lot seemed to be cast. Was he friend, +or foe? Yankee, rebel, or neutral? What was he +in the chimney for? What business had he there? +</p> +<p>Somers had some knowledge of a useful and +otherwise rightly respectable class of persons, +known as chimney-sweeps, who pursue their dark +trade up and down such places as that in which he +was now burrowing; but the sweeps were a civilized +institution, and he could hardly expect to find +them in this benighted section of the Ancient Dominion. +He did not, therefore, waste a moment in +the consideration of the question, whether the man +beneath him was a chimney-sweep or not; for the +supposition was too improbable even for the pages +of a sensational novel. +</p> +<p>The individual was in the chimney; and there +seemed to be the boundary of knowledge on the +subject. If he was not crazy, he was there for +concealment; and, thus far the two occupants of +the chimney were in sympathy with each other. +Why should the man wish to conceal himself? +Was he a hated Yankee like himself, pursued and +hunted down by the myrmidons of Jeff Davis? +Certainly, if he was a rebel, he had no business in +the chimney. It was no place for rebels; they had +no occasion to be there. +</p> +<p>Of course, then, the man must be a Yankee, a +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_241' name='page_241'></a>241</span> +fellow-sufferer with Somers himself, and therein +entitled to the utmost consideration from him. +But, if a Yankee, what Yankee? The species did +not abound on this side of the river; and he could +not imagine who it was, unless it were one of his +own party. Just then, induced by this train of +reflection, came a tremendous suggestion, which +seemed more probable than anything he had before +thought of. Was it possible that the other denizen +of the sooty flue could be Captain de Banyan? +</p> +<p>His fellow-prisoner had been taken into the +house by his custodian; and, while the guard was +looking the other way, perhaps he had suddenly +popped up the chimney, leaving the rebel soldier +in charge of him to believe that he was in league +with the powers of darkness, and had been spirited +away by some diabolical imp. +</p> +<p>In the range of improbable theories which the +fertile mind of Somers suggested to account for the +phenomenon of the chimney, this seemed more +reasonable than any of the others. The personage +below him very considerately dropped down a step +or two, to enable our theorist to discuss the question +to his own satisfaction; albeit it did not take +him a tithe of the time to do his thinking which it +has taken his biographer to record it. +</p> +<p>“Captain?” said he in a gentle whisper, as insinuating +as the breath of a summer evening to a +love-sick girl. +</p> +<p>“I ain’t a captain; I’m nothing but a private!” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_242' name='page_242'></a>242</span> +growled the other, who seemed to be in very ill-humor. +</p> +<p>Nothing but a private! It was not the captain +then, after all. He had hoped, and almost believed, +it was. He had told his friend all about his experience +in a chimney; and it seemed to him quite +probable that the valiant hero of Magenta and Solferino +had remembered the affair, and attempted +to try his own luck in a similar manner. It was +not the voice of the captain, nor were there any of +his peculiarities of tone or manner. If the other +character had only said Balaclava, Alma, or +Palestro, it would have been entirely satisfactory +in any tone or in any manner. +</p> +<p>“What are you doing here?” demanded Somers +in the same low voice, with commendable desire to +obtain further knowledge of the dark subject beneath +him. +</p> +<p>“I don’t want nothin’ of you; so yer kin let me +alone. If yer don’t let me alone, I’ll be dog derned +if I don’t ketch hold of yer legs, and pull yer down +chimley.” +</p> +<p>“Hush!” said Somers in warning tones. “They +will hear you, if you speak so loud.” +</p> +<p>The man was a rebel, or at least a Southerner; +and it passed our hero’s comprehension to determine +what he was doing in such a place. +</p> +<p>“Hush yerself!” snarled the disconcerted rebel. +“What yer want o’ me? I ain’t done nothin’ to +you.” +</p> +<p>“I don’t want anything of you; but, if you don’t +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_243' name='page_243'></a>243</span> +keep still, I’ll drop a stone on your head,” replied +Somers, irritated by the fellow’s stupidity. +</p> +<p>“Will yer?” +</p> +<p>“Not if you keep still. Don’t you see we are in +the same box? I don’t want to be caught, any +more than you do.” +</p> +<p>“Who be yer?” asked the man, a little mollified +by this conciliatory remark. +</p> +<p>“Never mind who I am now. The soldiers are +in the house looking for us; and, if you make a +noise, they will hear you.” +</p> +<p>“What regiment do yer belong ter?” said the +lower occupant of the chimney in a whisper. +</p> +<p>“Forty-first,” replied Somers at a venture, willing +to obtain the advantage of the fellow’s silence. +</p> +<p>“Did yer run away?” +</p> +<p>“No. Did you?” +</p> +<p>“What yer in here fur, if yer didn’t run away, +then?” asked the deserter from the rebel army, +which it was now sufficiently evident was his +character. +</p> +<p>“Keep still!” replied Somers, regretting that he +had not given a different answer. +</p> +<p>“I know yer!” exclaimed the rebel, making a +movement farther down the chimney, thereby detaching +sundry pieces of stone and mortar, which +thundered down upon the hearth below with a din +louder, as it seemed to Somers in his nervousness, +than all the batteries of the Army of the Potomac. +“Yer come to ketch me in a trap. Scotch me if I +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_244' name='page_244'></a>244</span> +don’t blow yer up so high ’twill take yer six months +ter come down ag’in!” +</p> +<p>“Keep still!” pleaded Somers, in despair at the +unreasonableness of the rebel. “The soldiers are +after me; and, if they catch me, they will catch you. +1 don’t want to hurt you. If you will only keep +still, I will help you out of the scrape.” +</p> +<p>“You go to Babylon! Yer can’t fool me! What +yer doin’ in the chimley?” +</p> +<p>If Somers could quietly have put a bullet +through the fellow’s head, and thus have punished +him for the crime of desertion, he might have promoted +his own cause; but the bullet would not do +its work without powder, and powder was noisy; +and therefore the remedy was as bad as the disorder, +to say nothing of assuming to himself the +duty of a rebel provost-marshal. +</p> +<p>“Yer can’t fool me!” repeated the fellow, after +Somers had tried for a moment the effect of silence +upon him. +</p> +<p>It was unnecessary to fool such an idiot; for Nature +had effectually done the job without human +intervention. It was useless to waste words upon +him; and Somers crept cautiously up out of his +reach, and out of his hearing, unless he yelled out +his insane speeches. Every moment he stopped to +listen for sounds within the house; but he could +hear none, either because the pursuers had abandoned +the search, or because the double thickness +of wood and stone shut out the noise. +</p> +<p>The rebel deserter, for a wonder, kept quiet +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_245' name='page_245'></a>245</span> +when Somers retreated from him, evidently believing +that actions spoke louder than words. From +his lower position in the flue, he could look up into +the light, and observe the movements of him whom +he regarded as an enemy. He seemed to have discretion +enough to keep still, so long as no direct +attack was made upon him; and to be content to +wait for a direct assault before he attempted to repel +it; which was certainly more than Somers expected +of him, after what had transpired. +</p> +<p>Carefully and noiselessly our fugitive made his +way to the top of the chimney for the purpose of +ascertaining the position of the pursuers, as well +as to remove all ground of controversy with the intractable +deserter. On reaching the top, he heard +the voice of the sergeant at the window, who had +probably just reached this point in his investigations. +</p> +<p>“How came this board knocked off?” demanded +the sergeant, who had perhaps observed some other +indications of the advance of the fugitive in this +direction. +</p> +<p>“The wind blowed it off t’other day,” promptly +replied the farmer. “Yer don’t s’pose the feller +went out that winder, do yer?” +</p> +<p>“No; but I think he has been up here somewhere.” +</p> +<p>“Well, I hope yer’ll find him; but I’ve showed +yer into every hole and corner in the house; and +I tell yer he’s five mile from this yere ’fore now.” +</p> +<p>The sergeant looked out of the window, looked +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_246' name='page_246'></a>246</span> +up to the top of the chimney, and looked up to the +ridge-pole of the house. He was no sailor himself; +and, if the thought had occurred to him that the +Yankee had passed from this window to the roof +of the house, he would have been willing to take +his Bible oath that not a man in the Southern Confederacy +could have accomplished such an impossible +feat. He could not do it himself, and consequently +he believed that no other man could. After +examining the situation to his entire satisfaction, +he retired from the window, and with a great many +impolite and wicked oaths, aimed at Yankees in +general, and deserters in particular, he descended +from the loft, and abandoned the search. +</p> +<p>Somers was happy, and even forgave the deserter +in the lower part of the chimney for his +stupidity. He waited patiently for the troopers to +depart—very patiently, now that the burden of the +peril seemed to be over; for he had heard the conclusions +of the sergeant at the window. From his +present perch near the top of the chimney, he could +hear some of the conversation in front of the +house; and he even ventured to take a look at his +enemies below. To his intense satisfaction, he saw +them mount their horses: and he was not much +disturbed by the unamiable reflections which they +cast upon him. +</p> +<p>Captain de Banyan was with them; thus proving +in the most conclusive manner that the gentleman +in the chimney was not this distinguished individual. +Having lost one prisoner, they were +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_247' name='page_247'></a>247</span> +particularly cautious in regard to the disposition +of the other. The captain marched off in gloomy +dignity, with two cavalrymen before and two behind +him. Somers caught a glance at his face as +he turned the corner into the road. It was sad +beyond anything which he had ever observed in +his countenance before, and a momentary twinge +of conscience upbraided him for deserting a comrade +in such an hour; he might have waited till +both of them could escape together. But the captain’s +record in the Third Tennessee assured him +that he had only done his duty; though he hoped +his brilliant friend would be able, if an opportunity +was ever presented, to remove the stain which now +rested on his name and fame. +</p> +<p>With a feeling of intense relief, however much +he commiserated the misfortunes of his comrade, +Somers saw the little procession move up the road +which led to Richmond and a rebel dungeon. They +disappeared; and while he was considering in what +manner he should make his way down to the creek, +where he hoped to find a boat in which to leave +this treacherous soil, he heard a voice beneath him, +and farther down than the locality of the deserter. +</p> +<p>“Yer kin come down now, Tom,” said the +farmer. +</p> +<p>Though the name was his own, the invitation +was evidently not intended for him; and he remained +quietly on his perch, waiting for further +developments. +</p> +<p>“Hev they all gone, dad?” asked the deserter. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_248' name='page_248'></a>248</span></p> +<p>“Yes; all gone. Yer kin come down now.” +</p> +<p>The renegade, then, was the son of the farmer; +which accounted for the unwillingness of the latter +to have the house searched by the soldiers; and, +though Somers had a general contempt for deserters, +he felt his indebtedness to this interesting +family for the service they had unwittingly endeavored +to render him. +</p> +<p>Tom—Somers wanted to have his name changed +then—Tom descended from his position in the +chimney. It was an easy matter; for the kitchen +was at the other end of the house, and there had +been no fire on this hearth for many a month. +</p> +<p>“Dad,” said this graceless son of a graceless sire. +</p> +<p>“Go and wash yer face, Tom. Ye’re blacker +than Black Jack.” +</p> +<p>“Dad, there’s another man up the chimley. We +come near havin’ a fight up there. I told him what +I would do; and he got skeered, and went up top.” +</p> +<p>“What d’yer mean, Tom?” demanded the +patriarch. +</p> +<p>Tom stated again, more explicitly than before, +the subject matter of his startling communication. +</p> +<p>“I reckon he’s a Yank, dad; he talks like one, +but says he b’longs to the Forty-fust Virginny. I +know he’s a Yank. I kin smell one a mile off.” +</p> +<p>Somers was flattered; but he was not angry at +the compliment, and calmly waited for an invitation +to join the family below. +</p> +<p>“He’s the feller that gin the soldiers the slip,” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_249' name='page_249'></a>249</span> +added the father. “The sergeant says he’s a Yank; +but t’other prisoner says he’s a James River pilot.” +</p> +<p>“I know he’s a Yank. He’d ‘a’ killed me if I +hadn’t skeered him off.” +</p> +<p>“I reckon he skeered you more’n you skeered +him,” added the head of the family, who appeared +not to have a very high opinion of his son’s +courage. “We’ll smoke him out, Tom. Go’n git +some pitch-wood and sich truck.” +</p> +<p>Somers had a very strong objection to being +smoked out, and he commenced a forward and +downward movement in the direction of the assailing +party. Fearing that some unworthy advantage +might be taken of his lower extremities before he +could assume an attitude of defense, he drew his +pistol, and placed himself a few feet above the fire-place. +Tom returned with the fuel, and the old +man ordered him to make a fire. +</p> +<p>“One moment, if you please,” said Somers. +“I’ll shoot the first man of you that attempts to +make a fire there.” +</p> +<p>With an exclamation of terror, Tom retreated +from the hearth; and Somers, improving the opportunity, +leaped down from his perch. Stepping out +from the great fire-place, he stood in the presence +of the hopeful son and sire. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_250' name='page_250'></a>250</span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV</h2> +<h3>A BROKEN BARGAIN</h3> +</div> + +<p>Somers was entirely satisfied with himself when +he stood in the presence of the farmer and his son; +and, so far as they were concerned, he had no fears +for the future. The redoubtable Tom retired to +one corner of the room, and, full of terror, awaited +the issue. The father was the braver of the two, +and stood in the middle of the floor, confronting +the pestilent Yankee who had thus so unceremoniously +invaded his house. +</p> +<p>“Who be you?” demanded the old man. +</p> +<p>“No matter who I am,” replied Somers, with +the pistol still in his hand. “I propose to spend +the day with you, and will pay for everything I +have.” +</p> +<p>“Perhaps yer will stay here, and perhaps yer +won’t,” replied the farmer doggedly. +</p> +<p>“There’s no perhaps about it; I intend to stay +here.” +</p> +<p>“I s’pose yer don’t keer whether I’m willing or +not.” +</p> +<p>“On the contrary, I do care. I had much rather +stay with your consent than without.” +</p> +<p>“Well, then, yer won’t stay with my consent.” +</p> +<p>“Then I shall stay without it,” answered Somers, +with a degree of decision which was exceedingly annoying +to his involuntary host. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_251' name='page_251'></a>251</span></p> +<p>“No, yer won’t,” growled the farmer. +</p> +<p>“I will pay you well for the use of this room, +and for all that I eat and drink,” said Somers, +wishing to be fully understood. +</p> +<p>“Yer can’t stay here.” +</p> +<p>“No, yer can’t,” added Tom. +</p> +<p>“I have made you a fair offer, and am willing +to do what is right; and, as I said before, I intend +to stay here till to-night, whether you are willing +or not.” +</p> +<p>“Yer kin put up your pistol; I ain’t afeerd on +it.” +</p> +<p>“I have no desire to use the pistol to your injury, +and shall not do so unless in self-defense. +You know that I am a fugitive.” +</p> +<p>“A nigger, by gracious!” exclaimed the farmer, +whose vocabulary was very limited, and who had +no idea that the word “fugitive” could mean anything +but a runaway negro. +</p> +<p>“You know that the soldiers are after me, and it +will not be safe for me to leave this house before +dark. I’m not a nigger; and it makes no difference +to you what I am.” +</p> +<p>“You are a dirty Yankee; and I’d rather hev a +hundred niggers in my house than one Yankee.” +</p> +<p>“That’s a matter of taste. If you are fond of +negroes, I don’t interfere with you for that.” +</p> +<p>“Shet up!” snarled the farmer, highly displeased +with the answer of the fugitive. “I won’t hev a +Yankee in my house a single hour.” +</p> +<p>“Very well; we won’t argue the matter. You +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_252' name='page_252'></a>252</span> +can do anything you please about it,” replied +Somers with perfect indifference as he seated himself +in a chair. +</p> +<p>“Then yer kin leave.” +</p> +<p>“I shall not leave; on the contrary, I shall remain +here till night.” +</p> +<p>“I reckon we’ll see about that. I’ll jest go down +and call up two or three of them soldiers, and let +’em know you’re a Yankee. I calkilate they’ll tote +you out of this rather sudden.” +</p> +<p>“Go ahead!” replied Somers coolly. +</p> +<p>“I reckon ye’ll tell another story by the time +they git here.” +</p> +<p>“I reckon your son Tom will too,” added the unwelcome +guest. +</p> +<p>“See here, dad; that won’t work, nohow,” interposed +the hopeful son. “They’ll ketch me if yer +do.” +</p> +<p>“Exactly so,” added Somers, who, of course, +had depended upon the situation of the rebel deserter +for his own safety. +</p> +<p>The farmer looked at his intractable guest, and +then upon his dutiful son; and the idea tardily +passed through his dull brain that the soldiers +would be just as dangerous to the welfare of the +son as to the visitor. Probably he had intended, +when the military force came, to send Tom up the +chimney, as he had done a dozen times before; but +the secret was no longer in the keeping of the +family alone. +</p> +<p>“I see you understand the case perfectly,” said +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_253' name='page_253'></a>253</span> +Somers, as he contemplated with intense satisfaction +the blank dismay of both father and son. “If +you had the wisdom of Solomon, you couldn’t comprehend +it any better.” +</p> +<p>“I reckon ye’re about right, stranger,” replied +the farmer. +</p> +<p>“You can see now it is for your interest as well +as mine that we make friends. Tom’s safety and +mine are both the same thing. The best you can do +is to take good care of me to-day, and at night help +me to make my way over to the other side of the +river.” +</p> +<p>“Then yer be a Yank?” +</p> +<p>“I didn’t say so. Tom can go with me if he +likes. He will be safer there than here.” +</p> +<p>“Tom?” +</p> +<p>“If he is a deserter from the rebel army, he will +be caught sooner or later, and be shot. He will +be safe on the other side of the river.” +</p> +<p>“Go over to the Yanks! He hates ’em wurs’n +pizin. Don’t yer, Tom?” +</p> +<p>“Bet yer life I do, dad,” replied the hopeful +son. “I won’t go over thar, nohow.” +</p> +<p>“Just as he pleases about that. I only wanted +to do him a friendly act.” +</p> +<p>“Well, stranger, I don’t mind keepin’ yer to-day; +but Tom can’t go with yer.” +</p> +<p>“Very well; then I will stay in this room; and, +if the soldiers come, I can go up the chimney with +Tom,” replied Somers. “I’m tired and sleepy. +Didn’t sleep a wink last night. I will take a nap +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_254' name='page_254'></a>254</span> +on the floor. You will wake me, Tom, if there’s +any danger; won’t you?” +</p> +<p>“Yes, I’ll wake yer,” replied the deserter with a +broad grin. +</p> +<p>“We’ll see that you don’t git caught; kase, if +yer do, of course, Tom’ll git caught too,” added +the farmer. +</p> +<p>There was something in his manner which +Somers did not like. Though he was a man of +dull mind, there was a kind of low cunning visible +in his look and manner which warned Somers to be +cautious. He stretched himself on the floor; and +the farmer and his son left the room, closing the +door behind them. +</p> +<p>Our scout was, as he had before declared, both +tired and sleepy; but rest and sleep were luxuries +in which he could not permit himself to indulge +in the midst of so much peril and so many enemies. +As soon as the door closed behind the sire and the +son, he rose from his reclining posture, and hastened +to reconnoiter the position. The enemy—for +such he was fully assured his host was—passed +through the entry and out the door at the back of +the house, as Somers discovered from the noise of +their retreating footsteps. +</p> +<p>There was a window in the rear of the room, +which commanded a full view of them as they +paused near the door to consider the situation. +Somers raised the sash a little, so that he could +hear what they said, not doubting that his own case +would be the subject of the conversation. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_255' name='page_255'></a>255</span></p> +<p>“Don’t you do it, dad,” protested Tom in answer +to some proposition which the farmer had +made before the listener came within hearing distance +of them. +</p> +<p>“Don’t yer be skeert, Tom. The feller’s gone +ter sleep in there, and the soldiers kin hurry him +off afore he wakes up. Don’t yer see, Tom? I +reckon the Yank’s an officer, and they’ll give me +suthin handsome fur ketchin him.” +</p> +<p>“Yes; but, dad, they’ll get suthin handsome fur +ketchin me too.” +</p> +<p>“You kin hide, as yer allers does when they +comes.” +</p> +<p>“But the Yank will blow on me.” +</p> +<p>“What if he does?” +</p> +<p>“He’ll tell ’em I’m up chimley, and then they’ll +look fur me.” +</p> +<p>“Tom, ye’re a bigger fool’n yer father!” said +the farmer petulantly. “Can’t yer hide in t’other +place down suller?” +</p> +<p>“It looks kinder skeery, dad,” replied the doubtful +son. +</p> +<p>“Yer used ter hide down suller more’n yer did +up chimley. But don’t yer see, Tom, arter I’ve +called in the soldiers, and give up the Yank, they’ll +think I’m a patriot, and won’t b’leeve nothin’ a +dirty Yank can say agin’ me.” +</p> +<p>“Well, dad, I hate the Yank as bad as you do; +but yer must be keerful.” +</p> +<p>“Now go and see that the feller don’t wake up +and run off, and I’ll go down arter a sergeant and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_256' name='page_256'></a>256</span> +half a dozen men. When yer hear us comin’, just +step down suller’n crawl inter the drean. Git the +feller’s pistol out of his pocket, if yer kin, while +he’s asleep.” +</p> +<p>“What a precious old scoundrel that man is!” +thought Somers, as he retreated from the window, +and threw himself on the floor where the farmer +had left him. +</p> +<p>He almost regretted that he had not used his +pistol on the treacherous old villain, who had made +a fair bargain with him, and agreed to the terms +of the contract. The wretch had actually gone +after the soldiers to entrap him, and Tom was to +remain and keep watch of him in the meantime. +Taking the revolver from his pocket, he thrust it +under his blouse; still keeping his hand upon it, +so as to make sure that the deserter did not carry +out his part of the programme. Thus prepared for +the conflict which might ensue, or for any other +event, he closed his eyes, and pretended to be +asleep. +</p> +<p>Presently the door softly opened, and Tom crept +into the room. He had taken off his shoes, that his +step on the uncarpeted floor might not disturb his +prey, and stole towards him. After approaching +as near to the prostrate form as he dared, he bent +over him to determine in which pocket the pistol +had been placed. Somers was tempted to grapple +him by the throat, as he listened to the young villain’s +subdued breathing; but he feared that he +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_257' name='page_257'></a>257</span> +would scream if he did so, and it was necessary to +achieve his conquest in a more gentle manner. +</p> +<p>He moved his body a little, as if his slumbers +were disturbed by unpleasant dreams; and added +a noise like a snore to complete the delusion. Tom +retired for a moment till his victim should again +be composed; but Somers, instead of subsiding into +the slumber of a sleepy and tired man, gradually +opened his eyes and waked up. Slowly rising into +a sitting posture, he looked around him; and apparently, +as if entirely by accident, he discerned +Tom. +</p> +<p>“Can’t yer sleep?” asked Tom, with extraordinary +good nature for a person of his saturnine disposition. +</p> +<p>“I’ve been asleep these two hours, I believe,” +gaped Somers. “What time is it, Tom?” +</p> +<p>“’Tain’t eight o’clock yet. Yer hain’t been +asleep more’n fifteen minutes.” +</p> +<p>“Haven’t I?” +</p> +<p>“Not more’n that. Better lay down, and finish +yer nap; kase I s’pose yer won’t git much sleep to-night, +if ye’re gwine over the river.” +</p> +<p>“I feel better than I did, at any rate. I think +I’ll get up. It’s tremendous hot here. Don’t you +ever open your windows?” +</p> +<p>“I reckon we do. I was just thinkin’ o’ that.” +</p> +<p>And it was quite probable he was thinking of +it; for he certainly wanted the earliest information +of the approach of the soldiers. He opened the +window in the front of the house, and Somers +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_258' name='page_258'></a>258</span> +opened that in the rear. The latter then went to +the door, and took a careful survey of the entry, +in order to determine the way which the deserter +must take to reach the cellar, where he was to conceal +himself when the soldiers came. The prudent +son of the master of the house had opened the door +leading to the cellar, from which he was to enter +his subterranean retreat. +</p> +<p>For more than an hour, Tom nervously watched +the wakeful Yankee, and several times suggested +to him that he could sleep just as well as not, +promising to wake him up if there was any danger; +but Somers was most provokingly lively for a man +who had been up all the preceding night, and +resolutely refused to take a hint or to adopt a suggestion. +Both of them were fearfully anxious for +the result that was pending, and each had his plan +for overreaching the other. It was a long hour; +but at last Tom broke the spell which seemed to +rest on both of them by declaring that he was +“clean choked up,” and must go and get a drink +of water. At the same moment, Somers heard the +tramp of the soldiers in the road as they approached +the house, and understood why his companion +had suddenly become so thirsty. +</p> +<p>“No,” said Somers, placing himself between the +deserter and the door, with the revolver in his +hand. “I don’t want to be left alone. Somebody +is coming to the house—half a dozen men. They +are soldiers!” he exclaimed, glancing out at the +window. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_259' name='page_259'></a>259</span></p> +<p>“Run right up chimley thar, and you’ll be as +safe as if you was t’other side of the river.” +</p> +<p>“But they’ll catch you too! Come, Tom, up +chimney with you, and I’ll follow. If any one attempts +to follow us, I’ll shoot him with my pistol. +Be in a hurry, Tom! We have no time to spare,” +urged Somers, driving the coward before him towards +the fire-place. +</p> +<p>“You go up fust,” pleaded Tom, in mortal +terror of the revolver. +</p> +<p>“Up with you, or I’ll blow your brains out!” +added Somers in a low, fierce tone, which frightened +his companion half out of his wits. +</p> +<p>“Don’t fire, and I will,” replied the wretch, as +he stepped into the fire-place, and commenced the +ascent of the chimney. +</p> +<p>“Up with you!” repeated Somers. “Now, if +you attempt to come down, I’ll shoot you.” +</p> +<p>The voice of the farmer, leading the soldiers to +their prey, was now heard close to the house; and +Somers deemed it prudent no longer to remain in +the room. Darting out into the entry, he made his +way to the cellar, closing the door behind him just +as the rebels were about to enter. +</p> +<p>“Where is he?” demanded the sergeant, who belonged +to the battery at the works near the house. +</p> +<p>“In this room,” replied the farmer, putting his +hand on the door of the apartment where he had +seen the victim lie down to sleep an hour before. +“But yer must be keerful with him. He had a +pistol, and mebbe he mought shoot some on us.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_260' name='page_260'></a>260</span></p> +<p>“We aren’t afraid of all the Yankees this side +of the north pole,” added the sergeant, as he +pushed the door open and entered the room, followed +by his squad of soldiers. “Where is he? +There aren’t no Yankee here.” +</p> +<p>“Well, he was here an hour ago,” said the +farmer. +</p> +<p>“See here, old man, if you’ve been makin’ a fool +of us this hot day, I’ll spit you on my bayonet. +We heard that a deserter and a Yankee had been +taken, and that the cavalry lost one of them.” +</p> +<p>“That was the Yankee. They lost him, and I +found him ag’in.” +</p> +<p>“Where is he, then?” +</p> +<p>“He aren’t far from here,” said the farmer, +walking up to the fire-place, and pointing up the +chimney, where he had no doubt the victim had retired +when he heard the soldiers approaching. +</p> +<p>“Up there?” +</p> +<p>“That’s where the feller hid when the troopers +was lookin’ fur him; and yer kin be sure he’s up +there now. But yer must be keerful; fur he’s got a +pistol, and is a mighty savage fellow.” +</p> +<p>“We’ll soon bring him down,” added the sergeant +as he stepped into the fire-place, and looked +up the chimney. “I see him; but he’s half way up +to the top. I reckon we can smoke him out best. +Come, old man, take some of this pitch-wood, that +will make a big smoke, and kindle a fire.” +</p> +<p>“We’ll soon have him,” said the farmer as he +obeyed the order. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_261' name='page_261'></a>261</span></p> +<p>“I say, Yank!” shouted the sergeant up the +chimney; “if you don’t want to be smoked out, +come down.” +</p> +<p>No answer came to this polite suggestion; and +then one of the soldiers proposed to fire his musket +up the chimney; which so terrified the occupant +thereof, that he begged for mercy. +</p> +<p>“Don’t shoot, and I’ll come down!” groaned +the wretch. +</p> +<p>“The cowardly Yank! He’s like all the rest +of them. Come down quick, then!” +</p> +<p>The farmer, who had stepped out for more +wood, returned; and at the same moment, Tom the +deserter, begrimed with soot, dropped down on +the hearth, and stepped out into the room. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV</h2> +<h3>SOMERS IS COMPELLED TO BACK OUT</h3> +</div> + +<p>Very likely the Virginia farmer had some idea +of retributive justice when he saw his hopeful son +step out of the fire-place into the very jaws of ruin. +To say that he was astonished would be expressing +his state of mind too tamely; for he was overwhelmed +with confusion, fear and mortification. +He had expected to find the Yankee asleep on the +floor; but, as he was not there, it was sufficiently +evident to him that he had again resorted to the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_262' name='page_262'></a>262</span> +chimney for concealment. It had been distinctly +arranged beforehand, that Tom, his son, should +conceal himself in the cellar; and, of course, he +did not expect to find him in the chimney. +</p> +<p>In short, all his expectations had been defeated, +and he himself had opened the trap for his son to +enter. He probably knew how strict was the discipline +of the rebel army in respect to deserters. He +had frequently heard of executions of persons of +this class; and he could hardly expect his son to +escape the penalty of his misconduct. He had +broken his bargain with the fugitive; and, in attempting +to surrender him to his implacable +enemies, he had deprived his heir of liberty, if not +of life. +</p> +<p>“This is your Yankee, is it?” demanded the +sergeant, as he gazed at the remnants of the rebel +uniform which Tom still wore. +</p> +<p>“No, no; this ain’t the Yankee!” stammered +the farmer. +</p> +<p>“Well, you needn’t tell us who he is; for we +know. I was told to keep a sharp lookout for one +Tom Rigney, a deserter; and I reckon this is the +chap. You are my prisoner, my fine lad.” +</p> +<p>“There, now, dad!—d’ye see what ye’ve done?” +snarled poor Tom Rigney, as he glanced reproachfully +at the patriarch, who had unwittingly sprung +the trap upon him. +</p> +<p>“I didn’t do it, Tom,” replied Farmer Rigney, +appalled at the calamity which had overtaken his +house. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_263' name='page_263'></a>263</span></p> +<p>“Didn’t you bring me in here to capture this +boy?” asked the sergeant, who appeared to be bewildered +by the unnatural act of the father. +</p> +<p>“I brought yer here to take the Yank, who was +as sassy as a four-year-old colt.” +</p> +<p>“He promised the Yankee he’d take keer on him +till night,” added the vengeful Tom. +</p> +<p>“That was only to keep him here till I could +fotch somebody to take keer on him,” pleaded the +farmer. “The Yank must be up chimley now,” +he continued, reminded that his own reputation +for loyalty to the great and general Southern Confederacy +was now doubly compromised. +</p> +<p>“He ain’t up there, dad, nohow,” said Tom. +</p> +<p>“Where is he?” demanded the sergeant. +</p> +<p>“Dunno.” +</p> +<p>“Where did he go?” +</p> +<p>“Dunno.” +</p> +<p>“Didn’t you see him?” +</p> +<p>“I reckon it was too dark, up chimley, to see +anything.” +</p> +<p>“Haven’t you seen him?” +</p> +<p>“I reckon I have. He woked up, and druv me +up chimley right smart, with the pistol in his hand; +reckon, if I hadn’t gone, I’d been a dead man; I’ll +be dog scotched if I shouldn’t.” +</p> +<p>“You say he drove you up the chimney?” demanded +the sergeant. +</p> +<p>“I reckon he did.” +</p> +<p>“Where did he go, then?” +</p> +<p>“Dunno.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_264' name='page_264'></a>264</span></p> +<p>“Yes, you do know! If you don’t tell, you’ll get +a bayonet through your vitals,” said the soldier +sternly, as he demonstrated with the ugly weapon +he had fixed on his gun before he began to examine +the chimney. +</p> +<p>“Dunno,” replied the deserter sulkily. +</p> +<p>“Answer, or take the consequences!” +</p> +<p>“Dunno. Jes as lief be stuck with a bagonet as +shot by a file of soldiers,” answered Tom, to whom +the future looked even more dark than the present. +</p> +<p>“Tell, Tom,” pleaded his father. +</p> +<p>“Dunno, dad; I was up chimley when he left. +Dunno no more’n the dead.” +</p> +<p>Perhaps the sergeant concluded that Tom’s position +was a reasonable one, and that it would not +have been possible for him to see, from his dark +retreat, where the Yankee had gone. At any rate, +he was saved from further persecution; and two of +the men were ordered to conduct him to the camp, +while the remainder stayed to continue the search +for the fugitive. Farmer Rigney protested and +pleaded, and even offered to warm the palms of +the soldier’s hands with certain pieces of gold +which he had in the house; but, unfortunately for +the patriotic farmer, the sergeant was above a +bribe, and Tom was hurried off to his doom. +</p> +<p>A careful search of the house and premises was +now instituted; and this time the farmer was a +zealous co-operator with the soldiers; for it was +necessary for him to establish his own loyalty before +he could do anything to save his son from the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_265' name='page_265'></a>265</span> +deserter’s fate. The party proceeded up-stairs +first, and carefully examined every closet, and +every nook and corner which could by any possibility +contain the form of a man. As Somers was +not up-stairs, of course they did not find him; and +we will not weary our readers by following them +in their fruitless search. +</p> +<p>Somers went down into the cellar, closing the +door after him; and, as he may be lonesome in his +gloomy retreat, we will join him there, though +it was rather a tight place for more than one person. +The cellar was dark when the fugitive made +his advent within its somber shades; and, as he was +an utter stranger in the place, he was not a little +bewildered by the awkwardness of the situation. +He was in darkness, and wished for light; at +least, for enough to enable him to find the hiding-place +of which he had heard the farmer speak. +</p> +<p>This snug retreat, where the deserter had balked +his pursuers, was undoubtedly the cellar drain; +though, to Somers, it appeared to be a Virginia +notion to have it long enough to admit the form +of a man. Tom Rigney was a larger person than +himself; and the case was hopeful enough, if he +could only find the opening. The cellar contained +various boxes, barrels, firkins and other articles, +the mass of which were piled up in one corner. +</p> +<p>Somers followed the wall entirely around, from +the pile in the corner, till he returned to it, without +finding what he desired. It was sufficiently evident, +therefore, that the entrance to the drain was +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_266' name='page_266'></a>266</span> +under the boxes and barrels, which had probably +been placed over it to ward off the over-inquisitive +gaze of any visitors who might explore the cellar. +Our enterprising hero immediately commenced the +work of burrowing beneath the rubbish, and soon +had the happiness of discovering the identical road +by which the original occupant of the place had +entered. Before the opening, he found sufficient +space to enable him to readjust the boxes and +barrels, so as to hide his den from the observation +of any who might be disposed to follow him in his +subterranean explorations. +</p> +<p>The drain was certainly small enough, even for +the genteel form of Captain Thomas Somers; +though, as his mustache was quite diminutive in +its proportions, he was able to worry himself along +several feet into the gloomy hole. It was a miserable +place in which to spend the day; but, miserable +as it was, he hoped that he should be permitted +to remain there. He was fully conscious +of the perils of his situation. He knew that Tom, +in the chimney, must be captured; and it was not +probable that the farmer would let the soldiers depart +without examining the house. His retreat +was known to him, and there was not one chance +in a hundred for the hole to be passed by without +an examination. +</p> +<p>It would be fatal to remain where he was; and, +after resting himself from the fatigue which the +exertion of moving in his narrow den induced, he +again pushed forward, cheered by the conclusion +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_267' name='page_267'></a>267</span> +that a drain would be a useless institution without +an opening at each end. Indeed, there was a glimmer +of light at some distance before him; and he +indulged the hope that he might work his way out +to the blue sky. +</p> +<p>He had scarcely resumed his progressive movement, +which had to be accomplished very much +after the fashion of a serpent—for the aperture +was too narrow for the regular exercise of his legs +and arms—he had scarcely begun to move before +voices in the cellar announced the approach of the +pursuers. A cold sweat seemed to deluge his +frame; for the sounds were like the knell of doom +to him. With desperate energy he continued his +serpent march; but it was only to butt his head +against the stones of the drain, where its size was +reduced to less than half its proportions near the +cellar. +</p> +<p>His farther advance was hopelessly checked; and +there was nothing more to be done but to wait patiently +the result of the exciting event. He was +satisfied that his feet were not within eight or ten +feet of the cellar; for, being a progressive young +man, he had entered the hole head first. It was +possible, but not probable, that he might escape +detection, even if the opening was examined; and, +with what self-possession he could muster for the +occasion, he lay, like the slimy worms beneath him, +till ruin or safety should come. +</p> +<p>“I reckon he isn’t down here,” said the sergeant, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_268' name='page_268'></a>268</span> +after the party had examined the cellar, and even +pulled over some of the boxes and barrels. +</p> +<p>“God bless you for a stupid fellow as you are!” +thought Somers; for he was prudent enough not +audibly to invoke benedictions, even upon the heads +of his enemies; but the words of the sergeant +afforded him a degree of relief, which no one, who +has not burrowed in a drain in the rebel country, +can understand or appreciate. +</p> +<p>“I reckon there’s a place down in that corner +that’s big enough to hold a man; fur my son Tom’s +been in there,” added the farmer. +</p> +<p>These words gave Somers another cold sweat; +and perhaps he thought it was a mistake that he +had not put a bullet through the patriarch’s head +when he had been tempted to do so in the room +above. He was a double traitor; but I think the +conscience of our hero was more at rest as it was +than it would have been if he had shot down an unarmed +man, even to save himself from prospective +capture. +</p> +<p>“Where is the place?” demanded the sergeant. +</p> +<p>“In yonder, under them barrels and boxes. Jest +fotch the trumpery out, and you’ll see the hole,” +replied Rigney. +</p> +<p>Somers heard the rumble of the barrels, as they +were rolled out of the way, with very much the +same feelings that a conscious man in a trance +would listen to the rumbling of the wheels of the +hearse which was bearing him to the church-yard, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_269' name='page_269'></a>269</span> +only that he was to come forth from a hopeless +grave to the more gloomy light of a rebel dungeon. +</p> +<p>“I can’t see anything in that hole,” said the +sergeant. “No man could get into such a place as +that.” +</p> +<p>“Blessed are your eyes; for they see not!” +thought Somers. “May your blindness be equal to +that of the scribes and Pharisees!” +</p> +<p>“But my son Tom has been in there. I reckon +a Yankee could crawl inter as small a hole as anybody.” +</p> +<p>The sergeant thought this was funny; and he +honored the remark with a hearty laugh, in which +Somers was disposed to join, though he regretted +for the first time in his life that he was unable to +“crawl out at the little end of the horn.” He was +encouraged by the skepticism of the soldier, and +was satisfied, that, if he attempted to demonstrate +the proposition experimentally, he would be fully +convinced of its difficulty, if not of its impossibility. +</p> +<p>“Go and bring another lamp and a pole,” said +the sergeant. +</p> +<p>One of the party went up the stairs, and Somers +gave himself up for lost. The extra lamp would +certainly expose him, to say nothing of the pole; +and it seemed to be folly to remain there, and be +punched with a stick, like a woodchuck in his hole. +Besides, there is something in tumbling down gracefully, +when one must inevitably tumble; and he +was disposed to surrender gracefully, as the coon +did when he learned that Colonel Crockett was +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_270' name='page_270'></a>270</span> +about to fire and bring him down. There was no +hope; and it is bad generalship, as well as inhuman +and useless, to fight a battle which is lost before +the first shot is fired. +</p> +<p>We have before intimated that Captain Somers, +besides being a brave and enterprising young man, +was a philosopher. He had that happy self-possession +which enables one to bear the ills of life, as +well as the courage and address to triumph over +them. He had done everything which ingenuity, +skill, and impudence could accomplish to save himself +from the hands of the rebel soldiers; from a +rebel prison, if not from a rebel halter. He had +failed; and, though it gave him a bitter pang to +yield his last hope, he believed that nothing better +could be done than to surrender with good grace. +</p> +<p>“How are you, sergeant?” shouted he, when he +had fully resolved upon his next step. +</p> +<p>“Hallo!” replied the sergeant, laughing heartily +at the hail from the bowels of the earth. “How +are you, Yank?” +</p> +<p>“In a tight place, sergeant; and I’ve concluded +to back out,” replied Somers. +</p> +<p>“Good! That’s what all the Yankees will have +to do before they grow much older. Back out, +Yank!” +</p> +<p>Somers commenced the operation, which was an +exceedingly unpleasant necessity to a person of his +progressive temperament. It was a slow maneuver; +but the sergeant waited patiently till it was +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_271' name='page_271'></a>271</span> +accomplished, by which time the extra lamp and +the pole had reported for duty. +</p> +<p>“How are you, Yank?” said the sergeant, laughing +immoderately at the misfortune of his victim. +</p> +<p>“That’s the smallest hole I ever attempted to +crawl through,” replied Somers, puffing and blowing +from the violence of his exertions in releasing +himself from his narrow prison-house. +</p> +<p>“How came you in such a place?” asked the sergeant +as they walked up the stairs. +</p> +<p>“Well, my friend, the farmer here, suggested +the idea to me. He said his son had crawled in +there a great many times.” +</p> +<p>“I?” exclaimed Rigney. “I never said a word +about the drean.” +</p> +<p>“You must be looked after,” added the sergeant, +with a menacing look at the discomfited farmer. +“You have concealed a deserter in your house for +weeks; and now we find that you hide Yankees +too.” +</p> +<p>“I didn’t hide him!” protested Rigney. +</p> +<p>“Didn’t you agree to keep me here till night?” +asked Somers, who despised him beyond expression. +</p> +<p>“If I did, it was only to have the soldiers ketch +yer.” +</p> +<p>The sergeant declared that Rigney was a traitor, +and that he must go along with him; but Somers, +with more magnanimity than many men would +have exercised towards such a faithless wretch, +told the whole story exactly as it was, thus relieving +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_272' name='page_272'></a>272</span> +him of a portion of his infidelity to the Southern +Confederacy; and the sergeant was graciously +pleased to let him remain at home, while his victim +was marched off to the rebel camp. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVI</h2> +<h3>A NIGHT IN PETERSBURG</h3> +</div> + +<p>The sergeant who had captured our hero +seemed to be a very clever fellow, and appreciated +the sterling merits of his captive. While he was +rigidly devoted to the discharge of his duty, he +treated his prisoner with all the consideration +which one human being has the right to expect of +another, whatever the circumstances under which +they meet. +</p> +<p>Somers was disgusted with the result of the adventure, +even while he had no reason to blame himself +for any want of care or skill in conducting his +affairs under the trying circumstances. He was +only a few hours behind his late companion, Captain +de Banyan; whom he had now a reasonable +expectation of meeting again before the close of the +day. +</p> +<p>If Somers was disgusted with the issue of the +adventure, he did not yet despair of effecting his +escape. This was all he had to live for at present; +and he was determined not to lose sight of this +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_273' name='page_273'></a>273</span> +great object of existence. Libby Prison was a +flourishing institution, even at the time of which +we write; and he was determined not to be sent +there, if human energy and perseverance could save +him from such a fate. It was easier to avoid such +a trap than it would be to get out of it after he had +fallen into it. As he walked along with the talkative +sergeant, he kept his eyes open, ready to avail +himself of any opportunity which might afford him +a reasonable prospect of shaking off his disagreeable +companion. +</p> +<p>His captor asked him a great many questions in +regard to himself, and to the Army of the Potomac +on the other side of the river, which Somers answered +with skill and discretion; though we suppose +that even a rigid moralist would have excused +some slight variations from the strict letter of the +truth which crept into his replies. He was an +officer in the Yankee army; but he dared not acknowledge +his rank, lest he should be accused of +being a spy. If he was a captain, he ought to have +worn the uniform of his rank in order to have it +recognized. As he was a private, his chance of +spending the summer on Belle Isle was better +than that for Libby. But, as Somers was fully resolved +not to go to Richmond in advance of the +noble army whose fortunes and misfortunes he had +shared, he did not deem it necessary to consider +what quarters he should occupy. +</p> +<p>The sergeant was a faithful soldier. Somers +found no opportunity to slip away from his guard +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_274' name='page_274'></a>274</span> +on the way to the camp. He was duly delivered to +the officer of the day, and his intimacy with his +good-natured captor was at an end. The officer +who was responsible for him made some inquiries +in regard to the prisoner, and learned that he had +escaped from the troopers in the morning. When +he understood the case, as it was only eight miles +to the railroad station, where the other prisoner +was probably waiting a conveyance in the camp, +he decided to send Somers forward at once, fearful +that he might again take leave of his captors. +From what he had heard from Captain Osborn and +the cavalry soldiers in charge of him, he concluded +that the young man was a person of more consequence +than he appeared to be—that he was either +high in rank, or guilty of enormous military misdemeanors. +</p> +<p>A two-horse wagon used for general business +about the camp was brought up, and Somers was +sent forward in charge of two soldiers, who were +especially ordered to shoot him if he attempted to +escape; which they would probably have done of +their own free will and accord, without any orders. +The captive looked in vain for an opportunity to +elude the vigilance of the guard; they hardly took +their eyes off him during the ride. Possibly they +thought the young fellow was President Lincoln +in disguise, and that the salvation of the Southern +Confederacy depended upon his safe delivery into +the hands of the provost-marshal at Richmond. +</p> +<p>The roads were very muddy from the recent +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_275' name='page_275'></a>275</span> +rains, and it required two hours to accomplish the +distance to the railroad station. On their arrival, +Somers was handed over to another officer in +charge of the camp at the station. Captain de +Banyan had already been sent forward to Petersburg, +and another train would not depart till evening. +Somers was carefully guarded during the +remainder of the day, and an attempt to get away +would have been equivalent to committing suicide. +At dark he was put into a baggage-car, with two +soldiers to guard him; and in a short time reached +the city of Petersburg. With several other unfortunate +Union soldiers, he was placed in a small +room in the station-house, to remain until a train +should start for Richmond. Of course, they were +carefully guarded; and Somers began to fear that +he should, after all, be compelled to visit the rebel +capital without the army. +</p> +<p>The room was on the second floor, with two windows +opening into the street; but the prisoners +were charged, on penalty of being shot, not to look +out at them. There was not the ghost of a chance +to operate under such unfavorable circumstances; +and Somers gave up all thoughts of doing anything +that night. Stretching himself on the floor, he +tried to sleep; but his spirit was too great to permit +him calmly to view the prospect of a rebel +prison. As he lay on the floor, he ransacked his +brain for some expedient which would save him +from the horrors of Libby or Belle Isle. +</p> +<p>The best scheme that suggested itself was to +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_276' name='page_276'></a>276</span> +leap from the cars on the way to Richmond. It +involved the liability to a broken neck or a broken +limb; but he determined to watch for an opportunity +to execute this reckless purpose. His companions +in bondage were worn out with long +marches, and all of them slept on the floor around +him in a few moments after they entered the room. +They had asked him some questions; but he kept +his own counsel, and endeavored to cheer their desponding +spirits with the hope of being soon +exchanged. +</p> +<p>At last Somers went to sleep himself, after he +had heard a church clock in the city strike eleven. +He had slept none on the preceding night, and his +slumbers were as sound as if he had been in his +attic-chamber in the cottage at Pinchbrook. Even +the opening of the door, and the entrance of three +men with a lantern, did not disturb him. One of +the party was an officer. He wore a military cloak +over the gray uniform of the Confederate army. +</p> +<p>“Which is the man?” demanded he in sharp +tones of the two soldiers who accompanied him. +</p> +<p>“I don’t know which he is now,” replied the +corporal of the guard. “What’s his name?” +</p> +<p>“Tom Leathers,” answered the officer. +</p> +<p>The corporal then passed round among the +sleeping prisoners, and roughly kicked those who +were asleep, including Somers, who sprang to his +feet, and was rather disposed to make a “row” on +account of this rude treatment, before he remembered +where he was. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_277' name='page_277'></a>277</span></p> +<p>“Now they are all awake,” said the corporal +when he had been the rounds. “Is there any such +man as Tom Leathers here?” +</p> +<p>“Tom Leathers,” repeated the officer in a loud +tone. +</p> +<p>No one answered to the name; but, in a moment, +Somers happened to think that this was the appellative +which he had assumed when he was a +pilot down on the creek by the James River. He +was evidently the person intended; but he was in +doubt whether to answer the summons. The antecedents +of the young pilot of the James were not +such as to entitle him to much consideration at +the hands of the rebels; and he was disposed to +deny his identity. While he was debating the +question in his own mind, the corporal repeated +the name. +</p> +<p>“There’s no such man here,” he added, turning +to the officer. +</p> +<p>“He must be here. He came up in the night +train.” +</p> +<p>“He don’t answer to his name.” +</p> +<p>“Hold your lantern, and let me look these +prisoners in the face.” +</p> +<p>The corporal passed from one to another of the +captives till he came to Somers; thrusting the +lantern into the face of each, so that the officer +could scan his features. +</p> +<p>“What’s your name?” he asked, as the corporal +placed the lantern before Somers. +</p> +<p>Not having made up his mind as to the effect of +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_278' name='page_278'></a>278</span> +acknowledging his identity with the pilot, he made +no reply. +</p> +<p>“That’s the man,” said the officer decidedly. +</p> +<p>“Is your name Tom Leathers?” added the corporal, +as he made a demonstration with his bayonet +at the prisoner. +</p> +<p>“Put down your musket, corporal; you needn’t +be a brute to your prisoners.” +</p> +<p>“I only wanted to make him answer the question. +If you give me leave, I’ll find a tongue for +him.” +</p> +<p>“He is the man I want; bring him out,” replied +the officer. +</p> +<p>“Bring him out? I beg your pardon, sir; but +I don’t know who you are. I can’t give up a +prisoner without orders.” +</p> +<p>The officer, who seemed to be suffering with a +bad cold, and wore the collar of his cloak turned +up so as to conceal the greater part of his face, +opened the lower part of his garment, so that the +corporal could see his uniform. At the same time +he took from his pocket a paper, which he opened, +and handed to the guard. +</p> +<p>“That’s all right,” said the latter, when he had +read the document. “Of course, you will leave +this with me?” +</p> +<p>“Certainly. Now bring out the man; and lose +no time, for I am in a hurry.” +</p> +<p>Somers was conducted from the room to the car-house +below, where the officer asked for a soldier +to guard the prisoner to the office of the provost-marshal, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_279' name='page_279'></a>279</span> +who was waiting for him. The corporal +furnished the man; and the captive walked off +between his two companions, bewildered by the +sudden change which had taken place in the course +of events. He could not imagine why he had been +singled out from the rest of the prisoners in the +station-house, unless some specific and more definite +charge than being in arms against the great +Southern Confederacy had been laid at his door. +The most unpleasant thought that came to his +mind was that Captain de Banyan had betrayed +the object of his mission to the south side of the +river. There was good evidence that his fellow-officer +had come over as a spy; and the hope of +saving his own life might have induced him to +sacrifice even one who had been his best friend. +</p> +<p>It was not pleasant to think of Captain de Banyan +as capable of doing so mean an act; for he had +been regarded in the regiment as the soul of honor,—of +worldly honor, which scorns to do a vile thing +if public opinion has condemned it. But the astounding +information which he had obtained +among the rebels concerning his friend’s antecedents +had destroyed his confidence in him, and he +was prepared for anything from him. In this +light, his situation was almost hopeless; for the +evidence would certainly condemn him before any +court-martial in the Confederacy, and the chances +of escape were lessened by his separation from his +unfortunate companions in arms. He had probably +been taken away from them to prevent even +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_280' name='page_280'></a>280</span> +the possibility of exercising his talent in getting +away, as he had done after his capture. +</p> +<p>They walked in silence along the gloomy and +deserted streets; and Somers felt just as if he were +marching to his execution. He knew that the +rebel officers had a summary way of dealing with +cases like his own; and he was prepared to be condemned, +even before another sun rose to gladden +him with his cheerful light. He thought of his +mother, of his father, of the other members of the +family, and of the blow it would be to them to +learn that he had been hanged as a spy. He +thought of Pinchbrook, of the happy days he had +spent there, and of those who had been his true +friends. He thought of Lilian Ashford, the beautiful +one, in the remembrance of whose sweet smile +he had reveled every day since they parted, and +which he had hoped to enjoy again when war +should no more desolate the land, and he should +be proudly enrolled with the heroes who had saved +the nation from ruin. +</p> +<p>All these pleasant memories, all these bright +hopes, all these loving forms, though present in +his heart, seemed dim and distant to him. He had +nothing to hope for in the future on this side of +the grave, nothing in the present but an ignominious +death on the scaffold. Yet it was sweet to +die for one’s country; and, disgraceful as his end +might be in its form, it was still in the service of +the nation. He felt happy in the thought; and, if +there was nothing more on earth to hope for, there +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_281' name='page_281'></a>281</span> +was still a bright heaven beyond the deepest and +darkest grave into which the hate of traitors could +plunge him, where the ruptured ties of this life +are again restored, never again to be subject to +change and decay. +</p> +<p>There was a tear in his eye as he thought of his +fond mother; and he wept for her when he could +not weep for himself. No one saw that tear, and +the officer permitted him to indulge his sad revery +in silence. But, after they had walked two or three +squares, his companion in authority suddenly +stopped. +</p> +<p>“I have left a book, which I carried in my hand, +at the depot,” said he, in tones full of chagrin at +his carelessness. “I must have it; for I can do +nothing without it.” +</p> +<p>“Where did you leave it?” asked the soldier. +</p> +<p>“In the guard-room. You may go back, and +bring it to me. Give me your gun; you needn’t +carry that.” +</p> +<p>“Where shall I find you?” +</p> +<p>“Here, where you leave me. Go quick, my +man.” +</p> +<p>“I won’t be gone ten minutes,” replied the soldier, +as he started off at a run for the missing +volume. +</p> +<p>The officer took the gun, and stood by the side +of his prisoner, at the corner of the street, till the +soldier disappeared in the darkness. Somers, still +thinking of the sad fate which he was confident +was in store for him, wished to confirm his impressions +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_282' name='page_282'></a>282</span> +in regard to his destiny. His companion +seemed to be a gentleman of a kindly nature, +though stern in the discharge of his duty. It was +possible that he would give him some information +in regard to the probable disposal of him. +</p> +<p>“Will you tell me, sir, why I am separated from +the rest of the prisoners?” said he, as soon as the +sentinel had departed upon his errand. +</p> +<p>“Because you are an officer.” +</p> +<p>“How do you know I am?” asked Somers, very +desirous of ascertaining how much Captain de Banyan +had told in regard to him. +</p> +<p>“We know all about you,” answered the officer, +muffling his cloak more closely around his face, as +if afraid the night air might injure his lungs as he +opened his mouth. +</p> +<p>“What do you know about me?” +</p> +<p>“All about you.” +</p> +<p>“That isn’t very definite.” +</p> +<p>“In a word, you are Captain Thomas Somers, of +the —th regiment.” +</p> +<p>“Who told you that?” +</p> +<p>“That’s of no consequence.” +</p> +<p>“What is to be done with me?” +</p> +<p>“I don’t know.” +</p> +<p>“I suppose I am only a prisoner of war?” +</p> +<p>“You crossed the James River in disguise, and +went into our lines for the purpose of obtaining +information. I suppose you can put those two +things together.” +</p> +<p>Somers’s worst fears were confirmed. He was +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_283' name='page_283'></a>283</span> +to be tried as a spy, and De Banyan had told all +he knew about him. Before he had time to dwell +on the dark prospect any longer, the officer said he +was cold, and could not stand there any longer. +Taking his prisoner by the arm, he led him down +the cross-street. Somers was just thinking of an +attempt to bid his companion good-night, when +the latter spoke again: +</p> +<p>“I shall catch my death from this night air,” +said he. “Just before the battle of Magenta——” +</p> +<p>“Captain de Banyan!” exclaimed Somers. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVII</h2> +<h3>A FRIEND INDEED</h3> +</div> + +<p>“Hush, my dear boy! not a word!” said Captain +de Banyan in an impressive whisper, as he +led the way along the street. +</p> +<p>Somers made no reply; for he readily perceived +that the utmost caution was necessary, though he +did not understand the position of his friend, or +what complications there were in the situation. +He was filled with rejoicing at finding himself +again in the way of getting back to the Union +army. Of course, his feelings towards Captain de +Banyan, in spite of his antecedents in the Third +Tennessee, underwent a sudden and agreeable +change; and in the joy of his heart he was disposed +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_284' name='page_284'></a>284</span> +to embrace his friend, and beg forgiveness for the +suspicions he had entertained of him. +</p> +<p>They had advanced but a short distance from +the main street, when they heard the clatter of +horses’ hoofs. +</p> +<p>“That’s bad,” said Captain de Banyan, as he +stopped to ascertain in what direction the horsemen +were going. +</p> +<p>“What’s bad?” demanded Somers. +</p> +<p>“My absence has been discovered, I am afraid. +The provost-marshal has a section of cavalry to +run down Union prisoners who may escape. I +think they are after me; at any rate, we must be +very careful where we go.” +</p> +<p>A few moments later, a small party of horsemen +dashed down the street by which the captain was +conducting his retreat. It would prove fatal to +their hopes, if they were seen; and Captain de Banyan +entered the yard of a house, followed by his +companion. There was a stable on the premises; +and, without a special invitation from the owner, +they entered, making their way to the hay-loft, +which seemed to be the most promising place of +concealment. A horse in the stall below whinnied +when they reached the second floor, expecting, no +doubt, his morning rations of hay. +</p> +<p>Unfortunately for the fugitives, still more unfortunately +perhaps for the horse, there was very +little hay in the loft; so that a secure hiding-place +was not readily found. But, as it was no part of +the captain’s intention to remain long in this loft, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_285' name='page_285'></a>285</span> +they seated themselves on a grain chest, to wait +till the troopers should pass the house. +</p> +<p>“What time is it, captain?” asked Somers. +</p> +<p>“About four in the morning. We are rather +late. It will be daylight in about an hour.” +</p> +<p>“Where have you been since we parted?” +</p> +<p>“Since we parted, my boy? We didn’t part. +You did all the parting, Somers,” replied De Banyan +in a reproachful tone. +</p> +<p>“I know I did; but, after what I had heard, you +need scarcely wonder. You acknowledged that +you had been a rebel officer, and a member of the +Third Tennessee regiment.” +</p> +<p>“I grant it; but I thought enough else was said +to enable you to understand my position.” +</p> +<p>“Well, I had some hopes that you were all right; +but I could not banish my fears. How could I +know that you had not been sent over on the other +side for the same purpose that we crossed the +James?” +</p> +<p>“You might have known it, my dear fellow. +They don’t usually send men over on such business +whose loyalty is doubtful. You heard the captain +say that I had been suspected.” +</p> +<p>“I did; but I could not fully understand your +position.” +</p> +<p>“And so you gave me the slip? Well, Somers, +I forgive you.” +</p> +<p>“I am sure, if I had not been in doubt in regard +to what you were, I would not have left you, +even if I had been certain of hanging with you.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_286' name='page_286'></a>286</span></p> +<p>“I know you wouldn’t, my boy. I confess there +were a great many dark things against me; but I +assure you I am a loyal and true man. I have suffered +more for the Union than you have; for I was +born in the sunny South, and all my friends and +neighbors went with the rebels. I had no alternative +but to go into the army, where my experience +in the Crimea, in Italy, and in Mexico, made me an +officer. I escaped as soon as I could, and enrolled +myself on the right side.” +</p> +<p>Somers grasped the hand of his brave and devoted +companion, which he pressed with a warmth +that indicated his feelings more eloquently than +words could have done. He was entirely satisfied +with the explanation, because it was fully sustained +by the conduct of the captain, and by the +words of the rebel cavalry officer who had claimed +his acquaintance. He was even disposed to believe +that De Banyan had been a soldier in the +European wars and in Mexico; which was a degree +of credulity hardly to be expected of a sensible +young man. +</p> +<p>“You will forgive me for my unjust suspicions, +captain? I assure you it went against my grain +to believe that you were a rebel.” +</p> +<p>“You had good reason for it. I was more afraid +of you, when I confessed my sins to the rebel officer, +than I was of him. We are friends again, +Somers; that’s all I want.” +</p> +<p>“You have proved yourself my friend by this +last act; and I should have needed no further explanation +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_287' name='page_287'></a>287</span> +to convince me that you were a loyal +man.” +</p> +<p>“I am all that, my dear boy.” +</p> +<p>“Where have you been since I parted from +you?” +</p> +<p>“I got up to Petersburg in the afternoon. I was +put in that hole where I found you at first; but, +when the provost-marshal learned my story, he +sent for me, and I was conducted to his office. +Just as I came out of the depot, you went in. He +wanted to question me, he said. Well, I happened +to know him, though he did not know me. I knew +his weak point; and, in a word, I bamboozled him. +I assured him I was an officer in the Third Tennessee, +and that, on further inquiry, he would find +I was all right; that I had rendered greater service +to my country by going over to the Yankees +than I could possibly have done by remaining with +my regiment; which, you are willing to believe, +was strictly true. +</p> +<p>“I asked the privilege of putting on my uniform +again, which he granted; and, with the gold in +my pocket, I purchased a full fit-out of the quartermaster. +The provost-marshal told me that I +must report at Richmond, which I promised to do; +and, my dear boy, I hope I shall be able to do so +at no distant day, though it doesn’t look much like +it just now. He gave me an apartment next to +his office, for the night; where, of course, he expected +to find me in the morning. In the night, I +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_288' name='page_288'></a>288</span> +got up, and went into his office to transact a little +business on my own account. +</p> +<p>“After I saw you at the depot, my dear fellow, +I couldn’t forget your sad look. You seemed to +be as hopeless as a stray chicken in the wet grass, +and I was trying to think what I could do for you. +I couldn’t have gone back to Harrison’s Landing +without you; it would have broken my heart. And +what could I have said to the general, when he +asked for you? How could I have made my peace +with the officers of the regiment, if I had gone back +without you?” +</p> +<p>“It was very kind of you, after the shabby manner +in which I had treated you,” added Somers. +</p> +<p>“That was the very reason why I was bound to +help you out of the scrape, if I could. I wanted to +set myself right with you. I wanted to convince +you I wasn’t the man you took me to be.” +</p> +<p>“You have convinced me in the fullest manner; +and I owe you a debt of gratitude which I shall +never be able to pay.” +</p> +<p>“Steady, my boy; we are not out of the scrape.” +</p> +<p>“No matter whether we get out of the scrape or +not, my feelings towards you will be just the +same.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you, Somers; I am satisfied.” +</p> +<p>“But where did you get the pass you gave the +corporal of the guard at the depot?” asked +Somers. +</p> +<p>“I found the provost-marshal’s signature on +certain papers, one of which I filled out to suit myself. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_289' name='page_289'></a>289</span> +But there was a sentinel at the door of the +office, put there, I suppose, for my benefit; though +I was sorry to trouble the poor fellow to stand +there on my account. My friend, the provost, had +done this little act in the most delicate way in the +world. He did not tell me that I was under guard; +but I happened to find out before I put my foot +in the trap. +</p> +<p>“In a word, not wishing to disturb the sentinel, +I took the liberty of leaving by the way of the +window of my chamber, instead of the door. +Luckily there was a one-story shop next to the +office; and with the aid of a blanket from my bed, +I dropped down upon it, without disturbing the +meditations of the sentinel or the slumbers of the +provost. I got into the street, and went to the +depot. There I told the corporal of the guard a +very interesting story about the prisoner who had +been brought up in the afternoon, meaning myself; +and that the man I wanted was needed immediately +as a witness. You know the rest, my dear fellow; +and here we are.” +</p> +<p>“And here we are likely to remain, I’m afraid,” +added Somers. +</p> +<p>“Not a bit of it. I haven’t exhausted half my +expedients yet. On the night before the attack +on the Redan, at Sebastopol, I went all over that +city, and spent the evening at the house of one of +the most distinguished citizens—a gentleman who +had a government contract for rations. Of course, +he didn’t know me.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_290' name='page_290'></a>290</span></p> +<p>“Hush! There is some one coming into the +stable below,” said Somers, as he heard a door +opened on the floor below. +</p> +<p>It was impossible to move then without making +noise enough to excite the attention of the person +who had entered; for the stable was old and +rickety, and the boards creaked at every step they +took. The fugitives listened with breathless interest +to the movements of the unwelcome visitor. +The horse whinnied again; and the person entered +the stall, and spoke to him. The sound of his +voice filled the occupants of the loft with consternation; +for evidently the speaker was not a negro +servant, as they had hoped and expected to find +him, but a white man, and one who used the +English language well. +</p> +<p>“Come, Jenny, there’s a job on hand for us; +and you must postpone your breakfast till we +catch the Yankee prisoners,” said the person, who, +the fugitives were now satisfied, was an officer of +the cavalry service. +</p> +<p>While De Banyan was telling his story, they +had heard some noise at the house; and they now +concluded that the party which had ridden up the +street had come to call this officer for duty. They +hoped that nothing would require him to pay a +visit to the loft, and that, like a good officer, he +would be as expeditious as possible in his preparations. +</p> +<p>“You are my prisoner, if he comes up-stairs,” +whispered De Banyan. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_291' name='page_291'></a>291</span></p> +<p>Somers pressed the hand of his companion to +assure him that he understood his plan; and they +held their breath, in the intense anxiety of the +moment, for further developments. The present +seemed to be the turning point in the career of the +adventurers; and, if they could once escape from +the horns of this dilemma, skill and prudence +would conduct them in safety to the Union lines. +</p> +<p>The officer below, after he had politely informed +“Jenny” of the early movement, seemed to be in +no hurry to get into the saddle. He went out at +the door of the stable, and all was silent again, +except the voice of Jenny, who seemed to be protesting +against any movement before she had received +her customary feed of corn. +</p> +<p>“Peters!” shouted the officer from the door, +“hurry up! The Yankees will get to the James +River before you get the saddle on my horse. +Where have you been?” +</p> +<p>“I was looking for my boots.” +</p> +<p>“An orderly ought to wear his boots to bed with +him, if he can’t put them where he can find them,” +replied the officer, as the heavy step of another +man was heard in the stable below. +</p> +<p>“What news did you hear?” asked the officer, +as the orderly led the horse from the stall. +</p> +<p>“The sergeant said some officer that had been +took as a deserter done runned away,” replied +Peters, as the fugitives heard the rattle of the +saddle-gear. +</p> +<p>“Hurry up, then!” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_292' name='page_292'></a>292</span></p> +<p>“He done took a Yankee prisoner from the +depot with him,” added Peters, who, if he had not +been called an orderly, the listeners would have +taken for a negro. +</p> +<p>“You may take a peck of corn in a bag for +Jenny, Peters. We may have a long ride of it,” +added the officer, as he left the stable. +</p> +<p>A peck of corn! De Banyan and Somers were +sitting on the grain chest! It was impossible to +avoid discovery; and De Banyan threw off his +cloak, ready for the emergency. +</p> +<p>“Somers, my boy, we must change our tactics. +They have heard the whole story, and we can’t +blind them. We must make the best of it. Have +you a pistol?” whispered the captain. +</p> +<p>“No; all I had was taken from me,” replied +Somers. +</p> +<p>“I have only one. No matter; it would never +do to fire up here,” added De Banyan, as he picked +up a short pitch-fork which lay near him. +</p> +<p>“Are you going to kill him?” asked Somers. +</p> +<p>“It’s life or death for you and me! We can’t +stop for trifles,” answered the captain in hurried +tones, but still in a whisper. +</p> +<p>They listened for a moment longer to the quick +movements of Peters in the stable below. It was +evident that Jenny was duly caparisoned for service; +and then another horse was led out, which belonged +to the orderly. He was prepared for service +in less time than Jenny had required; and, a +moment later, the step of Peters was heard on the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_293' name='page_293'></a>293</span> +stairs. With the bag in his hand, he was coming +up for the corn, as he had been ordered by the +officer. He did not see the fugitives till he had +reached the last step; when, as he was on the point +of opening his mouth to speak, De Banyan leveled +a blow at his head with the handle of the pitch-fork, +which felled him to the floor. +</p> +<p>He sank down upon the stairs stunned or dead; +and the captain, as though he had carefully matured +his plan beforehand, dragged the body to +one corner of the loft, where he covered it with +hay. +</p> +<p>“Not a word, Somers,” said he in an excited +whisper, as he crouched down behind the grain +chest. +</p> +<p>“Are you going to stay here?” demanded +Somers, astonished at this singular disposition of +the forces. +</p> +<p>“Hush—the officer is close by.” +</p> +<p>With beating heart, Somers waited for the +further action of his resolute companion. It was +the most critical period of his life, it seemed to +him, especially as he did not fully comprehend the +purpose of De Banyan. Only a moment elapsed, +but it was long enough to be a week, before the +owner of Jenny returned to the stable. +</p> +<p>“Peters! What are you about?” shouted he +angrily. “I shall never get off at this rate. +Peters!” +</p> +<p>Peters was not in condition to answer the summons +at that moment. Somers hoped he was not +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_294' name='page_294'></a>294</span> +dead; but he might as well have been dead, so far +as speaking was concerned. +</p> +<p>“Peters!” shouted the officer again, with a string +of Southern Confederacy oaths; “where are you? +What are you about?” +</p> +<p>Of course, the orderly could not answer; and +his silence only added to the rage of his master, +who continued to swear in a manner which must +have disgusted the gentle Jenny, and the other +respectable horse standing on the stable-floor. +</p> +<p>The officer rushed out of the stable, and the +heaviness of his step indicated the state of his +mind. He had gone to look for Peters; but, as +Peters was not outside, he must be inside; and +the officer entered again. He now walked towards +the stairs leading to the loft. +</p> +<p>“Peters!” he continued to roar as he rushed up +the stairs. “Peters! this is your last day’s service +with me!” +</p> +<p>But the poor orderly was unable to remove the +stain which rested upon his fidelity. He still held +his peace; still silently submitted to the unjust imputations +on his character. The officer landed in +the loft just as Captain de Banyan rose to receive +him. +</p> +<p>“Who are you?” demanded he, as the stout +form of the captain confronted him. +</p> +<p>“Your most obedient servant to command,” replied +De Banyan. +</p> +<p>“You are a Confederate officer?” +</p> +<p>“I seem to be; but I am not. Be that as it may, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_295' name='page_295'></a>295</span> +your presence is dangerous to my health and +comfort.” +</p> +<p>“I see: you are the deserter.” +</p> +<p>“I am; but the future lies between you and me.” +</p> +<p>“Then we will let the future speak for itself,” +answered the officer, drawing a pistol from his +belt. “Surrender, or you are a dead man!” +</p> +<p>“I must positively decline the honor,” replied +De Banyan, as he swung the pitch-fork over his +head, and attempted to strike him down. +</p> +<p>He failed; and the officer fired, but without +effect. At that moment, Somers stepped forward +with a billet of wood he found on the floor. At +the same time, De Banyan raised the pistol; but +the rebel fired a second time before he could discharge +it. Somers instantly dropped his stick, +and his left arm fell to his side; the ball had passed +through it. De Banyan fired; the officer sank +down, not killed, but badly wounded. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVIII</h2> +<h3>DR. SCOVILLE’S PATIENT</h3> +</div> + +<p>The ball from De Banyan’s pistol had passed +through the right side of the officer; and he sank +upon the floor, the blood flowing copiously from +the wound. These proceedings were so irregular, +that Somers could not reconcile himself to them. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_296' name='page_296'></a>296</span> +He was wounded himself; but, when the officer +fell, he was full of sympathy for him. It was evident +that the sufferer would bleed to death in a +short time, if left to himself without any attention; +and Somers could not endure the thought of letting +even an enemy die in this forsaken condition. +</p> +<p>“Come, my boy; we have no time to lose. It’s +daylight now, and we ought to be five miles from +the city before this time,” said De Banyan, as he +moved towards the stairs. “Take the man’s pistol +and ammunition, and come along as fast as you +can.” +</p> +<p>“Will you leave this gentleman in this condition?” +asked Somers, gazing with pitying tenderness +at the pale face of the fallen officer. +</p> +<p>“Leave him? Of course; we can’t take him with +us.” +</p> +<p>“But he will bleed to death if we leave him +here.” +</p> +<p>“Let him bleed to death; I can’t help that. +Many a better man than he has bled to death since +this war began. Come along, Somers! What is +the matter with your arm?” demanded he, when +he saw that it hung useless at his side. +</p> +<p>“I was hit.” +</p> +<p>“Hit! We are lost, then!” +</p> +<p>“No, we are not lost, either. I am not killed,” +replied Somers, whose arm was still numb from +the effect of the shot. +</p> +<p>“That’s a misfortune. I am afraid it will spoil +everything. Can you sit on a horse?” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_297' name='page_297'></a>297</span></p> +<p>“Of course I can. But I can’t bear to let this +man die here alone. He is a brave fellow, and deserves +a better fate.” +</p> +<p>“Come along, Somers! You are an odd stick, +when you are wounded, to trouble yourself about +your enemies. Let me see your arm.” +</p> +<p>The captain examined the wounded member, +which was now bleeding very freely. He tied a +handkerchief around the arm, and did the best +which the circumstances would admit for his +friend. He then led the way down-stairs, where +the horses were impatiently waiting for their +riders. Jenny was a noble mare, and the orderly’s +horse was an excellent animal. De Banyan, knowing +how much might depend upon the endurance +of the horses in the flight before them, filled the +bag with corn in the loft, after he had helped +Somers to mount the horse of Peters, which appeared +to be the steadier beast of the two. +</p> +<p>The noise of the affray in the loft had probably +been heard by some of the occupants of the house; +and, just as the fugitives had mounted the horses, +a black woman from the dwelling approached the +stable. She gazed with astonishment and alarm +at the riders, and seemed to be satisfied that all +was not right. +</p> +<p>“Your master is up in the loft,” said Somers, +as they rode by her. “He is hurt, and wants attention.” +</p> +<p>“Now whip up, Somers. We must make quick +time; for we shall have the whole city after us in +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_298' name='page_298'></a>298</span> +ten minutes,” said De Banyan, as he urged Jenny +to the top of her speed. +</p> +<p>The spirited animal seemed as willing to exert +herself for the enemies as the friends of the Southern +Confederacy; thus proving that she was a neutral +horse, or cherished Union sentiments. But +the other horse could not keep pace with her, and +De Banyan was compelled to restrain her speed. +The fugitives had scarcely appeared in the street +before a hue and cry was raised; for the place had +been thoroughly aroused by the clamor which the +troopers had created. Still, there was nothing +in sight which promised to offer any serious resistance +to their progress. +</p> +<p>A few moments brought them to the outskirts +of the town; though in what direction, or to what +point, the road they had taken would lead them, +neither De Banyan nor Somers had the most remote +idea. To go in the wrong direction was +equivalent to plunging into certain ruin; to go in +any direction was hardly less perilous; for the rebel +cavalry was out upon every road, intent upon capturing +the deserter and the Yankee. As they +emerged from the more thickly settled parts of the +city, they discovered a negro approaching them. +</p> +<p>“Where does this road lead to?” demanded De +Banyan, reining in his fiery steed. +</p> +<p>“Prince George’s Court House, massa,” replied +the man. “Wha’ for you gwine down dar?” +</p> +<p>De Banyan was not disposed to answer any +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_299' name='page_299'></a>299</span> +unnecessary questions, and again spurred on his +horse. +</p> +<p>“See here, massa!” shouted the negro. +</p> +<p>“What do you want?” asked De Banyan impatiently; +for, being a Southerner himself, he had +no particular respect for the negro race. +</p> +<p>“Don’t go down dar, massa.” +</p> +<p>“Why not?” +</p> +<p>“Git cotched if you do, massa,” said the man +with an expressive grin. “De sodgers on de horses +is down dar arter you.” +</p> +<p>“How do you know they are after us, you black +rascal?” +</p> +<p>“Kase dey ax dis chile if he see two men, one ob +’em dressed like de ’federate ossifer, and de odder +a Yank. Dis nigger didn’t see no sich pussons den; +but, golly, sees um now fur sartin. You done git +cotched as shore as you was born, massa, if you +go down dar.” +</p> +<p>“Where shall we go, then?” +</p> +<p>“Dunno, massa; but you mustn’t be seen gwine +down dar.” +</p> +<p>“How many soldiers did you meet?” +</p> +<p>“Four, sar.” +</p> +<p>“This won’t do, Somers. How is your arm?” +</p> +<p>“It begins to ache. We may as well go forward +as back,” said Somers, who was now suffering +severely from his wound, which had not been improved +by the hard gallop of the horse he rode. +</p> +<p>“Who lives in that house?” demanded De Banyan +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_300' name='page_300'></a>300</span> +of the negro, pointing to a splendid dwelling +a short distance ahead. +</p> +<p>“Dr. Scoville, massa.” +</p> +<p>“Doctor?” replied the captain, glancing at +Somers. +</p> +<p>“Yes, sar; Dr. Scoville. Dat’s a mighty fine +mar you rides, massa. I reckon dat’s Captain +Sheffield’s mar.” +</p> +<p>“Very likely.” +</p> +<p>“Don’t mind me, massa; dis chile’s a Union man +for shore,” grinned the negro. +</p> +<p>“All the negroes are Union men,” replied +Somers faintly. +</p> +<p>“Dat’s so, massa!” +</p> +<p>“What’s Dr. Scoville?” asked De Banyan hopefully. +</p> +<p>“Secesh, massa—drefful secesh. He done been +in de army fur a surgeon.” +</p> +<p>“He is a dangerous man, then.” +</p> +<p>“Dar, massa, dar!” shouted the negro suddenly, +as he pointed down the road over which the fugitives +had just come. “Dey’s some more arter +you.” +</p> +<p>De Banyan started his horse again, followed by +Somers; but it was evident from the appearance +of the latter that the chase was nearly finished for +him. He was beginning to feel very faint from the +loss of blood, while the pain of his wounded arm +was almost unsupportable. The gait of the horse +seemed to wrench the bones asunder, and cause +the shattered parts to grate against each other. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_301' name='page_301'></a>301</span></p> +<p>“Hurry up, Somers, my dear boy,” said his companion, +as he glanced back at the pale face of his +friend. +</p> +<p>“I am afraid I can’t go much farther, De Banyan,” +replied Somers. “I am very faint. I feel +sick.” +</p> +<p>“Cheer up, and make one effort more. The +rebels are upon us!” +</p> +<p>“I cannot. I shall fall from the horse, I am +afraid.” +</p> +<p>“Don’t do that.” +</p> +<p>“I won’t if I can help it; but the motion of the +horse almost kills me. Leave me, De Banyan; save +yourself if you can.” +</p> +<p>“Leave you? I haven’t the remotest idea of +doing anything of the sort.” +</p> +<p>“Better go on, and save yourself. It is all up +with me.” +</p> +<p>“A mother would sooner leave her baby than I +would leave you,” replied De Banyan in tones as +tender as a woman’s. “I’ll never leave you, +Somers. If you go to Richmond, I shall go with +you.” +</p> +<p>“You cannot do me any good. Save yourself before +it is too late.” +</p> +<p>“Not I.” +</p> +<p>“I beg you——” +</p> +<p>“Cease your blarney, my dear boy! We are one +flesh; and we will hang together to the end of life, +or <i>at</i> the end of it, as the case may be. Here, +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_302' name='page_302'></a>302</span> +Somers, stick to your horse a moment more, and +we will call and see the doctor.” +</p> +<p>“Dr. Scoville!” exclaimed Somers, alarmed at +the idea. +</p> +<p>“Very likely he is a good surgeon. You are on +the sick-list now; mind what I say, and do just what +I tell you.” +</p> +<p>De Banyan, without stating what he intended +to do, dashed up the roadway leading to Dr. Scoville’s +house. It was evident that he was about to +resort to some desperate expedient to retrieve the +shattered fortunes of his party; but he kept his +own counsel; and Somers yielded himself to the +master will of his companion like a child, as indeed +he was in his exhausted and suffering condition. +The roadway led to the rear of the house +where the stable was located; and De Banyan +reined up his foaming steed as soon as he reached +the corner of the building. +</p> +<p>“Keep still a moment, Somers, and I’ll have you +taken care of,” said De Banyan, as he rode back +to a point where he could see the road without +being seen. +</p> +<p>It was evident that they had been observed by +the party of horsemen which had just come out of +the city; and he wished to ascertain whether they +had seen him turn in at the doctor’s premises. +The pursuers (for every mounted man was a pursuer +on that eventful morning) were riding in +every direction in search of the fugitives. He +hoped they would pass by, satisfied that any person +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_303' name='page_303'></a>303</span> +who should boldly call upon Dr. Scoville must +be a rebel. +</p> +<p>He was disappointed. When the party reached +the road, they reined up their horses; and De Banyan, +without losing a moment, dismounted, fastened +Jenny to a post in the yard, and ran down to +intercept the troopers. The captain walked with +the quick, sharp, consequential tramp of a military +commander; and, when the soldiers saw him, they +involuntarily saluted him. +</p> +<p>“What are you doing up here?” he demanded +in tones of authority. +</p> +<p>“We are looking for the prisoners that runned +away,” replied a corporal. +</p> +<p>“Well, do you expect to find them in the dwelling-house +of Dr. Scoville? Ride down the road as +fast as you can, and turn to the first left. If you +meet the major, report Captain Sheffield badly +wounded—shot by one of the prisoners.” +</p> +<p>“Then the prisoners have gone down this way?” +</p> +<p>“Certainly they have. Off with you as fast as +you can!” +</p> +<p>The corporal saluted, wheeled his horse, and +dashed off, followed by the rest of the party. De +Banyan wiped away the cold sweat from his brow, +and returned to his suffering companion. He +helped him to dismount and seated him on a block +while he secured the horse. By this time, a couple +of negro women came out of the house. They +were the early risers of the family, and at once +manifested the most abundant sympathy for the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_304' name='page_304'></a>304</span> +sufferer. The doors of the house were thrown +wide open to him; and Captain de Banyan, supporting +Somers, followed the servants into the sitting-room, +where the patient was laid upon the sofa +in a fainting condition. +</p> +<p>“Now call your master,” said De Banyan, with +as much assurance as though he had been the lord +of the manor. +</p> +<p>“Yes, massa,” replied one of the women as she +hastened to obey the order. +</p> +<p>“How do you feel, my dear boy?” said De Banyan, +bending over his charge. +</p> +<p>But Somers was past answering. He had +fainted from loss of blood and the agony of his +wound. The resolute captain did not wait for Dr. +Scoville in this emergency; but, taking a bottle of +cologne from the mantel, he applied himself with +skill and vigor to the restoration of his patient. +While he was thus engaged, the doctor made his +appearance. He was a man of fifty, of forbidding +aspect and rough exterior. +</p> +<p>“Who are you, sir?” demanded he in brusk +tones, placing himself in front of the captain, and +without bestowing more than a glance at the patient +on the sofa. +</p> +<p>“Captain Sheffield,” replied De Banyan as +sharply as the question had been put. +</p> +<p>“Are you, indeed? Then you have altered a +great deal since I saw you yesterday,” added Dr. +Scoville, with an expression of malignant triumph +on his face. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_305' name='page_305'></a>305</span></p> +<p>This reply was a damper on any little scheme +which the over-confident De Banyan had proposed +to carry out; but the captain was a profound student +in the mysteries of human nature, and at once +correctly read the character of the gentleman who +stood before him. +</p> +<p>“You didn’t see me yesterday, and you know you +didn’t,” he replied in tones hardly less savage than +those of his involuntary host. +</p> +<p>“That’s very true; I did not,” said the doctor. +</p> +<p>“This point settled, I’ll thank you to turn to +the next one, which is the patient before you.” +</p> +<p>“You are a plain-spoken man,” added Dr. Scoville, +still gazing intently into the face of the captain; +who, however, returned the look as resolutely +and as earnestly as it was given. +</p> +<p>“I am; I don’t waste words when my friend is +dying, for aught I know. Will you attend to this +man?” +</p> +<p>“Who is he?” +</p> +<p>“He is a man shot through the arm, and needing +instant surgical attendance,” answered De +Banyan impatiently. “It isn’t necessary to know +any more before you examine him.” +</p> +<p>“Good!” exclaimed the doctor with a smile +such as that in which a hyena might be supposed +to indulge when pleased, if hyenas ever are pleased. +</p> +<p>He turned to Somers, and proceeded to examine +into his condition. The coat of the patient was +removed from his insensible form, and he was carefully +disposed on the sofa, according to the directions +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_306' name='page_306'></a>306</span> +of the doctor; the captain and the negro +women assisting in the work. Though the surgeon +was as rough as a bear in his tone and manner, he +was as tender as a loving mother in his treatment +of the sufferer, and handled him as carefully as +though he had been a new-born babe. The blood +was stanched, and the wound dressed as skilfully +as human hands and human knowledge could perform +the operation. +</p> +<p>“What do you think of him?” asked De Banyan, +full of anxiety for his suffering companion. +</p> +<p>“He won’t die just yet; but he may lose his +arm.” +</p> +<p>“Good heavens! do you think so?” exclaimed +the captain. +</p> +<p>“No; I don’t think so.” +</p> +<p>“What did you say so for, then?” +</p> +<p>“I didn’t say so.” +</p> +<p>“Didn’t you say he would lose his arm?” demanded +De Banyan savagely. +</p> +<p>“I didn’t say so.” +</p> +<p>“What did you say, then?” +</p> +<p>“I said he might lose his arm. You may lose +your arm; but I think you are more likely to lose +your head. Who is this young man?” +</p> +<p>“He is a friend of mine; and, as I find it necessary +to be entirely candid with an old fellow like +you, I shall answer no questions in regard to him +at present.” +</p> +<p>“Indeed!” +</p> +<p>“Not a question, Dr. Scoville. I intend to have +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_307' name='page_307'></a>307</span> +him stay at your house till he is able to join his +regiment; and I intend to stay with him.” +</p> +<p>“You do me unmerited honor by making my +humble house your home,” said the doctor satirically. +</p> +<p>“I think you are worthy of the honor, Dr. Scoville. +As your humble house, I think it is very well +got up, creditable to your taste, and altogether a +fine place.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you,” growled the host. “I suppose +you have no objection to my informing the Confederate +States military officers in the city of your +presence here?” +</p> +<p>“Not the slightest,” answered De Banyan +promptly. “I propose to inform them myself in +due time.” +</p> +<p>“What did you say your name was?” +</p> +<p>“Captain Sheffield.” +</p> +<p>“Of Petersburg?” +</p> +<p>“No, sir.” +</p> +<p>“Not of Petersburg?” +</p> +<p>“No, sir; of Nashville, Tennessee, which I can +further inform you is the capital of the State. I +have the honor to be a captain in the Third Tennessee. +I served in Mexico, in the Crimea, and in +Italy. I was present at four battles in the Crimea, +seven in Italy, five in Mexico; I have been engaged +in nine battles of the present war, and have been +wounded six times.” +</p> +<p>“Were you ever killed?” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_308' name='page_308'></a>308</span></p> +<p>“Never was so unfortunate. Can I furnish you +with any further information?” +</p> +<p>“No more at present,” replied the doctor, compressing +his lips, apparently to keep from laughing, +but really because he could not think of anything +sharp enough to dash so ready a talker. “If +you do me the honor to remain here a week, I shall +have better opportunities of hearing your marvelous +experience, Captain Sheffield. Ah, what have +we here?” continued he as three horsemen galloped +up the roadway. +</p> +<p>A violent knocking was presently heard at the +side door of the house, and Dr. Scoville hastened +to learn the errand of the excited visitors. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIX</h2> +<h3>DE BANYAN AT WORK</h3> +</div> + +<p>“How do you feel, my dear boy?” asked Captain +de Banyan as soon as the doctor had left the +room. +</p> +<p>Somers, by the skilful applications of the physician, +had been restored to consciousness, and had +listened with astonishment, not unmingled with +alarm, to the last part of the conversation between +his friend and their host. +</p> +<p>“I feel a little better, captain; at any rate, I +am more comfortable,” replied Somers. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_309' name='page_309'></a>309</span></p> +<p>“I am glad to hear it. I have been terribly +worried about you.” +</p> +<p>“I think I shall do well enough. But what shall +I say for myself?” +</p> +<p>“Say nothing, Somers—not a word. Don’t +commit yourself to anything.” +</p> +<p>“What have you told him?” +</p> +<p>“Nothing; and I don’t intend to tell him anything. +He is a jolly old fellow, who thinks he is +very eccentric, and takes pride in being considered +so. When I was in the Crimea——” +</p> +<p>“Never mind the Crimea now,” interrupted +Somers with a languid smile. +</p> +<p>“I was only going to say that I understand the +old doctor first-rate, and can manage him as easily +as I could an old plow-horse. Keep still, Somers; +don’t let on, under any circumstances. Leave me +to do all the talking.” +</p> +<p>“But the cavalry are after us now.” +</p> +<p>“Never mind; the doctor will take care of +them.” +</p> +<p>“They will recognize our horses, if they don’t +know us.” +</p> +<p>“No matter if they do.” +</p> +<p>Somers thought it was matter; and he could not +see for the life of him how De Banyan was to get +out of such a scrape as this; for it was an infinitely +worse one than his own experience on the Williamsburg +road. He could only hope for the best, +expecting nothing but disaster. +</p> +<p>“Good! Bully for the doctor!” exclaimed De +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_310' name='page_310'></a>310</span> +Banyan as the sounds of an excited controversy at +the side door reached the ears of the patient and +his friend. “He is doing just what I expected him +to do.” +</p> +<p>“Pray, what did you expect him to do?” asked +Somers, who could not see what a rebel surgeon +could be expected to do under the circumstances, +besides delivering them up to the military authorities. +</p> +<p>“I expect him to protect us to the utmost of his +ability; and, in my opinion, he has quite as much +influence as any other man in Petersburg. When +you see a man like Dr. Scoville, you may depend +upon it he is a power in the community where he +lives. He knows it as well as any other person. +Let the doctor alone, and he will manage the +matter as skilfully as he dressed your wounded +arm.” +</p> +<p>Whatever confidence Captain de Banyan had in +the will and the ability of Dr. Scoville to protect +them, he was curious to hear what the soldiers and +what the doctor had to say. He was not quite +willing to be seen by the rebel soldiers; so he +passed quickly into the entry, and took a position +where he could hear without being observed. +</p> +<p>“Do you know who I am, you villain?” demanded +the doctor, in tones so full of rage, that +the troopers ought to have been annihilated, +though it appears that they were not. +</p> +<p>“I don’t care who you are; I want the men that +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_311' name='page_311'></a>311</span> +came here an hour ago,” replied one of the +troopers. +</p> +<p>“If Jeff Davis himself came for them, he +couldn’t have them!” roared Dr. Scoville. +</p> +<p>“I tell you, sir, one of them is a deserter, and +the other is a Yankee.” +</p> +<p>“I don’t care what they are. Report my answer +to the provost-marshal; tell him Dr. Scoville +will be responsible for the safety of the men.” +</p> +<p>“I won’t report any such answer to him.” +</p> +<p>“If a man of you attempts to enter my house, +I’ll shoot him!” replied the doctor, taking a rifle +from a nail in the entry. +</p> +<p>“Very well, sir; if you can shoot any better than +we can, you may begin,” said the soldier. “But, +as sure as you fire, you are a dead man.” +</p> +<p>“And those of you whom I don’t shoot will be +hung as soon as you report the death of Dr. Scoville +at headquarters.” +</p> +<p>Whatever the soldiers thought, they were not +willing to assume the responsibility of shooting a +man like the doctor, whose splendid mansion was +a guaranty of his wealth and high standing, and +whose strong words assured them that he was a +man of influence. Even the possibility of being +hanged in such a cause was not agreeable to contemplate; +and the doctor carried the day against +his assailants. +</p> +<p>“I don’t want to shoot you, Dr. Scoville; but I +shall put a guard over your house, and wait for +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_312' name='page_312'></a>312</span> +further orders,” said the soldier, who appeared to +be a sergeant. +</p> +<p>“Do anything you please; but don’t you enter +my house. Every man, woman and child here is +under my protection,” replied the doctor, as he +restored the rifle to its original position; and the +troopers retired from the door. +</p> +<p>Captain de Banyan withdrew from the hall, and +joined Somers in the sitting-room, where he was +immediately followed by the doctor. The situation +did not look very hopeful, even to a man of +such desperate fortunes as the bold Tennessean. +The house was surrounded by rebel soldiers, and a +report of the case would probably be made to the +provost-marshal; therefore it was not at all likely +that the doughty doctor could long remain contumacious. +</p> +<p>“So, my mysterious friend, you are a Confederate +deserter, are you?” said the doctor, as he +placed himself in front of the captain, thrust his +hands deep down into the pockets of his pants, and +stared at his guest with all the vigor of an active +and piercing eye. +</p> +<p>“You say that I am; but I adhere to my original +resolution, to say nothing at present,” replied De +Banyan, returning the gaze of the doctor as earnestly +as it was given. +</p> +<p>“If you were Abe Lincoln himself, you are safe +in my house,” said the doctor after a long pause. +“But I wish you to understand clearly and precisely +what I mean. I am not the man to shield a +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_313' name='page_313'></a>313</span> +deserter or a Yankee from the penalty due to his +crimes. You came into my house with a wounded +man. I am an Arab on the subject of hospitality. +Whoever comes into my house is my guest; and I +never betrayed a man who trusted in me.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you, doctor.” +</p> +<p>“You needn’t thank me, for I despise you from +the deepest depths of my heart; and in due time +you will fall into the hands of the military authorities, +but not in my house.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you, Dr. Scoville. I appreciate your +hospitality, and despise you as much as you do +me,” answered De Banyan. +</p> +<p>“Despise me! How dare you——” +</p> +<p>“Oh! I dare do anything; and I beg leave to +inform you that neither myself nor my friend will +fall into the hands of the soldiers, either in your +house or outside of it. You can set your mind +entirely at ease on that subject.” +</p> +<p>“I am tempted for once to violate even my own +law of hospitality.” +</p> +<p>“As you please, doctor; that matter is for you +to consider, not for me. But I beg you to understand +precisely what I say. I am very thankful +to you for your kindness; and I assure you that +whatever you do and say, I shall remember your +hospitality with the most grateful emotions. I +speak for myself and for my friend.” +</p> +<p>Dr. Scoville seemed to be very much perplexed, +as the captain evidently intended he should be; +and, turning abruptly from the deserter, he paced +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_314' name='page_314'></a>314</span> +the room, rapidly and in silence, for several minutes. +De Banyan sat down by the side of Somers, +and said a great many comforting things to him, +which, in his weak and suffering condition, were +as grateful as a woman’s smile at the couch of +pain. +</p> +<p>Breakfast was ready, and with the utmost politeness +the doctor conducted his guest to the table, +while one of the black women was ordered to supply +the wants of the patient on the sofa. During +the meal, not a word was said about the war, or +the peculiar circumstances under which the patient +and his friend had come to the house. The captain +discoursed about the wars in other lands, and +it is more than probable that he exercised the +credulity of the doctor to the utmost. Both the +host and the guest were affable to the last degree; +for the choleric physician was conscious that he +had more than a match in the other. +</p> +<p>After breakfast, Somers was conducted to the +guest-chamber on the second floor of the mansion. +He was as tenderly cared for by the doctor and the +servants as though he had been an honored friend, +instead of a hunted enemy. In the course of the +forenoon, Dr. Scoville received a visit from the +provost-marshal, attended by half a company of +cavalry. Of course, the captain was exceedingly +curious to know the result of this interview, which +was conducted in the most courteous manner; +and he was so impolite as to play the part of a +listener. The officer was informed that Captain +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_315' name='page_315'></a>315</span> +Sheffield had been dangerously wounded by the +fugitives; but the eccentric physician positively +refused to have his guests taken from his house, +assuring the provost-marshal that he would be +responsible for their safe-keeping, and offered to +board a dozen men who should be employed in +guarding them. The officer protested in gentlemanly +terms against such a course; but it was evident +that the doctor was the greatest man in +Petersburg, and must have his own way. +</p> +<p>The result of the conference was, that the provost-marshal +yielded the point, and a sentinel was +placed at the door of Somers’s chamber, to which +the captain had retreated. The officer visited the +room, and fully identified his prisoner, between +whom and himself a sharp conversation ensued, +much to the amusement of the doctor. The captain +was assured that in due time, he should +swing, which pleasant information he received +with becoming good nature, promising to be present +when the exciting event should take place. +The provost-marshal retired, satisfied with the precautions +he had taken. +</p> +<p>For the following three days, the sentinel at the +door, with a loaded musket in his hand, kept guard +over his prisoners. Somers had improved rapidly, +though by the advice of his managing friend, he +pretended to be much worse than he really was. +Dr. Scoville, though he still kept his word and +maintained his position with regard to the prisoners, +continually “thorned” the captain with a +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_316' name='page_316'></a>316</span> +prospect of the gallows, which he declared was +his certain doom. De Banyan still preserved his +equanimity, and still declared that he should never +be hanged. +</p> +<p>“What do you intend to do?” asked Somers on +the third day of his confinement, after the doctor +had taunted his guest with more than usual +severity. +</p> +<p>“I haven’t the least idea, my dear boy,” replied +the captain with a grim smile. “So far, I have +no plans. When you are able to move, Somers, +we will see what can be done.” +</p> +<p>“I can move now; you need not delay a single +hour on my account. I am all right but my arm.” +</p> +<p>De Banyan was by no means as cheerful as he +appeared to be. He was troubled, and paced the +room with uneasy tread; but, the moment the doctor +entered the room, he was as gay as a Broadway +beau. Somers had vainly attempted to persuade +him to make his own escape, and leave him to his +fate; but the brave fellow steadily refused to desert +him under any circumstances that could possibly +present themselves. +</p> +<p>The captain was remarkably still for him, after +Somers had convinced him that he was able to +move. He paced the room as before; but his eyes +were glancing uneasily at the floor, the ceiling, +and the walls of the apartment. The work had +commenced in his mind; and Somers watched his +movements with interest, yet without hope. On +one side of the fire-place in the room there was a +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_317' name='page_317'></a>317</span> +door, which was locked, but which evidently +opened into a closet. +</p> +<p>Before this door, De Banyan suddenly came to +a dead halt. He examined it with the utmost care; +and then with a fork from the breakfast things +which had not been removed, he commenced operations +upon the lock. One of the prongs of the +fork was broken off between two bricks in the fire-place, +and the other bent; so that the instrument +formed a very good pick-lock. The door was +opened without the expenditure of much time or +patience; and the captain proceeded to explore +the interior of the closet, after instructing his fellow-prisoner +to give him timely warning of any +movement on the part of the sentinel. +</p> +<p>Somers did not see the captain again for half an +hour, but when he came out he looked as though +he had endured the tortures of a month of suspense; +but, with a ghastly smile, he told his companion +that the hour for action had come. +</p> +<p>“What do you mean, captain?” demanded +Somers. +</p> +<p>“Let us use haste; we shall have more time to +talk to-morrow, when we get back to the camp on +the other side of the James River. Are you very +sure that you can stand the fatigue of a long +walk?” +</p> +<p>“I know I can.” +</p> +<p>“Then come with me; but a particle of noise +will be fatal to us.” +</p> +<p>De Banyan led the way to the closet; but, before +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_318' name='page_318'></a>318</span> +he entered himself, he tied together the two sheets +of the bed, and made one end fast to one of the +bed-posts, near a window at the end of the house, +which he opened without noise. Dropping the +sheet out, he retreated to the closet, and with the +pick-lock secured the door. They were in darkness +now, and seating themselves on the floor, with +palpitating hearts they waited the issue. For +more than an hour they waited the expected alarm. +They could occasionally hear a movement on the +part of the sentinel in the entry; but he probably +thought it was foolish to be very vigilant over a +man so sick as Somers. But the demonstration +came at last; and the prisoners, sweltering in the +confined air of the closet, listened with breathless +interest to the shouts of the soldiers outside, and +to the rapid steps of those within the mansion. +</p> +<p>The doctor and the sentinel entered the chamber +so lately occupied by the prisoners. The former +swore in no measured terms at the faithlessness of +the sentry at the door, and at the stupidity of those +who guarded the house outside. But they seemed +to have no doubt as to the manner of the escape. +</p> +<p>There was the open window, and the rope made +of the bed-linen, which De Banyan had pulled with +his hands till it had the appearance of having sustained +a great weight. Dr. Scoville did not even +try the door of the closet; and the anxious listeners +soon had the pleasure of hearing the sounds of +horses’ hoofs, as the cavalry rode off to engage in +the search for the fugitives. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_319' name='page_319'></a>319</span></p> +<p>Everything about the house soon subsided into +the most profound quiet, and it was evident that +the doctor and all the soldiers were engaged in +the search. After this solemn stillness had continued +for a time, they heard the voices of the +servants in the chamber. They talked about the +escape, and all of them expressed a hope that +“poor young massa would get out ob de way.” +Here was an opportunity for an alliance, offensive +and defensive, which the prudent captain could not +reject. Carefully opening the door, he presented +himself to the astonished negroes. With considerable +difficulty, he hushed their noisy exclamations, +and opened the case so eloquently, that all three +of them readily promised to help the fugitives in +making their escape. They grinned with delight +when they comprehended the trick by which the +doctor and the soldiers had been put on the wrong +scent. +</p> +<p>With their assistance, the fugitives left the +house, and made their way to the stable, where +Alick, the man who had waited upon them in the +room, raised a plank in the floor, and introduced +them to secure but not very comfortable quarters +under the building. There was no cellar under +the stable, and the space which they occupied was +not more than two feet in height; but what it +lacked in this direction, it made up in length and +width. +</p> +<p>When the fugitives were fairly installed in their +new hiding-place, Alick sat down on the floor, and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_320' name='page_320'></a>320</span> +told them all he knew about the events which had +transpired since their absence had been discovered. +He brought them an abundant supply of food and +drink, and promised to provide them with horses +as soon as it was dark. It was nearly night before +the doctor returned; and while attending to +his horse, Alick asked him some questions about +the chase. He was not very communicative, for, +of course, the pursuit had been unsuccessful; but +the ingenious black wormed some facts out of him +in regard to the events of the day, which enabled +him to be of great assistance to the fugitives. +</p> +<p>The doctor had hardly gone into the house before +Alick commenced his preparations for departure; +and three horses instead of two were in +readiness when Somers and the captain emerged +from their covert. Alick was to be one of the +party; and by the fields in the rear of the house +they commenced their perilous journey. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<h2>CHAPTER XXX</h2> +<h3>ANOTHER COMMISSION</h3> +</div> + +<p>The horses which De Banyan and Somers rode +were those taken from the stable of Captain Sheffield, +which had not yet been removed from Dr. +Scoville’s stable; while that on which Alick was +mounted was one of the best of his master’s stock. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_321' name='page_321'></a>321</span> +The party proceeded through the fields for a short +distance till they came to a cross-road, when they +put their horses to the top of their speed. The +guide was familiar with all the roads in the +vicinity. The information which he had obtained +from the doctor was exceedingly valuable; for it +assured the fugitives in what direction the search +for them had been pushed. +</p> +<p>Dr. Scoville believed that the prisoners were +concealed in the vicinity of the city, and that at +night they would attempt to make their way in +the direction of City Point; and he assured Alick +that they would certainly be caught before morning, +for the country in that region was strongly +picketed by cavalry. It is more than probable they +would have been taken if the doctor had not been +so obliging as to inform Alick of these facts. The +faithful black, who had served his master, man and +boy, for forty years, was entitled to this consideration. +Of course, he could not have believed that +Alick would be so ungrateful and ungenerous as +to run away from him; but it is a fact which speaks +well for the negro race, that so many have preferred +liberty with toil and hardship to slavery +with ease and plenty. +</p> +<p>Somers had over-estimated his power of endurance; +and a hard gallop of five miles was about +the extent of his capacity. The rude jolting of +his arm made it extremely painful, while his +system, reduced by the fever attending the wound, +was incapable of supporting such a heavy draft +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_322' name='page_322'></a>322</span> +upon his strength. He bore up against the pain +and faintness which beset him as long as he could; +but at last, to the oft-repeated inquiries of Captain +de Banyan in regard to his condition, he was compelled +to answer in the most discouraging terms. +</p> +<p>“We must stop and rest,” said the captain. +“We have about fifteen miles more to go; and you +mustn’t break down yet, Somers.” +</p> +<p>“Here, massa, take some of this,” said Alick, as +he reined in his horse. +</p> +<p>“What is it?” asked Somers faintly. +</p> +<p>“Brandy.” +</p> +<p>“I can’t drink brandy.” +</p> +<p>“It will do you good, my dear boy. There is +strength in brandy—only as medicine. Don’t be +stubborn, Somers.” +</p> +<p>“Good brandy, massa,” added Alick. “I +brought it along on purpose for you. I was mighty +feared you wouldn’t be able to stand the ride.” +</p> +<p>“I am willing to take it if it will do me any +good,” said Somers. “I am about used up.” +</p> +<p>The sufferer drank two or three swallows of the +fiery liquid from the bottle after he had dismounted. +The potion gave him an artificial life, +which enabled him to ride five miles farther, +though at a much slower pace than before. The +roads seemed to be entirely deserted, and the party +felt satisfied that they had passed out of the reach +of a successful pursuit. Another dose of brandy +gave Somers strength enough to accomplish fifteen +miles of the journey; but at this point he was absolutely +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_323' name='page_323'></a>323</span> +unable to sit on his horse. With the assistance +of De Banyan, he got off and lay for two +hours on the ground, where his devoted companions +made him a bed of their coats. Alick produced +some bacon and crackers, which he had +brought for an emergency, of which Somers partook +in small quantities. Pressed by his fellow-fugitives, +he again drank some brandy; and while +his head was flying round like a top, his friends +placed him on the horse again. +</p> +<p>In the overpowering weakness and suffering of +the hour, Somers had begged his companions to +leave him to his fate; but De Banyan declared that +he would be hanged a dozen times before he would +do so mean and wicked an act. With the fumes +of the brandy darting in every direction through +his brain, which seemed to be about fifty feet above +his shoulders, he spurred on his horse. The liquor +had inspired him to a kind of desperation. He +hardly knew what he was about, and even forgot +the pain of his wounded arm. +</p> +<p>“Halt!” shouted De Banyan, as the party +dashed over a rude bridge extending across a broad +creek. “Halt, Somers!” +</p> +<p>But Somers heeded not the word, and still +spurred on, till the captain, who rode the fastest +animal, could overtake him. He succeeded in stopping +the furious rider, and in making him understand +that they had reached the end of their journey +in this direction. They returned to the bridge, +where the sharp eye of the captain had discerned +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_324' name='page_324'></a>324</span> +a boat moored to a tree, a short distance below the +road. Somers, still stupefied by the effects of the +brandy, tamely submitted to whatever disposition +his companions chose to make of him. Taking off +their coats, they made for him a bed in the bottom +of the boat, which was a large yawl, evidently used +for conveying merchandise to some point farther +up the creek. The horses were turned loose, and +the captain and Alick took the oars. +</p> +<p>After pulling for half an hour, they were rewarded +by a view of the broad river which to them +was like the Land of Promise; and moored in the +middle there was a steamer, which in those waters +could belong to no other party than the United +States Government. They rowed out to this vessel, +and hailed her. Of course they were cordially +welcomed after a satisfactory explanation had been +given. +</p> +<p>“Glory hallelujah! How do you feel, Somers?” +said Captain de Banyan, after he had insured a +proper reception on board of the steamer. +</p> +<p>“Badly, very badly,” replied Somers faintly. +</p> +<p>“Well, cheer up, my boy! We have got home +again.” +</p> +<p>“Home!” said Somers, raising himself partially +up at the sound of that magical word. +</p> +<p>The captain and Alick lifted him tenderly, and +assisted him up the accommodation-ladder of the +steamer. The vessel was a gunboat bound up the +river, and was waiting for the daylight. Somers +was taken to the ward-room, where the surgeon +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_325' name='page_325'></a>325</span> +dressed his arm, and prescribed for his bodily ailments. +Alick was duly installed as his nurse, +though Captain de Banyan performed the greater +part of his duty. But the consciousness that he +was again beneath the old flag did more for the +patient than even the assiduous care of his devoted +friends. +</p> +<p>After leaving Petersburg the fugitives had pursued +a nearly easterly course till they arrived at +the bridge over Chipoak Creek, where they had +abandoned their horses, and taken the boat. Alick +had chosen this direction to avoid the pickets +which were on the lookout for them in the vicinity +of the City Point Railroad. His calculations had +been well made, and he was rewarded for his zeal +and skill by the priceless boon of freedom, which +he preferred even to the life of comfort and ease +he had enjoyed beneath the roof of his kind but +eccentric master. +</p> +<p>How Dr. Scoville ever made his peace with the +provost-marshal of Petersburg we are not informed; +but we will venture to say that his whims +were not respected after the events we have narrated. +He was a wilful man; but his guests were +very sorry to be compelled to make him such an +ungenerous return for his noble hospitality. When +the war is ended, and he is enabled fully to understand +the meaning of treason to our beneficent Government, +no doubt he will be very thankful that +his prisoner guests escaped as they did. +</p> +<p>At nine o’clock on the following morning, the +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_326' name='page_326'></a>326</span> +gunboat dropped her anchor off Harrison’s Landing. +Somers, who had slept for several hours, was +more comfortable, though he was still in a deplorable +condition. With the kindly assistance of his +friends, he was landed at the pier, and conveyed +in an ambulance to the headquarters of the division. +Leaning on the arm of De Banyan, he entered +the tent of the general. +</p> +<p>“Captain Somers!” exclaimed the general. “I +had given you up for lost. Why, you have grown +ten years older in five days!” +</p> +<p>“I have the honor to make my report, general,” +said Somers with a faint smile. +</p> +<p>“Your report? Good! After losing you, I did +not dare to send another officer upon such a perilous +errand. But, Captain Somers, you are all +used up,” added the general, with a glance filled +with sympathy—a look which Somers regarded as +an adequate reward for all he had suffered; for +to have <i>that</i> man feel an interest in him was better +in his estimation than the plaudits of the multitude. +“What is the matter with your arm?” +</p> +<p>“I was shot at Petersburg,” replied Somers. +</p> +<p>“Well, well, captain, you must go to the hospital: +and Captain—what’s-his-name——” +</p> +<p>“Captain de Banyan, at your service,” promptly +responded Somers’s faithful friend. +</p> +<p>“Captain de Banyan shall report for you, and +tell me all about this scrape,” added the general. +“Get into your carriage, Captain Somers, and go +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_327' name='page_327'></a>327</span> +to the hospital. I will call and see you to-day or +to-morrow.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you, general.” +</p> +<p>Captain de Banyan assisted him into the ambulance; +and, when he had placed him in the care +of the surgeon, he returned to headquarters to tell +the marvelous story of their capture by the rebels, +and their escape from Petersburg. It is quite +likely that he did not add his experience in Tennessee; +but when the general called on Somers at +the hospital the next morning, the latter supplied +all that had been withheld. The general had a +higher regard for the captain’s patriotism than +ever before, for he had voluntarily renounced the +ranks of the rebellion, and placed himself on the +side of his country. There was nothing against +him; on the contrary, his conduct had been in the +highest degree praiseworthy. But Captain de Banyan +was sensitive on this point; and the general +readily promised to conceal what the brave fellow +regarded as a stain upon his character. +</p> +<p>Captain Somers did not improve so rapidly as +his friends desired. The surgeon declared that his +night ride from Petersburg, in his feeble condition, +had done him more injury than a year’s hard service; +and after he had been in the hospital ten days, +it was deemed advisable to give him a furlough, +and send him home, especially as the division was +then under orders to march to Yorktown. The +gallant young hero regretted the necessity of leaving +the regiment just as he had been promoted; +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_328' name='page_328'></a>328</span> +but he was in no condition to endure the long and +weary march. He was able to walk about a little; +and on the day before the sailing of the transport +by which he was to proceed to Washington, he +received another visit from the general. +</p> +<p>After a few kind inquiries in regard to the invalid’s +condition, the general took from his pocket +one of those great official envelopes which so often +carry joy to the heart of the gallant officer. Somers +was amazed. It could not be possible that his +own promotion was indicated by this document. +It was not three weeks since his commission as +captain had reached him; but then Senator Guilford +was a great man, and wielded a tremendous +influence, both at Washington, and with the military +authorities of his native State. +</p> +<p>Recalling his former declaration to Captain de +Banyan, he was fully resolved to decline any further +promotion, at least until he had done something +which entitled him to this distinction. The +general held up the formidable packet, while +Somers’s pale face was suffused with blushes. +</p> +<p>“I have brought you a major’s commission, +Somers; and I know it will give you joy.” +</p> +<p>“Really, sir; ah! general, I don’t think——” +</p> +<p>“Don’t you?” laughed the general. +</p> +<p>“I don’t deserve it, general; and you will pardon +me if I say I cannot accept it. I am very +grateful to you; but——” +</p> +<p>“Oh, it isn’t for you!” roared the general as he +handed him the official paper. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_329' name='page_329'></a>329</span></p> +<p>“Major de Banyan!” exclaimed Captain Somers +as he read the superscription with a thrill of delight. +“It is indeed a joy to me. I am ten times +as happy as I should have been if my own name +had been coupled with that title. I am ever so +much obliged to you.” +</p> +<p>“Senator Guilford again! By the way, Captain +Somers, you must call on him when you get +to Washington.” +</p> +<p>“I shall certainly do so. But I know my friend +could not have been promoted without the good +word which you have spoken for him.” +</p> +<p>“Well, it is all right, captain. Major de Banyan +is a brave fellow. He has done you a good +turn; and I waylaid this document so as to afford +you the pleasure of being the first to address him +by his new title.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you, general.” +</p> +<p>“And, captain, if you could prevail on the +major to be a little more reasonable in some of +the lies he tells, his reputation for veracity would +be improved.” +</p> +<p>“I will endeavor to do so.” +</p> +<p>The general bade the invalid a hearty and even +affectionate adieu; and they did not meet again till +they grasped hands on the bloody field of Antietam, +where Somers acted in a new sphere of duty. +No sooner had the general departed, than Somers, +inspired to new vigor by the joyful event which +had just transpired, hastened to the camp of the +regiment. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_330' name='page_330'></a>330</span></p> +<p>“Ah, Somers; my dear boy! how are you now?” +said his friend as he seized his hand. +</p> +<p>“Better, I thank you, <i>Major</i> de Banyan.” +</p> +<p>“Come, now, Somers, that is cruel! A friend +of mine, just before the battle of Solferino——” +</p> +<p>“Confound the battle of Solferino, Major de +Banyan!” +</p> +<p>“I was about to say that a friend of mine, just +before the battle of Solferino, made fun of my +aspirations, just as you do now——” +</p> +<p>“I don’t do anything of the sort. Here’s the +official document. If I read right, it says Major +de Banyan.” +</p> +<p>“Somers,” said the captain, winking very +rapidly to dissipate some evidences of weakness +which were struggling for existence in his eyes—“Somers, +you have done this.” +</p> +<p>“I did write to Senator Guilford about you before +we went over the river; and now I thank God +with all my soul that I did so.” +</p> +<p>“Somers, you are one of the best of friends!” +exclaimed the major as he stood with the unopened +document in his hand. +</p> +<p>“And so are you. Without you, I should have +been in a rebel prison or under the sod at this +time.” +</p> +<p>“God bless you, Somers!” ejaculated De Banyan, +as with trembling hand he opened the envelope, +and took therefrom his major’s commission. +“I have loved you just like a younger +brother; not selfishly, my dear boy, but with my +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_331' name='page_331'></a>331</span> +whole heart. You haven’t disappointed me, only +once, when——” +</p> +<p>“Don’t mention it. I thought you were a rebel +then, but I repented.” +</p> +<p>“I don’t blame you. Now, Somers, you are +going home. May God bless you and keep you! +I shall be as sad as a maiden who has lost her +lover, while you are gone.” +</p> +<p>“I shall not be absent long. We shall be together +again in a few weeks.” +</p> +<p>“I hope so. I have no home now. It has been +desolated by treason. I heard since I came over +that my wife was dead. I had a son, a boy of +fifteen; I know not where he is. Well, well; I will +not groan or complain. I will do my duty to my +country, and that shall cheer my heart;” and with +an effort of his powerful will, he banished the sad +reflections from his mind, and smiled as though +earth had no sorrows. “After the battle of Magenta, +I had the blues, and——” +</p> +<p>“One word, De Banyan. <i>Were</i> you at the +battle of Magenta?” said Somers solemnly. +</p> +<p>The major looked on the ground, at the commission +he had just received, and then into the sympathizing +face of his friend. +</p> +<p>“To tell the truth, Somers, I was not; but I +fought in every battle in Mexico, from Vera Cruz +up to the capital.” +</p> +<p>Somers improved this opportunity to repeat the +injunction of the general. +</p> +<p>“Now promise me, major, that you will never +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_332' name='page_332'></a>332</span> +say Magenta or anything of the sort again as long +as you live,” added Somers. +</p> +<p>“That would be a rash promise. I have got a +bad habit, and I will try to cure myself of it. On +my soul I will, my dear boy!” +</p> +<p>In the course of the conversation the major, who +was now in a truth-telling mood, informed Somers +that he had, after his escape from the rebel army, +enlisted in the regular army, where he had been +made a sergeant, and, through the influence of a +Massachusetts officer, had been commissioned as +a captain. His gallantry had won a swift reward. +</p> +<p>On the following day they parted on board the +transport in the river; and in that sad hour the +friendship which, though brief in duration, had +been fruitful enough for a lifetime, was pledged +for the future. They parted, De Banyan to mingle +in the terrible scenes in which the regiment was engaged +before the close of the month, and Somers +to bask in the smiles of the loved ones at home. +Alick, who had been regularly installed as the +captain’s servant, went with him. +</p> +<hr class='major' /> +<div style='margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em'> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXI</h2> +<h3>WASHINGTON, BOSTON AND PINCHBROOK</h3> +</div> + +<p>Though the session of Congress had closed a +month before, Captain Somers was gratified to +learn on his arrival that Senator Guilford and +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_333' name='page_333'></a>333</span> +his family were still in Washington, the distinguished +gentleman having been detained by important +public business. As soon as he could make +himself presentable, he hastened to pay his respects +to the Senator, and thank him for his kindness. +He was not at home. Emma received him with a +warm blush of pleasure on her fair cheeks. She +had entirely recovered from the effects of the accident; +and her tribute of gratitude was so eloquently +poured forth, that the gallant young captain, +who had hardly seen a young lady before +for two months, could not exactly tell whether he +stood on his head or his heels; for praise from +those beautiful lips produced a sensation of giddiness +in the region of the brain. +</p> +<p>Young men will be silly in spite of all we dignified +old fogies can say to convince them of the +folly of being carried away by the witching arts +of pretty, graceful little creatures like Emma Guilford. +Perhaps the remembrance of the scene on +the railroad was some excuse for him; and it is +entirely unnecessary to apologize for anything a +beautiful girl may do, especially if she be the +daughter of a Senator. The young lady said a +great many pretty things, and the young gentleman +a great many smart ones, before she discovered +that the captain was wounded in the arm, +though she had already remarked upon his pale +face and rather attenuated form. +</p> +<p>He told her when and where he was wounded; +and of course she wanted to know all about his +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_334' name='page_334'></a>334</span> +adventures in Secessia. He was as willing as +Othello to speak +</p> +<table summary='poetry' style='margin:0 auto'><tr><td> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 22em;'>“Of most disastrous chances,</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Of moving accidents, by flood and field;</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Of hairbreadth scapes i’ the imminent deadly breach;</p> +<p style='margin: 0 0 0 0em;'>Of being taken by the insolent foe.”</p> +</td></tr></table> + +<p>All this to hear did Emma Guilford seriously +incline. But he had hardly commenced the story +before the Senator himself entered the room. +</p> +<p>“Ah! Captain Somers, I am delighted to see +you!” said he with enthusiasm, as he extended his +hand, which our hero as warmly grasped. +</p> +<p>“Thank you, sir. I have called to express my +obligations to you for all your kindness to me and +to my friend. Major de Banyan wished to be +kindly remembered to you.” +</p> +<p>“I am happy to hear from the major; and as +for the rest, I feel that I have not yet begun to +discharge my obligation to you. Why didn’t you +write to me before?” +</p> +<p>“I did not wish to burden you with any remembrance +of such a humble individual as myself.” +</p> +<p>“You are too modest by half, Captain Somers. +I should not have known anything about you if it +hadn’t been for General—— Well, no matter +who,” laughed the Senator. +</p> +<p>“Now, papa, you have cut short the most interesting +story that ever was told!” interposed +Emma. +</p> +<p>“The captain must begin again, then. Of +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_335' name='page_335'></a>335</span> +course, you will make my house your home while +in the city.” +</p> +<p>“Thank you, sir. I left my servant at the +hotel” +</p> +<p>Senator Guilford insisted on sending for the +servant and the baggage; and, in half an hour, +Alick was present to confirm the wonderful tale +which Somers told of his captivity in Petersburg, +to which Emma and her father listened with the +most intense interest. +</p> +<p>Very much to his surprise, Captain Somers +found himself quite a lion in Washington. He +was introduced to Senators and Representatives; +and on the following evening actually took the +President of the United States by the hand, just +as though he had been one of the patriarchs of +Pinchbrook. +</p> +<p>In spite of all these brilliant surroundings, +Somers was anxious to get home. He was too +feeble to endure the excitement of the capital; and +on the third day after his arrival, he started for +home. When he reached Boston, by an unfortunate +chance it was two hours before a train would +start for Pinchbrook. As he had spent two days +with a Senator in Washington, and shaken hands +with the President, he deemed himself qualified +to call at No. — Rutland Street, where the carriage +soon set him down. +</p> +<p>Lilian Ashford was at home; and Captain +Somers, who had faced a whole rebel brigade, +trembled and blushed in the presence of the maiden +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_336' name='page_336'></a>336</span> +like the veriest coward in the world. But it was +some satisfaction to know that the other party was +similarly affected. The young hero could not exactly +explain how he felt. It was a different sensation +from that which had come over him in the +presence of Emma Guilford. He experienced a +feeling of awe before her, but he could talk as fast +as ever; while to Lilian he stammered, couldn’t remember +anything, and made woful confusion in +his words and in his ideas. +</p> +<p>When the ice was broken, he succeeded in telling +her something about his adventures in Virginia, +and roused a very strong desire in her mind +to see the wonderful Major de Banyan. But his +brief hour expired all too soon; it faded in a moment, +and seemed like a tale that was told. +</p> +<p>“I wore your socks at the battles of Savage’s +Station, Glendale and White Oak Swamp, Miss +Ashford,” said he; “and I shall keep them for +future service of the same kind. If I am killed in +battle, I shall be found with those socks on my +feet.” +</p> +<p>“Oh, I hope you won’t be killed!” exclaimed +she with a shudder. +</p> +<p>“Well, I hope not; but, as soon as I am able, I +shall return to my duty.” +</p> +<p>“What a brave fellow you are! I shouldn’t +think you would dare to stand up before the cannons, +and the muskets, and the bayonets.” +</p> +<p>“When I feel like running away, I always think +of my socks,” said Somers. +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_337' name='page_337'></a>337</span></p> +<p>But the carriage had come for him, and Alick +stood at the door waiting for his appearance. He +took the little soft white hand in his own, and +readily promised, when she invited him, to call +again soon and see her grandmother, who was out +of town that day. Of course, Somers was deeply +interested in that venerable lady, and actually +looked forward with intense pleasure to the anticipated +visit. +</p> +<p>He was driven to the railroad station, and +reached Pinchbrook at “high twelve,” when the +Pinchbrookers were just going to their dinners. +Captain Barney, as usual, was at the depot, and +gave him a seaman’s welcome home. He insisted +upon being driven to the cottage before dinner; +and the old shipmaster, finding that Captain +Somers carried too many guns for him, gracefully +yielded the point. +</p> +<p>“Bless my stars, if there ain’t Thomas!” cried +Mrs. Somers as she jumped up from the dinner-table, +and actually upset the teapot in the operation. +</p> +<p>“How do you do, mother? How do you do, +father?” exclaimed the young captain as he shook +hands with his father and Gran’ther Green, kissed +his mother, and hugged his sister. +</p> +<p>“How pale you look, Thomas!” said his +mother. “I declare, you are as thin as a hatchet! +How is your arm?” +</p> +<p>“Better, mother; I shall be as good as new in a +few days.” +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_338' name='page_338'></a>338</span></p> +<p>“You look pale; but your face is as nateral as +life,” said Gran’ther Green. “I don’t know what +we shall do with two cap’ns in the family.” +</p> +<p>“I think we can manage that, gran’ther,” replied +Somers, as he took the place at the table which +had been prepared for him. +</p> +<hr class='tb' /> + +<p>We drop the curtain upon the scenes which followed; +for our patient reader can better imagine +than we can describe them. Our hero was once +more within the hallowed precincts of home; all +its sacred joys flowed in upon his soul; and he +thanked the good Father who had conducted him +through so many perils, and restored him to the +hearts of the loved ones who yearned for him in +his absence. They were as grateful for his return +as he was—grateful that God had restored him at +all; but doubly so that he had come with his soul +unstained by the vices of the camp and the wickedness +of the great world. +</p> +<p>The health of Captain Somers did not permit +his return to the army to participate in those great +battles before Washington in which his regiment +was reduced to a mere skeleton of its former self. +But, while the country was breathing slowly and +fearfully before the terrors of Lee’s invasion of +Maryland, there came to Pinchbrook a letter from +the gallant general of division—now in command +of a <i>corps d’armée</i>—under whom he had before +served, containing an appointment on his staff. +Though still but partially restored to health, he +<span class='pagenum'><a id='page_339' name='page_339'></a>339</span> +hastened to accept his new position, and started at +once for the scene of strife. +</p> +<p>His suffering country needed him; and he could +not satisfy his sense of duty, even with the reasonable +excuse of a shattered physical frame. He +went, and his record was always honorable and +noble in success and in misfortune. +</p> +<div class='ce'> +<p style=' margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:1em;'>THE END</p> +</div> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<p><b>A. L. Burt’s Catalogue of Books for +Young People by Popular Writers, 52-58 +Duane Street, New York</b></p> + +<p style='font-size:larger'><b>BOOKS FOR BOYS.</b></p> + +<p><b>Joe’s Luck:</b> A Boy’s Adventures in California. By +<span style='font-variant:small-caps; font-size:smaller;'>Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>The story is chock fall of stirring incidents, while the amusing situations +are furnished by Joshua Bickford, from Pumpkin Hollow, and the +fellow who modestly styles himself the “Rip-tail Roarer, from Pike Co., +Missouri.” Mr. Alger never writes a poor book, and “Joe’s Luck” is certainly +one of his best.</p> + +<p><b>Tom the Bootblack;</b> or, The Road to Success. By +<span style='font-variant:small-caps; font-size:smaller;'>Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>A bright, enterprising lad was Tom the Bootblack. He was not at all +ashamed of his humble calling, though always on the lookout to better +himself. The lad started for Cincinnati to look up his heritage. Mr. +Grey, the uncle, did not hesitate to employ a ruffian to kill the lad. The +plan failed, and Gilbert Grey, once Tom the bootblack, came into a comfortable +fortune. This is one of Mr. Alger’s best stories.</p> + +<p><b>Dan the Newsboy.</b> By <span style='font-variant:small-caps; font-size:smaller;'>Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> 12mo, +cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>Dan Mordaunt and his mother live in a poor tenement, and the lad is +pluckily trying to make ends meet by selling papers in the streets of New +York. A little heiress of six years is confided to the care of the Mordaunts. +The child is kidnapped and Dan tracks the child to the house +where she is hidden, and rescues her. The wealthy aunt of the little +heiress is so delighted with Dan’s courage and many good qualities +that she adopts him as her heir.</p> + +<p><b>Tony the Hero:</b> A Brave Boy’s Adventure with a +Tramp. By <span style='font-variant:small-caps; font-size:smaller;'>Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>Tony, a sturdy bright-eyed boy of fourteen, is under the control of +Rudolph Rugg, a thorough rascal. After much abuse Tony runs away +and gets a Job as stable boy in a country hotel. Tony is heir to a +large estate. Rudolph for a consideration hunts up Tony and throws +him down a deep well. Of course Tony escapes from the fate provided +for him, and by a brave act, a rich friend secures his rights and Tony +is prosperous. A very entertaining book.</p> + +<p><b>The Errand Boy;</b> or, How Phil Brent Won Success. +By <span style='font-variant:small-caps; font-size:smaller;'>Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> 12mo, cloth illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>The career of “The Errand Boy” embraces the city adventures of a +smart country lad. Philip was brought up by a kind-hearted innkeeper +named Brent. The death of Mrs. Brent paved the way for the hero’s +subsequent troubles. A retired merchant in New York secures him the +situation of errand boy, and thereafter stands as his friend.</p> + +<p><b>Tom Temple’s Career.</b> By <span style='font-variant:small-caps; font-size:smaller;'>Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> 12mo, +cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>Tom Temple is a bright, self-reliant lad. He leaves Plympton village +to seek work in New York, whence he undertakes an important mission +to California. Some of his adventures in the far west are so startling that +the reader will scarcely close the book until the last page shall have been +reached. The tale is written in Mr. Alger’s most fascinating style.</p> + +<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York.</p> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<p style='font-size:larger'><b>BOOKS FOR BOYS.</b></p> + +<p><b>Frank Fowler, the Cash Boy.</b> By <span style='font-variant:small-caps; font-size:smaller;'>Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> +12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>Frank Fowler, a poor boy, bravely determines to make a living for +himself and his foster-sister Grace. Going to New York he obtains a +situation as cash boy in a dry goods store. He renders a service to a +wealthy old gentleman who takes a fancy to the lad, and thereafter +helps the lad to gain success and fortune.</p> + +<p><b>Tom Thatcher’s Fortune.</b> By <span style='font-variant:small-caps; font-size:smaller;'>Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> +12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>Tom Thatcher is a brave, ambitious, unselfish boy. He supports his +mother and sister on meagre wages earned as a shoe-pegger in John +Simpson’s factory. Tom is discharged from the factory and starts overland +for California. He meets with many adventures. The story is told +in a way which has made Mr. Alger’s name a household word in so many +homes.</p> + +<p><b>The Train Boy.</b> By <span style='font-variant:small-caps; font-size:smaller;'>Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> 12mo, +cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>Paul Palmer was a wide-awake boy of sixteen who supported his mother +and sister by selling books and papers on the Chicago and Milwaukee +Railroad. He detects a young man in the act of picking the pocket of a +young lady. In a railway accident many passengers are killed, but Paul +is fortunate enough to assist a Chicago merchant, who out of gratitude +takes him into his employ. Paul succeeds with tact and judgment and +is well started on the road to business prominence.</p> + +<p><b>Mark Mason’s Victory.</b> The Trials and Triumphs of +a Telegraph Boy. By <span style='font-variant:small-caps; font-size:smaller;'>Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price +$1.00.</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>Mark Mason, the telegraph boy, was a sturdy, honest lad, who pluckily +won his way to success by his honest manly efforts under many difficulties. +This story will please the very large class of boys who regard +Mr. Alger as a favorite author.</p> + +<p><b>A Debt of Honor.</b> The Story of Gerald Lane’s Success +in the Far West. By <span style='font-variant:small-caps; font-size:smaller;'>Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price +$1.00.</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>The story of Gerald Lane and the account of the many trials and disappointments +which he passed through before he attained success, will +interest all boys who have read the previous stories of this delightful +author.</p> + +<p><b>Ben Bruce.</b> Scenes in the Life of a Bowery Newsboy. +By <span style='font-variant:small-caps; font-size:smaller;'>Horatio Alger, Jr.</span> 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>Ben Bruce was a brave, manly, generous boy. The story of his efforts, +and many seeming failures and disappointments, and his final success, are +most interesting to all readers. The tale is written in Mr. Alger’s +most fascinating style.</p> + +<p><b>The Castaways;</b> or, On the Florida Reefs. By <span style='font-variant:small-caps; font-size:smaller;'>James +Otis.</span> 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>This tale smacks of the salt sea. From the moment that the Sea +Queen leaves lower New York bay till the breeze leaves her becalmed off +the coast of Florida, one can almost hear the whistle of the wind +through her rigging, the creak of her straining cordage as she heels to +the leeward. The adventures of Ben Clark, the hero of the story and +Jake the cook, cannot fail to charm the reader. As a writer for young +people Mr. Otis is a prime favorite.</p> + +<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York.</p> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<p style='font-size:larger'><b>BOOKS FOR BOYS.</b></p> + +<p><b>Wrecked on Spider Island;</b> or, How Ned Rogers Found +the Treasure. By <span style='font-variant:small-caps; font-size:smaller;'>James Otis.</span> 12mo, +cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>Ned Rogers, a “down-east” plucky lad ships as cabin boy to earn +a livelihood. Ned is marooned on Spider Island, and while there discovers +a wreck submerged in the sand, and finds a considerable amount +of treasure. The capture of the treasure and the incidents of the +voyage serve to make as entertaining a story of sea-life as the most +captious boy could desire.</p> + +<p><b>The Search for the Silver City:</b> A Tale of Adventure in +Yucatan. By <span style='font-variant:small-caps; font-size:smaller;'>James Otis.</span> 12mo, +cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>Two lads, Teddy Wright and Neal Emery, embark on the steam +yacht Day Dream for a cruise to the tropics. The yacht is destroyed +by fire, and then the boat is cast upon the coast of Yucatan. They +hear of the wonderful Silver City, of the Chan Santa Cruz Indians, +and with the help of a faithful Indian ally carry off a number of the +golden images from the temples. Pursued with relentless vigor at last +their escape is effected in an astonishing manner. The story is so +full of exciting incidents that the reader is quite carried away with +the novelty and realism of the narrative.</p> + +<p><b>A Runaway Brig;</b> or, An Accidental Cruise. By +<span style='font-variant:small-caps; font-size:smaller;'>James Otis.</span> 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>This is a sea tale, and the reader can look out upon the wide shimmering +sea as it flashes back the sunlight, and imagine himself afloat with +Harry Vandyne, Walter Morse, Jim Libby and that old shell-back, Bob +Brace, on the brig Bonita. The boys discover a mysterious document +which enables them to find a buried treasure. They are stranded on +an island and at last are rescued with the treasure. The boys are sure +to be fascinated with this entertaining story.</p> + +<p><b>The Treasure Finders:</b> A Boy’s Adventures in +Nicaragua. By <span style='font-variant:small-caps; font-size:smaller;'>James Otis.</span> 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00.</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>Roy and Dean Coloney, with their guide Tongla, leave their father’s +indigo plantation to visit the wonderful ruins of an ancient city. The +boys eagerly explore the temples of an extinct race and discover three +golden images cunningly hidden away. They escape with the greatest +difficulty. Eventually they reach safety with their golden prizes. We +doubt if there ever was written a more entertaining story than “The +Treasure Finders.”</p> + +<p><b>Jack, the Hunchback.</b> A Story of the Coast of Maine, +By <span style='font-variant:small-caps; font-size:smaller;'>James Otis.</span> Price $1.00.</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>This is the story of a little hunchback who lived on Cape Elizabeth, +on the coast of Maine. His trials and successes are most interesting. +From first to last nothing stays the interest of the narrative. It bears us +along as on a stream whose current varies in direction, but never loses +its force.</p> + +<p><b>With Washington at Monmouth:</b> A Story of Three +Philadelphia Boys. By <span style='font-variant:small-caps; font-size:smaller;'>James Otis.</span> 12mo, ornamental cloth, olivine +edges, illustrated, price $1.50.</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>Three Philadelphia lads assist the American spies and make regular +and frequent visits to Valley Forge in the Winter while the British +occupied the city. The story abounds with pictures of Colonial life +skillfully drawn, and the glimpses of Washington’s soldiers which are +given shown that the work has not been hastily done, or without considerable +study. The story is wholesome and patriotic in tone, as are +all of Mr. Otis’ works.</p> + +<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York.</p> + +<hr class='silver' /> + +<p style='font-size:larger'><b>BOOKS FOR BOYS.</b></p> + +<p><b>With Lafayette at Yorktown:</b> A Story of How Two +Boys Joined the Continental Army. By <span style='font-variant:small-caps; font-size:smaller;'>James Otis.</span> 12mo, ornamental +cloth, olivine edges, illustrated, price $1.50.</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>Two lads from Portmouth, N. H., attempt to enlist in the Colonial +Army, and are given employment as spies. There is no lack of exciting +incidents which the youthful reader craves, but it is healthful excitement +brimming with facts which every boy should be familiar with, +and while the reader is following the adventures of Ben Jaffrays and +Ned Allen he is acquiring a fund of historical lore which will remain +in his memory long after that which he has memorized from textbooks +has been forgotten.</p> + +<p><b>At the Siege of Havana.</b> Being the Experiences of +Three Boys Serving under Israel Putnam in 1762. By <span style='font-variant:small-caps; font-size:smaller;'>James Otis.</span> 12mo, +ornamental cloth, olivine edges, illustrated, price $1.50.</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>“At the Siege of Havana” deals with that portion of the island’s +history when the English king captured the capital, thanks to the +assistance given by the troops from New England, led in part by Col. +Israel Putnam.</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>The principal characters are Darius Lunt, the lad who, represented as +telling the story, and his comrades, Robert Clement and Nicholas +Vallet. Colonel Putnam also figures to considerable extent, necessarily, +in the tale, and the whole forms one of the most readable stories founded on +historical facts.</p> + +<p><b>The Defense of Fort Henry.</b> A Story of Wheeling +Creek in 1777. By <span style='font-variant:small-caps; font-size:smaller;'>James Otis.</span> 12mo, ornamental cloth, olivine edges, +illustrated, price $1.50.</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>Nowhere in the history of our country can be found more heroic or +thrilling incidents than in the story of those brave men and women +who founded the settlement of Wheeling in the Colony of Virginia. The +recital of what Elizabeth Zane did is in itself as heroic a story as can +be imagined. The wondrous bravery displayed by Major McCulloch +and his gallant comrades, the sufferings of the colonists and their sacrifice +of blood and life, stir the blood of old as well as young readers.</p> + +<p><b>The Capture of the Laughing Mary.</b> A Story of Three +New York Boys in 1776. By <span style='font-variant:small-caps; font-size:smaller;'>James Otis.</span> 12mo, ornamental cloth, olivine +edges, price $1.50.</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>“During the British occupancy of New York, at the outbreak of the +Revolution, a Yankee lad hears of the plot to take General Washington’s +person, and calls in two companions to assist the patriot cause. They +do some astonishing things, and, incidentally, lay the way for an +American navy later, by the exploit which gives its name to the +work. Mr. Otis’ books are too well known to require any particular +commendation to the young.”—<b>Evening Post.</b></p> + +<p><b>With Warren at Bunker Hill.</b> A Story of the Siege of +Boston. By <span style='font-variant:small-caps; font-size:smaller;'>James Otis.</span> 12mo, ornamental cloth, olivine edges, illustrated, +price $1.50.</p> + +<p style='font-size:smaller;'>“This is a tale of the siege of Boston, which opens on the day after +the doings at Lexington and Concord, with a description of home life +in Boston, introduces the reader to the British camp at Charlestown, +shows Gen. Warren at home, describes what a boy thought of the +battle of Bunker Hill, and closes with the raising of the siege. The +three heroes, George Wentworth, Ben Scarlett and an old ropemaker, +incur the enmity of a young Tory, who causes them many adventures +the boys will like to read.”—<b>Detroit Free Press.</b></p> + +<p>For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York.</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 25886-h.txt or 25886-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/5/8/8/25886">http://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/8/8/25886</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: The Young Lieutenant + or, The Adventures of an Army Officer + + +Author: Oliver Optic + + + +Release Date: June 23, 2008 [eBook #25886] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT*** + + +E-text prepared by Roger Frank, Juliet Sutherland, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) + + + +THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT + +Or + +The Adventures of an Army Officer + +A Story of the Great Rebellion + +by + +OLIVER OPTIC + +Author of +"The Soldier Boy," "The Sailor Boy," "Brave Old Salt," +"The Yankee Middy," "Fighting Joe," etc. + + + + + + + +A. L. Burt Company +Publishers :: :: New York + + + +TO +William A. Moulton, Esq. + +THIS BOOK +IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED + +BY HIS FRIEND +WILLIAM T. ADAMS + + + + + + +THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT +OR +THE ADVENTURES OF AN ARMY OFFICER + +CHAPTER I + +CAPTAIN DE BANYAN AND OTHERS + + +"I beg your pardon, sir; but I see, by the number on your cap, that we +belong to the same regiment," said an officer with two bars on his +shoulder-straps, as he halted in the aisle of the railroad-car, near +where Lieutenant Thomas Somers was seated. "May I be permitted to inquire +whom I have the honor of addressing?" + +"Lieutenant Somers, of the ----th Massachusetts," replied the young +gentleman addressed, as he politely touched his cap in return for the +salutation of the other. + +"Ah! is it possible? I am rejoiced to meet you. I have heard of you +before. Allow me to add in the most delicate manner, that you are a good +fellow, a first-rate soldier, and as brave an officer as ever sported a +pair of shoulder-straps. Permit me to offer you my hand; and allow me to +add, that it is a hand which was never sullied by a dishonorable act." + +"I am happy to make your acquaintance," replied Lieutenant Somers, as he +accepted the offered hand. "Won't you take a seat, Captain----" + +"Captain de Banyan, at your service," continued the officer, as he seated +himself by the side of the young lieutenant, who was completely +bewildered by the elegant and courtly speech of his new-found friend. + +If Lieutenant Somers needs any further introduction to the reader, we may +briefly add, that he was a native of Pinchbrook, a town near Boston, in +the State of Massachusetts. He was now entering his eighteenth year, and +had enlisted in the great army of the Union as a private, with an earnest +and patriotic desire to serve his imperiled country in her death-grapple +with treason and traitors. He had won his warrant as a sergeant by +bravery and address, and had subsequently been commissioned as a second +lieutenant for good conduct on the bloody field of Williamsburg, where he +had been wounded. The injury he had received, and the exhaustion +consequent upon hard marching and the excitement of a terrible battle, +had procured for him a furlough of thirty days. He had spent this brief +period at home; and now, invigorated by rest and the care of loving +friends, he was returning to the army to participate in that stupendous +campaign which culminated in the seven-days' battles before Richmond. + +Inspired by the hope of honorable distinction, still more by the +patriotic desire to serve the noblest cause for which the soldier ever +drew a sword, he was hastening to the post of danger and duty. As the +train hurried him by smiling fields, and through cities and villages +whose prosperity was mysteriously interlinked with the hallowed mission +which called him from the bosom of home and friends, his thoughts were +those which would naturally animate the soul of a young patriot, as he +journeyed to the battle-fields of a nation's ruin or salvation. He +thought of the bloody scenes before him, of the blessed home behind him. + +Only the day before, he had made his parting visit to Lilian Ashford, who +knit his "fighting socks," as he had called them since the eventful day +when he had found her letter and her picture in them. Of course, he could +not help thinking of her; and, as he had a thin stratum of sentiment in +his composition, it is more than probable that the beautiful young lady +monopolized more than her fair share of his thoughts; but I am sure it +was not at all to the detriment of the affection he owed his mother and +the other dear ones, who were shrined in the sanctuary of his heart. + +Lieutenant Somers was an exceedingly good-looking young man, which, as it +was no fault of his own, we do not object to mention. He was clothed in +his new uniform, which was very creditable to the taste and skill of his +tailor. On his upper lip, an incipient mustache had developed itself; +and, though it presented nothing remarkable, it gave brilliant promise of +soon becoming all that its ambitious owner could possibly desire, +especially as he was a reasonable person, and had no taste for +monstrosities. He had paid proper attention to this ornamental appendage, +which is so indispensable to the making-up of a soldier; and the result, +if not entirely satisfactory, was at least hopeful. + +The subject of our remarks wore his sash and belt, and carried his sword +in his hand, for the reason that he had no other convenient way of +transporting them. Our natural pride, as his biographer, leads us to +repeat that he was a fine-looking young man; and we will venture to say, +that the young lady who occupied the seat on the opposite side of the car +was of the same opinion. Of course, she did not stare at him; but she had +two or three times cast a furtive glance at the young officer; though the +operation had been so well managed, that he was entirely unconscious of +the fact. + +Inasmuch as this same young lady was herself quite pretty, it is not +supposable that she had entirely escaped the observation of our gallant +young son of Mars. We are compelled to say he had glanced in that +direction two or three times, to keep within the limits of a modest +calculation; but it is our duty to add that he was not captivated, and +that there is not the least danger of our story degenerating into a +love-tale. Lieutenant Somers thought she was nearly as pretty as Lilian +Ashford; and this, we solemnly declare, was the entire length and breadth +of the sentiment he expended upon the young lady, who was certainly +worthy of a deeper homage. + +She was in charge of an elderly, dignified gentleman, who had occupied +the seat by her side until half an hour before the appearance of Captain +de Banyan; but, being unfortunately addicted to the small vice of +smoking, he had gone forward to the proper car to indulge his propensity. +Lieutenant Somers had studied the faces of all the passengers near him, +and had arrived at the conclusion that the lady's protector was a +gentleman of consequence. He might be her father or her uncle; but he was +a member of Congress, the governor of a State, or some high official, +perhaps a major-general in "mufti." At any rate, our hero was interested +in the pair, and had carried his speculations concerning them as far as +theory can go without a few facts to substantiate it, when his +reflections were disturbed by Captain de Banyan. + +"Lieutenant Somers, I'm proud to know you, as I had occasion to remark +before. I have heard of you. You distinguished yourself in the battle of +Williamsburg," said Captain de Banyan. + +"You speak very handsomely of me--much better than I deserve, sir." + +"Not a particle, my boy. If there is a man in the army that can +appreciate valor, that man is Captain de Banyan. You are modest, +Lieutenant Somers--of course you are modest; all brave men are +modest--and I forgive your blushes. I've seen service, my boy. Though not +yet thirty-five, I served in the Crimea, in the Forty-seventh Royal +Infantry; and was at the battles of Solferino, Magenta, Palestro, and +others too numerous to mention." + +"Indeed!" exclaimed Lieutenant Somers, filled with admiration by the +magnificent record of the captain. "Then you are not an American?" + +"Oh, yes, I am! I happened to be in England when the Russian war +commenced. So, being fond of a stirring life, I entered as a private in +the Forty-seventh. If the war had continued six months longer, I should +have come out a brigadier-general, though. Promotion is not so rapid in +the British army as in our own. I was at the storming of the Redan; I was +one of the first to mount the breach. Just as I had raised my musket----" + +"I thought you were an officer--a colonel at least," interposed +Lieutenant Somers. + +"My sword, I should have said. Just as I had raised my sword to cut down +a Russian who threatened to bayonet me, a cannon-ball struck the butt of +my gun----" + +"Your gun?" + +"The handle of my sword, I should have said, and snapped it off like a +pipe-stem." + +"But didn't it snap your hand off too?" asked the lieutenant, rather +bewildered by the captain's statements. + +"Not at all; that is the most wonderful part of the story. It didn't even +graze my skin." + +"That was very remarkable," added Lieutenant Somers, who could not see, +for the life of him, how a cannon-ball could hit the handle of the sword +without injuring the hand which grasped it. + +"It was very remarkable, indeed; but I was reminded of the circumstance +by the remembrance that you were hit in the head by a bullet, which did +not kill you. I shouldn't have mentioned the affair if I hadn't called to +mind my own experience; for life yourself, Somers, I am a modest man; in +fact, every brave man is necessarily a modest man." + +"Were you ever wounded, Captain de Banyan?" + +"Bless you, half a dozen times. At Magenta, the same bullet passed twice +through my body." + +"The same bullet?" + +"Yes, sir--the same bullet. I'll tell you how it happened. I was in the +heavy artillery there. The bullet of the Russian--" + +"The Russian! Why, I thought the battle of Magenta was fought between the +Austrians and the French." + +"You are right, my boy. The bullet of the Austrian, I should have said, +passed through my left lung, struck the cannon behind me, bounded back, +and hitting me again, passed through my right lung. When it came out, it +hit my musket, and dropped upon the ground. I picked it up, and have it +at home now." + +"Whew!" added Lieutenant Somers in a low whisper. "It's quite warm +to-day," he continued, trying to turn off the remark. + +"Very warm, indeed." + +"But didn't you fall after the ball had passed through both your lungs?" + +"Not at all. I walked five miles to the hospital. On my way, I met the +Emperor Napoleon, who got off his horse, and thanked me for the valor I +had displayed, and conferred on me the medal of the Legion of Honor. I +keep the medal in the same bag with the bullet." + +"Then you have actually shaken hands with the Emperor of France?" cried +the amazed lieutenant. + +"Yes; and King Victor Emmanuel called to see me in the hospital, where I +was confined for five weeks. At Solferino, both their majesties shook +hands with me, and thanked me again for my services. Being a modest man, +I shouldn't want to say out loud that I saved the day for the French and +Sardinians at Solferino. At any rate, their majesties did the handsome +thing by me on that day." + +"I thought you were in the hospital five weeks after Magenta." + +"So I was; and well do I remember the little delicacies sent me by the +King of Italy while I lay there on my back. Ah! that Victor Emmanuel is a +noble fellow. At Solferino, he----" + +"But how could you have been at Solferino, if you were in the hospital +five weeks?" + +"I did not die of my wounds, it is scarcely necessary for me to remark. I +got well." + +"But the battle of Solferino was fought on the 20th of June, and that of +Magenta on the 4th of June. There were only twenty days between the +battles." + +"You are right, Somers. I have made some mistake in the dates. I never +was good at remembering them. When I was in college, the professors used +to laugh at me for forgetting the date of the Christian Era. By the way, +do you smoke, Somers? Let's go into the smoking-car, and have a cigar." + +"I thank you; I never smoke." + +"Ah! you are worse than a hot potato. But I am dying for a smoke; and, if +you will excuse me, I will go forward. I will see you again before we get +to New York." + +Captain de Banyan, apparently entirely satisfied with himself, rose from +his seat, and sauntered gracefully forward to the door of the car, +through which he disappeared, leaving Lieutenant Somers busy in a vain +endeavor to crowd five weeks in between the 4th and the 20th of June. The +captain was certainly a pleasant and voluble person, and Somers had +enjoyed the interview; though he could not repress a rising curiosity to +see the bullet which had passed twice through the body of the valiant +soldier, and the medal of the Legion of Honor conferred upon him by his +imperial majesty the Emperor of France. + +Some painful doubts in regard to the truth of Captain de Banyan's +remarkable experience were beginning to intrude themselves into his mind; +and it is quite probable that he would have been hurled into an unhappy +state of skepticism, if the train in which he was riding had not been +suddenly hurled down an embankment some twenty feet in height, where the +cars were piled up in shapeless wrecks, and human beings, full of life +and hope a moment before, were suddenly ushered into eternity, or maimed +and mangled for life. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE SENATOR'S DAUGHTER + + +A scene terribly beyond the power of description was presented to the +gaze of Lieutenant Somers when he recovered his scattered senses. The car +had been literally wrenched to pieces, and the passengers were partially +buried beneath the fragments. Our traveler was stunned by the shock, and +made giddy by the wild vaulting of the car as it leaped down the +embankment to destruction. He was bruised and lacerated; but he was not +seriously injured. He did not make the mistake which many persons do +under such trying circumstances, of believing that they are killed; or, +if their senses belie this impression, that they shall die within a brief +period. + +Lieutenant Somers was endowed with a remarkable degree of self-possession, +and never gave up anything as long as there was any chance of holding on. +He saw a great many stars not authenticated in any respectable catalogue +of celestial luminaries. His thoughts, and even his vitality, seemed to be +suspended for an instant; but the thoughts came back, and the stream of +life still flowed on, notwithstanding the rude assault which had been made +upon his corporal frame. + +Finding that he was not killed, he struggled out from beneath the wreck +which had overwhelmed him. His first consideration, after he had assured +himself that he was comparatively uninjured, was for those who were his +fellow-passengers on this race to ruin and death; and perhaps it is not +strange that the fair young lady who had occupied the opposite seat in +the car came to his mind. Men and women were disengaging themselves from +the shapeless rubbish. Some wept, some groaned, and some were motionless +and silent. + +He did not see the fair stranger among those who were struggling back to +consciousness. A portion of the top of the car lay near him, which he +raised up. It rested heavily upon the form of a maiden, which he at once +recognized by the dress to be that of the gentle stranger. The sight +roused all his energies; and he felt that strength which had fired his +muscles when he trod the field of battle. With desperate eagerness, he +raised the heavy fragment which was crowding out the young life of the +tender form, and bore it away, so that she was released from its cruel +pressure. + +She, poor girl! felt it not; for her eyes were closed, and her marble +cheek was stained with blood. The young officer, tenderly interested in +her fate, bent over her, and raised the inanimate form. He bore it in his +arms to a green spot, away from the scattered fragments of the train, and +laid it gently down upon the bosom of mother earth. By all the means +within his power, he endeavored to convince himself that death had not +yet invaded the lovely temple of her being. But still she was silent and +motionless. There was not a sign by which he could determine the +momentous question. + +He was unwilling to believe that the beautiful stranger was dead. It +seemed too hard and cruel that one so young and fair should be thus +rudely hurried out of existence, without a mother or even a father near +to receive her last gaze on earth, and listen to the soft sigh with which +she breathed forth her last throb of existence. He had a telescopic +drinking-cup in his pocket, with which he hastened to a brook that flowed +through the valley. Filling it with water, he returned to his charge. He +sprinkled her face, and rubbed her temples, and exerted himself to the +best of his knowledge and ability to awaken some signs of life. + +The task seemed hopeless; and he was about to abandon it in despair, to +render assistance to those who needed it more than the fair, silent form +before him, when an almost imperceptible sigh gladdened his heart, and +caused him to renew his exertions. Procuring another cup of water, he +persistently sprinkled the fair face and chafed the temples of his +charge. With his handkerchief he washed away the blood-stains, and +ascertained that she was only slightly cut just above the ear. + +Cheered by the success which had rewarded his efforts, he continued to +bathe and chafe till the gentle stranger opened her eyes. In a few +moments more she recovered her consciousness, and cast a bewildered +glance around her. + +"Where is my father?" said she; and, as she spoke, the fearful nature of +the catastrophe dawned upon her mind, and she partially rose from her +recumbent posture. + +Lieutenant Somers could not tell where her father was, and his first +thought was that he must be beneath the wreck of the shattered cars. For +the first time, he looked about him to measure with his eye the extent of +the calamity. At that moment he discovered the engine, with the forward +part of the train, backing down the railroad. Only the two rear cars had +been precipitated over the embankment; the accident having been caused by +the breaking of an axle on the last car but one. The shackle connecting +this with the next one had given way, and the broken car had darted off +the bank, carrying the rear one with it, while the rest of the train +dashed on to its destination. + +Of course the calamity was immediately discovered; but a considerable +time elapsed--as time was measured by those who were suffering and dying +beneath the _debris_ of the train--before the engine could be stopped, +and backed to the scene of the accident. Lieutenant Somers had seen the +lady's father go forward, and had heard him say he was going to the +smoking-car; he was therefore satisfied that he was safe. + +"He will be here presently," he replied to the anxious question of the +fair stranger. + +"Perhaps he was--oh, dear! Perhaps he was----" + +"Oh, no! he wasn't. The smoking-car was not thrown off the track," +interposed the young officer, promptly removing from her mind the +terrible fear which took possession of her first conscious moments. "Are +you much hurt?" + +"I don't know; I don't think I am; but one of my arms feels very numb." + +"Let me examine it," continued our traveler, tenderly raising the injured +member. + +He was not deeply skilled in surgery; but he knew enough of the mysteries +of anatomy to discover that the arm was broken between the elbow and the +shoulder. + +"I am afraid your arm is broken," said he cautiously, as though he feared +the announcement would cause her to faint again. + +"I am glad it is no worse," said she with a languid smile, and without +exhibiting the least indication of feminine weakness. + +"It might have been worse, certainly. Can I do anything more for you?" +added Lieutenant Somers, glancing at the wreck of the cars, with a +feeling that his duty then was a less pleasing one than that of attending +to the wants of the beautiful stranger; for there were still men and +women lying helpless and unserved in the midst of the ruins. + +The train stopped upon the road; and the passengers, though appalled by +the sight, rushed down the bank to render willing assistance to the +sufferers. Among them was the father of the young lady, who leaped +frantically down the steep, and passed from one to another of the forms +which the survivors had taken from the wreck. + +"There is your father," said Lieutenant Somers as he recognized him among +the excited passengers. "I will go and tell him where you are." + +"Do, if you please," replied the lady faintly. + +He ran to the distracted parent, and seized him by the arm as he dashed +from one place to another in search of the gentle maiden whose life was +part of his own. + +"Your daughter is out here, sir," said Lieutenant Somers, pointing to the +spot where he had borne her. + +"My daughter!" gasped the agonized father. "Where--where?" + +"In this direction, sir." + +"Is she--O Heaven, spare me!" groaned he. + +"She is hurt, but I think not very badly. Her left arm is broken, and her +head is slightly cut." + +"O God, I thank Thee!" gasped the father, as he walked with the +lieutenant to the place where the young lady was sitting on the grass. + +"I think you need not be alarmed about her," added our officer, anxious +to console the suffering parent. + +"My poor Emmie!" exclaimed the anxious father when they reached the spot, +while he knelt down upon the grass by her side, the tears coursing in +torrents down his pale cheeks. + +"Don't be alarmed, father," replied she, putting her uninjured arm around +his neck and kissing him, while their tears mingled. "I am not much hurt, +father." + +Lieutenant Somers had a heart as well as a strong and willing arm, and he +could not restrain his own tears as he witnessed the touching scene. The +meeting seemed to be so sacred to him, that he could not stand an idle +gazer upon the expression of that hallowed affection as it flowed from +the warm hearts of the father and daughter. + +"As I can be of no further service here, I will go and do what I can for +those who need my help. If you want any assistance, I shall be close at +hand," said he, as he walked away to the busy scene of woe which +surrounded the wreck. + +The wounded, the maimed, and the dead were rapidly taken from the pile of +ruins, and placed in the cars on the road; and there was no longer +anything for the young officer to do. He returned to the grassy couch of +her whom he could not but regard as peculiarly his patient. The father +had recovered his self-possession, and satisfied himself that Emmie was +not more seriously injured than her deliverer had declared. + +"My young friend, while I thank God that my daughter is still alive, I am +very grateful to you for the care you have bestowed upon her," said the +father, as he grasped the young officer's hand. + +"You may well thank him, Mr. Guilford," said one of the two gentlemen who +had followed the young officer to the spot; "for the first thing I saw, +when I came out from under the ruins, was this young man lifting half the +top of the car off your daughter." + +"I beg your pardon, sir, but I think we should convey the young lady up +to the cars; for I see they are about ready to start," said Lieutenant +Somers, blushing up to the eyes. + +"I thank you, young man," added Mr. Guilford with deep feeling. "I must +see you again, and know more about you. Emmie has told me how kind you +have been to her; and you may be sure I shall never forget it while I +live. How do you feel now, Emmie?" + +"My arm begins to pain me a little," she answered languidly. + +"We must put you into the car, and in a short time we shall be able to do +something for you." + +"I will carry her up to the train, sir," said the young officer. + +"I thank you, sir," said Emmie with a smile; "but I think I can walk." + +"Well," said the gentleman who had spoken before, "I saw him carry you +from the wreck to this place; and I am bound to say, I never saw a mother +handle her baby more tenderly." + +"I am very grateful to him for what he has done for me," added Emmie with +a slight blush; "and if I needed his services, I certainly should accept +his kind offer." + +She took the arm of her father, and walked very well till she came to the +steep bank, whose ascent required more strength than she then possessed. +Her father and Lieutenant Somers then made a "hand-chair," and bore her +up to the car, in which she was as comfortably disposed as the +circumstances would permit. The train started with its melancholy freight +of wounded, dead and dying. + +"I see, sir, you are an officer in the army," said Mr. Guilford as the +train moved off; "but I have not yet learned your name." + +"Thomas Somers, sir," replied our young officer. + +"I must trouble you to write it down for me, with your residence when at +home, and your regiment in the field." + +Lieutenant Somers complied with this request, and in return the gentleman +gave him his address. + +"I shall never forget you, Lieutenant Somers," said Mr. Guilford when he +had carefully deposited the paper in his memorandum-book. "I have it in +my power to be of service to you; and if you ever want a friend, I shall +consider it a favor if you will come to me, or write to me." + +"Thank you, sir; I am very much obliged to you. But I hope you won't +consider yourself under any obligations to me for what I have done. I +couldn't have helped doing it if I had tried." + +"Lieutenant Somers, you are in luck," said the gentleman who had +accompanied him before. "That is Senator Guilford, of ----, and he will +make a brigadier-general of you before you are a year older." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A FRIEND AT COURT + + +Lieutenant Somers sat down in one corner of the car, near the seats +occupied by Miss Guilford and her father. He was just beginning to be +conscious of the fact that he had done a "big thing;" not because he had +helped one of God's suffering creatures, but because she happened to be a +Senator's daughter. But he still had the happy reflection, that what he +had done had been prompted by motives of humanity, not by the love of +applause, or for the purpose of winning the favor of a great man who +could dispense the "loaves and fishes" when he should need them. + +He was rather sensitive. He was a young man of eighteen, and he had not +yet become familiar with the grossness and selfishness of this +calculating world. He was rather offended at the patronage which the +Senator had proposed to bestow upon him, and he even regretted that he +had so readily given him his address. + +Lieutenant Somers regarded himself as emphatically a fighting officer; +and the idea of working his way up to distinction by the favor of a +member of Congress was repulsive to him. He really wished the Hon. Mr. +Guilford had only thanked him for what he had done, and not said a word +about having it in his power to be of service to him. + +While he was meditating upon the events which had transpired, and the +Senator's patronizing offer, he saw Captain de Banyan enter the forward +door of the car through which the gentleman who had taken so much pains +to compliment the young officer had disappeared a short time before. The +distinguished captain walked through the car directly to the seat of the +lieutenant, who had not even yet ceased to blush under the praises which +had been bestowed upon him. + +"Somers, your hand," said he, extending his own. "I have heard all about +it, and am proud that our regiment has furnished so brave and devoted a +man. Oh, don't blush, my dear fellow! You are a modest man. I sympathize +with you; for I am a modest man myself. I didn't get over blushing for +three weeks after his imperial majesty, the Emperor of France, +complimented me for some little thing I did at the battle of Palestro." + +"I thought that was at Magenta," added Somers. + +"So it was. The fact is, I have been in a great many battles, and I get +them mixed up a little sometimes. But you are in luck, Somers," continued +the captain in a lower tone, as he seated himself by the side of his +fellow-officer. + +"Why so?" + +"They say she is the daughter of a Senator." + +"What of that?" + +"What of that! Why, my dear fellow, you are as innocent as a school girl. +Don't you see he can get you on some general's staff, and have you +promoted every time there is a skirmish?" + +"I don't want to be promoted unless I earn it." + +"Of course you don't; but every officer that earns it won't get it. By +the way, Somers, can't you introduce me to the old gentleman?" + +"I never saw him before in my life." + +"No matter for that. I'll warrant you, he'll be glad to make all your +friends his friends." + +"But I don't feel enough acquainted with him to introduce a gentleman +whom I never saw in my life till two hours ago." + +"You are right, my dear fellow; excuse me," replied Captain de Banyan, +looking very much disappointed. "I dare say, if I should show him the +autograph of the Emperor of France, he would be very glad to know me." + +"No doubt of it. At any rate, I recommend you to make the trial." + +"Yes; but the mischief of it is, I have left all those papers at home." + +"That's unfortunate," added Lieutenant Somers, who had some serious +doubts in regard to the existence of those papers. + +"So it is. If I had been lucky enough to have made the acquaintance of +that young lady, as you have, I would not let my aspirations stop short +of the stars of a major-general." + +"You need not as it is, if you do your duty." + +"Ah! my dear fellow, you are as sentimental as a girl of sixteen. I am a +modest man; but, in my estimation, there are ten thousand men in the army +as good as I am. They can't all be major-generals, can they?" + +"Certainly not." + +"Then, if you live a few months longer, you will find out how good a +thing it is to have a friend at court. You are a modest young man; but I +suppose you think there isn't another man in the army who is quite your +equal, and that your merit and your bravery will make a brigadier of you +in less than a year. It's a good thing to think so; but----" + +"I don't think so. That would be modesty with a vengeance." + +"I was a sentimental boy like you once, and I was just as certain that I +should be made a field-marshal, and have the command of the French army +in the Crimea----" + +"I thought you were in the English army in the Crimea," interposed the +young lieutenant, eager to change the subject. + +"Certainly, in the English army; that's what I said," continued the +gallant captain, entirely unmoved by the interruption. "I was just as +sure of having the command of the British army in the Crimea as you are +of becoming a brigadier by the time we get into Richmond. But I have no +friends at court as you have now." + +"I never thought of such a thing as being a brigadier," protested Somers. +"I never even expected to become a second lieutenant." + +"It isn't much to be a brigadier. I served with 'Old Rosey' in West +Virginia for a time. We had a captain there who didn't know any more +about military than a swine does about Lord Chesterfield's table +etiquette. He went into action with a cane in his hand, hawbucking his +company about just as a farmer does a yoke of cattle. That fellow is a +brigadier-general now; and there's hope for you and me, if we can only +have a friend at court." + +"I am higher now than I ever expected to be, and I wouldn't give a straw +for fifty friends at court." + +"That's because you are sentimental; but you'll get over that." + +"Lieutenant Somers," said Senator Guilford, who had risen from his seat, +and approached that occupied by the two officers, "I shall leave the +train at the next stopping-place, in order to procure proper medical +attendance for my daughter. I desire again to express my thanks to you +for the signal service you have rendered to my daughter." + +Our hero blushed again, and stammered out some deprecatory remark. + +"When you are in Washington, you must call and see me. You must promise +this for Emmie's sake, if not for mine," added the Senator. + +"I should be very happy to call," replied the young officer. + +"My friend Lieutenant Somers is as bashful as a maiden of sweet sixteen," +interposed Captain de Banyan. "I beg your pardon, Mr. Guilford; though +your name and fame are familiar to me, I have not the honor of your +personal acquaintance; but, under the circumstances, I shall make it part +of my duty to see that my friend does not neglect your reasonable +request." + +"Thank you, sir," replied the Senator. + +"Captain de Banyan, at your service," added the modest officer who had +served in Italy and the Crimea. + +"Thank you, Captain de Banyan. I see you are in the same regiment with +Lieutenant Somers." + +"Yes, sir, I have that honor; and I assure you there is not a nobler and +braver young officer in the Army of the Potomac. He reminds me very much +of a splendid fellow I served with in the Crimea." + +"Ah! you were in the Crimea?" + +"I was, sir; and he looks very much like Captain de Waite, whom I saw +made a major on the field of Magenta, for the most daring bravery, by the +Emperor of France." + +"You have seen service, captain," added the Senator. + +"A little, sir." + +"You must speak with my daughter, lieutenant, before we part," continued +Mr. Guilford. "Her gratitude has no limit." + +Lieutenant Somers was astounded by the effrontery of his military +companion, who had claimed to be his friend, and forced himself upon the +acquaintance of the powerful man on the strength of that intimacy; had +even brought to his notice the fact--if it was a fact--that he had been +at Magenta and in the Crimea. The simple-minded young man had seen no +such diplomacy in Pinchbrook, or in the course of his travels in Maryland +and Virginia; and he was fearful that the audacious fellow would dare to +address the daughter as he had the father. + +"Be seated," said the Senator, as he pointed to the seat in front of Miss +Emmie. + +She was pale, and appeared to be suffering from the pain of her broken +arm; but she bestowed a sweet smile upon him as he took the proffered +seat. + +"Lieutenant Somers, after what I have heard from Mr. Holman"--that was +the gentleman who had spoken so handsomely of him--"I feel sure that I +owe my life to you." + +"I think not, Miss Guilford," replied the lieutenant, very much +embarrassed. "I only pulled you out from the ruins; I couldn't have +helped doing it if I had tried; and I hope you won't feel under any +obligations to me." + +"But I do feel under very great obligations to you, and I assure you I am +happy to owe my life to so brave and gallant a soldier." + +Somers felt just as though he was reading an exciting chapter in a +sensational novel; though he could not help thinking of Lilian Ashford, +and thus spoiling all the romance of the affair. He made no reply to Miss +Emmie's pretty speech; it was utterly impossible for him to do so; and +therein he differed from all the heroes of the novels. + +"I want to hear from you some time, and even to see you again. You must +promise to call and see me when we get to Washington." + +"I may not be able to leave my regiment at that time." + +"Oh! my father will get you a furlough any time you want one." + +Lieutenant Somers thought he would like to see himself asking a furlough +to enable him to visit a young lady in Washington, even if she was a +Senator's daughter; but he promised to call at Mr. Guilford's whenever he +happened to be at the capital, which was entirely satisfactory to the +young lady. Though Emmie was by this time suffering severely, she managed +to say several pleasant things; and among them she hinted that her father +could make a brigadier as easily as a tinker could make a tin kettle. + +The train arrived at the stopping-place; and Mr. Guilford, with the +assistance of Lieutenant Somers, placed his daughter in a carriage. +Captain de Banyan was very anxious to assist in the operation; but the +sufferer declined. They parted with a renewed promise on the part of the +young officer to visit her in Washington, whenever his duty called him to +that city. The cars arrived in New York two hours behind time--too late +to connect with the train for Philadelphia. Captain de Banyan proposed, +as they were obliged to remain in the city over night, that they should +stop at the "Fifth Avenue," declaring that it was the best hotel in New +York. Somers objected; hoping that he should thus escape the society of +the captain, who appeared to be altogether too "fast" for his time. + +De Banyan was accommodating; and, when the lieutenant mentioned a small +hotel downtown, he readily agreed to the proposition, and Somers found it +useless to attempt to get rid of him. The captain, for some reason or +other, appeared to have taken a decided liking to our officer. Perhaps he +hoped to share with him the powerful patronage of Senator Guilford. + +After supper, Captain de Banyan proposed that they should go out and see +the "elephant;" but Somers, having no taste for the study of this +description of natural history, positively declined to see the +metaphorical monster. + +"We must go somewhere," persisted the captain, taking up a newspaper. +"Here's a 'Lecture on the Battle of Bull Run, by Lieutenant-Colonel +Staggerback, who participated in that memorable action,'" he continued, +reading from the paper. + +"I was in that battle myself; I don't object to that," replied Somers. + +"Good! Then we'll go." + +They walked up Broadway till they came to one of those gaudy saloons +where rum and ruin are tricked out in the gayest of colors. + +"We are early for the lecture, Somers. Let's go in here, and see what +there is to be seen." + +"No, I thank you; I don't care about going into any of these dens of vice +and sin." + + "'Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, + As, to be hated, needs but to be seen,'" + +repeated the captain with dramatic force. + + "'But seen too oft----' + +You needn't see it but once. Don't you want to see the lions of the +metropolis?" + +"Don't object to the lions; but, in my opinion, you will find only the +donkeys in there." + +"Let us see, at any rate." + +"I will go in for a moment," replied Somers, who did not like to seem +over-squeamish. + +They entered this outer gate to ruin. There was a bar at the end next to +the street, while at the other end a band of music was playing the +national airs. It looked like a very pleasant place to the young +lieutenant, who had never entered one of these saloons before. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE FIRE OF TEMPTATION + + +Captain de Banyan sauntered gracefully up the saloon, with Somers at his +side. He appeared to be perfectly at home, and to have all the ease and +finish of a thorough man of the world. His movements were calculated to +make a sensation; and, as he passed along, old topers and gay young +bloods paused to glance at him. If the captain had been in command of the +Army of the Potomac, his elevated position would hardly have justified a +more extensive flourish than he made. + +Lieutenant Somers was duly impressed by the magnificence of his +companion, though the surroundings of the place created some painful +misgivings in his mind. The captain sat down at one of the little tables +where the frequenters of the saloon who were disposed to prolong the +enjoyment of their drams discussed "juleps," "cobblers," and other +villainous compounds. + +Somers could not do less than seat himself at the other side of the +table. He was ill at ease, even while he was endeavoring to seem +indifferent and at home. I am sorry to say he was haunted by that +abominable bugbear which often takes possession of the minds of young men +when they find themselves in the presence of those who are adepts in the +arts of vice--a fear of being thought "green," "verdant," or being +measured by some other adjective used in fast circles to caricature the +innocence of a soul unsullied by contact with the vices and follies of +the city. He half expected that some of the dissolute young wretches who +were drinking, swearing, and pouring the filth of a poisoned mind from +their lips, would ask him if "his mother knew he was out." He tried to +maintain his self-possession, and to seem at home where ruin was rioting +in the souls of young men. If he did not entirely succeed, it was all the +more to his credit. + +"What will you take?" demanded Captain de Banyan, after they had sat at +the table long enough to examine the prominent features of the saloon. + +"Take a walk," replied Lieutenant Somers. + +"No, no! What will you drink?" + +"Nothing, thank you. I've just been to supper, and don't want anything." + +"Yes; but people who come in here, and listen to the music, are expected +to patronize the establishment. I'm going to have a brandy smash: shall I +order one for you?" + +"No, I thank you." + +"But I can't drink alone." + +"I never drink." + +"Nonsense! A lieutenant in our regiment, and not drink! I see! You +haven't learned yet; but it won't take you long. Your case is exactly my +own. I was about your age when I went to the Crimea, and didn't know wine +from brandy. After the battle of Balaclava, where I did some little thing +which excited the admiration of the nobs in command, Lord Raglan sent for +me, and invited me to take a glass of wine with him. Of course, I could +not refuse his lordship, especially as he was in the very act of +complimenting me for what he was pleased to call my gallant conduct. I +drank my first glass of wine then. It was Sicily Madeira, and light, +sweet wine; and, my dear fellow, you shall begin with the same, and we +will drink the health of Senator Guilford and his fair daughter. Waiter, +one brandy smash and one Sicily Madeira." + +"Really, Captain de Banyan, you must excuse me," stammered Somers, +completely bewildered by the eloquent and insinuating manners of his +brilliant companion, who had spoken loud enough to attract the attention +of a dozen idlers greedy for excitement of any kind, and to whom the +latter part of his remarks seemed to be addressed, rather than to the +timid young man in front of him. + +Captain de Banyan appeared to have a point to carry; which was nothing +less than to overcome the conscientious scruples of the young officer. He +had spoken loud enough to attract the attention of these miserable +tipplers, that Somers might be over-awed by their presence, and +intimidated by their sneers, and thus compelled to taste the intoxicating +cup. The squad of fast men who had taken positions near the table were +interested in the scene, and impatient to see the pure soul tumbled from +its lofty eminence. + +"Here's the nectar!" almost shouted the captain as the waiter placed the +drinks upon the table. "Wine for you; brandy for me. You will be promoted +to brandy one of these days, my boy, when your head is stronger and your +nerves stiffer. Lieutenant Somers, here's to the health of the patriot +statesman, Senator Guilford, and his lovely daughter;" and the captain +pushed aside the straw in the vile compound, and raised the glass to his +lips. + +Somers was embarrassed at his position, and bewildered by the dashing +speeches of his companion. A dozen pair of leering eyes were fixed upon +him; a dozen mouths were wrinkled into sottish smiles, called up by his +sufferings at that critical moment. He reached forth his hand, and +grasped the slender stem of the wine-glass; but his arm trembled more +than that of the most hardened toper in the group before him. He had been +trembling in the presence of that squad of tyrants--those leer-eyed +grinning debauchees, who seemed to be opening the gate of hell, and +bidding him enter. + +"Tom Somers," said the still small voice which had spoken to him a +thousand times before in the perils and temptations through which he had +passed, "you have behaved yourself very well thus far. You have been +promoted for bravery on the battlefield; and now will you cower in the +presence of this brilliant brawler, and these weak-minded, cowardly +tipplers? What would your mother say if she could see you now, with your +shaking hand fastened to the wine-cup? What would Lilian Ashford say? +Dare you drink the health of Emmie Guilford in such a place as this? You +should have smote the lips that mentioned her name in such a presence!" + +He drew back his hand from the glass. His muscles tightened up, as they +had on the bloody field of Williamsburg. Tom Somers was himself again. + +"Come, Somers, you don't drink," added the captain sarcastically. + +"No, I thank you; I never drink," he answered resolutely, as he cast a +steady glance of pity and contempt at the bloated crew who had been +reveling in his embarrassment. + +"You won't refuse now?" + +"Most decidedly." + +"Lieutenant Somers, I took you for a young man of pluck. I'm +disappointed. You will pardon me, my dear fellow; but I can't help +regarding your conduct as rather shabby." + +"I never drink, as I have said before, and I do not intend to begin now. +If I have been shabby, I hope you will excuse me." + +"Certainly I will excuse you, when you atone for your folly, and drink +with me." + +The spectators laughed, and evidently thought the captain had made a +point. + +"Then I can never atone for my folly, as you call it," replied Somers, +his courage increasing as the trial demanded it. + +"What would Lord Raglan have said if I had refused to drink his Sicily +Madeira?" + +"Very likely he would have said just what you said; but there would have +been no more sense in it then than now." + +"Bully for young 'un!" said a seedy dandy, whose love of fancy drinks had +made a compromise with his love of dress. + +"I will leave it to these gentlemen to decide whether I have not spoken +reason and good sense." + +"I will leave you and these _gentlemen_ to settle that question to suit +yourselves, and I will bid you good-evening," said Somers, rising from +his chair. + +The unpleasant emphasis which he placed upon the word "gentlemen" created +a decided sensation among the group of idlers; and, as he stepped from +behind the table, he was confronted by a young man with bloodshot eyes +and bloated cheeks, but dressed in the extreme of fashion. + +"Sir, you wear the colors of the United States Army," said the juvenile +tippler; "but you can't be permitted to insult a gentleman with +impunity." + +Lieutenant Somers wanted to laugh in the face of this specimen of +bar-room chivalry, for he forcibly reminded him of a belligerent little +bantam-rooster that paraded the barnyard of his mother's cottage at +Pinchbrook; but he was prudent enough not to give any further cause of +offense. Bestowing one glance at this champion of the tippler's coterie, +he turned aside, and attempted to move towards the door. + +"Stop, sir," continued the young man, who plainly wanted to make a little +capital out of a fight, in defense of the dignity of his friends. "You +can't go without an apology, or--or a fight," added the bully, shaking +his head significantly, as he placed himself in front of the young +lieutenant. + +"What am I to apologize for?" asked Somers. + +"You insulted the whole party of us. You intimated that we were no +gentlemen." + +"I haven't spoken to any of you since I came in," protested Somers. "I +never had anything to do with you, and I don't know whether you are +gentlemen or not." + +"You hear that, gentlemen!" added the bully. + +"I think I have said all that is necessary to say; with your leave I will +go," said Somers. + +"Stop, sir!" snarled the young ruffian, putting his hand on the +lieutenant's collar. + +"Take your hand off!" said he sternly. + +The fellow complied. + +"This thing has gone far enough, sir," said Captain de Banyan, stepping +between Somers and his assailant. "Lieutenant Somers is my friend; and, +if you put the weight of your little finger upon him, I'll annihilate you +quicker than I did a certain Austrian field-marshal at the battle of +Solferino. Gentlemen, permit me to apologize for my inexperienced friend +if he has uttered any indiscreet word." + +"He must apologize!" blustered the young ruffian. "He says we are no +gentlemen. Let him prove it." + +"You have proved it yourself, you little ape," replied the captain, as he +stepped up to the bar, and paid his reckoning, bestowing no more +attention upon the ruffled little bully than if he had been a very small +puppy; which perhaps he was not, by a strict construction of terms. + +"I demand satisfaction!" roared the flashy little toper. "Apologize, or +fight!" + +"Neither, my gay and festive lark," said the captain with abundant good +humor, as he took Somers's arm, and sauntered leisurely towards the door. +"Now, my dear fellow, we will go and hear what Lieutenant-Colonel +Staggerback has to say about the battle of Bull Run. I was in that +action, and rallied the Fire Zouaves when Colonel Ellsworth was killed." + +"Colonel Ellsworth! He wasn't killed at Bull Run!" exclaimed Somers, +astonished beyond measure at the singular character which his companion +was developing. + +"You are right; he was killed at Ball's Bluff." + +"I think not; but were you at Bull Run?" + +"Certainly I was. I was on General Fremont's staff." + +"Were you, indeed? Whew!" + +"What may be the precise meaning of that whistle? Do you think I was not +there?" + +"Well, I don't remember to have seen you there?" + +"Very likely you did not; but you will call to mind the fact, that things +were rather mixed up in that action. But never mind that: we will talk +those things over when we get down upon the Peninsula, and have nothing +else to think about. Do you really mean to say, my dear fellow, that you +never drink at all?" + +"I do not." + +"Well, I have heard of a man climbing up to the moon on a greased +rainbow; but I never heard of an officer before that didn't drink." + +"I'm afraid you haven't been very careful in the choice of your +companions. I know a great many that never taste liquor under any +circumstances." + +"It may be so; and I am willing to confess that I have found one. I +wouldn't have believed it before if I had read it in the Constitution of +the United States. I owe you an apology, then, for letting on in that +saloon. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, my dear fellow; but I +thought you were joking." + +"I hope you will not repeat the experiment, then; though I shall consider +myself fair game if I ever enter another rum-shop," replied Somers. + +They proceeded to the place designated for the lecture; and Captain de +Banyan betrayed his interest in that memorable battle, where he had +served on the staff of General Fremont, by going to sleep before the +eloquent "participant" had got half-way through the exordium. Lieutenant +Somers listened attentively until he was satisfied that Colonel +Staggerback either was not in the battle, or that he had escorted "Bull +Run Russell" off the field. + +When the lecture was finished, Somers awakened his edified companion, and +they returned to the hotel; though the captain hinted several times on +the way that the "elephant" could be seen to better advantage in New York +than in any other city in the Union. The young lieutenant had an utter +disgust for the elephant, and took no hints. Before he retired that +night, he thanked God, more earnestly and devoutly than usual, that he +had been enabled to pass unscathed through the fires of temptation. He +was still in condition to look his mother in the face. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +ON THE SKIRMISH LINE + + +In the morning our travelers resumed their journey, more refreshed and in +better condition for service than if they had spent the evening in +chasing the "elephant" from one to another of the gilded dens of +dissipation with which the metropolis abounds. In spite of his errors and +sins, Somers could not help liking his dashing companion. He was a +dangerous person; but his enthusiasm was so captivating, that he could +not close his heart against him. But, while he liked the captain, he +hated his vices. + +They stopped in Philadelphia only long enough to dine, and in Baltimore +only long enough for supper; arriving at Washington in the evening. +Captain de Banyan again proposed to "go round;" which, rendered into +unmistakable English, meant to visit the drinking-houses and +gambling-saloons of the city, to say nothing of worse places. Lieutenant +Somers had grown wise by experience; and no amount of persuasion could +induce him to leave the hotel. It was horrible to him to think of +spending even his leisure time in the haunts of dissipation, when his +country was bleeding from a thousand wounds; when his gallant comrades in +the Army of the Potomac were enduring peril and hardship in front of the +enemy. He had no taste for carousing at any time, and every fiber of his +moral nature was firmly set against the vices which lured on his reckless +companion. + +Lieutenant Somers stayed at the hotel that evening, listening to the +conversation of the officers who had been at the front within a few days. +The great battle of Fair Oaks had been fought during his absence, and +there was every prospect that the most tremendous operations of the war +would soon commence. He listened with the deepest interest to the +accounts from the army, and needed none of the stimulus of the bar-room +or the gambling-saloon to furnish him with excitement. He was soon to be +an actor in the momentous events of the campaign; and the thought was +full of inspiration, and lifted him up from the gross and vulgar tastes +of his companion. + +Before noon the next day, somewhat against the inclination of Captain de +Banyan, the two officers were on board a steamer bound down the river. +After some delays, they arrived at White House, on the Pamunkey River; +and then proceeded by railroad nearly to the camp of the regiment, at +Poplar Hill, in the very depths of White Oak Swamp. + +"My blessed boy!" shouted Sergeant Hapgood when Lieutenant Somers +appeared in the camp. + +The veteran rushed upon him, and, not content to shake his hand he +proceeded to hug him in the most extraordinary manner. + +"I am glad to see you, Hapgood! How have you been since I left?" said +Somers. + +"First-rate! Bless my withered old carcass, Tom, but I thought I never +should see you again. Why, Tom, how handsome you've grown! Well, you'll +be a brigadier one of these days, and there won't be a better-looking +officer on the field. Dear me, Tom---- Beg pardon; I forgot that you are +an officer; and I mustn't call you Tom any more." + +"Never mind that, uncle," added Somers, laughing. "It would hardly be +good discipline for a sergeant to call an officer by a nickname; but we +will compromise, and you shall call me Tom when we are not on duty, and +there is no one within hearing." + +"Compromise! Don't never use that word to me. After we fit the battle of +Bull Run, I gouged that word out of my dictionary. No, sir! You are a +leftenant now; and I shall allus call you Leftenant Somers, even if there +ain't nobody within ten mile of us." + +"Just as you please, uncle; but, whatever you call me, we shall be just +as good friends as we ever were." + +"That's so, Leftenant Somers." + +"Precisely, Sergeant Hapgood." + +"Now, what's the news in Pinchbrook?" asked the veteran. + +But, before Somers had a chance to tell the news from home, he was +welcomed to the camp, and cheered, by officers and men; and his account +of what had transpired in Pinchbrook during his thirty days' furlough was +eagerly listened to by a large and attentive audience. He received in +return a full history of the regiment during his absence. Though the +narrative of sundry exciting events, such as forays upon pig-sties, +poultry-yards, and kitchen-gardens, was highly amusing, there was a tale +of sadness to tell--of deaths by disease and on the battlefield. + +Many cheerful hearts that were beating with life and hope a few weeks +before, were now silent in the grave--the soldier's mausoleum in a +strange land. But soldiers have no time to weep over a dead past; they +must live in the hope of a glorious future; and when they had dropped a +tear to the memory of the noble and the true who had fallen on the field +or died in the hospital, victims of the pestilential airs of the swamp, +they laughed as merrily as ever, careless of Death's poised arrows which +were always aimed at them. + +Captain de Banyan took his place in the regiment, where Somers found that +he was prodigiously popular, even after a few hours' acquaintance with +his new command; but who he was, where he came from, and how he had +procured his commission, was a mystery to officers and men. He told +tremendous stories about the Crimea and the Italian war; and now for the +first time intimated that he was the only survivor of the company which +led the advance at the storming of Chapultepec, in the Mexican war. +However much the officers enjoyed his stories, it is not probable that +all of them believed what they heard. + +Lieutenant Somers was perfectly familiar with the company and battalion +drill; and, having quick perception and abundant self-possession, he was +competent at once to perform his duties as an officer. He had no vices to +be criticized by the men, who respected him not only for his bravery on +the battlefield, but for his good moral character; for even the vicious +respect the virtues which they practically contemn. Being neither +arbitrary nor tyrannical, he was cheerfully obeyed; and his company never +appeared better than when, by the temporary absence of his superior, it +was under his command. + +He was, however, allowed but a short time to become acquainted with the +routine of the new duty before he was summoned to participate in those +tremendous events which have passed into history as at once the most +brilliant and disastrous operations of the war; brilliant in that our +gallant army was almost invariably victorious, disastrous in that they +were the forerunners of the ultimate failure of a hopeful campaign. The +victory at Fair Oaks had raised the hopes of that brave, thinking army. + +The picket-lines were within a few miles of Richmond, and the soldiers +were burning with enthusiasm to be led against the enemy in front of +them. They were ready to lay down their lives on the altar of their +bleeding country, if the survivors could grasp the boon of peace within +the buttressed walls of the rebel capital--peace that would hurl to the +ground the defiant traitors, and insure the safety and perpetuity of free +institutions. The notes of victory, those thinking soldiers believed, +would reverberate through the coming ages, and point an epoch from which +America would date her grandest and most sublime triumphs. + +But not then was the great rebellion to be overthrown; for not yet had +the leaven of Liberty leavened the whole lump; not yet had the purposes +of a mysterious Providence been accomplished; and the brave men who +sighed for victory and peace in the swamps of the Chickahominy were +doomed to years of blood and toil, of victory and defeat, as they marched +on, alike through both, to the consummation of a nation's glorious +triumph, not over paltry armies of arrogant traitors, but over the +incarnation of Evil, over Heaven-defying institutions, whose downfall +established forever principles as eternal as God Himself. + +Lieutenant Somers was filled with the spirit of the army. He felt that +the salvation of his country depended upon the valor of that army; and, +impressed with the magnitude of the interests at stake, he was resolved +to do his whole duty. With cheerful alacrity he obeyed the summons which +brought Grover's brigade into line of battle on the morning of the +eventful 25th of June. What was to be accomplished was not for him to +know; but forward moved the line through the swamp, through the woods, +through the pools of stagnant waters up to the hips of the soldiers. + +Impressed by the responsibility of his position, Lieutenant Somers +encouraged the weak as they struggled through the mire on their trying +march, and with fit words stimulated the enthusiasm of all. After a march +of about a mile, a heavy skirmish line was thrown out, which soon +confronted that of the rebels. + +"Now, Somers, my dear fellow, the concert is about to open," said Captain +de Banyan. "By the way, my boy, this reminds me of Magenta, where----" + +"Oh, confound Magenta!" exclaimed Somers. + +"Why, my dear fellow, you are as petulant as a belle that has lost her +beau." + +"You don't propose to tell us a story about Magenta at such a time as +this, do you?" + +"Well, I confess I have a weakness in that direction. Magenta was a great +battle. But I'm afraid you are a little nervous," laughed the captain. + +"Nervous? Do you think I'm a coward?" demanded Somers. + +"I know you are not; but you might be a little nervous for all that." + +At that instant, the sharp crack of a single rifle was heard, and Somers +observed a slight jerk in the brim of the captain's felt hat. + +"Bravo!" exclaimed Captain de Banyan as he took off his hat, and pointed +to a hole through which the rifle-ball had sped its way. "I'll bet a +month's pay that fellow couldn't do that again without making a hole +through my head. But that's a singular coincidence. That's precisely the +place where the first bullet went through my hat at Solferino. At +Magenta--ah! I see him," added the captain, as he took a musket from the +hands of one of his men. "I'll bet another month's pay that reb has fired +his last shot." + +As he spoke, he raised the gun to his shoulder, and fired up into one of +the trees. A crashing of boughs, a rattling of leaves followed; and a +heavy body was heard to strike the ground. + +"You owe me a month's pay, Somers," continued Captain de Banyan, as he +handed the musket back to the soldier. + +"I think not," replied the lieutenant, trying to be as cool as his +companion. "I never bet." + +"Just so. I forgot that you were an exceedingly proper young man." + +The skirmish-line, which had paused a moment for an observation to be +taken, now moved forward again. The rebel skirmishers were discovered, +and the order was given to fire at will. The enemy's sharpshooters were +posted in the trees, and they began to pour in a galling fire upon a +portion of the line. + +"Steady, my men!" said Somers, when the firing commenced. "Gunpowder's +expensive; don't waste it." + +"Not a single grain of it, Leftenant Somers," added Sergeant Hapgood. + +"There, uncle!--up in that tree!" said Somers, pointing to a grayback, +who was loading his rifle, about twenty feet from the ground. + +"I see him!" replied the sergeant as he leveled his piece, and fired. + +The rebel was wounded, but he did not come down; and the captain of the +company ordered his men to move forward. From the thunder of the +artillery and the rattle of musketry, it was evident that heavy work was +in progress on the right and left. + +"Forward, men!" said Somers, repeating the order of Captain Benson. + +The men were scattered along an irregular line, and firing into the +bushes, which partially concealed the rebel skirmishers. Somers's platoon +advanced a little more rapidly than the rest of the line, being favored +with a few rods of dry ground. He had urged them forward for the purpose +of dislodging three sharpshooters perched in a large tree. + +"Come down, rebs!" shouted Somers, as he reached the foot of the tree, +and told half a dozen of his men to point their guns towards them. + +"What d'ye say, Yank?" demanded one of them. + +"Will you come down head first, or feet first? Take your choice quick!" +replied the lieutenant. + +"As you seem to be in arnest, we'll come down the nateral way." + +They did come down without a more pressing invitation, and were disarmed, +ready to be sent to the rear. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE REBEL SHARPSHOOTERS + + +"Lieutenant Somers, I don't think I can stand it much longer," said +Phineas Deane, a private, who had joined the regiment a few days before +the battle, as he saluted his officer. + +"Can't stand what?" + +"The fact on't is, lieutenant, I'm sick. I haven't felt well for two or +three days. I come out here to fight for my country, and I want to do +some good. I might help take them prisoners back, if you say so." + +"Sick, are you? What's the matter?" + +"I've got a bad pain in the bowels," replied Phineas, as he placed +himself on the right side of a tree, and glanced uneasily in the +direction of the rebel skirmish line. "I'm subject to sich turns, but +allus git over 'em if I have a chance to lay down for a few hours." + +"Oh, well, you can lie down here!" added Somers, who understood the case +pretty well. + +"What! down here in the mud and water? Wal, that would be rather steep +for a sick man," said Phineas, with a ghastly smile, as he glanced again +towards the enemy. + +"I will get some medicine for you. Here, uncle, let me have one of your +powders," continued the lieutenant, addressing old Hapgood. + +"Sartin; they've done me heaps of good, and I'm sure they're just the +thing for that man." + +Somers took one of the powders, and opened the paper. + +"Now, my man, open your mouth, and let me give you this medicine," he +added. + +"What kind of medicine is it?" + +"It'll make you kinder sick to the stomach; but it'll cure you in less'n +half an hour." + +"Well, lieutenant, I don't know as I want to take any medicine," answered +poor Phineas, who was not prepared for this active treatment; though he +would have taken it quick enough if he could be sent to the rear. "I +guess I don't keer about takin' on it." + +"You needn't, if you don't want to get well." + +"I only want to go back to camp, and lay down for a spell." + +"We can't spare you just yet, Phineas; but, if you don't stir yourself, +you will lie down here somewhere, and never get up again," added Somers, +as a shower of bullets passed over their heads. "Forward, boys!" + +The captain detailed a couple of men to conduct the prisoners to the +rear, and the company pressed forward. The rebel sharpshooters were +dislodged from the trees; a few prisoners were captured; but the heavy +fighting and the heavy losses fell upon other portions of the line. The +rebels had been forced back, and the movement seemed to be a success. +Half the regiment moved out of the woods, while the rest remained under +the trees; when a halt was ordered. Somers found himself near an old +house, behind which a number of rebel sharpshooters had concealed +themselves for the purpose of picking off the Union soldiers. + +The firing in the immediate vicinity had diminished, though the din of +battle resounded on both sides. The boys were rather nervous, as men are +when standing idle under fire; but it was the nervousness of restrained +enthusiasm, not of fear, unless it was in the case of invalid Phineas, +and a very few others whose physical health had not been completely +established. + +"Well, Somers, my dear boy, how do you get on?" asked Captain de Banyan, +as he sauntered leisurely up to the lieutenant, whose command stood next +to his own. + +"First-rate; only I should like to have something a little more active +than standing here." + +"It takes considerable experience to enable a man to stand still under +fire. When I was at the battle of Alma, I learned that lesson to a charm. +We stood up for forty-two hours under a fierce fire of grape and +canister, to say nothing of musketry." + +"Forty-two hours!" exclaimed Somers. "I should think you would all have +been killed off before that time." + +"In our regiment, only one man was killed; and he got asleep, and walked +in his dreams over towards the enemy's line." + +"Captain, you can tell a bigger story than any other man in the army," +said Somers, laughing. + +"That's because I have seen more of the world. When you have been about +as much as I have, you will know more about it." + +"No doubt of it." + +"I should be very happy to be more actively employed just now; but I am +very well contented where I am." + +The position they occupied enabled the two officers to see some sharp +fighting along the line. Through an opening at the right, they saw a +rebel regiment, wearing white jackets, or else stripped to their shirts, +march at double-quick, in splendid order, with arms at "right shoulder +shift," to the scene of action. It was probably some volunteer body from +Richmond, whom the ladies of the rebel capital had just dismissed, with +sweet benedictions, to sweep the "foul Yankees" from the face of the +earth. They were certainly a splendid body of men; and the ladies might +well be proud of them. They went into the field in good style, with the +blessings of the fair still lingering fondly in their ears. But one +volley from the veterans of the Army of the Potomac was enough for them, +and they gave way, running off the field in wild disorder, threading +their way in terror through the bushes, every man for himself. It is not +likely that they were welcomed back from the gory field by the frothy +feminine rebels of Richmond. + +"That's just the way the Russians ran at Palestro!" exclaimed Captain de +Banyan, as he watched the exciting scene. + +"The Russians at Palestro!" added Somers, "I think you have got things a +little mixed, captain." + +Before this difficult question could be settled, Captain de Banyan was +ordered to take a sufficient force, and drive out the rebels who were +skulking behind the old house. + +"Somers, you shall go with me," said he, when he had received his orders +from the colonel. "We'll do a big thing, if there is any chance." + +"I am ready for anything, big or little, captain," replied Somers +heartily. "What shall I do?" + +"March your men over by that little knoll, and come round on the other +side of the house; I will move up in another direction, and we will bag +the whole squad. But mind you, Somers, the enemy are round that way; +don't let them gobble you up or lay you out." + +"I will do the best I can, captain." + +"Angels could do no more." + +The lieutenant advanced, with the men detailed for the purpose, towards +the hillock. By taking a circuitous route, he avoided the observation of +the rebels behind the house, and reached the other side of the knoll, +where, behind the friendly shelter of a clump of bushes, he was enabled +to survey the ground. Not more than a quarter of a mile distant he +discovered the rebel breastworks. It was about the same distance to the +house. + +Between the knoll and the house there was a small patch of wheat, which, +by some chance, had escaped the havoc of foraging parties. Though the +grain was not full-grown, it would afford concealment to his men. In +order to reach it, he must expose his men to a volley from the +rifle-pits, or from any body of rebels which might be posted in the +vicinity. He could not afford to lose a single man, and he was perplexed +to determine how he should overcome the distance between the wheat-field +and the knoll. + +It seemed to him very singular that he had not already been fired upon; +and he concluded that it was because his party had been mistaken for +rebels, or because some of their troops were between him and the Union +lines. Whether the enemy had been deceived or not, he was fully +determined to afford them no further information in regard to his +politics, if any of them had seen him. He therefore ordered his men to +take off their coats, which some of them had done before they started on +the expedition. The blue trousers could not be so easily disposed of; but +as some of the boys had straw hats, some felt, and some caps, it would +have been hard to determine what they were at the distance of a quarter +of a mile, especially as some of the Confederates wore the plundered +clothing of the Union army. + +After instructing his force in regard to their future conduct, he marched +them boldly into the open space. To assist the deception, he directed one +of his men to halt occasionally, and point his musket in the direction of +the Union pickets. Not a shot was fired at them; and when the young +lieutenant reached the wheat-field he fancied that he was clever enough +for any brigadier in the rebel army. + +It was desirable that the rebel sharpshooters at the house should not be +alarmed; and, when his men reached the grain, Somers ordered them to get +down upon their hands and knees, and creep cautiously towards the point +to be assailed. The lieutenant, like a good officer, led the way himself, +and had advanced about half the distance to be accomplished, when he +heard a rustling noise in the grain before him. It was an ominous sound, +and he paused to take an observation. He could not see anything without +standing up; and, as he was within twenty rods of the house, it was +necessary to avoid exposing himself. + +From whatever source the sounds proceeded, it was just as safe to advance +as it was to retreat; and he decided to go forward. With the utmost +caution, he continued to creep along through the wheat; but he was +careful to assure himself that his men's muskets and his own revolver +were in condition for instant use. After he had gone a few rods farther, +the sounds were more apparent; and, with no little consternation, he +heard voices, rich with an unmistakable Southern accent. + +"I tell you, more of our fellers is coming through the grain. You mought +hear 'em, ef you weren't deafer'n a dead nigger." + +"I heerd 'em. You kin bet yer life they're some of our pickets. +Howsomever, I'm gwine to see." + +"Hush, my men! don't speak a word!" whispered the young lieutenant. "Lie +flat on the ground." + +The rebels were nearer than he had supposed; for, as he turned from his +men, he discovered a wiry grayback, with the chevrons of a sergeant on +his arms, trying to stare him out of countenance. The fellow did not look +wholesome; and Somers was in doubt whether to blow his brains out, or let +things take their natural course. + +"Who mought you be?" demanded the grayback, exhibiting more curiosity +than of fear in his dirty face. + +"One of the people," replied Somers, disposed to avoid a direct issue. +"Who are you?" + +"I'm one of the people too," grinned the rebel. + +"I see you are; and I suppose you belong to the army, don't you?" + +"Bet your life I do." + +"Of course you won't object to telling me which army you belong to, as +there may be some difference of opinion between us." + +"'Tain't no use to ask a officer dressed in blue, and lookin' as spruce +as you be, whar he kim from. I say, Yank, what are you uns doin' in +hyar?" + +"Only taking a look." + +"You're as civil as a Mobile dancin'-master; and I axes yer, very +perlite, to surrender." + +"How many men have you got, reb?" demanded the lieutenant, as he put his +hand on his revolver. + +"See hyar, Yank; play fair. You uns allers cheat playin' poker. Don't +tech yer shooter yet," replied the grayback coolly, as he thrust the +muzzle of his gun in the lieutenant's face. "Two kin play at that game, +and your wife or mine will be a lone widder quicker'n a coon kin wink at +the moon. I've got seven men," he added. + +"I have twenty-three," said Somers. + +"Then yer kin whip us if yer be Yanks; for three of you uns can just lick +one of we uns." + +"That's good logic. Will you surrender, or fight?" demanded Somers. + +"Let me count your men. I surrender," he continued, after he had stood +up, and counted the Union soldiers. "Here's my shooter; fair play, even +with Yanks." + +Leaving a guard of eight men with his prisoners when they were disarmed, +Somers hastened forward to complete his mission. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +AN EXPEDITION IN FRONT + + +The affair in the wheat-field had been conducted very quietly, and +apparently had not attracted the attention of any of the rebels in the +vicinity. During the brief parley, the thunder of the battle had sounded +on the right and left of the parties. The enemy were in force in their +works, and it was believed that there were squads of pickets in every +place of concealment which the ground afforded. + +Somers was very much surprised to find that he was not molested, and made +all possible haste to carry out the programme with which he had been +intrusted by Captain de Banyan. Followed by the balance of his men, he +crept carefully towards the house till he had reached the end of the +grain-field. He could see about a dozen rebels skulking behind the +building, all of them so intent upon getting a shot at the Union +soldiers, that they paid no attention to the events transpiring in the +rear of them; probably deeming it impossible for an enemy to approach in +that direction. + +The lieutenant had but fifteen men left to execute his part of the +scheme, and there seemed to be double that number of graybacks lurking in +and about the house. Everything depended upon his effecting the requisite +junction with the force of the captain. As his superior had but a short +distance to march, it was probable that he was already in position to +support him; and he decided to make the attack without permitting any +delay to rob him of the chances of success. + +"Now, double-quick, forward!" shouted Somers, as he rose from the ground, +and led the way to a position where he could intercept the retreat of the +rebels. + +Agreeably to the instructions previously given, his men stretched out +into an extended line, and commenced firing at will upon the luckless +graybacks who were in sight. It did not take them long to find out that +they were assailed by a fire in the rear. + +"Surrender!" shouted Captain de Banyan, who at this moment appeared at +the head of his men. + +The rebels were not disposed to accept this polite invitation, but began +to fall back from the house in good order. They discharged their pieces +at the force in front, and then started at a run to effect their escape +in the opposite direction. They forgot for the moment that they had been +fired upon from the rear, or else thought that the fire had been directed +by some of their own people at the Yankees who had so suddenly attacked +in front. + +"Surrender!" shouted Lieutenant Somers, as the retreating rebels +approached his line. + +They halted at this unexpected summons. The officer in command of them +took a hasty survey of the situation, and then ordered his troops to cut +their way through the thin line between them and the rebel field-works. +The commander of the rebel pickets was a gallant fellow; and, drawing his +sword, he rushed towards the spot where the lieutenant was stationed. +Discharging his pistol with the left hand at Somers, he dashed forward +like a festive horse. + +Both parties had discharged their guns, and there was no time to reload +them. Some of the rebels had bayonets, and some had not; and, with the +fury of their brave leader, they attempted to break their way through the +line. A sharp but very irregular conflict ensued, the rebels clubbing +their muskets or grappling with the Union soldiers, each according to his +individual taste. As they were two to one of the Federals, they would +certainly have won the field if Captain de Banyan had not promptly come +to the rescue. + +The excited rebel officer manifested a most persistent desire to revenge +his misfortunes upon Lieutenant Somers. After he had fired his pistol +twice, and one of the balls had passed through his opponent's cap, the +latter, by a sudden dash, knocked the weapon from his hand with his +sword. He then attempted to use his own sword, and, if Somers had not +been a "master of fence," would probably have run him through the body. +Some hard blows were struck with these weapons, and the age of chivalry, +when men fought hand to hand with trusty blades, seemed to be revived. +But the sword of the rebel officer was not so trusty as it ought to have +been. It was not a regulation sword; and, while its owner was flourishing +it most valiantly, the blade flew away from the handle. + +"Now, surrender!" said Somers, out of breath with the violence of his +exertions, as he drew from his belt the pistol which, being so hard +pressed, he had not been able to use before. + +"Never, sir! I don't surrender! I was sent here to fight, and not to +surrender!" replied the officer, as proudly as though he had been in +command of a beleaguered fortress, instead of a squad of two or three +dozen men. + +Somers had him at his mercy, and it seemed but little better than murder +to shoot him in his defenseless state. + +That was a bad mistake on his part; for the rebel officer at once +proceeded to prove that he was no effeminate character, who depended upon +a sword, pistol, or other weapon, to fight his battles with, but could, +if occasion required, defend himself with his naked arm. He sprang upon +Somers with the ferocity of a tiger. The latter fired; but the sudden +movement of the former impaired his aim, and the ball whistled harmlessly +over the head of the rebel. The desperate officer attempted to gain +possession of the pistol; but Somers, now thoroughly aroused to a sense +of his own danger, sprang at the throat of his antagonist, and, by the +fierceness of the dash, bore him to the earth. His victim struggled to +escape; and, being a stronger man than the other, would certainly have +succeeded, if Somers had not picked up his pistol, which lay on the spot +where they fell, and struck a blow with the butt of it on the temple of +the rebel. This effectually quieted him; but the lieutenant's little +force were falling back before the furious assaults of the graybacks. + +He had only time to get up before the rebels were upon him. At this +interesting and critical moment, Captain de Banyan came up with his large +force; and the enemy, finding themselves pressed in front and rear, gave +up in despair. They were disarmed; and, those from the wheat-field being +brought forward, the whole squad were marched in the direction of the +Union line. + +About one-half of Somers's men were wounded, though some but slightly. +These were sent back. The rebel officer lay insensible upon the ground; +but Somers, satisfied that he was only stunned, desired to carry him off, +not only as a trophy of his prowess, but because such a desperate fellow +would be less dangerous in a prison-camp than in the lines of the rebels. +He directed two of his men to bear the insensible form to the house, +whither they were followed by the remainder of the force. + +"Somers, my dear fellow, give me your hand," said Captain de Banyan, as +soon as the pressing business of the moment had been disposed of. "You +have covered yourself with glory." + +"Pooh!" replied Somers, trying to look indifferent. "I have only done my +duty, and obeyed my orders." + +"That's very true; but, if you had been weak in the knees, you couldn't +very well have obeyed orders. Somers, you have done a big thing; and, in +my judgment, you ought to be promoted." + +"Promoted for that?" + +"In the battle of Magenta----" + +"Oh, confound the battle of Magenta!" exclaimed Somers, interrupting him. +"I will give you a handsome present if you will never say Magenta to me +again." + +"Don't be petulant, my dear boy! You have got a sweet temper naturally, +and I hope you won't spoil it." + +"I am afraid you will spoil it for me." + +"I was only saying pleasant things to you, and you fly off and roll +yourself up in your dignity like a little hedgehog. By the way, Somers, +don't you suppose that Senator Guilford will hear of this affair?" + +"I hope not." + +"Nor that little lady we left all used up with a broken arm?" + +"I don't care whether she does or not." + +"Or that other little lady who knits socks for soldiers that don't run +away in battle?" + +Somers blushed like a maiden, and his experienced companion saw that he +had touched the tender spot in his heart. Very likely the captain would +have said something more on this interesting subject, if the conversation +had not been interrupted by their arrival at the old house. Here they +were met by a messenger from the colonel, ordering the detachment to +hasten back; for orders had come for the brigade to retire to their old +position. + +The wounded and the prisoners were conducted safely back to the line in +the woods, where our party were warmly congratulated upon their decided +success. The brigade fell back, but were immediately ordered forward +again, and held the advanced position which had been so gallantly won. It +was not a very comfortable place; for the soldiers stood over shoes in +the water. Late in the evening, our regiment was relieved by another, and +ordered back to the breastworks in the rear. It had lost but few men, +though torrents of loyal blood had flowed on that eventful day. + +The action of that day was the initial conflict of the seven-days' +battles. General McClellan actually commenced his long-deferred +operations against the city of Richmond. But the favorable moment had +passed by, and even then the battalions of the rebels were gathering in +readiness to be hurled upon our devoted army. While the regiment, whose +fortunes have been more intimately connected with our story, was retiring +from the pestiferous swamp, the commanding general received information +of the approach of Stonewall Jackson. These proved to be sad tidings; for +the anticipated triumphal march into the rebel capital was changed into a +bloody but glorious retreat. The battles which were to be fought for a +victorious advance were made to cover a disastrous defeat--disastrous to +the campaign, though not to the army. + +Fatigued, hungry and chilled by the night damps of the swamp, the +regiment threaded its way through the intricacies of the woods towards +the breastworks in the rear. It was a dark and gloomy hour, though the +_prestige_ of victory dwelt in the souls of the gallant soldiers. The +officers were not familiar with the ground; and with difficulty they +found their way back to the old line. + +"Well, Somers, how do you feel?" asked Captain de Banyan when the +regiment was dismissed. + +"I'm all worn out. I haven't got toughened to this kind of work yet," +replied Somers. + +"Don't give it up yet, my boy. We shall be in Richmond in less than a +week, and then we will take rooms at the Spottswood House, and have a +good time." + +"Do you believe we shall ever get into Richmond, captain?" + +"Certainly I do. Everything is working to my entire satisfaction. You +feel a little blue, my boy; but it is only because you are tired. You +will feel better in the morning." + +"I am tired, but I am not blue. I am ready to do my duty, in victory or +defeat. There has been an awful roar of guns all day, and no one can tell +what the result of a battle will be." + +"An awful roar of guns! 'Pon my word, I like that," laughed the captain. +"Why, at Magenta----" + +"Magenta again!" sneered Somers, who was heartily sick of that word. + +"Yes, at Magenta! If you could only have heard the guns there! Why, there +were seven thousand two hundred and forty-six pieces rattling away like +mad on our side alone; and I believe the Russians----" + +"Russians at Magenta again! I don't believe you were at the battle of +Magenta any more than I was!" exclaimed Somers desperately. + +"Do you mean to tell me that I lie?" asked the captain gravely. + +"Go on with your story," said the lieutenant, fearing that he had said +too much. + +"Answer my question, if you please. You gave me the lie; did you not?" + +"No; I didn't use that word." + +"You said you didn't believe I was at the battle of Magenta." + +"To be perfectly candid with you, I don't believe it; but I am tired, and +want my supper," answered Somers, wishing to escape the issue which he +had provoked. + +"Fair play, my boy. You charged me with lying--indirectly--but not the +less offensively on that account. Don't dodge the question." + +"I haven't dodged it. I gave you my candid opinion that you were not +present at Magenta; and I don't think there is an officer in the regiment +who believes you were there." + +"Isn't the word of an officer and a gentleman to be accepted?" + +"Certainly, if he keeps within the bounds of reason; but when you talk +about the Russians at Magenta, and over seven thousand cannons in a +single army, we know that you are either 'drawing the long-bow,' or +laboring under some strange delusion. Supper is ready." + +"We can eat and talk too." And they did. "May I be allowed to ask, +Lieutenant Somers, if you deem my statement inconsistent with reason?" + +"To be sure I do. We have six guns to a battery; seventy-two hundred guns +would make twelve hundred batteries. We have about one hundred and fifty +men to a battery, which would make one hundred and eighty thousand men in +the artillery arm alone; which is positively ridiculous. You said +Russians----" + +"Of course, that was a slip of the tongue. I meant Prussians," added the +captain, entirely overwhelmed by the lieutenant's arithmetic, as well as +by the laughter of Captain Benson and Lieutenant Munroe, who belonged to +the mess. + +"Worse yet," said Somers. "They were Austrians. Now, captain, you are a +brave man, and a splendid fellow; but I think it is a great pity you +should tell such abominably great stories." + +"I accept the apology," laughed Captain de Banyan. "We will call it +square, and turn in; for I think that we shall have hot work to-morrow." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +AN ORDER FROM HEADQUARTERS + + +While Captain de Banyan and Lieutenant Somers were asleep, the commanding +general received the intelligence of a movement on our right by the +famous Stonewall Jackson. The position which had been gained by the +advance at Oak Grove was abandoned, and the troops returned to their old +line. The next day was heard the roar of the guns at Mechanicsville; and +on that succeeding was fought the battle of Gaines's Mills--the only +defeat in the field sustained by the Union army during that battle-week. + +General McClellan then decided to change his base of operations; which, +rendered into plain English, meant that he had been flanked, and was +obliged to make the best move he could to save his army and material. The +troops fought all day, and ran all night, till they reached the James +River, where they were protected by the all-powerful gunboats. In the +battles of Savage's Station, Glendale and Malvern Hills, they were +victorious, and fought as no troops had ever fought before. As a retreat, +it was successful; but it was the sad and inglorious end of the +Peninsular campaign. + +The whole brigade to which Lieutenant Somers belonged went on picket +every third day. While the tremendous operations to which we have briefly +alluded were taking place on the right, the soldiers on the left were +leading their ordinary military life. But they were thinking men, and, +while they were firm in their devotion to the good cause, they were +disturbed by doubts and fears. They knew not, as they listened to the +booming guns, whether they were in the midst of victory or defeat. +Occasionally, they were shelled behind their breastworks; apparently for +the purpose, on the part of the rebels, of keeping our forces from +interfering with the work on the right. + +The brigade went on picket, and here the troops were face to face with +the enemy. Lieutenant Somers, by the illness of the captain and the +absence of the first lieutenant, was in command of his company. But there +was no chance to do anything to distinguish himself, except that steady +and patient attention to duty which is the constant opportunity of every +good officer. + +"Well, captain, was there anything like this at Magenta?" asked Somers, +as he met De Banyan. + +"This is tame, Somers. Magenta was a lively scene." + +"I fancy it will not remain tame much longer. We shall either be in +Richmond as victors or prisoners within a few days." + +"Don't croak, Somers. It will all come out right in the end." + +"I have no doubt of that; but I feel just as though some big thing was +going to happen." + +"So do I; and I felt so just before the battle of Solferino. By the way, +on the night before that battle, I captured a whole brigade with my +single company, while I was out on picket-duty." + +"Indeed!" laughed Somers. + +"I'll tell you how it was." + +"Don't take that trouble, captain; for I shall not believe you if you +do." + +"Do you mean to doubt my word, even before I utter it?" demanded the +captain, apparently much hurt by the insinuation. + +"Captain de Banyan, I wish I could persuade you to speak the truth at all +times." + +"Come, Somers, that's rather a grave charge; and, if it came from any +other man than yourself, I should challenge him on the spot," added the +captain, throwing back his head, and looking dignified enough to be the +commander-in-chief. + +"You may challenge me if you please; but let us be serious for a moment." + +"I am serious, and have been all the time." + +"You are a first-rate fellow, captain; I like you almost as well as I do +my own brother." + +"You are a sensible young man, Somers," replied De Banyan, slightly +relaxing the rigid muscles of his face. + +"You are a brave man, and as brilliant as you are brave. I have only one +fault to find with you." + +"What's that?" + +"You will draw the long-bow." + +"In other words, I will lie. Somers, you hurt my feelings. I took a fancy +to you the first time I ever saw you, and it pains me to hear you talk in +that manner. Do you think that I, an officer and a gentleman, would stoop +to the vice of lying?" + +"You certainly do not expect any one to believe those wretched big +stories you tell?" + +"Certainly I do," replied the captain with dignity. + +"But they contradict themselves." + +"Perhaps you don't believe there ever was such an event as the battle of +Magenta." + +"Come, come, my friend; just slide off that high horse." + +"Lieutenant Somers, my word has been doubted; my good faith maligned; my +character for truth and veracity questioned." + +"Yes, I know all that very well; but answer me one question, captain. +Seriously and solemnly, were you at the battle of Magenta?" + +"I decline to answer one who doubts my veracity. If I answered you in the +affirmative, you would not believe me." + +"I don't think I should; but, if you should answer me in the negative, I +should have full faith in your reply." + +"I cannot answer on those terms. Somers, I am offended. I don't know but +that I am in duty bound to challenge you. Just after the battle of +Magenta, I felt compelled to challenge a young officer who cast an +imputation upon my word. We fought, and he fell. His brother challenged +me then, and I had to put a bullet through his head. The family were +Corsicans, I believe; and one after another challenged me, till they got +down to fifth cousins; and I laid out fifteen of them--I think it was +fifteen; I don't remember the exact number, but I could tell by referring +to my diary. You are so precise and particular, that I want to give you +the facts just as they are." + +"You haven't the diary with you, I suppose?" + +"Of course not; I couldn't carry a volume like that around with me. I +only mention this circumstance to show you the sad results which +sometimes follow in the wake of a duel." + +"But I'm not a Corsican; and I don't think you need fear any such results +in my case, if you should conclude to challenge me," answered Somers with +abundant good nature. + +"Now, seriously and solemnly, Somers, this doubting a comrade's word is a +vicious habit. It shows that you have no confidence in what I say." + +"That is precisely the truth; but I think you are responsible for the +fact, not I. If you would only tell the truth----" + +"Tell the truth! My dear fellow, you keep making the matter worse, +instead of better." + +"So do you; for, instead of abandoning your bad habit, you tell me an +absurd story about killing fifteen men in a series of duels!" + +"I told you I couldn't fix the exact number. You are too critical by +half." + +"I am not particular about the number; for I don't believe you killed +even a single person in a duel. You are too good a fellow to do anything +of the sort." + +"Somers, I have been laboring to keep my temper; but I am afraid you will +make me mad, if you keep on. I think we had better suspend this +conversation before it leads to any unhappy results;" and the captain +rose from the ground, and glanced in the direction of the enemy's +pickets. + +"The most unhappy result I could conceive of would be your continuing +this bad practice of telling big stories," replied Somers, standing up by +the side of his companion. + +"No more; you add insult to injury, Somers." + +"Really, captain, you injure yourself by this habit, and----" + +Captain de Banyan, at this point of the conversation, suddenly turned +round, and sprang upon the lieutenant, bearing him to the ground before +the latter could even make a movement in self-defense. Together they +rolled upon the earth, at the foot of the tree whose sheltering branches +had protected them from the intense heat of the sun. Somers, as the +reader already knows, was bold and belligerent before an attack; and, on +the impulse of the moment, he proceeded to repel the sharp assault of his +companion. + +"If you fight a duel in that way, I am ready to take part in it," said +he, his face red with anger. "Let go of me!" + +"With pleasure, my dear boy," replied De Banyan, edging away from him. + +"What do you mean by pitching into me in that way?" demanded Somers +angrily. + +"I have been trying this half hour to teach you a useful lesson; but you +don't know who your best friends are." + +"I think I do. Some of them tell the truth sometimes." + +"Somers!" said the captain sternly. + +"Captain de Banyan!" replied the lieutenant firmly. + +"Do you see that hole in the tree?" continued Captain de Banyan, pointing +to a fresh bullet-mark. + +"I do." + +"I only pulled you down to keep that rifle-ball from going through your +head. I saw a rebel picket through the trees, ready to fire at us. The +ball struck the tree before we struck the ground." + +"Forgive me, captain. I did not understand the movement," replied Somers, +extending his hand. + +"With all my heart," replied the captain, taking the proffered hand. "We +don't always know who our best friends are." + +"Perhaps not; but I know that you are one of my best friends. You have +just given me another reason for wishing you did not----" Somers +hesitated, not thinking it exactly fair to reproach his companion for his +vile habit, after he had rendered him such a signal service. + +"Lie," added De Banyan, finishing the sentence. + +"Perhaps it isn't exactly lying; you don't mean to deceive any one. At +the worst, they are only white lies. Now, captain, don't you think you +exaggerate sometimes?" + +"Well, perhaps I do; my memory is rather poor. I don't carry my diary +with me." + +"Don't you think it would be better if you could confine yourself to the +exact truth?" added Somers, who really felt a deep interest in his +associate. + +"I think it very likely it would; but things get a little mixed up in my +mind. My memory is poor on details. Just after the battle of Magenta, +while I was lying wounded on the ground, one of the emperor's staff rode +up to me, and asked how many cannon my regiment had captured. To save my +life, I couldn't tell whether it was two hundred or three hundred. My +memory is very treacherous on details." + +"I believe you are hopeless, captain," laughed Somers. + +"Hopeless?" + +"Why, you have told the biggest story that has passed your lips to-day." + +"What, about the cannon?" + +"Two hundred or three hundred! Why, your regiment captured all the guns +the Austrians had!" + +"Didn't I tell you I couldn't remember whether it was two hundred or +three hundred? You are the most critical young man I ever met in the +whole course of my life!" + +"But two hundred would be an abominable exaggeration. Perhaps you meant +muskets?" + +"No; cannon." + +"But, my dear captain, just consider for one moment. Of course the +batteries were supported?" + +"To be sure they were." + +"Six guns to a battery would have made fifty batteries; and----" + +"Oh, confound your statistics!" exclaimed the captain impatiently. + +"But statistics enable us to see the truth. Now, captain, at the battle +of Bunker Hill, I saw a man----" + +"You?" demanded Captain de Banyan. + +"I said so." + +"Were you at the battle of Bunker Hill?" + +"Didn't you see me there?" + +"Come, come, Somers; you shouldn't trifle with the truth. I was not at +the battle you speak of." + +"But I was----" + +"You! You were not born till sixty years after the battle of Bunker +Hill." + +"But I was--only illustrating your case." + +"Here comes an orderly with something from headquarters," said Captain de +Banyan, apparently as much rejoiced to change the conversation as the +reader will be to have it changed. + +The orderly proceeded to the position occupied by the field and staff +officers of the regiment; and, a few moments later, came an order for +Lieutenant Somers, with twenty of his men, selected for special duty, to +report at the division headquarters. + +"You are in luck, Somers; you will have a glorious opportunity to +distinguish yourself," said Captain de Banyan, whose second lieutenant +was ordered to the command of Somers's company. + +"I don't know what it means," replied our lieutenant. + +"Don't you, indeed?" added the captain with a smile. "Don't you know what +special duty means? On the night before the battle of Solferino----" + +"Excuse me, Captain de Banyan; but I am ordered to report forthwith," +interrupted Somers, who had no desire to hear another "whopper." + +The young lieutenant marched off, with his little force, to report as he +had been directed. He knew his men well enough to enable him to make a +good selection; and he was confident that they would stand by him to the +last. + +"Do you know Senator Guilford?" demanded the general, after Somers had +passed through all the forms of reporting. + +"I do, general," replied the lieutenant, with a fearful blush, and with a +wish in his heart that the distinguished Senator had minded his own +business. + +"He speaks well of you, Lieutenant Somers," added the general. + +"I am very much obliged to him for his kindness; but I never saw him but +once in my life." + +"He asks a favor for you." + +"I am very much obliged to him; but I don't ask any for myself, and I +hope you will not grant it. If any favors are bestowed upon me, I prefer +to earn them myself." + +"Good!" exclaimed the general. "But I assure you and Senator Guilford +that no man in this division of the army will get a position he does not +deserve. I assure you, Lieutenant Somers, I should have thrown the +Senator's letter among the waste paper, if I had not known you before. I +remember you at Williamsburg; and you did a pretty thing in the +wheat-field yesterday. You are just the man I want." + +"Thank you, sir; I should be very glad to prove that your good opinion is +well founded." + +Apart from others, and in a low tone, the general gave his orders to +Lieutenant Somers to undertake a very difficult and dangerous scouting +expedition. + +"Before sundown you will be a prisoner in Richmond, or a first +lieutenant," added the general as Somers withdrew. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +LIEUTENANT SOMERS CHANGES HIS NAME AND CHARACTER + + +Like the major-generals in the army, Lieutenant Somers had strong +aspirations in the direction of an independent command. Like those +distinguished worthies, no doubt, he felt competent to perform bigger +things than he had yet been called to achieve in the ordinary routine of +duty. He had the blood of heroes in his veins; and, in spite of all he +could do to keep his thoughts within the limits of modesty, he found them +soaring to the regions of the improbable and fanciful. His imagination +led him a wild race, and pictured him in the act of performing marvelous +deeds of valor and skill. + +Fancy is a blind and reckless leader; and it gave our hero oftentimes a +command which his reason would not have permitted him to accept. What +boys, and even what men, think, when stimulated by ambition, would be too +ridiculous to put upon paper. If their thoughts could be disclosed to the +impertinent eye of the world, the proprietors would blushingly disown and +disclaim them. + +Still, almost every live man and boy gives the reins to his fancy; and in +the Army of the Potomac, we will venture to say, there were a hundred +thousand privates and officers who permitted themselves to dream that +they were brigadiers and major-generals; that they did big things, and +received the grateful homage of the world. At any rate, Lieutenant Somers +did, modest as he was, even while he felt that he was utterly incompetent +to perform the duties incumbent on the two stars or the one star. + +Experience had given him some confidence in his own powers; and there was +something delightful in the idea of having an independent command. It was +a partial, a very partial, realization of the wanderings of his vivid +fancy. He felt able to do something which Lilian Ashford would take +pleasure in reading in the newspapers; perhaps something which would +prove his fitness for a brigadier's star at some remote period. Now, we +have made all this explanation to show how Somers had prepared himself to +accomplish some great thing. The mission with which he had been intrusted +was an important one; and the safety of the whole left wing of the army +might depend upon its faithful performance. + +He was wrought up to the highest pitch of patriotic inspiration by the +charge which had been laid upon him; and he was determined to bring back +the information required of him, even if he had to fly through the air to +obtain it. It was of no use to suggest impossibilities to a young man in +such a frame of mind; he did not know the meaning of the word. To impress +him with the importance of the duty intrusted to him, the general of +division had given him a faint outline of the intended movements of the +army. If the enemy massed his forces in this direction, it was of vital +necessity that the general should know it. + +Thus prepared and thus inspired, Lieutenant Somers marched his little +force to the point from which he proposed to operate. On his right hand +there was a dense wood, on the border of which extended one of the +numerous cross-roads that checker the country. On his left was another +piece of woods, terminating in a point about a quarter of a mile from the +road and in the center of a valley. + +On the hill beyond was the intrenched line of the rebels. In front of it, +at the foot of the slope, was a line of rifle-pits, which were occupied +by the rebel pickets. The hill and the woods concealed the operations of +the enemy; and no signal station was high enough to obtain the necessary +information. The woods on both sides of the open space were picketed by +the rebels; and the rifle-pits in front were an effectual check to the +advance of a small force, while a large one could not be sent up without +bringing on a general engagement, which had been prohibited by the +commanding general. + +Lieutenant Somers surveyed the ground, and came to the conclusion that +his chance of spending the night in Libby Prison was better than his +chance of being made a first lieutenant. The rifle-pits had a chilling +effect upon the fine dreams in which his fancy had indulged. He was not a +grub, and could not burrow through the earth to the rebel lines; he had +no wings, and could not fly over them. The obstacles which are so easily +overcome in one's dreams appear mountain-high in real life. He looked +troubled and anxious; but, having put his hand to the plow, he was +determined not to turn back. + +The best way to conquer a difficulty is to charge upon it; and this +Somers decided to do, even though he had no well-defined plan for the +accomplishment of his purpose. Avoiding the observation of the rebels in +the rifle-pits, he moved round, and reached the point of woods on the +left of the road. + +"Excuse me, Lieutenant Somers," said Sergeant Hapgood with a military +salute: "'tain't none o' my business, but I'd like to know where you are +goin' to." + +"Through this woods," replied Somers doggedly. + +"You used to be a good boy, when you was a boy; and I hope you've said +your prayers," replied old Hapgood, appalled at the prospect before his +young friend. + +"Don't you croak, uncle," added Somers. + +"The rebels' pickets are up here, not twenty rods distant. Do you +calculate to go through them, or over them?" + +"Either--just as I can; but I am going through, somehow or other." + +"It can't be done! Thunderation! you'll bring down the whole rebel army +upon us! You don't think of going over there with only twenty men!" + +"I do, uncle. I'm going over on that hill yonder, and I'm coming back +again before night." + +Hapgood tapped his forehead significantly with his finger to indicate +that the young lieutenant had lost his senses. + +"I was ordered to do it, and I am going to do it, uncle. You can set your +mind at rest on that point." + +"It can't be did!" said the old man positively. "I don't keer who told +you to do it; it can't be did with less'n twenty thousand men. You will +sacrifice yourself and all the rest of us." + +"You may return to the camp, if you wish." + +"Tom Somers--Lieutenant Somers," said the old man, much hurt by the words +of the young officer, "you know I'm not afraid of anything; and I didn't +expect you'd say that to me." + +"Excuse me, uncle; I didn't mean it. Now, hear me a moment." + +In a low tone, Lieutenant Somers told the sergeant the nature of his +mission, and what depended upon its prompt and successful execution. + +"He ought to have sent a division to do such a job," muttered the old +man, taking off his cap, and scratching his bald head. "Howsomever, I'm +ready to follow you wherever you choose to go." + +"Forward, then," replied Somers; and they advanced cautiously through the +woods till they came to a kind of bog-hole, beyond which they discovered +the rebel pickets. + +The party lay down on the ground, and crawled on the edge of the bog, +till they obtained a fair view of the rebels. + +"Now, uncle, the time has come, and my plan is formed," said Somers in a +whisper. "When they discover you, retreat with the men as fast as you +can. Fire on the rebels; but don't pay any attention to me." + +"Where are you going?" demanded the old man. + +"When you retire, I am going to roll into that grass. They will follow +you; and, as soon as they have passed me, I shall move forward." + +"I won't do anything of the sort. Thunderation! you are goin' to run +right into the arms of the rebels." + +"Obey my orders! That's all you have to do. I can take care of myself." + +"Excuse me, Tom--Lieutenant Somers." + +"I know all about it, uncle. You do what I tell you, and you shall have +all the particulars to-night, when I return." + +"Return! You will be in Libby, if you are not shot, by dark." + +"If I am, leave that to me," replied Somers, as he rolled over into the +long grass of the bog, and entirely concealed himself from the view of +his own men. "Now fire one or two shots into the rebel picket and then +retire." + +Hapgood reluctantly obeyed the order; though he felt as though he was +signing the death-warrant of his young friend by doing so. The bullets +began to fly; but the sergeant took care to keep his men out of sight as +they retreated. The enemy followed; for they always chase a retiring foe, +and run from an advancing one. They reached the bog in which Somers was +concealed, where one of the three fell before a ball which the lieutenant +was sure had been directed by the practiced eye of the veteran sergeant. +The other two swore at the calamity, and vowed vengeance on the Yankee +who had done the deed. + +Hapgood continued to retire, and led his foe to the very verge of the +woods. In the meantime, the lieutenant emerged from his hiding-place. The +first object that attracted his attention was the ghastly face of the +dead rebel. The sight of him was not pleasant, but it was suggestive; +and, without the loss of a moment, he dragged the body into the grass, +and hastily removed the uniform from it. It was a loathsome task; but the +necessity of the moment seemed to justify the act. Taking off his own +uniform, he put on that of the dead rebel, who was fortunately about his +own size. Rolling up his own clothing in as small a bundle as possible, +he concealed it in the bog, at some distance from the place where the +picket had fallen. Dragging the corpse to a quagmire, he sunk it beneath +the muddy waters, and it passed from his view. After taking the +precaution to straighten up the long grass, which might have betrayed his +movements, he advanced towards the rebel lines. + +Lieutenant Somers felt that he was now actually embarked in his perilous +venture. He was within the enemy's line, and in disguise. If discovered, +he would be liable to the penalty of being a spy. But inasmuch as he did +not intend to be discovered, he did not think it necessary to expend his +nervous energy in a discussion of this question. Success was a duty to +him; and he spent no time in considering the dark side of the picture. + +He was excited, and he knew that he was excited. He knew that coolness +and impudence were the essential elements of success in such an +adventure; and when he had followed the woods nearly to the top of the +hill, he sat down to recover his self-possession, and compose his nerves +to their natural quietude. It was not a very easy matter. He had already +arranged his plan of future operations, and he diligently set about the +business of making his appearance correspond with his circumstances. + +He felt that he was hardly dirty enough to be a rebel; so he rubbed his +face, neck and hands with some dark-colored earth, ripped his pants and +coat in sundry places, and otherwise disfigured his comely person, till +Miss Lilian Ashford would not have known him, or if she had known him, +would have been ashamed to acknowledge his acquaintance. Having completed +this work to his entire satisfaction, he rose, and resumed his march +towards the rebel line. He had advanced but a few paces before he felt +something in the breast-pocket of his coat, which excited his curiosity. +It was a diary which the dead soldier had kept from the time he entered +the army. + +Such a work would have been deeply interesting to the lieutenant at any +time, but especially at the present, when he was sadly in want of the +information which would enable him to personate the difficult part he had +chosen to perform. Seating himself on the ground again, he was soon +absorbed in the contents of the note-book. The owner's name was Owen +Raynes; and from the diary Somers learned that he had been a clerk in +Richmond when the war broke out; and that his father resided on the +Williamsburg road, near Seven Pines, where the battle had been fought. +Somers was alarmed at this information; for the young man must be well +known in the neighborhood. Of course he could not assume the name and +character of Owen Raynes. + +Though the time was precious, he continued to read the diary till he came +to an entry which excited his deep interest: "Poor Allan Garland was +captured to-day by the Yankees; and I suppose they will torture and +starve the poor fellow, as they have the rest of our boys who have fallen +into their hands. We shall never meet again. He was a good fellow. He was +on a scout." + +Somers was deeply concerned about poor Allan Garland, who had fallen into +the hands of the terrible Yankees, to be tortured and starved; and he +turned back to the beginning of the diary to obtain further particulars +in regard to this interesting person. Fortunately for history, and +particularly for Lieutenant Somers, Owen Raynes had given a tolerably +full account of his friend. They had been to school together in Union, +Alabama, where Owen had an uncle, and where Allan resided. They were fast +friends; and both agreed to enlist as volunteers in the Fourth Alabama, +Colonel Bush Jones; for their schoolmates were mostly in this regiment. + +When the regiment arrived at Richmond, Owen had not time to visit his +father; for the troops were instantly ordered to Manassas, and he +enrolled himself without discovering that his friend was not in the +ranks. He was too sick to come with his comrades; "wrote letter to Allan" +was a frequent entry in the diary, until June 18, 1862, when this record +appears: "Allan joined the regiment to-day; has been sick about a year; +is very well now; he is a handsome fellow. Sue shall be his wife, if I +can bring it about; they have kept up a correspondence for three years; +she never saw him, but she will like him." + +"All right!" exclaimed Somers, as he closed the book, and put it in his +pocket. "I am Allan Garland. Don't think I shall marry Sue, though, +whoever she may be. I wonder if Lilian Ashford would object. I don't know +as she would. Never mind; I am a soldier of the Fourth Alabama, Colonel +Jones, just now. How are you, Allan Garland?" + +He walked along towards the rebel lines, feeling in his pockets for +further revelations. An old letter from Allan Garland rewarded his +search. He spoke tenderly of Sue, who was Owen's sister. + +"Sue wouldn't think I'm very handsome just now," said Somers, glancing at +his dirty hands, and imagining his dirty face, as he continued to +advance. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +ALLAN GARLAND AND FRIENDS + + +Allan Garland, _nee_ Somers, advanced confidently towards the rebel +line. As he was to perform the leading part in the exciting drama about +to be acted, he conducted himself with the utmost caution. Everything +depended upon the amount of impudence he could bring to bear upon the +case before him, and the skill with which he personated the part he had +chosen. He knew of nothing, short of falling on the Fourth Alabama, which +could disconcert him. Even if he did, there were only a few who knew the +captured scout; and his chances were fair, even if the worst should +befall him. + +"Stand!" said a rebel sentinel on the breastwork of the line. "Who goes +there?" + +"Friend," replied Somers confidently. + +"What's your name?" + +"Allan Garland. Can you tell me where the Fourth Alabama is?" + +"About four miles from here. Do you belong to the Fourth Alabama?" + +"Well, I did before I was captured; I don't know where I belong now." + +"Where d'ye come from?" + +"Just got away from the Yankees. They gobbled me up about three weeks +ago." + +"Bully for you! Come in; you can report to the officer of the day." + +Somers was entirely willing, and hastened in the direction indicated by +the sentinel; and was soon ushered into the presence of Major Platner, +brigade-officer of the day. He was a very pompous little man, and Somers +saw his weakness as soon as he spoke. With a most profound bow, he +answered the questions of the major, using the utmost deference in his +tone and manner. + +"How dare you present yourself before an officer of the day with such a +dirty face?" demanded Major Platner. + +"I hope your honor will pardon me; but I have just escaped from the +Yankees, and have not had time to wash my face. If you please, sir, I +will go and do it now. I thought I ought to come to you without any +delay." + +"You did right, young man," replied the major with a consequential +flourish of the hand. "You were out scouting when you were taken?" + +"Yes, sir." + +Major Platner then proceeded to ask a great many questions in regard to +the force and position of the Yankees; all of which Somers answered +entirely in the interest of the Union party. He was very careful not to +give a particle of information that could be useful to the rebels; at the +same time avoiding any gross exaggerations which would throw discredit on +his story. + +"You seem to be a very intelligent and patriotic young man," added the +officer. "I have heard some inquiries for a person of your description +to-day." + +"I have always endeavored to do my duty to my country," answered Somers, +trying to blush under the compliment of the patronizing little major; +"and I kept my eyes wide open while I was in the Yankee camps." + +"I see you did. Your information is very definite, and, I doubt not, very +reliable." + +"My only desire has been to serve my country, sir," added Somers very +modestly. + +"Well, go and wash your face, so that we can see what color you are, and +I will report your name to the general, who was inquiring for a useful +person like yourself. I trust that you will have discretion enough not to +mention anything that has passed between us." + +"Certainly not, sir. I judge, from what you have said, that my poor +services may be required for some special service." + +"That is the idea which I intended to convey. In a word, the commander of +this division wants information. You have just come from the Yankee +lines, and you know where to look for the intelligence that will be of +the most value to us." + +"I think I do, sir." + +"The fact that you have just made your way through the Yankee lines shows +that you possess the necessary address." + +"I thank you for your good opinion; and I assure you, sir, that I should +be very glad to serve my country in any capacity in which she may require +my humble labors." + +"Very well, young man." + +"A plan occurs to me now, by which I could easily enter the Yankee +lines." + +"Indeed! What is that?" + +"When I ran through the enemy's pickets, they fired upon me, and one of +them chased me. I brought him down with my pistol," replied Somers, +producing the weapon, which he had taken the precaution to bring with +him. "I know just where that Yankee lies now; I could borrow his uniform, +and go in among the enemy without suspicion." + +"Very well arranged, young man." + +The major then directed an orderly to attend to the wants of the +fugitive, and gave the latter orders to report to him within two hours. +Somers washed his face, and partook of some cold bacon and corn bread, +which constituted the staple of the rebel rations. He then told the +orderly that he wanted to look round a little, and find his regiment, if +he could; but was informed that the camp regulations did not permit any +strolling about the camps. He suggested that the officer of the day would +give him a pass, and he returned to the major to beg this favor. It was +readily granted; and the time for him to report was extended to four +hours, as his regiment was situated at some distance from the brigade +camp, though it belonged to the same division. + +Thus provided, Somers commenced his tour of observation. Of course, he +had no intention of visiting the Fourth Alabama; for that would have been +putting his head into the lion's mouth. We need only say, that he used +his time to the best advantage for the country in whose service he had +enlisted. He noted the brigades, regiments, and batteries of artillery, +which he saw in his walk; and arranged a little scheme in his mind, by +which he could remember the number of each. + +In the course of his perambulations, he reached the Williamsburg road, +and was on the point of extending his observations in the direction of +the railroad, when he was stopped by a sentinel. He produced his pass, +which the rebel soldier could not read; and he was conducted to the +sergeant of the guard, who was listening to a conversation between a +captain and an old man who appeared to be a farmer. They were bargaining +about some forage which the captain wanted, and which the farmer was not +disposed to sell. + +"What have you there?" demanded the officer, as the sentinel brought in +the doubtful case. + +"Man with a pass." + +"Your pass is good up to the Williamsburg road, and no farther," said the +sergeant when he had read the document. + +"I didn't know where the lines were," replied Somers, returning the pass +to his pocket. + +"Where are you going?" asked the officer, apparently not satisfied with +the appearance of the "man with a pass." + +"Looking for my regiment, sir," replied Somers, giving the military +salute; which excess of politeness, however, was lost on the +matter-of-fact captain. + +"What regiment?" + +"The Fourth Alabama." + +"The Fourth Alabama! What are you doing over here, then?" + +"I am a stranger in these parts; and I don't know where to look. I have +just escaped from the Yankees, and don't know much about this part of the +country." + +"What is your name?" + +"Allan Garland, sir." + +"What!" exclaimed the old farmer, suddenly becoming interested in the +conversation. + +"In my opinion, you are a deserter," added the officer in a crabbed tone. +"I advise you to arrest him, sergeant. That pass is good for nothing on +this road." + +"No, captain, he is not a deserter," interposed the farmer with energy. +"I know him well; and he is as true and patriotic a young man as there is +in the Southern Confederacy." + +Somers looked at the farmer with astonishment. He did not remember to +have seen him before; and he could not account for the interest he +manifested in his case. + +"What do you know of him, Mr. Raynes?" + +Mr. Raynes! That explained the matter; and Somers could not help +shuddering in the presence of the man whose son he had buried in the soft +mud of the bog. + +"He is my son's friend," replied the farmer. "Both of them belong to the +Fourth Alabama." + +"That may be, Mr. Raynes; but do you suppose a man looking for the Fourth +Alabama would be wandering about here?" + +"He is a stranger in Virginia. He came on from Alabama only a few weeks +since, and was captured while out on a scouting expedition. I assure you, +captain, it is all right; I will vouch for him." + +"Very well, Mr. Raynes! If the sergeant is willing to take your word for +it, I have nothing further to say. Indeed, it is no business of mine; but +our soldiers are allowed to walk over to the enemy, or back into the +woods, without let or hindrance. It's a disgrace to the service. Major +Platner gives this man a pass to go all over the country. Do as you +please, sergeant." + +"I mean to," replied the sergeant in an undertone; for he was not pleased +at this interference on the part of a commissary of subsistence, who had +nothing whatever to do with the affair. "I am satisfied," he added aloud. + +"Allan, I am very glad to see you; and I thank God that you have been +enabled to escape from the Yankees. Have you seen Owen since you got +back?" + +Somers trembled at the question; and, while he did not dare to tell the +old man the truth, the thought of telling him a falsehood was utterly +repulsive to his nature. It was easy enough to deceive the enemy in +war--his duty called upon him to do this; but to deceive an old, fond +father, in regard to a true and devoted son, seemed terrible to him. + +"He was out on picket when I came through," he replied after some +hesitation. + +"Then you did not meet him. He will be delighted to see you again; for +really the boy is as fond of you as he is of his sister." + +Somers found himself unable to answer to the warm congratulations of the +old man, or to enter into the spirit of the conversation. The staring, +death-sealed eyes of Owen Raynes haunted him; and, when he attempted to +reciprocate the friendly sentiments of the doting father, his heart +seemed to rise up in his throat, and choke his utterance. The only +consolation he could derive from the remembrance of the scene in the +woods was in the fact that he had not taken the life of Owen Raynes +himself. He wore his clothes, and had his diary and letters in his +pocket. + +"You are very sad, Allan! I should think you would be happy to escape +from the Yankees. They would have starved you to death in time." + +"I think not, sir! They are not so cruel as that," added Somers, who +desired to remove such a reproach from the mind of the old man. + +"Perhaps they would not willingly starve their prisoners; but I don't see +how they could avoid it. They say that the people of the North are +suffering terribly for the want of food. In New York, the laboring +classes have attacked the banks and the flour-stores, urged on by hunger. +There will be terrible times in the North before many months have gone +by. I pity the people there, though it is their own fault. I hope God +will be merciful to them, and spare them from some of the consequences of +their own folly. I am thankful that you have escaped from them." + +"I don't think they are quite so badly off as you say," answered Somers, +provoked by this view of the condition and resources of the North. "I +have talked with a great many Yankee soldiers, and they say that plenty +abounds in all the Northern States." + +"They would tell you so. They are deceived by their officers." + +"That's the way it is done," added the rebel sergeant, who had been +listening to the conversation. + +"But I saw what rations these soldiers have. They live like lords." + +"That's the very thing which will starve all the people in the North. +Their big armies will eat them out of house and home in a few months, +Allan." + +"I think not, Mr. Raynes." + +"A gentleman from New York, who got through the lines last week, says the +grass is a foot high in some of the streets of New York. The people can't +find anything to do, and are cursing their rulers for plunging them into +this horrid war." + +"I think the gentleman from New York lied," replied Somers with a smile. +"I saw the New York papers every day while I was in the Yankee lines; and +they are full of advertisements, which look like business. Why, in one +paper I saw four columns of 'Wants,' in which people advertised for +farm-laborers, house-servants, clerks and sailors." + +"Ah! Allan, those papers are printed to sell in the Yankee army. I'm sure +I hope they are not so badly off as has been represented. I should not +want my worst enemy to suffer what they are called upon to endure. It is +all their own fault; but I hope God will be merciful to them." + +"I think you needn't feel bad about them," added Somers, amused, but +indignant at the pitiful stories which were circulated in the South to +keep up the courage of the people. + +"Let that pass, then. Really, Allan, I am very glad to see you. You must +go to the house with me. Sue will be delighted to meet you. She talks +about you a great deal; and I can insure you a warm welcome." + +"I think I cannot stop to call now; but I will try to come over in a few +days," replied Somers, embarrassed beyond measure at the idea of facing +Sue and the rest of the family. + +"Not stop!" exclaimed Mr. Raynes, holding up his hands with surprise. + +"Not now, sir; I am in no condition to appear before ladies," he added, +extending his arms so as to display his tattered garments to the fullest +advantage. "You know a young man is rather particular about his +appearance when he is going into the company of ladies, and especially +into the presence of _some_ ladies. The fact is, I tore my uniform all to +pieces after I passed through the Yankee lines." + +"Never mind your uniform, my boy. It looks as though it had seen service; +and that is the best recommendation a young man can have to the girls in +these times. You must go, Allan." + +"Indeed, sir, I hope you will excuse me for a few days," pleaded Somers. + +"Come, Allan! this is not kind of you. Sue has been dying to see you for +a year. She was terribly disappointed when you did not come up with your +regiment, and again when she heard you had joined without calling upon +us. If it had been Owen, she could not have felt worse when you were +captured. Now you want to disappoint her again." + +"You need not mention that you have seen me, Mr. Raynes," suggested +Somers. + +"Not tell her that you have escaped, when she is fretting about you every +day of her life! That would be too bad." + +"You can tell her as much as you please without informing her that you +have seen me." + +"I could not tell a lie, Allan. It would choke me," said the old man +solemnly. "You must go with me." + +"Let me get another uniform, and it would surprise her when I come." + +"No more words, young man. You must go. It is only a short distance," +replied Mr. Raynes, passing his arm through that of Somers, and walking +towards his house. "It will be the happiest day for Sue which she has +seen for a year." + +"Happier for her than it will be for me," thought Somers, who was +disposed to break away from the old man, and make his escape. + +By this time, Sue had become an awful bugbear to the poor fellow. In +these days of photographs, it is more than probable that she had a +picture of the original Allan Garland, and the cheat would be discovered +the moment he showed his face. He was deliberating a plan for breaking +away from his persistent friend, when a young lady of eighteen stepped +out from the bushes by the roadside, and hailed the old man. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +THE VIRGINIA MAIDEN + + +"Where have you been, father?" said the young lady in a very sweet and +gentle tone, which, however, sounded like the knell of doom to poor +Somers. "I have been waiting for you half an hour." + +But then, perceiving a stranger with her father, she drew back, abashed +at her own forwardness. + +"Come here, Sue," said the old man. "Come here; I want to see you." + +She advanced timidly from the bushes where she had been partially +concealed from the gaze of the passers-by. She was certainly a very +pleasant and comely-looking maiden; but, if she had been the "Witch of +Endor," she could not have been any more disagreeable to Somers. He was +as fond of adventure as any young man; and if he could have forgotten +that poor Owen Raynes, the son and the brother, was at that moment lying +in the mud of the swamp; his manly form no more to gladden the hearts of +those who stood before him; his voice hushed in death, no more to utter +the accents of affection to the devoted father and his loving sister--if +he could have forgotten his relations with the dead Owen, he might even +have enjoyed the exciting situation in which he was placed. + +Sue, with a blushing face and half-averted gaze, stepped out into the +road, and stole a few timid glances at the young lieutenant. It was quite +evident that she did not have a suspicion of the identity of the young +soldier before her. Her father appeared to have a vein of romance in his +character, and was disposed to torture her for a time with the torments +of suspense, before he declared to her the astounding truth, that the +young soldier was her well-known but hitherto unseen friend from Alabama, +the bosom companion of her brother Owen, and, if everything worked as the +loving conspirators intended, the future husband of the affectionate +maiden. + +She did not like to ask who the stranger was; and she thought it was very +provoking of her father not to tell her, when she was so fearfully +embarrassed by her position. She continued to blush; and Somers felt so +awkward, that he couldn't help joining her in this interesting display of +roses on the cheeks. + +"Don't you know him, Sue?" demanded the farmer, when he had tantalized +her as long as the circumstances would warrant. + +"Why, of course I don't, father!" stammered the Virginia maiden. + +"Look in his face, and see if you can't tell," persisted Mr. Raynes. + +"How absurd, father!" + +"Absurd, child? Not at all absurd! Haven't you his picture in the house? +And, if I mistake not, you have looked at it as many as three times a day +for the last year." + +"Now, father, you are too bad! I haven't done anything of the sort," +protested Sue, pouting and twisting her shoulders as any country girl, +who had not been trained in a satinwood seminary, would have done under +such trying circumstances. "You don't mean to say that is Allan Garland?" +added she, her pretty face lighting up with an expression of intense +satisfaction. + +"But I do, Sue," replied Mr. Raynes with emphasis. + +"Why, Allan! I am so glad to see you! I was afraid I should never see +you!" exclaimed Sue, rushing up to the young man, and extending both her +hands, which he felt compelled to accept. + +He was fearful that she would kiss him; and, though he would have been +under obligations to submit to the infliction, he was not sure that the +operation would not cause him to faint. Fortunately for him, Sue was +reasonable in her behavior; and he escaped cheaper than he expected, when +he beheld the impetuous charge which the maiden made upon him. If he had +really been Allan Garland, his reception would have been entirely proper, +and highly creditable to the affectionate nature of the Virginia damsel. +He was not the young gentleman from Alabama; and he felt as though he had +been flanked on both sides, with no chance to beat off the enemy in +front, or to run away in the rear. He was only a short distance from a +line of rebel sentinels, and he did not consider it prudent to escape by +taking to his legs. He did not wear his fighting socks at this time, and +felt that it would be no disgrace to run away from such an enemy as that +which confronted him. + +"I am very glad to see you, Allan," repeated Sue, as the wretched young +man did not venture to use his tongue. + +"Thank you, thank you, Miss Raynes!" said he at last, when silence seemed +even more dangerous than speech. + +"Miss Raynes! Dear me, Allan, how very formal and precise you are! You +called me Sue in your letters." + +"Did I? Well, I didn't know it," replied Somers with a stroke of candor +not to be expected under the circumstances. + +"Certainly you did. I don't think you ever mentioned such a person as +Miss Raynes." + +"I am confident I didn't," added he with another touch of candor. "But I +will always call you Sue hereafter, when I have occasion to speak to +you." + +"Thank you, Allan! You begin to sound a little like yourself." + +Somers was very glad to hear it, but wished he had been five miles off, +even if it had been in the very jaws of the Fourth Alabama. + +"You don't look a bit like your photograph," continued Sue, gazing with +admiration at the face of the young man; for which those who ever saw +Lieutenant Somers will cheerfully pardon her. + +"Do you think so?" + +"I'm sure you don't." + +"That's very strange. Everybody who has seen my photograph says it looks +exactly like me." + +"I don't think so." + +"I gave one to a young lady of my acquaintance, who said it was perfect." + +"Indeed! Who was she?" + +"She is a young lady whom I have met only two or three times." + +"What is her name?" + +"Lilian Ashford." + +"What a pretty name!" said Sue, endeavoring to be magnanimous; though it +was evident that she was troubled by the honest avowal of the young +soldier. + +"Where does she live?" + +"She is at the North, now," answered Somers, who could not bear to tell a +lie when there was no need of such a sacrifice. + +He was becoming very uneasy under this rigid catechizing, and hoped she +would not ask any more questions about Lilian Ashford. He had mentioned +her name with the hope that it might produce a coldness on her part which +would afford him some advantage. She did not, however, seem to be +annihilated by the prospect of a rival, and was proceeding to interrogate +him still further in regard to the lady, with whom he was apparently +intimate enough to present her his photograph, when Mr. Raynes reminded +her that they were standing in the road, and had better go into the +house. + +"Now, Mr. Raynes, as I have seen Sue, and Sue has seen me, I think I had +better hasten to my regiment," suggested Somers. + +"Not yet, Allan," replied the old man. + +"Do you wish to run away, and leave me so soon, you monster?" added Sue. +"I tell you, sir, I shall not let you go yet." + +"But, Sue! you forget that I have just returned from the Yankees. I was +furnished with a pass, to enable me to find my regiment." + +"You shall find it in good time." + +"Come to the house, Allan: we will not detain you long," added Mr. +Raynes. + +"You must and shall come!" protested Sue, taking him by the arm, and +absolutely compelling him to go, or be guilty of the most unpardonable +rudeness to the fair Virginia damsel. + +"I should be very glad to go with you, Sue, if my duty did not call me +elsewhere. I am to be sent off on very important service." + +"Again?--so soon?" + +"This very day. I may never see you again." + +"And you would coolly run away and leave me without even going into the +house!" + +"But my duty, Sue!" + +"You will be in time for your duty." + +"I may be arrested as a deserter." + +"Nonsense! You have a pass in your pocket." + +"In spite of the pass, if your father had not happened to see me, I +should have been arrested, and might have spent a day or two in the +guardhouse before the case could have been explained." + +"No more argument, Allan," said the persevering girl. "Here is the house; +you shall go in and look at mother, if you don't stop but a minute. +Besides, I want to see your photograph while you are present; for I am +sure you don't look any more like the picture than the picture does like +you." + +"Probably not," replied Somers, as the resolute maiden dragged him into +the house; where, without stopping to breathe, she presented him to her +mother, with the astounding declaration, that he was Allan Garland. + +Mrs. Raynes gave him a cordial Virginia welcome; and, while he was +endeavoring to make himself as agreeable as possible to the old lady, Sue +rushed up-stairs to procure the faithless photograph. She returned in a +moment with the picture in her hand, and proceeded at once to institute a +comparison between the shadow and the substance. + +"Now, stand up here, sir, and let me see," said she, as she playfully +whisked him round and scrutinized his features. "I told you it did not +look like you; and I am very sure now that it does not." + +"Let me see," added Somers, extending his hand for the picture. + +"Will you promise to give it back to me?" + +"Certainly I will! You don't imagine I would be so mean as to confiscate +it?" + +"I should not care much if you did, now that I have found out it does not +look any more like you than it does like me," she answered, handing him +the photograph. + +"Where did you get this picture, Sue?" + +"Where did I get it? Well, that is cool! Didn't you send it to me +yourself?" And Sue began to exhibit some symptoms of amazement. + +"I am very sure I never sent you this picture," added Somers gravely. + +"You did not?" + +"Never." + +"Why, Allan Garland!" + +"This is not my picture." + +"I shouldn't think it was." + +Thereupon Mr. Raynes began to laugh in the most immoderate manner; +opening his mouth wide enough to take in a very small load of hay, and +shaking his sides in the most extraordinary style. + +"What are you laughing at, pa?" demanded Sue, blushing up to the eyes, as +though she already felt the force of some keenly satirical remark which +was struggling for expression in the mouth of the farmer. + +"To think you have been looking at that picture three times a day for a +year, studying, gazing at it; kissing it, for aught I know; and then to +find out that it is not Allan after all!" roared the Virginia farmer +between the outbreaks of his mirth. "I haven't done anything but groan +since the war began, and it does me good to laugh. I haven't had a jolly +time before since the battle of Bull Run, as the Yankees call it." + +"You are the most absurd pa in Virginia. I didn't look at it three times +a day, I never studied it, and I'm sure I never kissed it. No wonder +Allan wants to get away, when he finds what an absurd girl you make me +out to be. You think I'm a fool, don't you, Allan?" + +"I do not, by any means. I'm sure, if I had your picture, I shouldn't +have been ashamed to look at it three times a day," replied Somers, +gallantly coming to the rescue of the maiden. "But, really, my Virginia +patriarch," he added, using an expression which he had found in the +correspondence in his pocket, "I must tear myself away." + +"You seem to be glad enough to go," pouted Sue. + +"Sorry to go, but compelled by the duty I owe my country to leave you." + +"When will you come again?" + +"Of course, that question I cannot answer. I may never see you again. +This is a terrible war, and we cannot tell what a day may bring forth," +replied Somers solemnly; and the thought was all the more solemn when he +thought of the cold corpse of the son and brother concealed in the mire +of the swamp. + +He had seen the old man laugh as none but a happy man can; and he could +not help feeling what a terrible revulsion a few words from him might +cause. He had watched the playful manner of Sue, and had joined in the +gay raillery of the moment. A word from him would crush her spirit, and +bow that loving mother to the ground. The scene had not been one of his +own choosing; and he would gladly escape the necessity of dissembling +before those affectionate hearts. + +"We are on the eve of a terrible battle," added the old man very gravely. +"Hundreds of our poor boys went down yesterday, never to rise again. We +tremble when we think of you in the field. I may never see my son again; +for the issue of the war may depend on the battles of the next few days." + +"What do you mean?" + +Mr. Raynes seemed to know more than he had dared to speak; and Somers was +full of interest. + +"The Yankees, who expect to go into Richmond, will be driven down the +Peninsula, where they came up, like flying sheep, within a week. I have +heard a few words, which satisfies me that great events are coming." + +Though it was not supposable that the people in the vicinity of Richmond +knew the plans of General Lee, from what he had seen, and from what he +had heard from men in power, he had formed a very correct idea of the +intended operations of the rebel chief; and he stated his views very +clearly to Somers. While he was listening to the old man's theory, Mrs. +Raynes had spread her table, and placed upon it such food as was +available for a hasty lunch. She insisted that he should partake; and, +while he enjoyed the welcome refreshment, Mr. Raynes told him everything +about the movements of the Confederate army in the vicinity, with full +particulars of the battle of the preceding day. While the scout was thus +answering the ends of his mission, he was in no hurry to depart. + +General McClellan's "change of base" was not suspected by the rebels at +this time. It was their purpose to flank the Union army on the right and +left, and destroy it effectually. The dispositions had been made for this +purpose; and, as Mr. Raynes was a man of influence and intelligence, his +information was as reliable as could be deduced from the preliminary +movements of the rebel army. He was confident of success. The execution +of the plan had already been commenced, and the right of the Union line +was in the act of falling back. + +He expatiated upon the perils of the campaign, and the terrible fighting +which was to be expected; and manifested the utmost solicitude for the +safety of his son, and hardly less for his guest. + +Somers prolonged his repast, that the old man might leave nothing unsaid +that would be important for the Union generals to know. Sue occasionally +joined in the conversation; but she was quite serious now, as she +contemplated the perils to which her brother and her friend from Alabama +must be subjected. + +"Do you know where General Jackson is now?" asked Somers. + +"I don't know exactly where he is; but I know what part he has to play in +the great drama. The last we heard of him was, that he was watching +McDowell, near Fredericksburg. If McDowell keeps quiet, Jackson will rush +down on the left flank of the Yankees, and cut off their retreat." + +"Are you sure?" + +"I am very sure. I can tell you why." + +Before he had time to tell him why, a knock at the door disturbed the +conference; and a young man, in a tattered rebel uniform, was ushered +into the room. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE DIGNIFIED YOUNG REBEL + + +Lieutenant Somers, who had been very nervous and uneasy before, was +exceedingly annoyed by the appearance of another actor on the stage. He +had become in some slight degree familiarized with the awkwardness of his +situation; for the fact, that no suspicion had yet been cast upon his +identity, was encouraging, and he began to have some confidence in his +position, open as it was to an assault from any direction. The advent of +the tattered stranger was a new cause for alarm, and he at once became +very anxious to beat a retreat. + +There is no night without some ray of light to gladden it. His first +impression was that the visitor belonged to the Fourth Alabama, and would +readily recognize him as an impostor; but he was in a measure relieved to +find that none of the family gave the soldier more than a friendly +greeting, which proved him to be a stranger to them as well as to +himself. Yet he might belong to the Fourth Alabama; and then it occurred +to him that the man had come to inform Mr. Raynes of the death of his son +while on picket duty. + +In the brief period which elapsed between the advent of the stranger, and +the statement of the object of his visit, Somers was disturbed by a dozen +fearful theories; all of which seemed to end in a rebel prison at +Richmond, and even in a rebel gallows--the fate of the spy. The minutes +were fearfully long; and, before the momentous question of the object of +the stranger's visit could be introduced, he decided to make an abrupt +retreat. + +"Well, Mr. Raynes," said he, approaching the old man as he put on his +cap, "I have already run a great risk in stopping here so long; and, with +many thanks to you for your kindness and for your generous hospitality, I +must take my departure." + +"I suppose we cannot keep you any longer, Allan; but you must promise to +call again at the first convenient opportunity." + +"I promise you that I will the first time I can safely do so," responded +Somers warmly, and with the fullest intention of redeeming his promise. +"Good-by, sir!" + +"Good-by, my dear boy! May you be spared in the hour when the strong men +bite the dust!" said Mr. Raynes solemnly, as he gave his hand to Somers. + +"Good-by, Sue!" added the young lieutenant, taking the hand of the +Virginia damsel. + +"Adieu, my brave soldier-boy!" she replied. + +"You are a soldier, I see," said the stranger, as Somers approached him +on his way out of the house. + +"Yes, sir," answered the latter nervously; for he would gladly have +escaped any communication with the newcomer. + +"What regiment do you belong to?" persisted the dilapidated soldier. + +What business was that to him? Why should he trouble himself about other +people's affairs? It sounded like a very impertinent question to the +excited lieutenant, and he was tempted to inform the busy-body that it +was none of his business; but, as he had already earned a good character +for civility with the interesting family in whose presence he still +stood, his bump of approbation would not permit him to forfeit their +esteem by so inconsiderate a reply. + +"Good-by, all!" said he with energy, turning away from the rebel soldier, +and moving towards the door. + +"What regiment did you say you belonged to?" demanded the persistent +rebel. + +"I didn't say," replied Somers, not in the most gentle tones. + +"Will you oblige me by telling me to what regiment you belong?" added the +rebel. + +"I think I will not," continued Somers, more and more displeased with the +persistence of the other. "I came very near being arrested as a deserter +just now, though I have a pass in my pocket; and I don't care about +exposing myself to any further annoyance by my own indiscretion." + +"I assure you I am a friend, and I would not betray you if I knew you +were a deserter," said the stranger in very civil tones. + +Thus appealed to, and perceiving that he was not gaining in the +estimation of Mr. Raynes by his reticence, he decided that he could not +make the matter much worse by answering the question. + +"To the Fourth Alabama," he replied desperately; "but you must excuse me; +for I am in a tremendous hurry." + +"The Fourth Alabama! I thought so," exclaimed the stranger with a +pleasant smile, as though the information was particularly agreeable to +him. "I belong to the Fourth Alabama myself." + +"Do you, indeed?" added Somers with the most intense disquiet, wishing +all the time that the soldier had been in Alabama, or anywhere but in the +house of Mr. Raynes. + +"Can you tell me where the regiment is?" + +"I cannot. I have been looking for it myself for the last two hours. As I +can be of no assistance to you, you will excuse me if I leave you." + +"Not so fast, comrade; I will go with you. I have some directions which I +think will enable us to find the regiment; and, if you please, I will +bear you company." + +Somers did not please; but he could hardly refuse the offer without +exciting the suspicion of the family, which he felt might be fatal to +him. It would be better to depart with the member of the Fourth Alabama, +and part company with him by force of stratagem when they had left the +house. + +"I won't keep you waiting but a minute. I called here to see my friends; +but none of them seem to know me. You are Mr. Raynes, I presume?" +continued the soldier, addressing the old man. + +"I am; but I don't remember to have ever seen you before," replied the +farmer. + +"You never did, sir; but I will venture to say that my name is well known +in this house," added the soldier with a mysterious smile, which caused +Somers to dread some new development that would compromise him. + +"Ah!" said Mr. Raynes, ever ready to welcome any one who had the +slightest claim upon his hospitality. + +"I am well acquainted with your son, Owen; I suppose I shall not be +disputed here, when I say that he is the best fellow in the world. Don't +you know me now?" demanded the tantalizing rebel, who appeared to be very +anxious to have his identity made out in the natural way, and without any +troublesome explanations. + +"Really, I do not," answered Mr. Raynes, much perplexed by the confident +manner of the visitor. + +"This is Sue, I suppose?" pursued the soldier, advancing to the maiden, +and extending his dirty hand; which, however, was not much dirtier than +that which she had so eagerly grasped before. "Don't you know who I am, +Sue?" + +"I do not, sir," she replied rather coldly. + +"When I tell you that I belong to the Fourth Alabama, don't you know me?" + +"I do not, sir." + +"And when I tell you that I am the intimate friend of your brother Owen?" + +Allan Garland stood by the door; and, of course, it was not he; therefore +she could not, by any possibility, conceive who he was; and she said so, +in terms as explicit as the occasion required. + +"I live in Union, Alabama, when I am at home. Don't you know me _now_, +Sue?" persisted the perplexed visitor, who, perhaps, began to think he +had entered the wrong house. + +If the veritable Allan Garland, however little his photograph resembled +him, had not stood by the door, she would have been rejoiced to see him, +and to recognize in him her unknown friend and correspondent. As it was, +she did not know him; and she was candid enough to express her conviction +without reserve, in spite of the disagreeable effect which her want of +perception seemed to produce upon the mind of the stranger. + +"This is very strange," said the soldier, taking off his cap, and rubbing +his head to quicken his faculties, which seemed to have led him into some +unaccountable blunder. "Will you be kind enough to inform me who lives in +this house?" + +"Mr. Raynes," replied Sue, quite as much mystified as the stranger seemed +to be. + +"There is some mistake; but I can't make out what it is," said the +stranger. + +"I cannot wait any longer," said Somers, who had been riveted to the spot +by the astounding revelation to which he had just listened. + +He had been almost paralyzed by the words of the rebel, in whom he +promptly recognized the young man whose name and antecedents he had +borrowed for the present occasion. His first impression was to take to +his heels, and to run away; but a certain worldly prudence prevented him +from adopting this doubtful policy. If you attempt to run away from an +angry dog, he will certainly bite you; whereas, by facing him boldly, you +may escape all injury. This fact, which Somers had fully exemplified in +his own experience before he left Pinchbrook, was the foundation of his +action. Seeing that the stranger was perplexed and annoyed by the failure +of the family to recognize him, even after he had told them everything +except his name, he decided that he might safely retire under the plea of +haste. + +"I beg your pardon, sir, for this intrusion," said the soldier, blushing +with mortification as he retreated a pace towards the door. "You will +excuse me, Miss Raynes, for my unwarrantable familiarity; but I have made +a blunder, or you have," he added rather bitterly. "Perhaps, when Owen +comes to introduce me, you will know me better." + +"Owen's friends are my friends, young man; and you are as welcome as my +son would be, whoever you are." + +"Thank you, sir; but, with many regrets for this intrusion, I will take +my leave." + +"No, no, my young friend," interposed the old man. "You must not leave us +in this manner. It is true, we do not recognize you; but you are none the +less welcome on that account." + +"Thank you kindly, sir. I have deceived myself into the belief that I was +better known here than I find I am. It was weak in me to thrust myself +across your threshold without an introduction; and, if you will pardon +me, I will leave you, with the promise to come again with Owen." + +"Not yet, sir; at least, not till you have told us who you are." + +"Excuse me; but I must go now," replied the young rebel with an +exhibition of gentle dignity, which quite won the heart of Somers, as it +did that of the family. + +"Pray, give me your name, sir," interposed Sue, whose woman's curiosity +could no longer endure the silence which maidenly reserve had imposed +upon her, especially as the stranger proposed to depart without solving +the mystery. + +"You'll excuse me, Miss Raynes, if I decline for the present. My comrade +is in a desperate hurry, and it is not reasonable for me to detain him +any longer." + +"But, young man, you wrong me, you wrong my daughter, and above all, you +wrong my son, who is your friend, by leaving in this manner," said Mr. +Raynes earnestly. "You actually charge us with a want of hospitality by +this abrupt withdrawal." + +"You will pardon me, sir, for saying it; but after the description I have +given of myself, if you do not know me, I am compelled to believe that it +is because you do not wish to know me." + +"That is very unjust, and we do not comprehend the force of the remark." + +"Why, sir, I have written to you, and to your daughter, and your daughter +has written to me; and now you seem never to have heard of me. I have +told you that I reside in Union, Alabama; and that I am a friend of +Owen." + +"We know a young man from that town very well, though we never saw him. +His name is Allan Garland; but it is impossible that you should be the +person." + +"I must go, comrade," said Somers desperately, as he rushed out of the +door. + +"Wait a moment!" exclaimed Mr. Raynes, grasping him by the arm; for the +old farmer seemed to think his presence was necessary to the perfect +unraveling of the mystery. "It seems to me you ought to know this young +man, if none of us do." + +"I do not, Mr. Raynes; never saw him before in my life," protested +Somers, feeling very much like a condemned criminal. + +"My name is Allan Garland," quietly continued the dignified young rebel. +"I am, undoubtedly, the person to whom you allude." + +"Impossible!" exclaimed Mr. Raynes, still holding Somers's arm with the +grasp of a vise. + +"Impossible!" almost shouted the fair Sue, more excited than she would +have been, if, through patient reading, she had arrived at the last +chapter of a sensational novel, where the pin is pulled out and all the +villains tumble down to perdition and all the angels stumble upon their +apotheosis. + +"Impossible!" chimed in Mrs. Raynes, who had preserved a most remarkable +silence, for a woman, during the exciting incidents we have transcribed. + +"May I be allowed to inquire why you think it is impossible?" calmly +demanded the gentle rebel, who, in his turn, was amazed at the singular +course of events. + +Sue did not know what else to do; so she sat down in a chair, and laughed +with hysterical vehemence at the strange aspect of the affair. The old +man opened his eyes, and opened his mouth; but he did not forget to hold +on with all his might to the arm of the unfortunate lieutenant, who was +just then picturing to himself the interior of a rebel dungeon; which +view suddenly dissolved into an indistinct representation of a tree, from +a stout limb of which was suspended a rope, hanging down over a +cart--these latter appurtenances being symbolical of the usual rebel +method of hanging a spy. + +The affair, which had been growing desperate for some time, had now +actually become so to poor Somers. He placed his hand upon his revolver, +in the breast-pocket of his coat; but some prudential considerations +interposed to prevent him from using it. The house was on a line of rebel +sentinels. Whole divisions of Confederate infantry, artillery and +cavalry, were encamped around him, and any violent movement on his part +would have been sure to result in an ignominious disaster. The doughty +old farmer, who was not less than six feet three in his stockinged feet, +held on to him as a drowning man clings to a floating spar. It was not +possible to get away without resorting to violence; and if he offered any +resistance to what, just then, looked like manifest destiny, the rebel +soldier would become an ally of the farmer, and the women could call in +the sentinels, if nothing more. + +"Really, Mr. Raynes, you are very unkind to detain me, when I tell you +that my leave has nearly expired," said Somers, when he had fully +measured the situation; which, however, was done in a tithe of the time +which we have taken to transcribe it. + +"Young man, there is some _mistake_," said Mr. Raynes, placing a wicked +emphasis on the word, which went to the very core of the scout's heart. +"This man says he is Allan Garland, and you say you are Allan Garland. +One of you is an impostor. Neither of you shall go till we determine +which is the one. Sue, bring out your photograph again." + +"Oh, dear!" gasped Somers, as in a fit of momentary despondency, he gave +himself up for lost, when the maiden went for the picture. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +AN UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL + + +Miss Sue hastened to procure the photograph, which she had placed in her +mother's room after it had been fully discussed by herself and the +supposed original. At the same time, her father conducted Somers into the +room again; and, being fully conscious of his desire to get away, he kept +a watchful eye upon him, though he removed his grasp from the arm. The +rebel soldier looked on in utter amazement at the singular proceedings of +all the party, and seemed utterly unable to comprehend the meaning of +them. + +"Here is the picture," said Sue, returning with the photograph in her +hand; "but I don't see that it looks any more like you than it does like +the other gentleman;" and she proceeded to institute a comparison between +the new claimant and the picture. + +Somers began to cherish a faint hope again, and to be very grateful for +the general truth, that photographs do not always look like the +originals. This encouragement, slight as it was, gave our hero a new +inspiration, and in a measure restored his impudence; which, under the +pressure of circumstances, had begun to give way. + +"I am sure it does not look at all like you," continued Sue, after she +had patiently balanced all the points of resemblance, and all the points +of disagreement. + +"You should remember that the picture was taken more than a year ago; and +that I have been an invalid for ten months of the time," suggested the +rebel soldier. + +"That may be; but I am sure this picture could never have been taken for +you." + +"Let me see it, if you please?" + +Sue handed him the card, and he glanced at it with an expression of great +curiosity. + +"Where did you get this picture?" demanded he. + +"It was sent to me by the original," replied she. + +"This is not my picture." + +"That is just what the other gentleman said; and I am perfectly willing +to believe both of you." + +"But I sent you a picture of myself, though this is not the one." + +"Well, that is very singular." + +"If you will remember, there were two in the same letter; the other was a +young man whom Owen was acquainted with, and who desired something to +remember him by. He is in a Mississippi regiment now." + +"Dear me! what a blunder!" exclaimed Sue, laughing heartily. "I am sure I +took the best looking of the two for Allan Garland's." + +"Perhaps that is not very complimentary to me; but where is the other +picture?" + +"I put it in Owen's room. I told him what I had done with the two +pictures; but he has been at home so little, that I suppose he never +looked at them. I will get the other." + +"We are beginning to get a little light on the subject," said Mr. Raynes, +when his daughter had left the room. + +"And I think you will let a little light through my body with a +bullet-hole," added Somers, whose last hope was gone again, though his +impudence still remained. + +"Be patient, young man; we shall soon see the mystery explained, and be +able to inform you whether you are Allan Garland or not." + +"I am sorry to put you to so much trouble, Mr. Raynes; but you will +remember that I was very much opposed to coming into your house at all; +that I was literally dragged in by yourself and your daughter." + +"And you will also remember that I saved you from arrest, when you gave +your name as Allan Garland, of the Fourth Alabama. I think I have +imparted to you some very valuable information; and I intend to see what +use is to be made of it, before I take my eyes off you." + +"You are very affectionate, Mr. Raynes; and, in behalf of the great +Southern Confederacy, I thank you for the zeal and loyalty which you have +displayed," replied Somers boldly; for it was plain that nothing but the +most brazen impudence could save him. + +"You are a bold youth, and it is plain that you have brilliant talents; I +hope they have not been abused." + +"They have been, and will continue to be, used in the service of my +suffering country." + +"I like you, and I hope everything is all right about you; but I cannot +see your object in coming here under an assumed name." + +"Then you have decided the case against me--have you?" said Somers, +glancing at the rival Allan. + +"Perhaps I was a little too fast," added the old man, mortified to find +that his character for strict justice had been compromised by this hasty +avowal. + +Sue was absent a long time; and it was clear that the photograph had been +mislaid. Somers was in hopes she would not be able to find it; though he +had but a meager expectation of over-throwing the claims of his rival to +the name of Allan Garland. It was a hot day, and the windows of the house +were all open. His legs seemed to promise the only satisfactory solution +of the problem; and while he was considering the propriety of jumping out +through one of the open windows, and trusting to them for safety, Sue +returned with the photograph. + +"This looks more like you than the other; and more like you than it does +like the other gentleman," said Sue. + +The rebel soldier took the card, and acknowledged that it was his +photograph; at the same time, he was compelled to allow that it was but +an indifferent likeness of himself. His hard service in the army had +changed his appearance much. Sue gazed at the picture, and at the +original, and her father did the same; but both of them were in doubt. + +"There, sir! I have waited patiently for you to end this farce," said +Somers, in deep disgust apparently. "You have looked at the pictures, and +you are not satisfied yet. I can stand it no longer; I am tired of the +whole thing. You have treated me very handsomely, and I am grateful to +you for your kindness to me; but I cannot and will not remain any +longer." + +Somers spoke decidedly, and was fully resolved to use his pistol, if +occasion required. He was not willing to remain for a decision to be made +between him and the other claimant. + +"I will go with you, brother Allan Garland," said the rebel soldier +facetiously; "I think between us we can readily decide which is the right +man." + +"I am ready." + +"But we desire to be satisfied, especially in regard to this young man, +who was suspected of being a deserter, and for whom I feel that I am +responsible," said Mr. Raynes. + +"I can do nothing for you, sir," replied Somers. + +"But I can do something for you; and I propose to take you to the +sergeant where I found you, and let the military authorities decide," +continued the old man, whose ire was roused, as he moved towards the +impudent young man. + +"I propose that you shall do nothing of the kind," answered Somers, +drawing the pistol, and cocking it for use. + +"Don't, father, don't!" exclaimed Sue, rushing between Mr. Raynes and the +active youth, pale with terror. + +Somers would have been very unwilling to use his weapon on the old man. +He pitied him, and could not help thinking of the terrible blow which was +in store for him when he should hear that his only son had been killed. +He hoped that something would interpose to prevent any violence, and he +expected much from the gentle dignity of the young rebel. + +"I am sorry that you compel me to draw this pistol," added Somers; "yet +nothing but the duty I owe to myself and my country would permit me to +use it upon those who have treated me so kindly." + +"I will be responsible for him," said Allan Garland--the real one; for +there could be no doubt that he was what he claimed. + +"You shall not go near him, father! He will kill you!" cried Sue, +terrified, as her father attempted to push her aside, and advance upon +the armed young man. + +"Come! brother Allan," said the soldier: "we can best end this scene by +leaving the house." + +As they approached the door, a hand was placed on the handle outside; but +the old man had taken the precaution to fasten it, in order to insure the +safety of his prisoner. A heavy knock succeeded. + +"Who is that?" gasped Sue, afraid that any newcomer would only complicate +the difficulties of the moment, and that the bold youth would be +compelled to use his pistol. + +"Perhaps it is Owen," replied the old man, a little calmer than before. + +"I hope it is." + +The words sent a shudder through the frame of Somers, as he again thought +of Owen Raynes, cold and dead in his oozy grave in the swamp. + +"Open the door," said a voice from without. + +Allan Garland drew the bolt, and threw the door wide open. + +"Why, Allan, my dear fellow!" exclaimed a young man who stood at the +outside of the door in his shirt sleeves, as he grasped both of the rebel +soldier's hands, and proceeded to make a most extravagant demonstration +of rejoicing. "I am glad to see you!" + +"Owen, my dear boy!" replied Allan Garland, as he returned with equal +warmth the salutation of the newcomer. + +"Where did you come from, Allan? I had given you up for lost?" + +"I escaped from the Yankees the next day after I was taken, and have been +beating about the woods ever since." + +Somers was thrown all aback by this arrival, which was certainly the most +remarkable one that had taken place during the day. He couldn't help +feeling very much like the hero of a sensational novel; and realized the +very original idea that truth is stranger than fiction. He could not +exactly account for the presence of Owen Raynes, whom he had +satisfactorily buried in the swamp, and whose clothes he had the honor to +wear at that moment. He did not believe in things supernatural, and it +never occurred to him that the form before him might be the ghost of +Owen. + +"I am glad you have come just as you did, Owen," said Mr. Raynes. + +"So am I; otherwise I might not have met Allan. But who is this?" he +added, glancing at Somers. + +"Your most obedient servant," replied Somers, trying to pass him in the +narrow entry. + +"Stop, young man!" shouted the old man. "Don't let him go, Owen!" + +"Who is he?" + +"His name is Allan Garland, of Union, Alabama; and he is a private in the +Fourth Alabama," replied Allan with a smile, as Owen placed himself +between Somers and the door. + +"What!" + +Mr. Raynes, being the oldest man present, was entitled to the position of +spokesman; and he made a very prolix statement of all the events which +had transpired since he first saw the pretended Allan Garland. + +Owen Raynes was a very good-natured young man, and the recital of the +affair amused him exceedingly. He did not fly into a passion, being a +very amiable and reasonable rebel; and seemed to regard the whole thing +as a stupendous joke. + +"Then your name is Allan Garland, is it?" demanded he, with a broad laugh +still playing on his lips. + +"That is my name at present," replied Somers. + +"But have you no other name?" + +"None worth mentioning." + +"Good! To what regiment do you belong?" + +"To the Fourth Alabama, Colonel Jones; but I have already told your +respected father all the facts relating to myself, and some relating to +you." + +"Say, is this a joke, a sell?" demanded Owen. + +"I suppose that would be a very proper interpretation to put upon it." + +"You seem to be a good fellow, and deal in four-syllable words." + +"Now, as you seem to have the best of the joke, I hope you will not +detain me any longer. I have a pass in my pocket to prove that I am all +right; and, as I am in a great hurry, I must move on." + +"Not till you explain the joke. Eh? What's this? Where did you get this +coat?" said Owen, glancing at the garment which Somers wore. + +"This is the key to the joke." + +"The key to it! I am of the opinion that this is my coat," replied Owen, +as he felt of the garment, and turned up the lapel. + +"May I be allowed to inquire where you left your coat?" asked Somers, who +was quite curious to know how Owen Raynes happened to be alive just at +that moment. + +"Certainly you may; but first let me ask where you found it." + +"Over by the picket-line beyond the hill," replied Somers. + +"Just so. A young fellow in a Mississippi regiment, encamped next to +ours, borrowed it of me last night, when he was detailed for picket-duty. +The poor fellow had no coat, and picket-duty is rather steep at night +when a man has no clothes. He is a good fellow, in poor health; and I +lent him mine." + +"The nights are cool, but the days are hot," added Somers. "He took it +off, and left it on the edge of the woods, where I found it. I didn't +know that it belonged to anybody. I found some papers and a diary in the +pocket----" + +"Did I leave my papers in the pocket? Well, that was stupid," interrupted +Owen. + +"I read the papers with a great deal of interest. Seeing frequent +allusions in them to Allan Garland, I took the liberty to appropriate the +name myself; for the owner of it seemed to be a very good fellow." + +"Thank you!" said Allan; "but, as you seem to have no further use for it, +I see no objection to your giving your own name." + +"On the contrary, there are some very strong objections, and I must +trouble you for the use of your name an hour or two longer." + +"Oh, very well! I am satisfied," replied Allan. + +"So am I." + +"But I am not," interposed Mr. Raynes. "I think the fellow is an +impostor, if nothing worse." + +"Anything you please; but my time is out, and I must report for duty," +replied Somers boldly, as he took off the borrowed coat, and restored it +to the owner. "I am very much obliged to you for the use of this garment. +When we meet again, I trust we shall understand each other better." + +Owen Raynes was an easy-going young man; familiar with the practical +jokes of the army, enjoying them with the most keen relish when no one's +feelings were hurt, and no damage was done to person or property. He was +not, therefore, disposed to put a serious construction on what seemed to +him to be one of these farces; but his father took an entirely different +view of the affair. He wanted to argue the question, and show that it +could not be a joke; but Somers was too impatient to listen to any +eloquence of this description. + +Sue, who had now actually found the young man who had been indicated as +her "manifest destiny," was in no hurry to part with him; and when the +father proposed that Owen and Allan should accompany the impostor, as he +insisted upon calling him, to the brigade headquarters, where his pass +was dated, she decidedly objected to the proposition. The earnestness of +Mr. Raynes, however, at last vanquished her and the young man; and they +started to escort our young lieutenant to the place indicated. + +Now, Somers, being a modest man, as we have always held him up to our +readers, and being averse to all the pomp and parade of martial glory in +its application to himself, was strongly averse to an escort. He +preferred to go alone, tell his own story, and fight his own battles, if +battles there were to be fought. Owen and Allan were unutterably +affectionate. They received him into their small circle of fellowship, +and stuck to him like a brother. They were both good fellows, splendid +fellows; and, under ordinary circumstances, Somers would have been +delighted to cultivate their friendship. As it was, he ungratefully +resolved to give them the slip at the first convenient opportunity. + +Unhappily for him, no opportunity occurred, for his zealous friends would +not permit him to go a single rod from them; and Somers had about made up +his mind to trust the matter to the judgment of Major Platner, who had +shown a remarkable discrimination during the former interview, when the +trio came to a line of sentinels guarding a brigade camp. + +"What regiment do you belong to?" demanded the guard. + +"Fourth Alabama," replied Owen. + +"You can't pass this line, then." + +"But I have a pass," interposed Somers. + +"Show your pass." + +Somers showed the important document, which the sentinel, after a patient +study, succeeded in deciphering. + +"Your pass is right--pass on; but you can't go through," he added to Owen +and Allan. + +Owen explained. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +THE REBEL DIVISION GENERAL + + +The sentinel listened very patiently to the explanation of Owen Raynes; +but, as he proceeded, the face of the soldier relaxed till his muscles +had contracted into a broad grin. The sergeant of the guard was then sent +for, and the explanation repeated. At its conclusion, both the sentinel +and the sergeant seemed to be disposed to laugh in the faces of the twin +friends, so keenly were the former alive to the ludicrous. + +"That's a very pretty story, my men! You, without the pass, are going to +see that everything is right about the man that has the pass; in other +words, the devils are going to see that the angels don't do anything +wicked," said the sergeant, laughing at the awkward position of Owen and +Allan, and perhaps quite as much at the sharpness of his own +illustration. + +"We are entirely satisfied in regard to this young man," said Owen; "but +we have come in order to satisfy another person, who believes that he is +an impostor. We promised to take him to Major Platner." + +"You can't enter these lines without a pass," replied the sergeant +firmly. "This man can go through; for he has a pass," he added to Somers. + +"As I am all right, and in a hurry, I will proceed to the brigade +headquarters," said Somers. "Now, good-by, my friends; I am very glad to +have met you, and much obliged to you for the trouble you have taken to +come so far with me." + +"You take it coolly," laughed Owen. + +"Perhaps, if you desire to go to the brigade headquarters, the sergeant +will let you pass, if I will vouch for you," continued Somers with great +good humor. + +"We are not very particular." + +"What do you say, sergeant?" + +"My orders are to permit no stragglers from other camps to pass these +lines, and I shall obey my orders to the letter," replied the official, +who, for some reason or other, seemed to be prejudiced against Somers's +friends. + +"Stragglers!" exclaimed the sensitive Allan. "I think we have gone far +enough." + +"I think you have," added the sergeant; "and, if you don't leave at once, +it will be my duty to arrest you." + +"Whew!" exclaimed Owen. "That would be carrying the joke altogether too +far. I think my _pater_ ought to be satisfied with what we have done." + +"Move on," said the sergeant. + +They did move on; and Somers, attended by the officer of the guard, +walked towards headquarters. + +"Those are the coolest fellows that ever came near my lines," said the +sergeant. "Men without a pass looking out for one who has a pass!" + +"Well, they are good fellows; but I played a joke upon them, which makes +them a little sour towards me," replied the scout. "I am even with them +now." + +"What was the joke?" demanded the sergeant, who was filled with interest +at the mention of the word. + +Somers gave him a modified account of the affair at the house of Mr. +Raynes; which he embellished a little for the occasion, to allay any +suspicion which might arise in the mind of the auditor. But the officer +of the guard had no suspicion. Why should he have any? for Somers, armed +with a pass signed by the officer of the day, was walking as directly as +he could towards the headquarters. The sergeant of the guard left him +when they reached the guard tent; and Somers proceeded to report in due +form to the major, whom he found smoking his cigar under a tree as +complacently as though there was not a traitor or a spy in the land. + +"Well, young man! you have returned promptly at the time specified," said +the major, as Somers very deferentially touched his cap to this magnate +of the rebel army. + +"Yes, sir; I have endeavored to discharge my duty faithfully," replied +Somers. + +"Did you find the regiment?" + +"No, sir; I lost my way; and finding I should not have time to go to the +place where it is, without overstaying my time, I hastened back, knowing +that the service upon which you wished to employ me was very important +indeed." + +"You did right, young man. Where is your coat?" + +"It was one I picked up just after I had passed the lines, and a soldier +down below claimed it. I gave it up when he convinced me it was his +property." + +"You are very honest as well as patriotic." + +Somers bowed, but made no reply to the compliment; which, however, was +fully appreciated. + +"You seem to be a young man of good address, and you can render your +country a great service, but it will be at the peril of your life," said +the major with impressive formality. + +"I am willing to serve my country, even with my life." + +"I do not doubt it. I was impressed by your manner, and I have +recommended you to the general for the service he has in view. I hope you +will do credit to the selection I have made; for the most important duty +which a commander has to perform is to select proper persons for the +execution of special missions." + +"I will endeavor to serve my country to the best of my ability; and I am +satisfied that I can go all over the Yankee camps without difficulty." + +"Very well! You have confidence in yourself; and that is the first +requisite of success. If you discharge this duty with fidelity and skill, +you may be sure of being made a sergeant the moment you return." + +"Thank you, Major Platner. I am very grateful to you, sir, for the +opportunity you thus afford me to distinguish myself." + +"You will find me a good friend, if you are faithful and intelligent." + +"Thank you, sir." + +"Now you shall go with me to General M----'s headquarters, and he will +give you your final instructions." + +Major Platner led the way; and Somers reverently followed a pace or two +behind him, flattering the officer in every action as well as word. They +reached the division headquarters, and our hero was ushered into the +presence of the general. He was a large, red-faced man, and had evidently +taken all the whiskey he could carry, at his dinner, from which he had +just returned. + +"What have you got there, Platner?" demanded the general, in a tone so +rough, that Somers was reminded of the ogre in Jack the Giant-killer. + +"The young man of whom I spoke to you this forenoon. He is a person of +remarkable address, courage and skill; and is just the man you need." + +"All right; adieu, major!" added the general, bowing to the other. + +Major Platner took the hint, and took himself off, leaving Somers +standing alone and somewhat abashed in the presence of the great man. + +"Young man!" said, or rather roared, the rebel general, as he raised his +eyes from the ground, and fixed them with a half-drunken leer upon our +hero. + +"Sir!" + +"How much whiskey can you drink without going by the board?" + +Somers did not know, had never tried the experiment, and was utterly +opposed to all such practices. But he desired to conciliate the tipsy +general; and, if he had not been fearful of being put to the test, he +would have signified his belief that he could carry off half a dozen +glasses. As it was, he did not dare to belie his principles. + +"Not any, sir! I never drink whiskey," he replied, with the utmost +deference in his tones. + +"Hey?" gasped General M----, darting a sudden glance at the young man. + +"I never drank a glass of whiskey in my life, sir," added Somers. + +The general jumped off his camp-stool with a sudden jerk, and stared at +our lieutenant in silence for an instant. + +"Give me your hand," said he. + +Somers extended his hand. + +"Yes! you are flesh and blood. You are the first man I ever saw that +never drank a glass of whiskey. You drink brandy, don't you?" + +"No, sir! I never drank a glass of liquor or wine of any kind in my +life." + +"Give me your hand," said the general again. + +"Flesh and blood! You are the first man I ever saw that never drank a +glass of liquor or wine of any kind. 'Tis a bad practice," he added with +an oath. + +"I think so, sir," replied Somers with due deference. + +"Young man!" + +"Sir." + +"The greatest enemy--hic--that the Confederate army has to contend +against is whiskey. Yes, sir! whiskey. If the Confederate States +of--hic--of America ever win their independence, it will be when the +whiskey's all gone." + +"I am very glad to hear officers of your high rank condemning the +practice," said Somers, alive to the joke of the general's proceedings, +but prudently looking as serious as though it had been a solemn tragedy +instead of an awful farce. + +"Yes, sir! I'm opposed with all my might to the practice. Yes, sir! +Whiskey is the greatest enemy I have on the face of the footstool, young +man." + +Somers believed him. + +"Always be temperate, young man. You are in the sunshine of--hic--of +life. Never drink whiskey. It will ruin your body and soul. Don't touch +it, young man," added he, as he sank back on the camp-stool, whose center +of gravity was nearly destroyed by the shock, and closed his eyes, as if +overcome by the potency of his great enemy, which was just then beginning +to have its full effect, and which produced a tendency to sleep. + +"I will endeavor to profit by your good advice, sir," said Somers. + +"That's right; do so," added the general, as he jerked up his head to +banish the drowsy god, who was struggling for the possession of his +senses. "That will do, young man. You may go now." + +The general, in his drunken stupor, had certainly forgotten the business +for which Major Platner had brought him to the division headquarters; and +Somers began to fear that he should have no errand that day. + +"I beg your pardon, general; but Major Platner was kind enough to say +that you had some service for me to perform." + +"Eh?" demanded he, tossing up his head again. + +Somers repeated the remark more explicitly than before. + +"Exactly so; I remember. Do you know what I was thinking about just then, +young man?" said the general, spasmodically leaping to his feet again, as +though the thought was full of inspiration. + +"No, sir; a man in my humble position could hardly measure the thoughts +of a great man in your situation." + +"I'll tell you; I was thinking about issuing a division general order on +the subject of temperance. What do you think of it?" + +"It would be an excellent idea," replied Somers. + +"Young man!" + +"Sir." + +"I believe you said--hic----" + +Somers did not say anything of the sort; but he waited patiently for the +rebel general to recover the idea which he appeared to have lost. + +"I believe you said you never drank any whiskey?" + +"I never did, sir." + +"Then you never was drunk?" + +"Never, sir." + +"Young man!" + +"Sir." + +"Are you a--hic----" + +Somers was not a "hic;" but he was an impatient young man, and very +anxious to be instructed in regard to his difficult and dangerous +mission. + +"Are you a minister of the gospel?" demanded the general, after a mighty +effort. + +"No, sir; I am not." + +"I'm sorry for--hic--for that; for I wanted to appoint you a division +chaplain, to preach against whiskey to the general officers. Some of them +are--hic--drunken fellows, and no more fit for a command than the old +topers in the streets of Richmond." + +"I am sorry I am not competent to fill the office; but I think, if you +should lecture them yourself, it would have a better effect." + +"My words are--hic--powerless. They laugh when I talk to them about the +error of their ways," added he with a string of oaths, which seemed to +exhibit a further necessity for a chaplain on the division staff. + +"I beg your pardon, sir; but I am afraid your interest in the moral +welfare of your officers----" + +"That is it, young man!" interrupted the drunken general, catching at his +idea with remarkable promptness. "My interest in the moral welfare of +my--hic--of my officers! You are a trump, young man [big oath]. You are a +major now?" + +"No, sir." + +"Only a captain?" + +"No, sir; nothing but a private." + +"Then you shall be a captain. I haven't heard any such--hic--sentiments +as you expressed used in this division before. You ought to be a--hic--a +brigadier-general." + +"Thank you, sir. You are very kind. I came to you for instructions in +regard to my mission over to the enemy." + +"Bless me! yes; so you did. Well, I have not written them yet." + +"I only want a pass from you, general, with such verbal instructions as +you may please to give me." + +"So you do; the fact of it is, my interest in the moral welfare of my men +had driven the matter out of my mind." + +The general called an orderly; and Somers was sent off to the adjutant +for the pass, which was given to him under the name he had assumed. When +he returned, the general was sound asleep on his camp-stool, rolling +about like a ship in a gale, with a prospect of soon landing at full +length on _terra firma_. Somers would gladly have received some military +information from the general, who was in a condition to tell all he knew; +which, however, could not have been much, under the circumstances. He +concluded that it would be best for him not to awaken the tipsy moralist; +and, after waiting a short time on the spot to avoid suspicion, he joined +Major Platner, who was smoking his cigar under a tree near the +headquarters. + +"Well, young man, did you obtain your instructions?" + +"Yes; all I require." + +"Perhaps we ought to have seen the general before dinner," added the +major, using the remark as a "feeler" to induce his companion to inform +him what had transpired during the interview. + +"Perhaps it would have been more agreeable to the general. However, he +seemed to be in a very talkative mood." + +"He commonly is after dinner." + +"He is a very jovial, good fellow." + +"Very." + +"But he appears to feel a deep interest in the moral welfare of those +under his command. He expressed himself as very averse to habits of +intemperance." + +"Humph!" coughed the major. + +"He said that whiskey was the great enemy the army has to contend +against, and intends to issue a general order directed at the vice of +intemperance." + +"Did he?" + +"He did; but I ought to add, that he took me to be a major in the +service; a mistake which was very natural, since I wore no coat." + +"Very natural--after dinner," replied Major Platner suggestively. + +"I told him I never drank any strong drink; and he kindly advised me +never to do so." + +"The general is a brave man, and I hope he will be able to overcome all +his enemies." + +The major permitted the conversation to go by default, and Somers +respectfully dropped a pace or two behind him. They reached the brigade +headquarters, and then repaired to the guard tent, from which the scout +took his departure upon his arduous and difficult mission, with the best +wishes of the rebel officers. + +With his pass he had no difficulty in going through any line, and made +his way down to the woods on the left of the open fields. He began to +feel easier when he had passed the field-works, and experienced a +sensation of exultation as he thought of the reception which awaited him +at headquarters as well as in the regiment. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE SHARPSHOOTER IN THE WOODS + + +Somers found the picket guard nearer the rebel line than he had +anticipated; but the exhibition of his pass, which had been prepared with +special reference to this purpose, prevented any long detention, though a +sergeant had to be called who was scholar enough to read the mysterious +document. + +"I reckon you haven't got the best place to go through," said the +sergeant, after he had examined the pass, and satisfied himself of its +correctness. + +"Why not?" + +"There's a whole squad of Yankees a good piece in there," he replied, +pointing in the direction of the Federal lines. "They've been there all +day watching for something." + +"What do they want?" + +"There was a man run through the line this forenoon from their side, and +I reckon they are trying to find him." + +"Was he a Yank?" asked Somers, desirous of obtaining their idea of the +fugitive. + +"Dunno what he was. We didn't see him till he got a good piece behind us. +We were chasing the Yanks who run away when they saw us." + +This was satisfactory to our scout; for the sergeant appeared to have no +knowledge that would be dangerous to him, and none of the graybacks +recognized the pants he wore. He advanced cautiously, as though he was +afraid of stumbling upon the squad of Yankees described by the sergeant, +till he could no longer be seen by the pickets. The last obstacle seemed +to be overcome; and he hastened to the place where he had concealed his +uniform, which he wished to put on before he approached the pickets on +the other side. It was now nearly dark, and he had no time to spare; for, +if he approached his own men in the darkness, he would be in danger of +being shot before they discovered who he was, though he had full +confidence in the discretion of Hapgood. + +Without difficulty, he found the place where he had concealed his +clothes; and, after assuring himself that none of the rebel pickets were +in sight, he hastily put them on. To prevent any unpleasant suspicions, +he took the precaution to hide the gray pants he had worn, in the long +grass of the swamp, so that they need not attract the attention of any +stroller who might pass in that direction. Though we have frequently held +our hero up as a model of modesty, we are compelled to acknowledge that +he felt exceedingly well satisfied with himself on the present occasion. +He felt that he had done what, in the homely vocabulary of the boys of +Pinchbrook, might well be called "a big thing." + +He had fully and successfully accomplished the arduous purposes of his +mission. He had examined the positions, and counted the forces of the +rebels. He had received very valuable information from Mr. Raynes, and +from others whom he had encountered in his walk through the enemy's +lines. He was satisfied that he should receive a warm welcome from those +who had sent him upon the perilous tour. He had earned the first bar to +his shoulder-straps, and was proud of his achievement. + +The work had been done, and he was within a short distance of the Union +lines--within a short distance of the devoted Hapgood, who was patiently +but anxiously waiting to give him a soldier's reception. Above all, he +was safe; and he trembled when he thought of the perils through which he +had passed, of the consequences which must have followed the discovery of +his real character. As he thanked God for the boon of life after the +battle was over, so now he thanked Him for the signal success which had +crowned his labors in the good cause. The last article of his raiment was +put on and adjusted; he rose from the ground to walk towards the Union +lines. + +"I say, Yank, you look better'n you did 'fore yer changed your clothes," +said a voice, which struck his ear with startling distinctness. + +Somers looked in the direction from which the voice came, and discovered +a villainous-looking countenance, that had just risen from the tall +swamp-grass, within a couple of rods of the spot where he stood. The man +was unmistakably a rebel--one of the most savage and implacable of rebels +at that; such a character as we read of in connection with slave-hunts in +Mississippi, or "free fights" in Arkansas. He wore a long, tangled beard; +and his hair had probably never known the use of a comb. The grayback +looked as cool and impudent as though he was perfectly assured of his +prey, and intended to torture his victim with his tongue, as he would +with his knife or his rifle if occasion required. + +"I say, Yank, you look better'n yer did 'fore yer changed your colors," +repeated the rebel, as he received no reply to his first salutation. + +Somers looked at him again; indeed, he had hardly taken his eyes off the +savage-looking fellow, who would have made a very good representative of +Orson in the fairy story. He held a rifle in his hand, the muzzle of +which could easily be brought to bear upon his victim. Our lieutenant at +once understood the humor of the fellow; and, having recovered his +self-possession in the momentary pause, he determined not to be behind +his foe either in word or in deed. + +"I say, reb, when did you shave last?" demanded Somers, with something as +near akin to a laugh as he could manufacture for the occasion. + +"'Fore you was born, I reckon, Yank," replied the rebel; "and I sha'n't +shave ag'in till after you're dead. But I reckon I sha'n't hev ter wait +long nuther." + +"I suppose you don't know what a comb is for, do you?" continued Somers, +who was, however, thinking of some method by which he might get out of +this scrape. + +"I reckon I've heerd about such things; but Joe Bagbone ain't a woman, +and don't waste his time no such way. I say, stranger, you've got about +three minutes more to live." + +"How long?" + +"Three minutes, stranger, I've sat here by them clothes, like a dog at a +'possum's nest, all the arternoon. Now I've treed the critter, and I'm +gwine to shoot him." + +"Is that so?" + +"That's so, stranger." + +"Do you usually shoot any man you happen to meet in the woods?" + +"Well, I don't reckon we do, every man; but some on 'em we does. I +calkilate you got on Tom Myers's clothes now, and yer shot the man 'fore +you took the rags." + +"I didn't shoot him." + +"No matter for that, stranger; he was shot by a Yank, and you've got to +settle the account." + +Somers began to be of the same opinion himself. The grayback had +evidently found the clothes, and suspected the purpose for which they +were concealed. It was possible he had even more definite information +than this; for he seemed to be prepared for precisely what had taken +place. + +"My friend----" + +"I'm not your friend, stranger. You kin say anything you like, if yer +don't insult me; Joe Bagbone don't take an insult from any live man." + +"Well, Joe Bagbone," continued Somers, who was disposed to parley with +the fellow to gain time, if nothing else, "if you shoot me, you will make +the worst mistake you ever made in your life; and I can prove it to you +in less than five minutes." + +"No, yer can't, stranger. Don't waste yer time no such way. If yer want +ter say yer prayers, blaze away lively, 'cause three minutes aren't long +for a man to repent of all his sins." + +"I have a pass from General M----, which permits me to go in safety +through these lines," persisted Somers. "The sergeant above just examined +it, and passed me through." + +"Don't keer nothing about yer pass. I respects Jeff Davis just as much as +the best man in Mississip'. If yer had a pass from him, you mought as +well not have it as have it. Tom Myers was killed, and somebody's gwine +up for him." + +"But I have important business on the other side." + +"I knows that, stranger," replied the imperturbable Joe Bagbone. "It +don't make no difference." + +"I am sent over by General M----. I belong to the Fourth Alabama." + +"Shet up! Don't tell no lies, 'cause yer hain't got no time ter repent on +'em." + +"Then, if I understand it, you mean to murder one of your own men in cold +blood." + +"Nothin' of the sort; only gwine to shoot a Yank." + +Somers looked into that hard, relentless eye; but there was not the +slightest indication of any change of purpose. He felt that he stood in +the presence of his executioner. All the errors of his past life crowded +upon him, and the grave seemed to yawn before him. + +"Call the sergeant above, and he will satisfy you that I am all right," +said he, making one more effort to move the villain from his wicked +purpose. + +"Don't want the sergeant. Yer time's out, stranger." + +"Let me call him, then." + +"If yer do, I'll fire. Say yer prayers now, if yer mean ter; but I reckon +the prayers of a Yank ain't of much account," replied Joe with a sneer. + +Somers stood within a few feet of a large tree. Joe had several times +raised his rifle to his shoulder; but, when he magnanimously offered his +victim the last moment of grace, he dropped it again; and our lieutenant, +taking advantage of this interval, darted behind the tree. Joe raised his +piece quicker than a flash; but he did not fire, for the reason that he +could not secure a perfect aim, and because he was sure of a better +opportunity. Our lieutenant, who had carefully preserved his revolver +during the various changes he had made in his dress, now took it from his +pocket, and prepared to contest the field like a man. + +The grayback, chagrined at this movement on the part of his victim, whom +he had evidently intended to intimidate by his coolness and his ferocious +words, rose from his seat in the long grass, and moved towards the tree +behind which Somers had taken refuge. Probably he was not aware that the +Yankee was armed; for he adopted none of the precautions which such a +knowledge would have imposed upon any reasonable man. + +"Come out from that tree, stranger, or you shall die like a hog, with a +knife; not like a man, with a rifle-ball." + +"I intend to die by neither," said Somers resolutely, as he discharged +his pistol in the direction from which the voice of the grayback came; +for he dared not take aim, lest the bullet of the ruffian should pierce +his skull. + +He might as well have fired into the air, so far as any injury to his +enemy was concerned; but the report had the effect to assure the rebel +that he was armed, and thus put an end to his farther advance in that +direction. Somers listened with intense anxiety to discover the next +movement of his wily persecutor. He had only checked, not defeated him; +and an exciting game was commenced, which promised to terminate only in +the death of one of the belligerents. Somers hoped that the discharge of +his pistol would bring the sergeant down to his relief; but then to be +discovered in Federal uniform was about equivalent to being shot by his +relentless foe, burning to revenge the death of Tom Myers. + +The report of pistols and muskets was so common an occurrence on the +picket-lines as to occasion nothing more than a momentary inquiry. No one +came for his relief, or his ruin, as the case might be; and he was left +to play out the exciting game by himself. The grayback, with a wholesome +regard for the pistol, had retired beyond the reach of its ball, while he +was still a long way within rifle-range of his doomed enemy. Somers dared +not look out from the tree to obtain even a single glance at the foe; for +he knew how accurate is the aim of some of these Southern woodsmen. He +had nothing to guide him but the rustling of the dried branches beneath +his tread, or the occasional snapping of a twig under his feet. + +Joe Bagbone, after retreating beyond pistol-shot from the tree, had +commenced describing a circle which would bring him into a position that +commanded a view of his concealed victim. It must be confessed that Joe's +tactics were singularly deficient in range; for nothing but a surprise +could make them successful. While he was moving a hundred rods to secure +his position, Somers could defeat his purpose by taking a single step. As +soon as he determined in what direction his persecutor was going, he +changed his position; and Joe discovered the folly of his strategy, and +sat down on a stump to await a demonstration on the part of his victim. + +The game promised to be prolonged to a most unreasonable length; and +Somers, now in a measure secure of his life, was impatient to join his +anxious companions, with whom he had parted in the forenoon. He was +satisfied that Joe would never abandon the chase, and the slightest +indiscretion on his own part would result in instant death. It was a +fearful position, and one which was calculated to wear terribly upon his +nerves. He was anxious to bring the contest to a conclusion; and, while +he was debating in his own mind the chances of escaping by a sudden dash +in the direction of the Union lines, a happy thought in the way of +strategy occurred to him. + +He had determined as nearly as he could the situation of his bull-dog +opponent, and thought that, if he could draw his fire, he might get out +of range of his rifle before it could be reloaded. Placing his cap on the +barrel of his pistol, he cautiously moved it over, just as it would have +appeared to the rebel if his head had been inside of it, and projected it +a little beyond the tree. He withdrew it suddenly two or three times to +increase the delusion in the mind of his enemy. He could not see the +effect of the stratagem; but he was hopeful of a satisfactory result. He +continued to repeat the operation with the cap, till he was confident Joe +was not to be fooled in this way. He was probably one of the +sharpshooters, and had too often fired at empty caps to be caught in this +manner when success depended upon the single charge of his rifle. + +Somers did not despair, but slipped off his coat; and, rolling it up so +as to form the semblance of a head, he placed the cap upon the top of the +bundle, and cautiously exposed the "dummy" on the opposite side of the +tree. The crack of Joe's rifle instantly followed this exhibition, and +Somers felt the blow of the ball when it struck the cap. The critical +moment had come; and, without the loss of a second, our lieutenant darted +towards the Union lines. This movement was followed by a shrill yell from +the Mississippian, which might have been a howl of disappointment at his +failure; or it might have been intended to startle, and thus delay the +fugitive. + +Somers had listened to that battle yell too many times to be moved by it, +especially when uttered by a single voice; and, with all the speed of +which his limbs were capable, he fled to the arms of his friends. Joe was +not content to give up the battle; and, dropping his rifle, he drew his +long knife, and gave chase. They made a long run of it; and it was only +ended when Tom heard the demand of his faithful sergeant-- + +"Who goes there?" + +"Friend," gasped Somers, utterly exhausted by his exertions. + +"Lieutenant Somers? God be praised!" replied Hapgood, instantly +recognizing his voice. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +RETURN TO THE CAMP + + +The moment Somers was recognized, Hapgood and his party rushed forward, +rightly judging, from the rapidity of his motions, that he was pursued. +The sharp eye of the veteran sergeant was the first to perceive the +ferocious Mississippian, who, undaunted by the appearance of the Union +soldiers, continued the pursuit as long as there was even a gleam of hope +that he could overtake his intended victim. He was only a few paces +behind the lieutenant when the latter was discovered. + +Hapgood raised his musket and fired, just as the implacable pursuer +abandoned the chase, and turned his steps back to the rebel line. He +staggered for a few paces more, and fell just as a dozen other muskets +were leveled at him. He appeared to have been hit in the leg; for he did +not fall flat upon the ground, as he would if he had been struck in a +vital part, but sank down to a sitting posture. + +The Union men rushed up to him, and found that the supposition was +correct; the ball had passed through the fleshy part of his thigh, +disabling, but not dangerously wounding him. The ruffian--we do not call +him so because he was a rebel, but he was naturally and by education just +what the term indicates--was as savage and implacable as before. + +"Better leave me where I am, Yanks," said he; "'case, if I get well, I +shall be the death of some of you. You kin shoot me through the head if +you like." + +"Don't consarn yourself about us, reb," replied Hapgood. "We'll take good +care that you don't hurt yourself, or any one else, while you are in our +hands." + +"Mebbe you will, Yanks; but, just as sure as you was born, I'll hev the +heart's blood of that younker as fotched Tom Myers down." + +"Who's Tom Myers?" demanded the veteran. + +"The man that you Yanks killed this forenoon." + +"Whose heart's blood do you want?" + +"That younker with the badge on his shoulder; the un I chased in." + +"He didn't kill Tom Myers, or any other man." + +"Show me the man, then," growled the rebel, now beginning to feel the +pain of his wound. + +"I'm your man. I brought Tom Myers down," replied Hapgood, anxious to +remove any cause of peril from his _protege_. + +"Did yer?" + +"Sartin I did; saw him drop when I fired." + +"Then, stranger, yer kin make up yer mind to die like a hog within ten +days. I tell yer, Yank, there ain't bolts and bars enough in Yankee land +to keep me away from yer. You kin shoot me if yer like now, and that's +all the way yer kin save yerself." + +"Well, reb, you are great at blowing; but I've seen a good many jest sich +fellers as you be. I've fit with 'em, and fit agin' 'em; and I tell you, +your uncle can take keer of just as many of you as can stand up between +here and sundown. Put that in your hopper, reb; and the sooner you dry +up, the sooner you'll come to your milk. We'll take keer on you like a +Christian, though you ain't nothin' but a heathen. Here, boys, make a +stretcher, and kerry him along. Take that jack-knife out of his hand +fust, and keep one eye on him all the time." + +Having thus delivered himself, Sergeant Hapgood hastened to the spot +where Somers had seated himself on the ground to recover his wind and +rest his weary limbs. The terrible excitement of the last hour seemed to +fatigue him more than the previous labors of the whole day; and he was +hardly in condition to march to the division headquarters, where he was +to report the success of his mission. + +"Oh, Tom--I mean Lieutenant Somers--I'm glad to see you!" exclaimed the +veteran as he grasped both the hands of the young soldier. + +"Thank you, uncle; I'm just as glad to see you as you can be to see me," +replied Somers. + +"You're all tuckered out, Somers." + +"I had to run for some distance, with the odds against me; but I shall +get rested in a little while." + +The sergeant began to ask questions; and, as soon as he had recovered his +breath, Somers gave him a brief sketch of his adventures, dwelling mainly +on the last and most thrilling event of the day. + +"I can hardly believe that I am alive and well after all that has +happened," said he in conclusion. "That was the most bloodthirsty villain +I ever encountered in the whole course of my life." + +"If you say shoot him, leftenant, it shall be done quicker'n you can say +Jack Roberson," added Hapgood, indignant at the conduct of the savage +rebel. + +"Of course, I don't say anything of that kind. It would be murder to do +anything of that sort while he is our prisoner." + +"He desarves hanging more'n Kyd the pirate did; and if I had my way, he'd +swing afore sunrise to-morrow. He's a consarned heathen!" + +"Never mind him; only keep him safe, and where he can't do any mischief; +for he is wicked enough to kill the man that feeds him." + +"I'm only sorry I didn't hit him a little higher up, where I hit the +other feller this mornin'," added the veteran. "How do you feel now, +leftenant?" + +"I am improving. I shall be ready to go with you in a few moments more." + +After sitting on the stump half an hour longer, he was in condition to +march; but the danger was past, the tremendous excitement had subsided, +and his muscles, which had been strained up to the highest tension, +seemed to become soft and flaccid. The party passed the Union pickets, +and reached the headquarters of the division general, who had just +finished his supper. + +"Somers! by all that is great and good!" exclaimed the general, who +probably never expected to see the scout again. + +"I have come to make my report, sir," replied the lieutenant. + +"You are all used up. You look as though you could hardly stand up." + +"I am very tired, sir," added Somers languidly. + +"Sit down, then. Here, Peter," he added, addressing his servant, "bring +in a glass of whiskey for Lieutenant Somers." + +"Thank you, general; I never drink anything stronger than coffee." + +"But a little whiskey would do you good in your present condition; you +need it." + +"I thank you, general; I never drink whiskey, as I had occasion to say to +a rebel general of division to-day." + +"Eh? 'Pon my conscience! Were you asked to drink by a rebel major-general?" +demanded the officer, greatly surprised at the statement of the scout + +"Not exactly, sir. About the first question he asked me was, how much +whiskey I could drink without going by the board." + +"Who was he? Bring coffee, Peter." + +"General M----." + +"So I supposed. He is a jovial, good-hearted fellow; but I'll wager my +shoulder-straps he was tight at the time," laughed the general. + +"Very tight, sir." + +"Well, he is a fighting man, drunk or sober; but I should rather lead +than follow him in action. Where have you been all day?" + +"Shall I tell my story in full, or only give you the information I +obtained?" + +"Tell the story, so that I can determine whether the information is good +for anything or not." + +Somers drank the tin cup of coffee which the general's servant brought to +him, and then proceeded to relate the incidents of the day in the rebel +camp. His distinguished auditor, who, in the Army of the Potomac, had +well earned the title of "the bravest of the brave," listened with eager +interest to the details of the lieutenant's story, asking occasional +questions upon points which were not only calculated to elicit particular +information, but to display the skill and intelligence of the scout. The +interview was prolonged for several hours; and at its close a +staff-officer was despatched to the corps commander; for what purpose, of +course, Somers had no intimation. + +"Lieutenant Somers, you have earned your promotion; and if you don't have +it, it will be because I have not influence enough to procure it. You +have done well." + +"Thank you, sir." + +"Your friend, Senator Guilford, shall hear of you within forty-eight +hours." + +"I beg your pardon, sir; but, grateful as I am to Senator Guilford for +the interest he has expressed in me, I don't care to be patronized by any +man in civil life." + +"Whew!" laughed the general. "I wish some of our colonels and brigadiers +would take a lesson from you. Never mind, Lieutenant Somers; you will +deserve all you ever get." + +"Thank you, sir." + +"Go to your quarters now. Here," he added, dashing off a note at his +table, in which he desired that Somers might be excused from duty for the +next two days, to enable him to recover from the fatigues of his arduous +expedition. + +I need not inform my readers how soundly our hero slept in his shelter +tent that night, nor how his slumbers were disturbed by a horrid rebel +with a bowie-knife, and a horrid feminine monstrosity which seemed to be +called Sue by her attendant demons; but he slept as a tired boy only can +sleep. + +The next morning the brigade was relieved from picket duty, and the +regiment returned to its camp. Captain de Banyan had neither seen nor +heard from his young friend since his departure on the forenoon of the +preceding day. Of course he was overjoyed to see him, as well as +intensely curious to know where he had been, what he had done, and +whether he had been promoted. Somers told his adventures to the mess, +omitting such military information as was "contraband" in the camp. + +"Somers, my dear fellow, you are a man after my own heart!" exclaimed the +captain, grasping his hand, and wringing it with all the enthusiasm of +his fervid nature. "Somers, my boy, did you ever hear of a man having his +double?" + +"I have read of such things in old legends." + +"I believe in it, Somers. You are my double! You are my second self! You +are as near like me as one pea is like another! Just before the battle of +Magenta----" + +At this interesting point in the conversation, the officers of the mess +burst into an involuntary roar of laughter, ending up Magenta with a long +dash. + +"Not exactly like you, Captain de Banyan," added Somers. + +"You can't tell half so big a story," said Lieutenant Munroe. + +"Gentlemen," interposed the captain with dignity, "you interrupted me at +the wrong moment. I was about to prove to you wherein Lieutenant Somers +was my double; and with your permission, I will proceed with my argument. +Just before the battle of Magenta, I was sent out on a scout; and I went +at the particular request of the Emperor Napoleon, who--permit me to add, +in the presence of a company which seems to be inimical to my +antecedents, if not to me--had unlimited confidence in my ability to +perform this delicate duty with skill and success. Well, gentlemen, I +passed our pickets; of course I mean the French pickets; for I was, as +you are all aware, a colonel in the French infantry at that time." + +"We are all aware of it," laughed Munroe--"over the left." + +"That is a slang phrase, and repulsive to the ears of a cultivated +gentleman. As I was saying, gentlemen, I passed our pickets, and soon +encountered a Russian general of division." + +"Russian?" + +"Austrian, I should have said; and I thank you, Somers, for the +correction. I suppose he was making the grand rounds with the officer of +the day. Be that as it may, he considered it his duty to stop me; and I +was under the disagreeable necessity of putting a bullet through his +head. He was a count, and the father of a large family; however, I could +not help it, though I was sorry to make orphans of his children. I +stepped into his uniform without the delay of a moment." + +"Where was the sergeant of the guard, the officer of the day, and the +sentinels?" demanded Lieutenant Munroe. + +"I beg you will not interrupt me, Lieutenant Munroe, with these ill-timed +remarks, which are merely intended to throw discredit on my character for +truth and veracity. I remarked, that I stepped into the uniform of the +defunct major-general. To abbreviate the narrative somewhat, I walked +through the Austrian lines for three hours, till I had discovered the +position of the infantry, cavalry and artillery. But the most singular +part of the affair was, that, when the long roll was beat once during +that eventful night, I placed myself at the head of the departed +general's division, and maneuvered it for an hour on the field, intending +to place it in such a position that the French could capture it. +Unfortunately, no attack was made by the Emperor's forces, and I could +not carry out my plan." + +"Can you talk the Austrian lingo, captain?" asked Munroe. + +"Of course I can," replied De Banyan with dignity. + +"Here, Schrugenheimer, let us have a specimen of the lingo!" said the +tormentor, appealing to a German officer. "Ask him some questions in your +own language." + +"Gentlemen, if my word is not sufficient, I shall not condescend to +demonstrate what I have said. You will notice the similarity between the +adventures of Lieutenant Somers and my own." + +The officers of the mess all laughed heartily at the conclusion of the +comparison; for the story, like a fairy tale, was pleasant to hear, but +hard to believe. But weightier matters than these were at hand for these +gallant men; and before night the gay laugh had ceased, and they had +nerved themselves for the stern duties of the hour. Cannon had been +thundering to the right of them for three days; and in the afternoon they +had seen the smoke of burning bridges, which assured them that their +communications with White House had been cut off. At night, orders were +given to have the men ready to move, and to prepare for a hurried march. +Extra stores were destroyed, clothing thrown away, and tents were cut in +pieces, or otherwise rendered useless to the next occupants of the +ground. Everything to be transported was reduced to the smallest possible +compass. + +These orders were ominous of disaster; but on the following morning a +general order was read, to the effect that all was right. The troubled +expression on the countenances of officers and men indicated their +incredulity; for the destruction in which they had been engaged belied +the words of the order. The brigade was then moved back three miles from +the camp. A portion of the regiment was posted near a house, in which was +a bedridden old woman, attended by her daughter. The rebels were +advancing by the Williamsburg road, and soon had a battery of artillery +in position to shell the vicinity of the house. + +It was an intensely hot day. Captain de Banyan sat asleep on the fence +near the house. He was very much exhausted by the labors of the two +preceding nights on picket, and at the destruction of the stores; and +while Somers was watching the progress of the battle on the right, where +a sharp fight was in progress, a shell screamed between them, and struck +the house about a foot from the ground. + +"That reminds me of the night before Magenta," said the veteran, opening +his eyes, without even a start. "A hundred-pounder shell knocked my hat +off, and then passed through the two open windows at each gable of a +house, without even breaking a pane of glass." + +"A narrow escape for you and for the house," replied Somers with a +languid smile. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +GLENDALE AND MALVERN HILLS + + +Captain de Banyan was as cool and indifferent to danger as though he had +been shot-proof. Cannon-balls and shell flew through the air; but the +veteran paid no attention to them--except that once in a while they +reminded him of Magenta, or some other of the numerous battle-fields +where he had displayed his valor. There was little fighting for our +regiment at this point, though there was a sharp action on the right of +the position. + +The rebels attacked our forces with tremendous vigor at Savage's Station. +It was believed by their generals that the Union army was utterly +demoralized; that it was retreating in disorder towards the James River; +and that a vigorous onslaught would result in its capture. The first +intimation of the blunder was received at Savage's Station, where the +Confederates were decisively repulsed; yet the hope was not abandoned of +ending the war by the destruction of the Army of the Potomac. The hosts +of the rebellion were poured down the roads, where they could intercept +the loyal forces; and the full extent of their blunder was realized only +at Malvern Hills. + +At noon our regiment marched through White Oak Swamp, and late in the +evening bivouacked in a field near the road. During all this time the +road was filled with troops, and with trains of army wagons on their way +to the new "base." Very early the next morning, the march was resumed. It +was an exceedingly hot day, and the troops suffered severely from the +heat. Somers was nearly exhausted when the regiment halted at noon near a +church, which the surgeons had already occupied as a hospital. But +nothing could disturb the equanimity of Captain de Banyan. If an +opportunity offered, he rested, and went to sleep amid the screaming +shells as readily as though he had been in his chamber in the "Fifth +Avenue." It was not quite so hot as it was at Magenta, nor the march +quite so severe as before Solferino, nor the shot quite so thick as at +Chapultepec. He never grumbled himself, and never permitted any one else +to do so. If Somers ventured to suggest that events were rather hard upon +him, he wondered what he would have done if he had been at Magenta, +Solferino, Balaclava, or Chapultepec. + +Somers was disposed to make the best of the circumstances; and though +hungry, tired and nearly melted, he sustained himself with unfaltering +courage amid the trials of that eventful march. All day long, the tide of +army wagons and cattle flowed down the road; and the brigade remained +near the church at Glendale, waiting for them to pass. At dark the order +was given to move forward, while the roar of cannon and musketry +reverberated on the evening air, assuring the weary veterans that the +baptism of blood was at hand for them, as it had been before for their +comrades in arms. + +The regiment followed a narrow road through the woods, which was thronged +with the _debris_ of the conflict, hurled back by the fierce assaults of +the rebels. The cowardly skulkers and the noncombatants of the engaged +regiments were here with their tale of disaster and ruin; and, judging +from the mournful stories they told, the once proud Army of the Potomac +had been utterly routed and discomfited. Cowards with one bar, cowards +with two bars, cowards with no bar, and cowards with the eagle on their +shoulders, repeated the wail of disaster; and the timid would have shrunk +from the fiery ordeal before them, if the intrepid officers and the mass +of the rank and file had not been above the influence of the poltroons' +trembling tones and quaking limbs. + +"Forward, my brave boys! I've been waiting all my lifetime for such a +scene as this!" shouted Captain de Banyan, as he flourished his sword +after the most approved style. + +"Don't mind the cowards!" said Somers, as the stragglers poured out their +howls of terror. + +There was little need of these stirring exhortations; for the men were as +eager for the fight as the officers, and laughed with genuine glee at the +pitiful aspect of the runaways. They advanced in line of battle to the +support of the hard-pressed troops in front of them, and poured a +withering fire into the enemy. With that fiendish yell which the Southern +soldiers invariably use in the hour of battle, they rushed forward with a +fury which was madness, and into which no fear of death entered. + +"They are coming!" shouted Somers, as the legions of rebellion surged +down upon the line, yelling like so many demons, as though they expected +the veterans to be vanquished by mere noise. "Stand steady, my men!" + +"That reminds me of the Russian advance at Magenta," said Captain de +Banyan, who happened to pass near the spot where Somers stood. + +"The Austrians, you mean," replied Somers, trying to keep as cool and +unmoved as his companion. + +"Excuse me; I meant the Austrians," replied the captain. "The fact +is----Forward, my brave fellows!" roared he as the order came down the +line. + +The enemy had been temporarily checked, and the brigade advanced to +pursue the advantage gained. They poured another terrible volley into the +rebels; when a regiment of the latter, infuriated by whiskey and the +fierce goadings of their officers, rushed down with irresistible force +upon a portion of the Union line, and succeeded in making a partial break +in our regiment. The only remaining line officer in one of the companies +where the rupture occurred was wounded at this critical moment, and borne +under the feet of the excited combatants. + +"Lieutenant Somers, take command of that company!" shouted the colonel, +as he dashed towards the imperiled portion of the line. + +Somers made haste to obey the order when the line was giving way before +the impetuous charge. He felt that the safety of the whole army depended +upon himself at that momentous instant, and that on the salvation of the +army rested the destiny of his country. What was the life of a single +man, of a hundred thousand even, compared with the fearful issue of that +moment? It was the feeling of the young soldier, and he was ready to lay +down his life for the flag which symbolized the true glory of the nation. + +"Rally round me!" he cried, as he discharged his revolver into the breast +of a brave captain who was urging his company forward with the most +unflinching resolution. "Down with them!" he shouted, as he waved his +sword above his head. + +"Hurrah!" roared a brave sergeant near him, and the cry was taken up by +the gallant fellows who had been pressed back by sheer force of numbers. + +"Forward!" shouted Somers, as he dashed down a bayonet, which would have +transfixed him on the spot if he had not been on the alert. + +The men rallied, and stood boldly up to the work before them. They were +inspired by the example of the young lieutenant; and the rebel regiment +slowly and doggedly retired, leaving many of their number dead or wounded +on the field, and a small number as prisoners in the hands of Somers's +new command. + +After alternate repulses and successes, the rebels were signally defeated +and driven back. It was a sharp and decisive struggle; but again had the +army been saved from destruction, and the long line of army wagons still +pursued its way in safety towards the waters of the James. + +Again had the rebel general's brilliant calculation failed. His troops, +maddened by the fires of the whiskey demon, had done all that men or +fiends could do; but the trained valor of the Army of the Potomac had +again saved the country. Onward it marched towards the goal of safety +under the sheltering wings of the gunboat fleet in the river. + +All night long the men marched, with frequent intervals of rest, as the +movements of the army trains required them. There was no sleep, even +after that hard-fought battle; no real rest from the exciting and wearing +events of the day. There was little or no food to be had; and the +fainting soldiers, though still ready to fight and march in their +weakness, longed for the repose of a few hours in camp. But not yet was +the boon to be granted. On the following morning, our regiment arrived at +Malvern Hills, where they were again formed in line of battle, in +readiness to receive the menacing hosts of the rebels. + +"We are all right now, Somers," said Captain de Banyan while they were +waiting for the onset. + +"Not quite yet, captain. Don't you see those signal-flags on the houses +yonder?" + +"They mean something, of course. I did not intend to say there will be no +fighting; only, that we have a good position, and all the rebels in the +Confederacy can't start us now." + +"Those flags indicate that the rebels are moving." + +"Let them come; the sooner the better, and the sooner it will be over. +Hurrah!" exclaimed the captain, as the inspiring strains of the band in +the rear saluted his ears. + +Cheer after cheer passed along the extended lines as the notes of the +"Star-spangled Banner" thrilled the hearts of the weary, fainting +soldiers. The bands had not been heard during the operations in front of +Richmond; and their music, as Sergeant Hapgood expressed it, "sounded +like home." + +"That does me good, Somers," continued the captain. "There's nothing like +music for the nerves. It wakes men up, and makes them forget all their +troubles. Forward, the light brigade!" he added, flourishing his sword in +the air. "I suppose you know that poem, Somers?" + +"Of course; I know it by heart; read it in school the last day I ever +went." + +"Did you, indeed?" + +"Nothing very singular about that, is there?" + +"Rather a remarkable coincidence, I should say," replied the captain with +easy indifference, as he twirled his sword on the ground. + +"I don't see it." + +"You read the poem at school, and I was in that charge." + +"You?" + +"Yes, my boy. I was a captain in that brigade. But what called the +circumstance to my mind was the music which struck up just now. I had a +bugler in my company who played 'Hail, Columbia' during the whole of the +fight." + +"'Hail, Columbia?'" demanded Somers. + +"Certainly; the fellow had a fancy for that tune; and though it wasn't +exactly a national thing to the British army, he always played it when he +got a chance. Well, sir, I think that bugler did more than any other man +in the charge of the light brigade. He never lost a note, and it fired +the men up to the pitch of frenzy." + +"He was a brave fellow," replied Somers languidly; for he was too +thoroughly worn out to appreciate the stories of his veteran companion. + +"He was the most determined man I ever met in my life. He was killed in +the charge, poor fellow; but he had filled his bugle so full of wind, +that the music did not cease till full five minutes after he was +stone-dead." + +"Come, come, captain! that's a little too bad," said Somers seriously. + +"Too bad? Well, I should not be willing to take oath that the time was +just five minutes after the bugler died. I did not take out my watch, and +time it; and, of course, I can only give you my judgment as to the +precise number of minutes." + +"You are worse than Baron Munchausen, who told a story something like +that; only his was the more reasonable of the two." + +"Somers, my boy! you have got a villainously bad habit of discrediting +the statements of a brother-officer and a gentleman," said Captain de +Banyan seriously. + +"And you have got a bad habit of telling the most abominable stories that +ever proceeded from the mouth of any man." + +"We'll drop the subject, Somers; for such discussions lead to unpleasant +results. Do you see that rebel battery?" added the captain, pointing to a +road a mile off, where the enemy had taken position to shell the Union +line. + +"I see it." + +The rebel battery opened fire, which was vigorously answered by the other +side. The scene began to increase in interest as the cannonade extended +along the whole line; and, through the entire day, there raged the most +furious artillery conflict of the war. The rebel masses were hurled time +after time against the Union line; but it maintained its position like a +wall of iron, while thousands of the enemy were recklessly sacrificed in +the useless assault. General M---- had probably drunk more than his usual +quantity of whiskey; and, though he was as brave as a lion, hundreds of +his men paid the penalty with their lives of his rashness and +indiscretion. + +Night came again upon a victorious field, while hundreds of weeping +mothers in the neighboring city sighed for the sons who would return no +more to their arms; and while mothers wept, fathers groaned and sisters +moaned, the grand army of the Confederacy had been beaten, and the proud +rulers of an infatuated people were trembling for their own safety in the +presence of the ruin with which defeat threatened them. + +After the battle commenced the movement of the Army of the Potomac down +the river to Harrison's Landing. The rain fell in torrents, and the +single road was crowded with troops and wagons. Though the exhausted +soldiers slept, even while the guns of the enemy roared in front of them, +and during the brief halts which the confusion in the road caused, there +was no real repose. The excitement of the battle and the retreat, and the +undefinable sense of insecurity which their situation engendered, +banished rest. Tired Nature asserted her claims, and the men yielded to +them only when endurance had reached its utmost limit. + +At Harrison's Landing, the work of intrenching the position was +immediately commenced; and it was some days before the army were entirely +assured that defeat and capture were not still possible. The failure of +the campaign was not without its effect upon the troops. They felt, that, +instead of marching under their victorious banners into the enemy's +capital, they had been driven from their position. It was not disaster, +but it was failure. Though the soldiers were still in good condition, and +as ready as ever to breast the storm of battle, they were in a measure +dispirited by the misfortune. + +General McClellan and General Lee had each failed to accomplish his +purpose. It was the intention of the latter to send Stonewall Jackson +into the rear of the Union army, cut it off from its base of supplies, +and then attack in front and on the left. The plan was defeated by +General McClellan's change of base, which was forced upon him by the +cutting-off of his communications with the Pamunkey River. The Union +generals, who were first attacked on the right, supposed they were +confronted by Jackson, who had come down to flank them in this direction; +while Lee intended that he should attack farther down the Peninsula. Each +commanding general, to some extent, mistook the purpose of the other. +Whatever errors were made by the grand players in this mighty game, about +one thing there can be no mistake--that the courage and fortitude of the +rank and file saved the Army of the Potomac, and pushed aside the mighty +disaster in which its ruin would have involved the country. All honor to +the unnamed heroes who fought those great battles, and endured hardships +which shall thrill the souls of Americans for ages to come! + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +LIEUTENANT SOMERS HAS A NEW SENSATION + + +The experience of the soldiers at Harrison's Landing, for a month +following their arrival, was not of the most agreeable nature; and +consisted of too large a proportion of exercise with pick and shovel to +be very pleasant to those who had not been accustomed to handling these +useful implements. Intrenchments and batteries were constructed; and the +position was as carefully fortified as the genius of the distinguished +engineer in command could suggest, and as thoroughly as though he +expected to spent the balance of the term of his natural life at this +place. + +The army was soon in a condition to defy the operations of the enemy, who +were wise enough not to molest it. Somers, in common with the rest of the +command, recovered from the severe trials of the movement from White Oak +Swamp, and again longed for active operations. About two weeks after the +cessation of active operations, the official documents which announced +his promotion to the rank of first lieutenant came down to the army; but +this was a foregone conclusion. He had won his first bar by his scouting +services, and his commission was expected for a fortnight before its +arrival. It did not, therefore, cause him any surprise; and was so small +an elevation, that his comrades hardly congratulated him upon its +reception. + +A fortnight later, there came a startling sensation to thrill him with +satisfaction and delight. An orderly from the division headquarters +summoned him to attend upon the general. The message startled him; for it +indicated some momentous event to him, and he hastily prepared to obey +the order. + +"You are in luck again," said De Banyan, grasping his hand. + +"Perhaps not," replied Somers, bewildered at the suggestion. + +"I know you are, my dear boy. I was sent for just four weeks after the +battle of Solferino, and made a brigadier-general," persisted the +captain. + +"Ah! then you are General de Banyan?" + +"No, no; I dropped the title when I ceased to hold the office." + +"That was modest, general." + +"Captain, if you please." + +"You are entitled by courtesy to the use of the title, and you shall not +be robbed of any of your honors." + +"As a particular favor, Somers, never call me general. I do not wish to +rise above my actual rank. I have never mentioned the little circumstance +of my promotion before. Your good fortune was so similar to my own, that +I was surprised into doing so." + +"What do you mean by my good fortune, captain?" + +"Why, you are promoted again. I will bet my year's pay you have had +another lift." + +"Nonsense! I have just been promoted." + +"Bah! what was that to a man of your merit, with a Senator to speak at +court for you? A petty first lieutenancy is nothing for a brilliant +fellow like you." + +"I am not half so brilliant a fellow as you declare, and I think that a +commission as first lieutenant is a big thing for a young man like me. +I'm sure I never had an idea of being an officer at all; and, when I was +made a sergeant, I didn't think I deserved it." + +"What do you suppose a major-general can want with you? You have heard +from Senator Guilford once before, and I am satisfied you will hear from +him again. Now, Somers, what do you suppose the general wants of you?" + +"I don't know; I think it very likely he wants a man of my size to go up +the river, or on the other side, scouting; nothing more than that, I am +satisfied. But I must obey the order," added Somers, who had been making +his preparations during the conversation. + +"Well, good-by, my boy; and I shall have to stand one side for you after +this, and salute you as major." + +"As what?" + +"Major." + +"How absurd you are, captain! You always talk like a sensible fellow; +that is, when you mean what you say." + +"A hard hit; and very likely the first thing you do, when you get to be a +major, will be to arrest me for lying." + +"Your hit is the hardest, my dear captain. We have seen some hard times +together; and you may be sure that whatever I am, I shall never forget +you." + +"That's hearty, my boy! Your hand once more," replied De Banyan, +extending his own. "After the battle of Solferino----" + +"Really, captain, you must excuse me this time, or the general will put +me under arrest for my want of promptness, instead of sending me on +special duty." + +"Well, good luck to you, Somers," said the captain as the lieutenant +started for the division headquarters. + +As he passed out of sight, an expression of sadness settled down upon +Captain de Banyan's face. He looked disappointed and uncomfortable, and +it is quite probable that he envied the good fortune of his young +companion in arms. If Somers had been brave, and attentive to his duty, +he had been no less so himself; and he could not help feeling that the +destruction of those railroad cars had made the young man's fortune; that +his rapid advancement was a mere stroke of good luck. + +Lieutenant Somers, wondering what could possibly be wanted of him, +hastened to the headquarters of the division. He had no faith whatever in +the prognostications of Captain de Banyan, and was too modest to believe +that he had done anything to merit another promotion so soon. Recalling +the incidents of his career since his eventful expedition within the +rebel lines, there was nothing in his conduct to merit even the notice of +his superiors, unless it was what others called his skill and courage in +rallying the broken company at Glendale. He had been warmly praised for +this act; but he deemed it of little importance, for the memory of +Williamsburg cast into the shade anything that had occurred to him since +that bloody day. + +He was ushered into the presence of the general, who gave him the kindly +welcome which he always bestowed upon those of humble rank. Now, Somers +cherished an intense admiration for this distinguished officer, and +esteemed it a greater honor to stand in his presence than in that of the +most powerful sovereign of the earth. + +"Lieutenant Somers?" said the general, extending his hand; a piece of +condescension which made our officer blush, and appear as awkward as a +country school-boy. + +"Yes, sir; thank you, sir," stammered Somers, as he took the proffered +hand. + +"You behaved well at Glendale, Somers," said the general bluntly. + +"I endeavored to do my duty, general." + +"You did well on that scout, too; and I'm going to send you out on +another, if you have any fancy for such work." + +"I will do the best I can." + +"But, my brave fellow, I wish you to be very careful; for we can't afford +to lose officers like you." + +"I am always careful, general," said Somers with a smile. + +"Can you handle a boat?" + +"Yes, sir; I was brought up among boats." + +"You will go over the river. There is rebel cavalry over there, and very +likely a considerable force of infantry. I am inclined to think they are +building batteries in the woods, to close up the navigation of the river, +or perhaps to shell us out of our position. In a word, I am instructed to +solve the problem, and I have selected you to do the work. What do you +say?" + +"I am all ready, sir, to undertake that, or any service to which I may be +ordered." + +"That's the right spirit, Captain Somers; and I thank you for the +promptness with which you enter into my plans. I am satisfied, captain, +that you will discharge the duty to my entire satisfaction." + +"Thank you, sir." + +"Well, Captain Somers, you shall take what force you think necessary. As +it will not be prudent for you to go over before dark, you may make up +your plan, and I will listen to the details before you go. How many boats +shall you want, captain?" + +"Only one, sir," replied Somers promptly; though he was wondering with +all his might how the general happened to make so many blunders in regard +to his military title, for he had called him captain four or five times. + +"Only one? You will need force enough to protect you, captain," replied +the general. + +Captain again! + +"I do not intend to fight the whole rebel army, if it is over there. I do +not propose to take more than half a dozen men with me." + +"I think that is a sensible view of the enterprise; for the more men you +take, the greater your chances of being discovered. Select your own men, +Captain Somers." + +Captain Somers! The general had certainly forgotten that he was only a +first lieutenant, or else he was amusing himself at his modest +subordinate's expense. + +"I know of several men in our regiment who are just what I want," replied +Somers, hardly able to speak from embarrassment, on account of the +general's often-repeated mistake. + +"Very well; you shall have the necessary authority to select whom you +please. You may go now, and arrange your plans." + +Somers saluted the general, and was about to retire, when the thought +occurred to him that he might at least gratify his friend Captain de +Banyan, and perhaps bring him favorably to the general's notice. + +"May I be allowed to select an officer to go with me?" he asked. + +"Certainly, if you desire; but you will remember that you are a young +officer, going out on difficult and dangerous service, and that officers +will not be so obedient as privates," suggested the general. "Whom do you +desire to go with you?" + +"Captain de Banyan, of our regiment." + +"Captain! Why, then he will be your equal in rank, and by priority of +commission, your superior." + +"We shall agree remarkably well, general, though he is my superior in +rank, without regard to dates," replied Somers, who by this time had come +to the conclusion that the general meant something by calling him +captain. + +"No; you are both captains," added the general with apparent +indifference. + +"I beg your pardon, general; you have probably forgotten that the +commission which was forwarded to me only about two weeks ago was that of +first lieutenant." + +"I remember all about it, Captain Somers; but, by the time you reach your +quarters, there will be another commission there for you. By the way, +captain, do you remember Senator Guilford?" + +"I do, general; I have good reason to remember him; for he takes a deep +interest in my affairs," replied Somers, whose brown face was red with +blushes. + +"Has a pretty daughter, hasn't he? Fell out of a railroad car and broke +her arm, didn't she?" + +"That was the only time I ever saw her, general," stammered Somers; "and +probably I shall never see her again." + +"Why, you are as cold-blooded as a frog! Why don't you write to the +damsel, and tell her you are still alive, if you can't think of anything +else to say?" + +"I don't like to curry favor with great folks." + +"I like that, captain. But you must attend to your duty now. You may have +Captain de--what's-his-name--if you like." + +"Captain de Banyan, sir. He is a brave and noble fellow." + +"Your friend, eh?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Well, I remember him. He is certainly a brave fellow; for I noticed him +at Glendale." + +"At Oak Grove he captured the enemy's sharpshooters, who were lodged in +the old house." + +"I thought you did that." + +"No, sir; I was under Captain de Banyan's orders at the time." + +"I see; and I will remember that, Captain Somers. By the way, it would be +well for you to write to Senator Guilford, just to inform him of your +promotion. He has done good service for you, though I have no hesitation +in saying your promotion would have been certain without his aid." + +"Thank you, general," replied Somers, who fully understood the meaning of +that significant remark. + +We regret that the good conduct of our hero has destroyed the fitness of +the title which we had chosen for our humble volume; but we will venture +to say that our sympathizing readers will rejoice with him in his +advancement. + +Captain Somers! The idea seemed to him as big as a mountain, when he +withdrew from the presence of the general, who evidently experienced a +deep satisfaction in the result of his recommendation to the authorities, +and had humorously chosen this method of communicating the welcome news. +The earth seemed to be as elastic as India-rubber under the feet of the +new-made captain, as he hastened back to the camp of the regiment. + +He could hardly believe his senses; it was so strange that a young man +like him should attain to this high rank. He wanted to "crow;" and +perhaps he would have done so, if he had not considered that he must +maintain the dignity of his new office. + +"Captain Somers, I greet you!" exclaimed De Banyan on his return to camp. + +"Who told you I was a captain?" laughed Somers. + +"This document," replied he, handing him the ponderous official envelope. +"I congratulate you, my boy; though I'm rather disappointed to find you +are not a major." + +"Nonsense, captain! I would have declined a major's commission." + +"Declined it!" gasped De Banyan. "Well, I don't know but you would. You +are the only officer I ever knew to decline a glass of wine, and I don't +know but you would decline a major's commission." + +"I certainly would. Why, I'm only a boy; and I don't know but I ought to +decline even a captain's commission. I'm only eighteen years old." + +"What of that? There's the Fourth Vermont over there--the colonel of that +regiment isn't twenty-one yet, and there isn't a better or braver officer +in the army. If you decline, I'll cross you off from my list of friends. +Why, at Balaclava, when I was----" + +"Balaclava and blarney!" exclaimed Somers impatiently. + +"I was only going to say, that I was but seventeen when I was made a +captain in the British army." + +"I have been a brigadier in my own imagination, just as you were a +captain, when you were seventeen. But never mind that; I am going on a +scout; have got my orders." + +"Ah, my boy! you are going to celebrate the arrival of your commission by +active duty. I wish the generals would think of me when they want +something handsome done." + +"What do you say to going with me?" + +"I would thank my stars for the chance." + +"Well, then I have orders for you." + +"Somers, my dear fellow, you touch my heart-strings!" cried the captain, +jumping up, and throwing his arms around Somers in the most extravagant +manner. + +"On one condition," added Captain Somers. + +"Any condition you please." + +"You are my superior; but----" + +"I know all about it. I will go as a volunteer, and you shall command the +expedition." + +"We will work together." + +"With all my heart." + +Somers then selected six men for the service, with special reference to +their skill as boatmen, and ordered them to make the necessary +preparations for duty. As there were still several hours to spare before +dark, he used a portion of this time in writing a letter to his mother, +informing her of the remarkable fortune that had attended him; and +another to Senator Guilford, thanking him for the kind interest he had +manifested in his welfare, in the postscript of which he wrote the +history of Captain de Banyan's valuable services, and modestly added that +any favor conferred on his friend would ever be gratefully remembered by +the writer. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +OVER THE RIVER + + +Captain Somers, as we are hereafter to call him, was proud and happy in +the distinction which had been bestowed upon him; but he had some doubts +whether he had fully earned his promotion. He had done as much as any, +and more than some. Yet it seemed to him just as though nothing short of +the capture or annihilation of a whole brigade of the enemy's forces +could entitle him to such a distinguished honor, especially as he was +only eighteen years of age. He was afraid that Senator Guilford had +exerted too much influence in his favor; but the general of the division +had assured him he had won his promotion, and would have received it in +time, even without the powerful aid of the honorable gentleman at +Washington. + +This thought comforted him; and he only hoped that his friend De Banyan +would be as highly favored as he had been. The valiant captain, in spite +of his glaring faults, was a good fellow, a fine officer, and very +popular with his inferiors as well as his superiors. He had become very +much attached to Somers, and had proved by many substantial acts that he +was animated by a warm regard for him. Though he talked a great deal +about the favor of high officials in securing his promotion, he had never +hinted a wish that Somers should attempt to influence his powerful friend +to do anything for him. + +Somers said nothing to the captain about the letter he had written. If +anything was done, he wished to have his friend surprised as he had been. +But he had only slight hopes that anything would be accomplished by his +application. Though Captain de Banyan had always behaved well in battle, +and had always faithfully discharged his duties in the camp and on the +march, there was something like a mystery hanging about him, which had a +tendency to prejudice the officers against him. While they admired his +bravery, and enjoyed his society, there was a certain lack of confidence, +resulting from a want of knowledge of his antecedents. + +De Banyan always evaded any allusion to his former residence or +occupation. He desired to be regarded as a soldier of fortune, who had +fought with every nation that had a quarrel with its neighbors. Where he +was born, where he had lived, or how he obtained his commission, were +secrets locked up in his own breast. Somers had some doubts in regard to +him, and was constantly afraid that he should hear more of the captain +than it would be pleasant to know. + +Captain Somers reported his arrangements in due form to the general, and +they were approved. About nine o'clock in the evening, he, with his +little party, embarked on the river, and the rowers pulled towards the +opposite shore. Of course, it was necessary to use the utmost caution; +for a rebel picket on the opposite bank of the river might suddenly put +an end to the career of some of the party. + +"I think we are making a mistake, Captain Somers," said De Banyan in a +whisper, when they had gone about half way across the river. + +"So do I; but it is not too late to correct the error," replied Somers, +as he turned the bow of the boat down the river. + +"I believe you are my double, Somers; for you know my thoughts before I +utter them." + +"I was just thinking, when you spoke, that we were running into a nest of +the enemy." + +"Just before the battle of the Alma, I went on just such an expedition as +this; but we went down the river beyond the enemy's lines, and doubled up +in the rear of them; thus finding out all we wanted to know." + +"That is what I propose to do." + +"Captain Brickfield and myself landed, and walked sixty-four miles +between nine o'clock in the evening and four o'clock in the morning," +added Captain de Banyan. + +"How far?" + +"Sixty-four miles." + +"Good!" exclaimed Somers. "Did you walk all the way?" + +"Every step." + +"It was tip-top walking, De Banyan--a little more than nine miles an +hour." + +"Do you doubt the story?" + +"I don't doubt that it is a story." + +"Now, that isn't kind of you, Somers, to be perpetually throwing +discredit upon everything I say," replied the captain, apparently much +hurt. + +"You mustn't say such things, then. You don't expect any man in his +senses to believe that you walked over nine miles an hour, and followed +it for seven hours?" + +"I was tougher then than I am now." + +"And you can tell a tougher story now than you could then, I'll warrant." + +"There it is again!" + +"Now, my dear fellow, I'm afraid you will die with an enormous fib in +your mouth." + +"Come, Somers, you are taking a mean advantage of my friendship. You know +that I like you too well to quarrel with you." + +"Silence!" said Somers earnestly. "There is a boat coming out from the +rebel side of the river." + +The water was covered with vessels of every description in the vicinity +of Harrison's Landing; and the boat had just emerged from this forest of +masts and smokestacks. It was time to be entirely silent again; for the +rebels were on the alert in every direction, watching to strike a blow at +the grand army, or to pick up individual stragglers who might fall in +their way. The boat which Somers had discovered was approaching from the +rebel side of the river; and to be seen by the enemy, at this point of +the proceedings, would be fatal to the expedition. + +"Who goes there?" said a man in the rebel boat. + +"Friends!" replied Somers. + +"Who are ye?" + +The tones were so unmistakably Southern, that there could be no question +in regard to the party to which the boat belonged. + +"Officers examining the enemy's lines," replied Somers. + +At the same time he ordered his crew to pull, and steered the boat so as +to run her alongside the other. On the way, he whispered to the men his +instructions; and, as soon as they were near enough, they leaped on board +the rebel boat, and captured her astonished crew before they had time to +make any resistance. No doubt they thought this was very rude treatment +to receive from the hands of those who professed to be their friends; but +they had discovered their mistake by this time, and it afforded a +sufficient explanation of the seeming inconsistency. + +The capture of this boat involved the necessity of returning to the +nearest steamer in the river to dispose of the prisoners. On the way +back, Somers and De Banyan conversed with the rebels on general topics; +for the latter refused to say anything which could be of service to their +enemy. After the captives had been delivered on board the steamer, our +party decided to take the boat which had been captured, instead of the +one they had brought from the landing; for there were some peculiarities +in its construction, which made it a safer conveyance in rebel waters +than the other, the approach of which would excite suspicion if seen. + +Again they pulled down the river, and passed the point from beyond which +the rebel boat had approached them. The shore was probably lined with +pickets; and the wisdom of exchanging the boats was now more apparent to +them than before. Somers steered into a little inlet or bay beyond the +point, and at the head of it found a creek flowing into the river. It was +wide and deep at the outlet; and he decided to ascend it. + +"How was it, Andy?" said a voice from the shore, after the boat had +advanced a few rods up the creek. + +"All right!" replied Somers at a venture; though he was somewhat startled +by the question. + +"Have the Yankees any picket boats out?" demanded the man on shore. + +"Haven't seen any." + +"How far up have you been?" + +"About two miles," answered Somers, continually coughing to account for +any change in his voice which might be apparent to his friend on shore. + +"The fire-steamer is all ready," added the voice; "and it is about time +to go to work." + +"The fire-steamer!" exclaimed Somers in a low tone. + +"They are going to burn the vessels in the river," added De Banyan. + +"What shall we do?" + +"We must stop their fun at all hazards," replied the valiant captain +promptly. + +"What are you stopping there for, Andy? Why don't you pull up the creek?" +continued the man on shore. + +"My name isn't Andy," said Somers; "and I don't fully understand this +business." + +"Who are you, then?" replied the rebel. "What has become of Andy?" + +"He has got another job, and sent me to do this one," answered Somers, +whose ready wit had adopted a plan to defeat the purpose of the enemy. + +"Who are you?" + +"Tom Leathers. Andy sent me up to attend to this matter. Where is the +fire-steamer?" + +"About half a mile farther up the creek. But where is Andy?" + +"Some general sent for him; and he has gone to Richmond. I reckon the +iron-clad's coming down soon." + +"Can you take care of the steamer?" + +"Certainly I can." + +"Are you a pilot?" + +"Pilot enough for this business." + +"I understand it all. Andy was afraid to do this job, and has backed +out." + +"I only know what he said to me," replied Somers innocently. + +"Well, pull up the creek, and don't waste any more time in talking about +it." + +"I haven't wasted any time. You have done all the talking yourself," +replied Somers, who thought he should not be a consistent Southerner if +he did not growl. + +Somers directed the men to pull again, and the boat advanced up the creek +till the steamer appeared. She was a small, worn-out old craft, which had +probably dodged into the creek when the Union fleet came up the river. +The man who had spoken from the shore reached the place almost as soon as +the boat. He was dressed in the gray of the Confederate army, and was +evidently an officer detailed to perform the duty of fitting out the +fire-ship. + +"This is a most remarkable proceeding on the part of the pilot," said the +officer. + +"I can't help it. You needn't growl at me about it. If you don't want me, +I don't want the job," replied Somers sourly. + +"Don't be impudent to me," added the officer. + +"And don't you be impudent to me," said Somers. "I'm not one of your +men." + +"Silence! or I shall put you under arrest." + +"No, you won't." + +"Do you know the channel of the river?" + +"Of course I do. What do you suppose Andy sent me here for?" snarled +Somers. + +"Keep a civil tongue in your head, man." + +"You had better show me how to do it first. Come, Graves," he added, +turning to De Banyan, "we are not wanted here, and we will go home +again." + +"Who is that man with you?" + +"Graves." + +"Where did you get all these men?" + +"They came with me to see the fun, and help the thing along." + +The officer stepped on board of the steamer, and Somers and De Banyan +joined him on the deck. + +"I think I've seen you somewhere." + +"I think very likely; I was there once." + +"You are a crusty young cub; but it may be you know your duty." + +"Of course I do; and as for being crusty, I treated you like a gentleman +till you began to snarl at me." + +"Well, well, my friend, we will rub out the past and begin again," said +the officer pleasantly. + +"With all my heart, if you say so," replied Somers with equal suavity. + +"This is a very important enterprise, and we want to teach the Yankees +that it will be better for them to stay at home next time they want to +come down South. What is your name?" + +"Tom Leathers. What's yours? Andy told me; but I've forgotten." + +"Captain Osborn." + +The rebel officer proceeded to give the supposed pilot very full +instructions in regard to the steamer, which was to be run up the river +to City Point, set on fire, and then abandoned to float with the current +through the thickest of the Federal fleet, blowing up gunboats, and +consuming transports by the hundred. The fire-steamer had been loaded +with pitch-wood, tar, pitch and turpentine; and Captain Osborn was +satisfied that the plan, if thoroughly carried out, would cause +tremendous havoc among the Yankee vessels. He rubbed his hands with +delight as he contemplated the prospect of driving the "Hessian" fleet +from the river, and starving the Union army out of its position. + +An engineer and two firemen, whom they found on board the steamer, were +all the crew she had, and all she needed besides the pilot. They had got +up steam, and the vessel was all ready to move on her errand of +destruction when the word should be given. + +"Now you are all ready," said Captain Osborn when he had completed his +instructions. "You will hoist the American flag, and pretend you are a +Yankee, if they attempt to stop you on your way up the river." + +"I can do that to a charm," replied Somers. "I am all ready. Where is +Graves? Hallo, Graves!" he shouted, when he found that his companion had +left his side to take a look at the other parts of the steamer. + +"Here I am, Tom," answered Graves, emerging from the engine-room, where +he had been talking with the presiding genius of that department. + +"Run up the colors." + +"Ay, ay, sir!" replied De Banyan. + +The colors went up, and other preparations were made for the great +enterprise. + +"Cast off that stern line!" said Somers. "Make fast your painter on the +port quarter," he added to the man in the boat; and no doubt by this time +Captain Osborn was fully satisfied that he was perfectly familiar with +the management of a steamer. + +Now, Somers was very well satisfied that he should run the steamer +aground before he rounded the first point in the river, and he had wisely +concluded not to undertake so rash an enterprise. Besides, he did not +come over there to be the skipper of a steamer; he had other and even +more important duties to perform. He was much more interested in certain +rebel batteries which were believed to be in process of construction +farther up the river. But Captain Osborn was an unreasonable man, and +demanded the execution of his plan. He was determined to see a +conflagration, and Somers was equally determined to gratify him. + +Our pilot discovered the value of his limited nautical experience in +Pinchbrook Harbor; for it enabled him to convince the rebel officer that +he was a full-fledged "salt," and was entirely at home on the deck of any +vessel that could float in the waters of the James. The stern-line and +the bow-line were cast off; and Somers stood in the little wheel-house, +ready to ring the bells. Captain Osborn had just stepped on shore, +intending to mount his horse and ride up the river, where he could see +the conflagration when it came off. + +Just then, there was a tremendous commotion among the firemen and +engineer; and, a moment later, a broad, bright sheet of flame rose from +the heap of combustibles in the after-part of the steamer. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +CAPTAIN DE BANYAN FINDS AN OLD FRIEND + + +Both Somers and De Banyan flew to the rescue, and made a most +enthusiastic attempt to check the fire; but the raging element was now +past control. The flames spread through the combustible material which +had been stored on the deck; and they were compelled to abandon the +ill-starred steamer with the utmost precipitation, in order to save their +own lives. + +De Banyan had rolled up an old newspaper, making of it a kind of torch, +some three feet in length, which he had inserted in a mass of pitch-wood +shavings, and set the end on fire. It had burned long enough to remove +suspicion from him; and, when the pilot and crew went on shore, Captain +Osborn had no idea of the trick of which he had been made the victim. Our +scouts kept up appearances in the most remarkable manner, and Somers was +only afraid that his zealous companion would overdo the matter. + +"What do you mean by that, Captain Osborn?" demanded Somers, as he shook +the cinders from his clothes in the presence of the rebel officer. "Did +you intend to sacrifice our lives?" + +"Yes; burn us up before we had time to leave the old hulk!" added De +Banyan furiously. "I thought we were to light the fire ourselves." + +"I didn't do it," replied Captain Osborn. + +"You didn't? Who did do it, then?" persisted Somers. + +"I don't know." + +"Well, I don't know; but, in my opinion, you did it yourself." + +"You are an idiot! Do you think I would destroy the work of my own +hands?" added the rebel warmly. + +"Well, I supposed you fired the train so as to be sure the thing was done +right." + +"You are a fool, or else you didn't suppose any such thing." + +"I didn't know but what you had one of those clock machines, that touch a +thing off at a certain time. Well, how did it happen, then?" + +"I don't know; perhaps from a spark from the fire. No matter how it was +done now. It is done, and can't be helped. I have lost the satisfaction +of seeing half the Yankee fleet burnt up. I would rather have given a +year's pay than have had this accident happen." + +"Haven't they got most ready for the Yankee fleet above here?" asked +Somers as carelessly as he could. + +"What do you mean?" + +"They are building batteries up above, to knock the Yankees into pieces, +aren't they?" + +"Perhaps they are." + +"Well, Captain Osborn, I don't believe your plan would have succeeded if +the steamer hadn't caught afire." + +"Don't you? Why not?" + +"Suppose the Yankees had stopped us on our way up, and come on board the +steamer. Don't you think they would have known what she was for?" + +"Perhaps they would." + +"Of course they would. Why didn't you fit out your steamer up the river?" + +"We haven't so many steamers that we can afford to burn them up. We took +this one because she happened to be in the creek, where the Yankees could +capture her at any time they pleased." + +"It wouldn't need a steamer above the fleet; a raft would do just as +well. I think I shall go up the river, and see what can be done. Well, +boys," added Somers to the men in the boat, "there will be no fun +to-night, and you may as well go home." + +As this order was in conformity with previous instructions, the men +pulled down the creek to its mouth, where they could remain concealed +till their officers returned. + +By the light of the burning steamer, Captain Osborn had attentively +scanned the features of the pilot and his companion, apparently for the +purpose of determining where he had seen the former. As they had both +dressed themselves for the occasion, they submitted to his scrutiny +without fear. When he had finished his survey, he mounted his horse, +which was fastened to a tree near the creek, and had become very restive +as the glaring fire scattered burning cinders near him. As the rider had +no further use for our enterprising operatives, he bestowed no further +notice upon them, and rode off to report to his commanding officer the +failure of the hopeful enterprise. + +"Well, we have done some good by coming over here," said Captain de +Banyan as the officer galloped up the road above the creek. + +"Hush, captain!" replied Somers. "You forget where you are." + +"No, I don't; we are alone." + +"Perhaps not; the trees have ears sometimes." + +"Well, where are you going now?" + +"Up the river. We will take a walk up to the batteries, if there are any +there." + +They proceeded in the direction indicated for about three miles without +being molested, or even challenged by a sentinel. The Army of the Potomac +had been on the other side of the river nearly a month, and had ceased to +be a curiosity to the rebel inhabitants in the vicinity; and like +sensible people, as they were in this respect if in no other, they +devoted the hours of darkness to sleep. On the shore opposite the camp, +they found a battery of artillery. Rude field-works had been constructed +near the water, on which the guns of the company had been placed. Our +travelers were too modest to make the acquaintance of the rebels, and +kept at a respectful distance from them, crawling on the ground near +enough to ascertain the force of the enemy. + +Taking to the fields for greater safety, the scouts went up the river +several miles farther, without making any discoveries worthy of notice. +The object of the excursion had been fully accomplished; and they began +to retrace their steps towards the creek, where the boat was waiting +their return. When we are well employed, time passes away very rapidly; +and our adventurers had taken no note of its passage. Before they had +made a single mile, the bright streaks of day in the east warned them +that they had remained too long for their own safety. + +The prospect of being examined by rebel officers in broad daylight was +not pleasant; and, increasing their speed, they walked by the shortest +way towards the creek. When they had passed the battery of artillery, +they abandoned the fields, through which they could make but slow +progress, for the road. They had three miles farther to go, and it was +now nearly sunrise. + +"I think we must have lost two or three hours," said Somers as they +hastened on their way. "I had no idea that it was more than two o'clock +in the morning when we turned about." + +"Nor I," replied De Banyan. "We must have spent two or three hours in +crawling on the ground about that battery." + +"I don't see where the time is all gone." + +"It goes fast when we are busy. When I was in the Crimea----" + +"Never mind the Crimea now," protested Somers, who was in no mood for his +companion's fibs. + +"Don't be crusty, Somers." + +"I did not mean to be crusty; but you know my opinion about those stories +of the Crimea and the Italian war, and I don't think it is a good plan to +talk so much over here." + +"As you please; it is your turn to speak next." + +"I meant no offense." + +"I know you didn't, Somers; but you reproved me, and I can only hold my +peace; for you are the commander of this expedition." + +"You know I like you as a brother; but I don't like those silly yarns +about your impossible achievements. Hark! What's that?" + +This last remark was caused by the sound of horses' feet behind them; and +our travelers looked back with eager interest to ascertain what was +approaching. It was a body of cavalry, which had just swept round a bend +of the road, and was now in plain sight of them. + +"That won't do," said De Banyan with energy. "We must conceal ourselves." + +"I think they have seen us, and we may as well make the best of it. If we +hide, they will certainly suspect us." + +"They have not seen us yet. They are half a mile off," replied the +captain, as he retired to the field by the side of the road. + +Somers followed him, though he did not fully approve the policy of his +friend. They walked a short distance till they came to a covert of +bushes, in which they concealed themselves. + +"I think we have made a mistake. The dog always bites when you attempt to +run away from him," said Somers. + +"I don't think they saw us," persisted De Banyan. "If they did, we can +tell as good a story here as we could in the road." + +"I always believe in facing the music. I have found that impudence will +carry a man a great deal farther and a great deal faster than his legs +can." + +"Perhaps you are right, Somers. When I was in Italy----" + +"Bah! Don't say Italy or Crimea again till we reach the other side of the +river," interposed Somers, who was too seriously affected by the perils +of their situation to be willing to listen to any of his companion's +hallucinations. + +"Just as you please, Somers," answered the captain, unmoved by the +rebuff; "but, when I was doing scout duty before the battle of Magenta, I +saw the advance of the Austrians coming up behind me. I crawled into a +haystack, and remained there while the whole army of the Austrians, about +four hundred thousand men, passed by me." + +Somers could not but smile at the infatuation of his friend, who at such +a perilous moment could indulge in such a vicious practice as that of +inventing great stories. He did not even ask him how long it took the +Austrian army to pass the haystack, whether they had haystacks in Italy, +nor if it was probable that such an army would pass over a single road. +He waited patiently, or impatiently, for the approach of the rebel +cavalry, which soon reached the road near the bushes where they were +hidden. + +To his consternation, they came to a dead halt; and he could see the men +gazing earnestly in the direction they had retired. Then half a dozen of +the troopers entered the field, and rode directly towards the covert of +bushes. + +"We are caught!" whispered Somers. + +"That's so. Just after the battle of Palestro, when I----" + +"Hush!" + +"Hush it is," replied De Banyan, as coolly as though he had been under +his shelter tent on the other side of the James. + +Taking a knife from his pocket, he began to cut away at a straight bush +which grew near him, and was thus busily employed when the soldiers +reached the spot. Somers stretched himself on the ground, and waited the +issue of the event; deciding to let his companion, who had got him into +the scrape, extricate him from it. The coolness of the captain, and the +peculiar manner he assumed, convinced him that he had some resources upon +which to draw in this trying emergency. + +"Hallo, there!" shouted one of the troopers savagely, as though he +intended to carry consternation in the tones of his voice. + +"How are you, old hoss?" inquired De Banyan, as impudently as though he +had been the lord of the manor. + +"What ye doin' in here?" demanded the horseman, as he forced his animal +into the bushes far enough to obtain a full view of both of the +fugitives. + +"Well, old hoss, if Heaven gin you two eyes, what were they gin to ye +fur?" replied the captain, still hacking away at the sapling. + +"What d'ye run for when you saw us coming?" + +"Didn't run." + +"Yes, yer did." + +"You know best, then." + +"What d'ye come in here fur?" + +"Don't ye see what I came in here for?" replied De Banyan, as he finished +cutting off the bush, and proceeded to trim off the branches. + +"Who are you?" + +"Well, old hoss, I'm the brother of my father's oldest son." + +"What's yer name?" + +"Hain't got any; had a difficulty with the district attorney in our +county, and lost it." + +"Come out here, and show yerself. The cap'n wants to see yer down to the +road." + +"Just goin' down there. Say, you hain't got a spare hoss in your caravan, +have you? I'm gettin' amazin' tired." + +"Come out, both of you. I can't stay here all day." + +"Needn't wait for me; I'm in no hurry," answered the captain, as he +slowly emerged from the bushes, followed by Somers. + +"But I shall wait for yer; and, if yer don't step along lively, I'll let +yer know how this cheese-knife feels." + +"Don't distress yourself to do anything of the sort," said De Banyan; and +he hobbled along on his new-made cane. + +A walk of a few rods brought them to the road, where the commander of the +company was impatiently awaiting their arrival. He looked daggers at the +travelers, and evidently intended to annihilate them by the fierceness of +his visage. + +"Give an account of yourself," said he. + +"We're no account," replied De Banyan. + +"I've seen you before," continued the cavalry commander, gazing intently +at the captain. + +"No; you saw me behind." + +"That sounds like you. Why, really, it is Barney Marvel." + +"Who?" demanded De Banyan with an expression of humor. + +"Barney Marvel! Don't you know your own name? Give us your hand, Barney," +added the officer, as he extended his own. + +"Well, cap'n, perhaps I'm Barney what's-his-name; but, 'pon my word, I +don't think I am;" and De Banyan wore a troubled expression, even to the +eyes of his anxious companion. + +"Don't be modest about it, Barney. You left us rather unceremoniously; +but I hope you'll be able to show that it was all right." + +"'Pon my word it was all right, though I haven't the least idea what you +mean." + +"Haven't you, indeed, Barney?" laughed the captain, who, in spite of his +present happy manner, was evidently as much puzzled as the other party. + +"'Pon my word, I haven't." + +"Do you mean to say you are not Barney Marvel, formerly a lieutenant in +the Third Tennessee?" + +"Not if I know it." + +"I suppose I understood your position, Barney; but I advise you not to +deny facts." + +"I never deny facts, captain; you haven't told me your name yet." + +"No need of that. Now, be honest, Barney. Tell us all about it. There +wasn't an officer in the regiment that didn't mourn you as a brother when +you left us." + +"I'm very much obliged to them," replied De Banyan lightly; but even +Somers began to have some doubts in regard to his popular friend. + +"How are Magenta, Solferino, and the Crimea, now-a-days?" demanded the +officer. + +"Never heard of such places. Don't know much about geography," answered +the captain. + +Somers was confounded when the officer repeated these words, which was +proof positive that he was the man whom the captain represented him to +be. + +"Sergeant, dismount, and tell me if you find B. M. on that man's right +arm." + +The sergeant obeyed, and, with the assistance of another, bared the +captain's arm, where they found, plainly marked in India ink, the +initials B. M. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE THIRD TENNESSEE + + +Probably there was no one in either party who was so thoroughly +bewildered by the incident which had just transpired as Captain Somers. +The mystery of his companion's antecedents was in a fair way to be +cleared up, though in a very unsatisfactory manner to those most +intimately concerned. The conversation, and the verification of the rebel +officer's statements, showed that De Banyan was not De Banyan; that the +brave and brilliant Federal officer was not a Federal officer; that, of +all he had been, only the "brave" and "brilliant" remained. + +It was painfully evident that the bold and dashing captain was, or had +been, a rebel officer. Somers was terribly shocked at the discovery, even +while it was a satisfaction to have the mystery of his companion's +previous life explained. For the time, he forgot the perils of his own +situation in the interest he felt in the affairs of his friend. Perhaps +De Banyan was a spy, who had been serving in the Union army for the +purpose of conveying information to the enemy. He had been very glad of +the opportunity to cross the river; and it seemed probable to our hero +that he wished to return to his friends. It is true, the efficient +services of the captain in the Army of the Potomac, his readiness at all +times to fight the rebels, and especially his shooting down the enemy's +pickets in the swamp, were not exactly consistent with such a record; but +perhaps he had done these things to keep up appearances, and thus enable +him the better to promote the objects of the rebellion. + +He was anxious to hear the captain's explanation of these gross charges; +but, of course, that was utterly impracticable at present. In the +meantime, there was no room to doubt that the cavalry officer had all the +truth on his side. He had hinted very strongly that De Banyan was a +deserter; but he might have deserted for the purpose of performing the +special duty which had been assigned to him. Officers and soldiers, sent +out as spies, had often incurred the odium of such a reputation, in order +to keep their own counsels, and serve their country the more faithfully. + +If Captain de Banyan was a deserter in appearance only, he would, of +course, soon be able to make his fidelity and patriotism apparent to the +rebel authorities; and being a patriot, in the traitor use of the word, +he could not do less than denounce his companion as a Federal spy. +Whatever turn the affair might take, Somers felt that his own chances of +escape were every moment becoming beautifully less. If De Banyan was a +faithful rebel, there was proof positive that his companion was a spy; if +not, he was in the company of a deserter, and would be subjected to all +manner of suspicion. + +De Banyan still held his head up, and did not lose his impudence, even +after the letters had been found upon his arm. He did not appear to be at +all confused by the discovery and the triumph of the cavalry officer's +argument. He punched Somers in the side with his elbow; but the latter +was unable to divine the significance of this movement. + +"Well, Barney, I wish somebody else had caught you instead of me; for it +is not pleasant to find an old friend under such circumstances." + +"If you please, captain, I haven't the pleasure of knowing your name." + +"Come, Barney, don't keep up this farce any longer." + +"I was about to beg the favor, that you would not call me by that +offensive name any longer." + +"You seem to be changing your colors very rapidly," laughed the officer. +"When I first saw you, you were a rough-spoken fellow; but now you use +the language of a polished gentleman. Barney, you and I were good friends +in the Third Tennessee; and, though I am sorry to meet you under these +circumstances, we must both make the best of it." + +"I tell you, captain, you are entirely mistaken in your man. I never was +in Tennessee in my life." + +"Good! You were always celebrated for monstrous stories; and they are +fully in keeping with your past history. Well, since you refuse to +recognize an old friend, of course I shall be excused for any unpleasant +measures to which I may be compelled to resort." + +"Anything you please, captain, so long as you refrain from calling me +Barney, which in my estimation is a low and vulgar cognomen, that I am +unwilling to have applied to me." + +"Who is the man with you?" demanded the officer in more business-like +tones. + +"His name is Tom Leathers; he's a pilot on the James. We refer you to +Captain Osborn for evidence of our character. We came here to do a job +for him." + +"All right, then. Captain Osborn lodges at the next house on this road, +and we will let him speak for the other man. He can't speak for you; for +I know you better than he does, or any other man who has not served in +the Third Tennessee. As you were going this way, you can walk along with +us." + +"Thank you for the polite invitation, and this is a handsome escort for a +man of my humble pretensions." + +The captain of the company ordered his men to keep back, and Somers and +De Banyan walked by the side of his horse, a few yards in advance of the +platoons. He had evidently adopted this method to draw out his prisoners; +for as such our officers were compelled to regard themselves. + +"Marvel, you used to be a very sensible fellow when you were in the Third +Tennessee," said the rebel captain. "I am surprised to see you adopting +such a stupid method to conceal your identity." + +"I had good reasons for it," replied De Banyan, casting his eyes behind +him, as if to assure himself that none of the soldiers were within +hearing. + +"What reasons?" asked the officer curiously. + +"I should think a man of your discretion would easily understand the +reason, without any explanation. If I am to be tried for any offense, I +don't want to be judged by a whole company of cavalry. You know I always +took pride in my reputation." + +"I used to think so; but, when we missed you one day, we got rid of that +opinion in the Third Tennessee." + +"Then you wronged me; for I have faithfully served my country from that +day to this." + +"I am glad to hear it, and I hope you will be able to prove what you have +said. How came you here?" + +"I came over from the other side of the river last night. You intimated +that my departure from the Third was not all regular," added the captain. + +"In a word, it was understood that you had deserted." + +"That was a mistake." + +"I am very glad to hear it; but you will remember that your loyalty to +the Southern Confederacy was not above suspicion when you joined the +regiment." + +De Banyan punched Somers with his elbow at these words, as though he +wished him to take particular notice of them; but his admiring friend +needed no such admonition to induce him to give strict attention to the +statement, for it was the most satisfactory remark he had heard during +the interview. Captain de Banyan rose twenty-five per cent in his +estimation at the utterance of those words, however injurious they were +in the opinion of him who had spoken them. There was hope for the +captain; and Somers trusted that he would be able fully to exonerate +himself from the foul charge, when the occasion should permit such an +exposition. + +"My loyalty ought to be considered above suspicion, and those who know me +best do so regard it," added De Banyan as he administered another mild +punch on the ribs of his fellow-sufferer. "I was taken by the Yankees, in +short; and, at the first convenient opportunity, I have come over to see +you again." + +"I hope it is all right, Barney; but I am afraid it is not." + +"I shall be able to clear myself of every imputation of disloyalty, +before the proper tribunal." + +"How did you get over?" + +"I have been following the fortunes of the Yankee army till last night; +when I took a boat, and came over the river. On the way I met a pilot +whose name was Andy, who turned me over to this man, who is also a pilot, +and came down to take out a fire-ship." + +"The one that was burned in the creek last night?" + +"The same. I refer you to Captain Osborn for the truth of the last part +of my statement; though the time was when you did not ask me to bring +vouchers for what I said." + +"For nothing, except your stories of the Crimea and the Italian war," +replied the captain of cavalry with a significant smile. "I must do you +the justice to say, that I never knew you to tell a falsehood on any +matter connected with your social or business relations." + +"Thank you for so much," replied De Banyan. "Now that I have made it all +right, I suppose you needn't trouble yourself to attend to my affairs any +further." + +"No trouble at all, I assure you. Under the circumstances, I shall feel +it my duty to deliver you into the hands of my superiors, and they can do +as they please with you. But I sincerely hope that you will be able to +vindicate your character from the stain which rests upon it." + +"I don't think it needs any vindication." + +"There is some difference of opinion between us on that point. Where are +you going now?" + +"To Richmond," replied De Banyan promptly; and perhaps he intended to go +there with the Army of the Potomac, though its present prospects of +reaching the rebel capital were not very favorable. + +"This is not the way to Richmond. Your stories don't agree very well." + +"I thought it was; or rather to Petersburg, and from there we expected to +get a ride up in the cars." + +"Oh, very well! I can procure you a pass to Richmond," added the rebel. + +"And an escort to attend us, I suppose," replied De Banyan with a smile. + +"A small one; but here is the house where Captain Osborn lodges. If he +knows your friend here, and can vouch for his loyalty, all well; if not, +we shall not part two such loving friends." + +Captain Osborn had not risen when the company of cavalry reached his +quarters; but he was called from his bed, and appeared in front of the +house in the worst possible humor; for, being human, he did not like to +have his slumbers disturbed by unseasonable calls. As Somers feared +Captain Osborn denied all knowledge of the prisoners, except so far as +related to his interview with them during the night. He had never seen +either of them before; and he even took the trouble to add that he didn't +believe the young fellow was a pilot, which was gratuitous and uncalled +for on his part. + +"Well, Marvel," added the cavalry officer rather coldly, "this business +is settled very much as I supposed it would be. I shall have to send you +up to Richmond, where, if your stories are all true, I doubt not you will +be able to clear yourself." + +"Thank you, captain. You are the same affectionate fellow you used to be +when you were a lieutenant in the Third Tennessee," replied De Banyan +with a sneer; for it was evident that he was not at all pleased with the +result of the affair. + +Four soldiers were detailed from the company to conduct the prisoners to +a certain camp near the railroad at City Point, and there deliver them +over to the keeping of an officer whose name was mentioned. + +"Good-morning, captain," said De Banyan with forced gayety. + +"Good-morning, Marvel, and success to you." + +"Thank you." + +"By the way, Barney, if there is anything I can do for you, don't fail to +call upon me; that is, anything consistent with the duty of a faithful +officer." + +"Such a remark was entirely uncalled for," said De Banyan with dignity. +"Do you think I would ask an officer to sacrifice his conscience?" + +"Excuse me, Barney. I meant no offense," added the rebel captain, touched +by the proud and dignified manner of his former friend. + +"Your words and your conduct are in keeping with each other." + +"Really, Barney, I meant nothing by the remark." + +"Then it was the more unmanly to make it." + +"I am still your friend. In proof of it, permit me to do you a favor," +pleaded the rebel, much concerned at the wound he had inflicted on the +sensitive nature of his late associate in the Third Tennessee. + +"I ask no favors," answered De Banyan proudly. + +"You are too hard upon me. Upon my word, I meant no offense. As a proof +of my friendship, I will take your parole of honor not to escape, and you +shall report at Richmond at your own pleasure. If you have any interest +in this young man, I will allow him the same favor." + +"After what has happened, I cannot accept a favor at your hands. I can't +see how an officer who doubts my word should be willing to take my +parole." + +"As you please, Marvel," added the captain petulantly. "I can do no more +for you." + +Somers was greatly relieved when the rebel officer rode off, followed by +his company. He had trembled with anxiety, when the parole was offered to +De Banyan, lest he should accept it, and thus compel him to do the same. +Although he could not see how it was to be brought about, he intended to +escape from the hands of his captors at the first convenient opportunity, +with or without De Banyan, as the case should demand. + +One of the four troopers detailed to guard the prisoners was a sergeant, +who intimated to them that they might take up the line of march for the +camp where they were bound. To preclude the possibility of an escape, he +ordered two of his men to ride ahead of the captives, while himself and +the other followed in the rear. The little procession moved off; and +there was never a sadder-hearted young man than Somers, who, were his +true character discovered, was liable to the pains and penalties of being +a spy. + +"Sergeant, have you been to breakfast?" demanded De Banyan, after they +had walked a couple of miles, and were passing a farm-house. + +"No, sir." + +"I smell fried bacon, and am willing to pay for breakfast for the whole +party. What do you say?" + +"There is nothing in my orders to prevent me from taking up your offer; +and I will do it, if you will agree not to run away while we are at the +house," replied the prudent soldier. + +"How shall we run away, with four men watching us?" demanded De Banyan. + +The sergeant seemed to be satisfied with this argument; and they entered +the house, where breakfast was soon in preparation for them. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE REBEL FARM-HOUSE + + +Somers, besides the chagrin caused by his capture, was greatly disturbed +by the astounding discoveries he had made in regard to Captain de Banyan. +He was extremely anxious to obtain an opportunity to converse with him in +relation to his disgraceful antecedents; but the presence of the rebel +soldiers prevented him from saying a word. Yet his looks must have +betrayed the distrust he felt in his companion; for De Banyan seemed to +study his face more than the faces of their captors. + +By this time, the six trusty soldiers who had been selected to +participate in the enterprise must have given them up, and returned to +the camp with the sad story of their capture. It was mortifying to Somers +to have such a report carried to the general of the division; for it +seemed to be an imputation upon his skill and tact; but he found some +consolation in believing that he should not have been taken if it had not +been for his unfortunate connection with Captain de Banyan, who was rash +beyond measure in venturing within the rebel lines, unless he really +meant to return to the Third Tennessee. + +Whatever the captain was, and whatever he intended to do, Somers could +not believe that his late friend had deliberately betrayed him into the +hands of the enemy. It might be so; or it might be that to save himself +from the consequences of his alleged desertion, he would claim to have +been always a faithful adherent of the Southern Confederacy. Somers was +perplexed beyond description by the perils and uncertainties of his +situation. He had, in fact, lost confidence in his companion; and the +result was, that he resolved to make his escape, if he could, from the +hands of the rebels without him. Under other circumstances, he would have +deemed it infamous to harbor, for an instant, the thought of deserting a +friend in the hour of extremity; and nothing but the remembrance of the +Third Tennessee could have induced him to adopt such a resolution. Having +adopted it, he kept his eyes wide open for any opportunity which would +favor his purpose. His curiosity, excited to the highest pitch to know +what the captain could say in defense of the heinous charge which had +been fastened upon him by the rebel cavalry officer, and which he himself +had substantiated, rendered the intention to part company with him very +disagreeable; but the terror of a rebel prison, and perhaps a worse fate, +were potent arguments in its favor. + +In the course of half an hour, the breakfast was ready, and the party sat +down with a hearty relish to discuss it. The fried bacon and biscuit were +luxuries to Somers, and he partook of them with a keener satisfaction +than he did of the costly viands of the "Continental" and the "National;" +but, deeply as he was interested in this pleasant employment, he hardly +ceased for a moment to think of the grand project of making his escape. +For the time, this had become the great business of existence, and he +banished from his mind all minor questions. + +Opportunity is seldom wanting to those who are resolutely determined to +do great deeds. Only the slow-molded and irresolute want a time and a +place. The breakfast was finished, and the troopers and their prisoners +were on excellent terms with each other long before the conclusion of the +repast. Eating and drinking promote the social feeling; and Captain de +Banyan was as brilliant as he had ever been in the camps of the +Chickahominy. He made the rebels laugh, and excited their wonder by the +most improbable stories in which even he had ever indulged. It would have +been impossible to distinguish between the captives and the captors; for +the latter were extremely considerate, as they had probably been +instructed to be by the captain of the company. + +When the meal was finished, the troopers rose, and proposed to resume the +journey. De Banyan paid the bill in gold; for there was still a small +portion of the precious metal in the army. + +"Now we are ready," said the sergeant; "and we will get our horses. It's +a pity we haven't horses for you; but, when you get tired, we will give +you the use of the saddles for a time." + +"Thank you, my friend. That's handsome. You remind me of a Russian +major-general, who insisted that I should ride his animal while he walked +by my side, after I was taken prisoner in the battle of Austerlitz." + +"He was a good fellow," replied the sergeant, who probably did not +remember the precise date of the celebrated battle quoted by the +versatile captain. "We shall not be behind him; and, if you like, you +shall have the first ride on my horse." + +"Thank you; but I couldn't think of depriving you of your horse, even for +a moment." + +"Well, we will settle all that by and by. Come with me now, if you +please," said the sergeant, as he led the way out of the house. + +As very little attention seemed to be paid to Somers--for the rebels +evidently did not regard him as either a slippery or a dangerous +person--he was permitted to bring up the rear. Now, it is always +mortifying to be held in slight esteem, especially to a sensitive mind +like that of our hero; and he resented the slight by declining to follow +the party. Near the outside door, as they passed out, he discovered +another door, which was ajar, and which led up-stairs. Without any waste +of valuable time, he slyly stepped through the doorway, and ascended the +stairs. The rebels were so busy in listening to the great stories of +Captain de Banyan, that they did not immediately discover the absence of +the unpretending young man. + +When our resolute adventurer saw the stairs through the partially open +door, they suggested to him a method of operations. It is true, he did +not have time to elaborate the plan, and fully determine what he should +do when he went up-stairs; but the general idea, that he could drop out +of a window and escape in the rear of the house, struck him forcibly, and +he impulsively embraced the opportunity thus presented. The building was +an ordinary Virginia farm-house, rudely constructed, and very imperfectly +finished. On ascending the stairs, Somers reached a large, unfinished +apartment, which was used as a store-room. From it opened, at each end of +the house, a large chamber. + +No place of concealment, which was apparently suitable for his purpose, +presented itself; and, without loss of time, he mounted a grain chest, +and ascended to the loft over one of the rooms; for the beams were not +floored in the middle of the building. The aspect of this place was not +at all hopeful; for there were none of those convenient "cubby holes," +which most houses contain, wherein he could bestow his body with any hope +of escaping even a cursory search for him. + +In the gable end, on one side of the chimney, which, our readers are +aware, is generally built on the outside of the structure, in Virginia, +was a small window, one-half of which, in the decay of the glass panes, +had been boarded up to exclude the wind and the rain. The job had +evidently been performed by a bungling hand, and had never been more than +half done. The wood was as rotten as punk; and without difficulty, and +without much noise, the fugitive succeeded in removing the board which +had covered the lower part of the window. + +By this time the absence of the prisoner had been discovered, and the +rebels were in a state of high excitement on account of it; but Somers +was pleased to find they had not rightly conjectured the theory of his +escape. He could hear them swear, and hear them considering the direction +in which he had gone. Two of them stood under the window, to which Somers +had restored the board he had removed; and he could distinctly hear all +that they said. + +"Of course he did," said one of them. "He slipped round the corner of the +house when we came out." + +"If he did, where is he? It's open ground round here; and he couldn't +have gone ten rods before we missed him." + +"The captain will give it to me," replied the other, whose voice the +fugitive recognized to be that of the sergeant. + +"We shall find him," added the other. "He can't be twenty rods from here +now." + +"I did not think of the young fellow running off, but kept both eyes on +the other all the time; for I thought he wasn't telling all those stories +for nothing." + +"Maybe he is in the house," suggested the other. + +Somers thought that was a very bad suggestion of the rebel soldier; and, +if there had been any hope of their believing him, he would himself have +informed them that he was not in the house, and reconciled his conscience +as best he could to the falsehood. + +"Can't yer find 'em?" demanded a third person, which Somers saw, through +the aperture he had left between the board and the window, was the +farmer. + +"We haven't lost but one." + +"He can't be fur from this yere." + +"Isn't he in the house?" demanded the sergeant anxiously. + +"No; I saw them both foller yer out." + +"So did I," added the farmer's wife, who had come out to learn the cause +of the excitement. + +"Well, then, we must beat about here, and find him;" and the party +beneath the window moved away in the rear of the house. + +Thus far, the project was hopeful; but it was apparent to Somers that the +rebels would not leave the place without searching the house, after they +had satisfied themselves that the fugitive was not hidden in any of the +out-buildings of the farm. If they did so, his situation would at once +become hopeless, if he remained where he was. The remembrance of his +former experience in a chimney, in another part of Virginia, caused him +to cast a wistful eye at the great stone structure which adorned the end +of the building. At that time, he had occupied his smoky quarters with +the knowledge and consent of the lady of the house. But now his secret +was lodged in his own breast alone; not even Captain de Banyan knew where +he was, or what he proposed to do. + +When the party beneath the window left the place, he carefully removed +the board, and thrust out his head to reconnoiter the position. The only +way by which he could enter the chimney, which his former experience and +prejudice assured him was the only safe place in the vicinity, was by the +top. To achieve such a result was a difficult piece of gymnastics, even +if it could have been performed without reference to any spectators; but +to accomplish it without being seen by any of the party below was as near +an impossibility as any impracticable thing could be. + +The rebels, both civil and military, were now out of sight; but he +doubted not from his eyrie on the ridge-pole of the house, if he could +reach it, they could all be seen. Somers was as prudent as he was bold, +and he decided not to run any risks until necessity should absolutely +compel such a course. Quietly ensconcing himself beneath the window, +where he could hear what transpired below, he waited the issue; but he +had studied out the precise steps which it would be necessary for him to +take in order to reach the roof of the house. He knew exactly where his +right and his left foot were to be successfully planted to achieve his +purpose, when it could no longer be postponed. But he indulged a faint +hope that the rebels would widen the area of their search, and finally +abandon it when it should be unsuccessful. + +A long quarter of an hour elapsed--long enough to be an hour's time as +its ordinary flow is measured; so burdened with intense anxiety was each +second that made up its sum total. The rebels, assisted by the farmer and +his wife, who were now hardly less zealous than the soldiers, had +examined every hole and corner in the vicinity of the house, without +finding the escaped prisoner. + +"I tell you, he must be in the house," said the sergeant, as the party +paused under the window on their return to the front of the house. + +"Of course, ye kin look in the house if yer like; but I see 'em both go +out of the door with yer," persisted the farmer. + +"We will search the house," added the sergeant resolutely. + +"Yer kin, if yer like; but I hope yer won't lose the other feller while +ye're looking for this one." + +"I told Gordon to shoot him if he attempted to get away; and I can trust +Gordon." + +They passed out of hearing, and Somers felt that his time had come. But, +as we have several times before had occasion to remark, strategy is +successful in one only by the blunders and inertness of the other; and he +cherished with increased enthusiasm his project of hiding in the chimney. +Neither the farmer nor the soldiers were trained detectives, and the +blunder they made which rendered Somers's strategy more available was in +hunting in crowds instead of singly. They all entered the house together; +and even Gordon, in charge of the other prisoner, conducted him to the +interior, that he might have the pleasure of seeing the fugitive +unearthed. + +Taking down the board, Somers emerged from the little window, and, by the +steps which he had before marked out, ascended to the roof; a difficult +feat, which would have been impossible to one whose father was not the +master of a vessel, and who had not explored a ship from the step to the +truck of the mainmast. It was done, safely done, and without much noise, +which would have been as fatal as a fall. As he sprang from the window +still to a projecting stone in the chimney, he heard the steps of the +whole party on the stairs below. He was not an instant too soon in the +execution of his project; and, when he reached the ridge-pole of the +house, he paused to recover the breath which he had lost by excitement +and exertion. + +The pursuers occupied some time in examining the store-room and the +adjoining chambers, and he had a sufficient interval for rest before he +renewed his labors. But in a few moments he heard the noise caused by the +party ascending to the loft over the room beneath him, and the movement +could no longer be delayed. + +"I tell yer, sergeant, the feller isn't in here!" protested the farmer +violently, and in a tone loud enough for Somers to hear him on the roof. +"Be keerful there, or you'll break down the plastering." + +Somers could not hear what the sergeant said in reply; but the farmer was +so earnest in his protest against any further search of his house, that +the fugitive was almost willing to believe that the protester knew he was +in the house, was his friend, and meant to save him from the hands of his +enemies. But this supposition was too absurd to be tolerated, for the +farmer could have no possible interest in his welfare. + +While watching, he had taken off his shoes, and thrust one into each +side-pocket of the old blouse he wore, partly to save noise, and partly +to prevent his feet from slipping on the smooth stones of the chimney. +Thus prepared, he climbed to the top, and commenced the descent of the +smoky avenue. He found the opening much smaller than that of his previous +experience in chimneys; and, after he had descended a few feet, the place +became inconveniently dark. He could no longer hear the steps or the +voices of his pursuers; and he had begun to congratulate himself on the +ultimate success of his stratagem, when his foot struck upon something +which moved out of his way. It was an animal--perhaps a cat. He moved on. + +"Quit! Lemme alone!" said a snarling voice beneath him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +THE MAN IN THE CHIMNEY + + +"Lemme alone!" repeated the voice in the chimney several times before +Somers could make up his mind as to the precise nature of the adventure +upon which he had stumbled. + +There was another man in the chimney; and this was the full extent of his +knowledge in regard to the being who had stepped into his darkened path. +A succession of exciting questions presented themselves to his mind, all +of which were intimately connected with the individual with whom, for the +moment, his lot seemed to be cast. Was he friend, or foe? Yankee, rebel, +or neutral? What was he in the chimney for? What business had he there? + +Somers had some knowledge of a useful and otherwise rightly respectable +class of persons, known as chimney-sweeps, who pursue their dark trade up +and down such places as that in which he was now burrowing; but the +sweeps were a civilized institution, and he could hardly expect to find +them in this benighted section of the Ancient Dominion. He did not, +therefore, waste a moment in the consideration of the question, whether +the man beneath him was a chimney-sweep or not; for the supposition was +too improbable even for the pages of a sensational novel. + +The individual was in the chimney; and there seemed to be the boundary of +knowledge on the subject. If he was not crazy, he was there for +concealment; and, thus far the two occupants of the chimney were in +sympathy with each other. Why should the man wish to conceal himself? Was +he a hated Yankee like himself, pursued and hunted down by the myrmidons +of Jeff Davis? Certainly, if he was a rebel, he had no business in the +chimney. It was no place for rebels; they had no occasion to be there. + +Of course, then, the man must be a Yankee, a fellow-sufferer with Somers +himself, and therein entitled to the utmost consideration from him. But, +if a Yankee, what Yankee? The species did not abound on this side of the +river; and he could not imagine who it was, unless it were one of his own +party. Just then, induced by this train of reflection, came a tremendous +suggestion, which seemed more probable than anything he had before +thought of. Was it possible that the other denizen of the sooty flue +could be Captain de Banyan? + +His fellow-prisoner had been taken into the house by his custodian; and, +while the guard was looking the other way, perhaps he had suddenly popped +up the chimney, leaving the rebel soldier in charge of him to believe +that he was in league with the powers of darkness, and had been spirited +away by some diabolical imp. + +In the range of improbable theories which the fertile mind of Somers +suggested to account for the phenomenon of the chimney, this seemed more +reasonable than any of the others. The personage below him very +considerately dropped down a step or two, to enable our theorist to +discuss the question to his own satisfaction; albeit it did not take him +a tithe of the time to do his thinking which it has taken his biographer +to record it. + +"Captain?" said he in a gentle whisper, as insinuating as the breath of a +summer evening to a love-sick girl. + +"I ain't a captain; I'm nothing but a private!" growled the other, who +seemed to be in very ill-humor. + +Nothing but a private! It was not the captain then, after all. He had +hoped, and almost believed, it was. He had told his friend all about his +experience in a chimney; and it seemed to him quite probable that the +valiant hero of Magenta and Solferino had remembered the affair, and +attempted to try his own luck in a similar manner. It was not the voice +of the captain, nor were there any of his peculiarities of tone or +manner. If the other character had only said Balaclava, Alma, or +Palestro, it would have been entirely satisfactory in any tone or in any +manner. + +"What are you doing here?" demanded Somers in the same low voice, with +commendable desire to obtain further knowledge of the dark subject +beneath him. + +"I don't want nothin' of you; so yer kin let me alone. If yer don't let +me alone, I'll be dog derned if I don't ketch hold of yer legs, and pull +yer down chimley." + +"Hush!" said Somers in warning tones. "They will hear you, if you speak +so loud." + +The man was a rebel, or at least a Southerner; and it passed our hero's +comprehension to determine what he was doing in such a place. + +"Hush yerself!" snarled the disconcerted rebel. "What yer want o' me? I +ain't done nothin' to you." + +"I don't want anything of you; but, if you don't keep still, I'll drop a +stone on your head," replied Somers, irritated by the fellow's stupidity. + +"Will yer?" + +"Not if you keep still. Don't you see we are in the same box? I don't +want to be caught, any more than you do." + +"Who be yer?" asked the man, a little mollified by this conciliatory +remark. + +"Never mind who I am now. The soldiers are in the house looking for us; +and, if you make a noise, they will hear you." + +"What regiment do yer belong ter?" said the lower occupant of the chimney +in a whisper. + +"Forty-first," replied Somers at a venture, willing to obtain the +advantage of the fellow's silence. + +"Did yer run away?" + +"No. Did you?" + +"What yer in here fur, if yer didn't run away, then?" asked the deserter +from the rebel army, which it was now sufficiently evident was his +character. + +"Keep still!" replied Somers, regretting that he had not given a +different answer. + +"I know yer!" exclaimed the rebel, making a movement farther down the +chimney, thereby detaching sundry pieces of stone and mortar, which +thundered down upon the hearth below with a din louder, as it seemed to +Somers in his nervousness, than all the batteries of the Army of the +Potomac. "Yer come to ketch me in a trap. Scotch me if I don't blow yer +up so high 'twill take yer six months ter come down ag'in!" + +"Keep still!" pleaded Somers, in despair at the unreasonableness of the +rebel. "The soldiers are after me; and, if they catch me, they will catch +you. 1 don't want to hurt you. If you will only keep still, I will help +you out of the scrape." + +"You go to Babylon! Yer can't fool me! What yer doin' in the chimley?" + +If Somers could quietly have put a bullet through the fellow's head, and +thus have punished him for the crime of desertion, he might have promoted +his own cause; but the bullet would not do its work without powder, and +powder was noisy; and therefore the remedy was as bad as the disorder, to +say nothing of assuming to himself the duty of a rebel provost-marshal. + +"Yer can't fool me!" repeated the fellow, after Somers had tried for a +moment the effect of silence upon him. + +It was unnecessary to fool such an idiot; for Nature had effectually done +the job without human intervention. It was useless to waste words upon +him; and Somers crept cautiously up out of his reach, and out of his +hearing, unless he yelled out his insane speeches. Every moment he +stopped to listen for sounds within the house; but he could hear none, +either because the pursuers had abandoned the search, or because the +double thickness of wood and stone shut out the noise. + +The rebel deserter, for a wonder, kept quiet when Somers retreated from +him, evidently believing that actions spoke louder than words. From his +lower position in the flue, he could look up into the light, and observe +the movements of him whom he regarded as an enemy. He seemed to have +discretion enough to keep still, so long as no direct attack was made +upon him; and to be content to wait for a direct assault before he +attempted to repel it; which was certainly more than Somers expected of +him, after what had transpired. + +Carefully and noiselessly our fugitive made his way to the top of the +chimney for the purpose of ascertaining the position of the pursuers, as +well as to remove all ground of controversy with the intractable +deserter. On reaching the top, he heard the voice of the sergeant at the +window, who had probably just reached this point in his investigations. + +"How came this board knocked off?" demanded the sergeant, who had perhaps +observed some other indications of the advance of the fugitive in this +direction. + +"The wind blowed it off t'other day," promptly replied the farmer. "Yer +don't s'pose the feller went out that winder, do yer?" + +"No; but I think he has been up here somewhere." + +"Well, I hope yer'll find him; but I've showed yer into every hole and +corner in the house; and I tell yer he's five mile from this yere 'fore +now." + +The sergeant looked out of the window, looked up to the top of the +chimney, and looked up to the ridge-pole of the house. He was no sailor +himself; and, if the thought had occurred to him that the Yankee had +passed from this window to the roof of the house, he would have been +willing to take his Bible oath that not a man in the Southern Confederacy +could have accomplished such an impossible feat. He could not do it +himself, and consequently he believed that no other man could. After +examining the situation to his entire satisfaction, he retired from the +window, and with a great many impolite and wicked oaths, aimed at Yankees +in general, and deserters in particular, he descended from the loft, and +abandoned the search. + +Somers was happy, and even forgave the deserter in the lower part of the +chimney for his stupidity. He waited patiently for the troopers to +depart--very patiently, now that the burden of the peril seemed to be +over; for he had heard the conclusions of the sergeant at the window. +From his present perch near the top of the chimney, he could hear some of +the conversation in front of the house; and he even ventured to take a +look at his enemies below. To his intense satisfaction, he saw them mount +their horses: and he was not much disturbed by the unamiable reflections +which they cast upon him. + +Captain de Banyan was with them; thus proving in the most conclusive +manner that the gentleman in the chimney was not this distinguished +individual. Having lost one prisoner, they were particularly cautious in +regard to the disposition of the other. The captain marched off in gloomy +dignity, with two cavalrymen before and two behind him. Somers caught a +glance at his face as he turned the corner into the road. It was sad +beyond anything which he had ever observed in his countenance before, and +a momentary twinge of conscience upbraided him for deserting a comrade in +such an hour; he might have waited till both of them could escape +together. But the captain's record in the Third Tennessee assured him +that he had only done his duty; though he hoped his brilliant friend +would be able, if an opportunity was ever presented, to remove the stain +which now rested on his name and fame. + +With a feeling of intense relief, however much he commiserated the +misfortunes of his comrade, Somers saw the little procession move up the +road which led to Richmond and a rebel dungeon. They disappeared; and +while he was considering in what manner he should make his way down to +the creek, where he hoped to find a boat in which to leave this +treacherous soil, he heard a voice beneath him, and farther down than the +locality of the deserter. + +"Yer kin come down now, Tom," said the farmer. + +Though the name was his own, the invitation was evidently not intended +for him; and he remained quietly on his perch, waiting for further +developments. + +"Hev they all gone, dad?" asked the deserter. + +"Yes; all gone. Yer kin come down now." + +The renegade, then, was the son of the farmer; which accounted for the +unwillingness of the latter to have the house searched by the soldiers; +and, though Somers had a general contempt for deserters, he felt his +indebtedness to this interesting family for the service they had +unwittingly endeavored to render him. + +Tom--Somers wanted to have his name changed then--Tom descended from his +position in the chimney. It was an easy matter; for the kitchen was at +the other end of the house, and there had been no fire on this hearth for +many a month. + +"Dad," said this graceless son of a graceless sire. + +"Go and wash yer face, Tom. Ye're blacker than Black Jack." + +"Dad, there's another man up the chimley. We come near havin' a fight up +there. I told him what I would do; and he got skeered, and went up top." + +"What d'yer mean, Tom?" demanded the patriarch. + +Tom stated again, more explicitly than before, the subject matter of his +startling communication. + +"I reckon he's a Yank, dad; he talks like one, but says he b'longs to the +Forty-fust Virginny. I know he's a Yank. I kin smell one a mile off." + +Somers was flattered; but he was not angry at the compliment, and calmly +waited for an invitation to join the family below. + +"He's the feller that gin the soldiers the slip," added the father. "The +sergeant says he's a Yank; but t'other prisoner says he's a James River +pilot." + +"I know he's a Yank. He'd 'a' killed me if I hadn't skeered him off." + +"I reckon he skeered you more'n you skeered him," added the head of the +family, who appeared not to have a very high opinion of his son's +courage. "We'll smoke him out, Tom. Go'n git some pitch-wood and sich +truck." + +Somers had a very strong objection to being smoked out, and he commenced +a forward and downward movement in the direction of the assailing party. +Fearing that some unworthy advantage might be taken of his lower +extremities before he could assume an attitude of defense, he drew his +pistol, and placed himself a few feet above the fire-place. Tom returned +with the fuel, and the old man ordered him to make a fire. + +"One moment, if you please," said Somers. "I'll shoot the first man of +you that attempts to make a fire there." + +With an exclamation of terror, Tom retreated from the hearth; and Somers, +improving the opportunity, leaped down from his perch. Stepping out from +the great fire-place, he stood in the presence of the hopeful son and +sire. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +A BROKEN BARGAIN + + +Somers was entirely satisfied with himself when he stood in the presence +of the farmer and his son; and, so far as they were concerned, he had no +fears for the future. The redoubtable Tom retired to one corner of the +room, and, full of terror, awaited the issue. The father was the braver +of the two, and stood in the middle of the floor, confronting the +pestilent Yankee who had thus so unceremoniously invaded his house. + +"Who be you?" demanded the old man. + +"No matter who I am," replied Somers, with the pistol still in his hand. +"I propose to spend the day with you, and will pay for everything I +have." + +"Perhaps yer will stay here, and perhaps yer won't," replied the farmer +doggedly. + +"There's no perhaps about it; I intend to stay here." + +"I s'pose yer don't keer whether I'm willing or not." + +"On the contrary, I do care. I had much rather stay with your consent +than without." + +"Well, then, yer won't stay with my consent." + +"Then I shall stay without it," answered Somers, with a degree of +decision which was exceedingly annoying to his involuntary host. + +"No, yer won't," growled the farmer. + +"I will pay you well for the use of this room, and for all that I eat and +drink," said Somers, wishing to be fully understood. + +"Yer can't stay here." + +"No, yer can't," added Tom. + +"I have made you a fair offer, and am willing to do what is right; and, +as I said before, I intend to stay here till to-night, whether you are +willing or not." + +"Yer kin put up your pistol; I ain't afeerd on it." + +"I have no desire to use the pistol to your injury, and shall not do so +unless in self-defense. You know that I am a fugitive." + +"A nigger, by gracious!" exclaimed the farmer, whose vocabulary was very +limited, and who had no idea that the word "fugitive" could mean anything +but a runaway negro. + +"You know that the soldiers are after me, and it will not be safe for me +to leave this house before dark. I'm not a nigger; and it makes no +difference to you what I am." + +"You are a dirty Yankee; and I'd rather hev a hundred niggers in my house +than one Yankee." + +"That's a matter of taste. If you are fond of negroes, I don't interfere +with you for that." + +"Shet up!" snarled the farmer, highly displeased with the answer of the +fugitive. "I won't hev a Yankee in my house a single hour." + +"Very well; we won't argue the matter. You can do anything you please +about it," replied Somers with perfect indifference as he seated himself +in a chair. + +"Then yer kin leave." + +"I shall not leave; on the contrary, I shall remain here till night." + +"I reckon we'll see about that. I'll jest go down and call up two or +three of them soldiers, and let 'em know you're a Yankee. I calkilate +they'll tote you out of this rather sudden." + +"Go ahead!" replied Somers coolly. + +"I reckon ye'll tell another story by the time they git here." + +"I reckon your son Tom will too," added the unwelcome guest. + +"See here, dad; that won't work, nohow," interposed the hopeful son. +"They'll ketch me if yer do." + +"Exactly so," added Somers, who, of course, had depended upon the +situation of the rebel deserter for his own safety. + +The farmer looked at his intractable guest, and then upon his dutiful +son; and the idea tardily passed through his dull brain that the soldiers +would be just as dangerous to the welfare of the son as to the visitor. +Probably he had intended, when the military force came, to send Tom up +the chimney, as he had done a dozen times before; but the secret was no +longer in the keeping of the family alone. + +"I see you understand the case perfectly," said Somers, as he +contemplated with intense satisfaction the blank dismay of both father +and son. "If you had the wisdom of Solomon, you couldn't comprehend it +any better." + +"I reckon ye're about right, stranger," replied the farmer. + +"You can see now it is for your interest as well as mine that we make +friends. Tom's safety and mine are both the same thing. The best you can +do is to take good care of me to-day, and at night help me to make my way +over to the other side of the river." + +"Then yer be a Yank?" + +"I didn't say so. Tom can go with me if he likes. He will be safer there +than here." + +"Tom?" + +"If he is a deserter from the rebel army, he will be caught sooner or +later, and be shot. He will be safe on the other side of the river." + +"Go over to the Yanks! He hates 'em wurs'n pizin. Don't yer, Tom?" + +"Bet yer life I do, dad," replied the hopeful son. "I won't go over thar, +nohow." + +"Just as he pleases about that. I only wanted to do him a friendly act." + +"Well, stranger, I don't mind keepin' yer to-day; but Tom can't go with +yer." + +"Very well; then I will stay in this room; and, if the soldiers come, I +can go up the chimney with Tom," replied Somers. "I'm tired and sleepy. +Didn't sleep a wink last night. I will take a nap on the floor. You will +wake me, Tom, if there's any danger; won't you?" + +"Yes, I'll wake yer," replied the deserter with a broad grin. + +"We'll see that you don't git caught; kase, if yer do, of course, Tom'll +git caught too," added the farmer. + +There was something in his manner which Somers did not like. Though he +was a man of dull mind, there was a kind of low cunning visible in his +look and manner which warned Somers to be cautious. He stretched himself +on the floor; and the farmer and his son left the room, closing the door +behind them. + +Our scout was, as he had before declared, both tired and sleepy; but rest +and sleep were luxuries in which he could not permit himself to indulge +in the midst of so much peril and so many enemies. As soon as the door +closed behind the sire and the son, he rose from his reclining posture, +and hastened to reconnoiter the position. The enemy--for such he was +fully assured his host was--passed through the entry and out the door at +the back of the house, as Somers discovered from the noise of their +retreating footsteps. + +There was a window in the rear of the room, which commanded a full view +of them as they paused near the door to consider the situation. Somers +raised the sash a little, so that he could hear what they said, not +doubting that his own case would be the subject of the conversation. + +"Don't you do it, dad," protested Tom in answer to some proposition which +the farmer had made before the listener came within hearing distance of +them. + +"Don't yer be skeert, Tom. The feller's gone ter sleep in there, and the +soldiers kin hurry him off afore he wakes up. Don't yer see, Tom? I +reckon the Yank's an officer, and they'll give me suthin handsome fur +ketchin him." + +"Yes; but, dad, they'll get suthin handsome fur ketchin me too." + +"You kin hide, as yer allers does when they comes." + +"But the Yank will blow on me." + +"What if he does?" + +"He'll tell 'em I'm up chimley, and then they'll look fur me." + +"Tom, ye're a bigger fool'n yer father!" said the farmer petulantly. +"Can't yer hide in t'other place down suller?" + +"It looks kinder skeery, dad," replied the doubtful son. + +"Yer used ter hide down suller more'n yer did up chimley. But don't yer +see, Tom, arter I've called in the soldiers, and give up the Yank, +they'll think I'm a patriot, and won't b'leeve nothin' a dirty Yank can +say agin' me." + +"Well, dad, I hate the Yank as bad as you do; but yer must be keerful." + +"Now go and see that the feller don't wake up and run off, and I'll go +down arter a sergeant and half a dozen men. When yer hear us comin', just +step down suller'n crawl inter the drean. Git the feller's pistol out of +his pocket, if yer kin, while he's asleep." + +"What a precious old scoundrel that man is!" thought Somers, as he +retreated from the window, and threw himself on the floor where the +farmer had left him. + +He almost regretted that he had not used his pistol on the treacherous +old villain, who had made a fair bargain with him, and agreed to the +terms of the contract. The wretch had actually gone after the soldiers to +entrap him, and Tom was to remain and keep watch of him in the meantime. +Taking the revolver from his pocket, he thrust it under his blouse; still +keeping his hand upon it, so as to make sure that the deserter did not +carry out his part of the programme. Thus prepared for the conflict which +might ensue, or for any other event, he closed his eyes, and pretended to +be asleep. + +Presently the door softly opened, and Tom crept into the room. He had +taken off his shoes, that his step on the uncarpeted floor might not +disturb his prey, and stole towards him. After approaching as near to the +prostrate form as he dared, he bent over him to determine in which pocket +the pistol had been placed. Somers was tempted to grapple him by the +throat, as he listened to the young villain's subdued breathing; but he +feared that he would scream if he did so, and it was necessary to achieve +his conquest in a more gentle manner. + +He moved his body a little, as if his slumbers were disturbed by +unpleasant dreams; and added a noise like a snore to complete the +delusion. Tom retired for a moment till his victim should again be +composed; but Somers, instead of subsiding into the slumber of a sleepy +and tired man, gradually opened his eyes and waked up. Slowly rising into +a sitting posture, he looked around him; and apparently, as if entirely +by accident, he discerned Tom. + +"Can't yer sleep?" asked Tom, with extraordinary good nature for a person +of his saturnine disposition. + +"I've been asleep these two hours, I believe," gaped Somers. "What time +is it, Tom?" + +"'Tain't eight o'clock yet. Yer hain't been asleep more'n fifteen +minutes." + +"Haven't I?" + +"Not more'n that. Better lay down, and finish yer nap; kase I s'pose yer +won't git much sleep to-night, if ye're gwine over the river." + +"I feel better than I did, at any rate. I think I'll get up. It's +tremendous hot here. Don't you ever open your windows?" + +"I reckon we do. I was just thinkin' o' that." + +And it was quite probable he was thinking of it; for he certainly wanted +the earliest information of the approach of the soldiers. He opened the +window in the front of the house, and Somers opened that in the rear. The +latter then went to the door, and took a careful survey of the entry, in +order to determine the way which the deserter must take to reach the +cellar, where he was to conceal himself when the soldiers came. The +prudent son of the master of the house had opened the door leading to the +cellar, from which he was to enter his subterranean retreat. + +For more than an hour, Tom nervously watched the wakeful Yankee, and +several times suggested to him that he could sleep just as well as not, +promising to wake him up if there was any danger; but Somers was most +provokingly lively for a man who had been up all the preceding night, and +resolutely refused to take a hint or to adopt a suggestion. Both of them +were fearfully anxious for the result that was pending, and each had his +plan for overreaching the other. It was a long hour; but at last Tom +broke the spell which seemed to rest on both of them by declaring that he +was "clean choked up," and must go and get a drink of water. At the same +moment, Somers heard the tramp of the soldiers in the road as they +approached the house, and understood why his companion had suddenly +become so thirsty. + +"No," said Somers, placing himself between the deserter and the door, +with the revolver in his hand. "I don't want to be left alone. Somebody +is coming to the house--half a dozen men. They are soldiers!" he +exclaimed, glancing out at the window. + +"Run right up chimley thar, and you'll be as safe as if you was t'other +side of the river." + +"But they'll catch you too! Come, Tom, up chimney with you, and I'll +follow. If any one attempts to follow us, I'll shoot him with my pistol. +Be in a hurry, Tom! We have no time to spare," urged Somers, driving the +coward before him towards the fire-place. + +"You go up fust," pleaded Tom, in mortal terror of the revolver. + +"Up with you, or I'll blow your brains out!" added Somers in a low, +fierce tone, which frightened his companion half out of his wits. + +"Don't fire, and I will," replied the wretch, as he stepped into the +fire-place, and commenced the ascent of the chimney. + +"Up with you!" repeated Somers. "Now, if you attempt to come down, I'll +shoot you." + +The voice of the farmer, leading the soldiers to their prey, was now +heard close to the house; and Somers deemed it prudent no longer to +remain in the room. Darting out into the entry, he made his way to the +cellar, closing the door behind him just as the rebels were about to +enter. + +"Where is he?" demanded the sergeant, who belonged to the battery at the +works near the house. + +"In this room," replied the farmer, putting his hand on the door of the +apartment where he had seen the victim lie down to sleep an hour before. +"But yer must be keerful with him. He had a pistol, and mebbe he mought +shoot some on us." + +"We aren't afraid of all the Yankees this side of the north pole," added +the sergeant, as he pushed the door open and entered the room, followed +by his squad of soldiers. "Where is he? There aren't no Yankee here." + +"Well, he was here an hour ago," said the farmer. + +"See here, old man, if you've been makin' a fool of us this hot day, I'll +spit you on my bayonet. We heard that a deserter and a Yankee had been +taken, and that the cavalry lost one of them." + +"That was the Yankee. They lost him, and I found him ag'in." + +"Where is he, then?" + +"He aren't far from here," said the farmer, walking up to the fire-place, +and pointing up the chimney, where he had no doubt the victim had retired +when he heard the soldiers approaching. + +"Up there?" + +"That's where the feller hid when the troopers was lookin' fur him; and +yer kin be sure he's up there now. But yer must be keerful; fur he's got +a pistol, and is a mighty savage fellow." + +"We'll soon bring him down," added the sergeant as he stepped into the +fire-place, and looked up the chimney. "I see him; but he's half way up +to the top. I reckon we can smoke him out best. Come, old man, take some +of this pitch-wood, that will make a big smoke, and kindle a fire." + +"We'll soon have him," said the farmer as he obeyed the order. + +"I say, Yank!" shouted the sergeant up the chimney; "if you don't want to +be smoked out, come down." + +No answer came to this polite suggestion; and then one of the soldiers +proposed to fire his musket up the chimney; which so terrified the +occupant thereof, that he begged for mercy. + +"Don't shoot, and I'll come down!" groaned the wretch. + +"The cowardly Yank! He's like all the rest of them. Come down quick, +then!" + +The farmer, who had stepped out for more wood, returned; and at the same +moment, Tom the deserter, begrimed with soot, dropped down on the hearth, +and stepped out into the room. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +SOMERS IS COMPELLED TO BACK OUT + + +Very likely the Virginia farmer had some idea of retributive justice when +he saw his hopeful son step out of the fire-place into the very jaws of +ruin. To say that he was astonished would be expressing his state of mind +too tamely; for he was overwhelmed with confusion, fear and mortification. +He had expected to find the Yankee asleep on the floor; but, as he was not +there, it was sufficiently evident to him that he had again resorted to +the chimney for concealment. It had been distinctly arranged beforehand, +that Tom, his son, should conceal himself in the cellar; and, of course, +he did not expect to find him in the chimney. + +In short, all his expectations had been defeated, and he himself had +opened the trap for his son to enter. He probably knew how strict was the +discipline of the rebel army in respect to deserters. He had frequently +heard of executions of persons of this class; and he could hardly expect +his son to escape the penalty of his misconduct. He had broken his +bargain with the fugitive; and, in attempting to surrender him to his +implacable enemies, he had deprived his heir of liberty, if not of life. + +"This is your Yankee, is it?" demanded the sergeant, as he gazed at the +remnants of the rebel uniform which Tom still wore. + +"No, no; this ain't the Yankee!" stammered the farmer. + +"Well, you needn't tell us who he is; for we know. I was told to keep a +sharp lookout for one Tom Rigney, a deserter; and I reckon this is the +chap. You are my prisoner, my fine lad." + +"There, now, dad!--d'ye see what ye've done?" snarled poor Tom Rigney, as +he glanced reproachfully at the patriarch, who had unwittingly sprung the +trap upon him. + +"I didn't do it, Tom," replied Farmer Rigney, appalled at the calamity +which had overtaken his house. + +"Didn't you bring me in here to capture this boy?" asked the sergeant, +who appeared to be bewildered by the unnatural act of the father. + +"I brought yer here to take the Yank, who was as sassy as a four-year-old +colt." + +"He promised the Yankee he'd take keer on him till night," added the +vengeful Tom. + +"That was only to keep him here till I could fotch somebody to take keer +on him," pleaded the farmer. "The Yank must be up chimley now," he +continued, reminded that his own reputation for loyalty to the great and +general Southern Confederacy was now doubly compromised. + +"He ain't up there, dad, nohow," said Tom. + +"Where is he?" demanded the sergeant. + +"Dunno." + +"Where did he go?" + +"Dunno." + +"Didn't you see him?" + +"I reckon it was too dark, up chimley, to see anything." + +"Haven't you seen him?" + +"I reckon I have. He woked up, and druv me up chimley right smart, with +the pistol in his hand; reckon, if I hadn't gone, I'd been a dead man; +I'll be dog scotched if I shouldn't." + +"You say he drove you up the chimney?" demanded the sergeant. + +"I reckon he did." + +"Where did he go, then?" + +"Dunno." + +"Yes, you do know! If you don't tell, you'll get a bayonet through your +vitals," said the soldier sternly, as he demonstrated with the ugly +weapon he had fixed on his gun before he began to examine the chimney. + +"Dunno," replied the deserter sulkily. + +"Answer, or take the consequences!" + +"Dunno. Jes as lief be stuck with a bagonet as shot by a file of +soldiers," answered Tom, to whom the future looked even more dark than +the present. + +"Tell, Tom," pleaded his father. + +"Dunno, dad; I was up chimley when he left. Dunno no more'n the dead." + +Perhaps the sergeant concluded that Tom's position was a reasonable one, +and that it would not have been possible for him to see, from his dark +retreat, where the Yankee had gone. At any rate, he was saved from +further persecution; and two of the men were ordered to conduct him to +the camp, while the remainder stayed to continue the search for the +fugitive. Farmer Rigney protested and pleaded, and even offered to warm +the palms of the soldier's hands with certain pieces of gold which he had +in the house; but, unfortunately for the patriotic farmer, the sergeant +was above a bribe, and Tom was hurried off to his doom. + +A careful search of the house and premises was now instituted; and this +time the farmer was a zealous co-operator with the soldiers; for it was +necessary for him to establish his own loyalty before he could do +anything to save his son from the deserter's fate. The party proceeded +up-stairs first, and carefully examined every closet, and every nook and +corner which could by any possibility contain the form of a man. As +Somers was not up-stairs, of course they did not find him; and we will +not weary our readers by following them in their fruitless search. + +Somers went down into the cellar, closing the door after him; and, as he +may be lonesome in his gloomy retreat, we will join him there, though it +was rather a tight place for more than one person. The cellar was dark +when the fugitive made his advent within its somber shades; and, as he +was an utter stranger in the place, he was not a little bewildered by the +awkwardness of the situation. He was in darkness, and wished for light; +at least, for enough to enable him to find the hiding-place of which he +had heard the farmer speak. + +This snug retreat, where the deserter had balked his pursuers, was +undoubtedly the cellar drain; though, to Somers, it appeared to be a +Virginia notion to have it long enough to admit the form of a man. Tom +Rigney was a larger person than himself; and the case was hopeful enough, +if he could only find the opening. The cellar contained various boxes, +barrels, firkins and other articles, the mass of which were piled up in +one corner. + +Somers followed the wall entirely around, from the pile in the corner, +till he returned to it, without finding what he desired. It was +sufficiently evident, therefore, that the entrance to the drain was under +the boxes and barrels, which had probably been placed over it to ward off +the over-inquisitive gaze of any visitors who might explore the cellar. +Our enterprising hero immediately commenced the work of burrowing beneath +the rubbish, and soon had the happiness of discovering the identical road +by which the original occupant of the place had entered. Before the +opening, he found sufficient space to enable him to readjust the boxes +and barrels, so as to hide his den from the observation of any who might +be disposed to follow him in his subterranean explorations. + +The drain was certainly small enough, even for the genteel form of +Captain Thomas Somers; though, as his mustache was quite diminutive in +its proportions, he was able to worry himself along several feet into the +gloomy hole. It was a miserable place in which to spend the day; but, +miserable as it was, he hoped that he should be permitted to remain +there. He was fully conscious of the perils of his situation. He knew +that Tom, in the chimney, must be captured; and it was not probable that +the farmer would let the soldiers depart without examining the house. His +retreat was known to him, and there was not one chance in a hundred for +the hole to be passed by without an examination. + +It would be fatal to remain where he was; and, after resting himself from +the fatigue which the exertion of moving in his narrow den induced, he +again pushed forward, cheered by the conclusion that a drain would be a +useless institution without an opening at each end. Indeed, there was a +glimmer of light at some distance before him; and he indulged the hope +that he might work his way out to the blue sky. + +He had scarcely resumed his progressive movement, which had to be +accomplished very much after the fashion of a serpent--for the aperture +was too narrow for the regular exercise of his legs and arms--he had +scarcely begun to move before voices in the cellar announced the approach +of the pursuers. A cold sweat seemed to deluge his frame; for the sounds +were like the knell of doom to him. With desperate energy he continued +his serpent march; but it was only to butt his head against the stones of +the drain, where its size was reduced to less than half its proportions +near the cellar. + +His farther advance was hopelessly checked; and there was nothing more to +be done but to wait patiently the result of the exciting event. He was +satisfied that his feet were not within eight or ten feet of the cellar; +for, being a progressive young man, he had entered the hole head first. +It was possible, but not probable, that he might escape detection, even +if the opening was examined; and, with what self-possession he could +muster for the occasion, he lay, like the slimy worms beneath him, till +ruin or safety should come. + +"I reckon he isn't down here," said the sergeant, after the party had +examined the cellar, and even pulled over some of the boxes and barrels. + +"God bless you for a stupid fellow as you are!" thought Somers; for he +was prudent enough not audibly to invoke benedictions, even upon the +heads of his enemies; but the words of the sergeant afforded him a degree +of relief, which no one, who has not burrowed in a drain in the rebel +country, can understand or appreciate. + +"I reckon there's a place down in that corner that's big enough to hold a +man; fur my son Tom's been in there," added the farmer. + +These words gave Somers another cold sweat; and perhaps he thought it was +a mistake that he had not put a bullet through the patriarch's head when +he had been tempted to do so in the room above. He was a double traitor; +but I think the conscience of our hero was more at rest as it was than it +would have been if he had shot down an unarmed man, even to save himself +from prospective capture. + +"Where is the place?" demanded the sergeant. + +"In yonder, under them barrels and boxes. Jest fotch the trumpery out, +and you'll see the hole," replied Rigney. + +Somers heard the rumble of the barrels, as they were rolled out of the +way, with very much the same feelings that a conscious man in a trance +would listen to the rumbling of the wheels of the hearse which was +bearing him to the church-yard, only that he was to come forth from a +hopeless grave to the more gloomy light of a rebel dungeon. + +"I can't see anything in that hole," said the sergeant. "No man could get +into such a place as that." + +"Blessed are your eyes; for they see not!" thought Somers. "May your +blindness be equal to that of the scribes and Pharisees!" + +"But my son Tom has been in there. I reckon a Yankee could crawl inter as +small a hole as anybody." + +The sergeant thought this was funny; and he honored the remark with a +hearty laugh, in which Somers was disposed to join, though he regretted +for the first time in his life that he was unable to "crawl out at the +little end of the horn." He was encouraged by the skepticism of the +soldier, and was satisfied, that, if he attempted to demonstrate the +proposition experimentally, he would be fully convinced of its +difficulty, if not of its impossibility. + +"Go and bring another lamp and a pole," said the sergeant. + +One of the party went up the stairs, and Somers gave himself up for lost. +The extra lamp would certainly expose him, to say nothing of the pole; +and it seemed to be folly to remain there, and be punched with a stick, +like a woodchuck in his hole. Besides, there is something in tumbling +down gracefully, when one must inevitably tumble; and he was disposed to +surrender gracefully, as the coon did when he learned that Colonel +Crockett was about to fire and bring him down. There was no hope; and it +is bad generalship, as well as inhuman and useless, to fight a battle +which is lost before the first shot is fired. + +We have before intimated that Captain Somers, besides being a brave and +enterprising young man, was a philosopher. He had that happy +self-possession which enables one to bear the ills of life, as well as +the courage and address to triumph over them. He had done everything +which ingenuity, skill, and impudence could accomplish to save himself +from the hands of the rebel soldiers; from a rebel prison, if not from a +rebel halter. He had failed; and, though it gave him a bitter pang to +yield his last hope, he believed that nothing better could be done than +to surrender with good grace. + +"How are you, sergeant?" shouted he, when he had fully resolved upon his +next step. + +"Hallo!" replied the sergeant, laughing heartily at the hail from the +bowels of the earth. "How are you, Yank?" + +"In a tight place, sergeant; and I've concluded to back out," replied +Somers. + +"Good! That's what all the Yankees will have to do before they grow much +older. Back out, Yank!" + +Somers commenced the operation, which was an exceedingly unpleasant +necessity to a person of his progressive temperament. It was a slow +maneuver; but the sergeant waited patiently till it was accomplished, by +which time the extra lamp and the pole had reported for duty. + +"How are you, Yank?" said the sergeant, laughing immoderately at the +misfortune of his victim. + +"That's the smallest hole I ever attempted to crawl through," replied +Somers, puffing and blowing from the violence of his exertions in +releasing himself from his narrow prison-house. + +"How came you in such a place?" asked the sergeant as they walked up the +stairs. + +"Well, my friend, the farmer here, suggested the idea to me. He said his +son had crawled in there a great many times." + +"I?" exclaimed Rigney. "I never said a word about the drean." + +"You must be looked after," added the sergeant, with a menacing look at +the discomfited farmer. "You have concealed a deserter in your house for +weeks; and now we find that you hide Yankees too." + +"I didn't hide him!" protested Rigney. + +"Didn't you agree to keep me here till night?" asked Somers, who despised +him beyond expression. + +"If I did, it was only to have the soldiers ketch yer." + +The sergeant declared that Rigney was a traitor, and that he must go +along with him; but Somers, with more magnanimity than many men would +have exercised towards such a faithless wretch, told the whole story +exactly as it was, thus relieving him of a portion of his infidelity to +the Southern Confederacy; and the sergeant was graciously pleased to let +him remain at home, while his victim was marched off to the rebel camp. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +A NIGHT IN PETERSBURG + + +The sergeant who had captured our hero seemed to be a very clever fellow, +and appreciated the sterling merits of his captive. While he was rigidly +devoted to the discharge of his duty, he treated his prisoner with all +the consideration which one human being has the right to expect of +another, whatever the circumstances under which they meet. + +Somers was disgusted with the result of the adventure, even while he had +no reason to blame himself for any want of care or skill in conducting +his affairs under the trying circumstances. He was only a few hours +behind his late companion, Captain de Banyan; whom he had now a +reasonable expectation of meeting again before the close of the day. + +If Somers was disgusted with the issue of the adventure, he did not yet +despair of effecting his escape. This was all he had to live for at +present; and he was determined not to lose sight of this great object of +existence. Libby Prison was a flourishing institution, even at the time +of which we write; and he was determined not to be sent there, if human +energy and perseverance could save him from such a fate. It was easier to +avoid such a trap than it would be to get out of it after he had fallen +into it. As he walked along with the talkative sergeant, he kept his eyes +open, ready to avail himself of any opportunity which might afford him a +reasonable prospect of shaking off his disagreeable companion. + +His captor asked him a great many questions in regard to himself, and to +the Army of the Potomac on the other side of the river, which Somers +answered with skill and discretion; though we suppose that even a rigid +moralist would have excused some slight variations from the strict letter +of the truth which crept into his replies. He was an officer in the +Yankee army; but he dared not acknowledge his rank, lest he should be +accused of being a spy. If he was a captain, he ought to have worn the +uniform of his rank in order to have it recognized. As he was a private, +his chance of spending the summer on Belle Isle was better than that for +Libby. But, as Somers was fully resolved not to go to Richmond in advance +of the noble army whose fortunes and misfortunes he had shared, he did +not deem it necessary to consider what quarters he should occupy. + +The sergeant was a faithful soldier. Somers found no opportunity to slip +away from his guard on the way to the camp. He was duly delivered to the +officer of the day, and his intimacy with his good-natured captor was at +an end. The officer who was responsible for him made some inquiries in +regard to the prisoner, and learned that he had escaped from the troopers +in the morning. When he understood the case, as it was only eight miles +to the railroad station, where the other prisoner was probably waiting a +conveyance in the camp, he decided to send Somers forward at once, +fearful that he might again take leave of his captors. From what he had +heard from Captain Osborn and the cavalry soldiers in charge of him, he +concluded that the young man was a person of more consequence than he +appeared to be--that he was either high in rank, or guilty of enormous +military misdemeanors. + +A two-horse wagon used for general business about the camp was brought +up, and Somers was sent forward in charge of two soldiers, who were +especially ordered to shoot him if he attempted to escape; which they +would probably have done of their own free will and accord, without any +orders. The captive looked in vain for an opportunity to elude the +vigilance of the guard; they hardly took their eyes off him during the +ride. Possibly they thought the young fellow was President Lincoln in +disguise, and that the salvation of the Southern Confederacy depended +upon his safe delivery into the hands of the provost-marshal at Richmond. + +The roads were very muddy from the recent rains, and it required two +hours to accomplish the distance to the railroad station. On their +arrival, Somers was handed over to another officer in charge of the camp +at the station. Captain de Banyan had already been sent forward to +Petersburg, and another train would not depart till evening. Somers was +carefully guarded during the remainder of the day, and an attempt to get +away would have been equivalent to committing suicide. At dark he was put +into a baggage-car, with two soldiers to guard him; and in a short time +reached the city of Petersburg. With several other unfortunate Union +soldiers, he was placed in a small room in the station-house, to remain +until a train should start for Richmond. Of course, they were carefully +guarded; and Somers began to fear that he should, after all, be compelled +to visit the rebel capital without the army. + +The room was on the second floor, with two windows opening into the +street; but the prisoners were charged, on penalty of being shot, not to +look out at them. There was not the ghost of a chance to operate under +such unfavorable circumstances; and Somers gave up all thoughts of doing +anything that night. Stretching himself on the floor, he tried to sleep; +but his spirit was too great to permit him calmly to view the prospect of +a rebel prison. As he lay on the floor, he ransacked his brain for some +expedient which would save him from the horrors of Libby or Belle Isle. + +The best scheme that suggested itself was to leap from the cars on the +way to Richmond. It involved the liability to a broken neck or a broken +limb; but he determined to watch for an opportunity to execute this +reckless purpose. His companions in bondage were worn out with long +marches, and all of them slept on the floor around him in a few moments +after they entered the room. They had asked him some questions; but he +kept his own counsel, and endeavored to cheer their desponding spirits +with the hope of being soon exchanged. + +At last Somers went to sleep himself, after he had heard a church clock +in the city strike eleven. He had slept none on the preceding night, and +his slumbers were as sound as if he had been in his attic-chamber in the +cottage at Pinchbrook. Even the opening of the door, and the entrance of +three men with a lantern, did not disturb him. One of the party was an +officer. He wore a military cloak over the gray uniform of the +Confederate army. + +"Which is the man?" demanded he in sharp tones of the two soldiers who +accompanied him. + +"I don't know which he is now," replied the corporal of the guard. +"What's his name?" + +"Tom Leathers," answered the officer. + +The corporal then passed round among the sleeping prisoners, and roughly +kicked those who were asleep, including Somers, who sprang to his feet, +and was rather disposed to make a "row" on account of this rude +treatment, before he remembered where he was. + +"Now they are all awake," said the corporal when he had been the rounds. +"Is there any such man as Tom Leathers here?" + +"Tom Leathers," repeated the officer in a loud tone. + +No one answered to the name; but, in a moment, Somers happened to think +that this was the appellative which he had assumed when he was a pilot +down on the creek by the James River. He was evidently the person +intended; but he was in doubt whether to answer the summons. The +antecedents of the young pilot of the James were not such as to entitle +him to much consideration at the hands of the rebels; and he was disposed +to deny his identity. While he was debating the question in his own mind, +the corporal repeated the name. + +"There's no such man here," he added, turning to the officer. + +"He must be here. He came up in the night train." + +"He don't answer to his name." + +"Hold your lantern, and let me look these prisoners in the face." + +The corporal passed from one to another of the captives till he came to +Somers; thrusting the lantern into the face of each, so that the officer +could scan his features. + +"What's your name?" he asked, as the corporal placed the lantern before +Somers. + +Not having made up his mind as to the effect of acknowledging his +identity with the pilot, he made no reply. + +"That's the man," said the officer decidedly. + +"Is your name Tom Leathers?" added the corporal, as he made a +demonstration with his bayonet at the prisoner. + +"Put down your musket, corporal; you needn't be a brute to your +prisoners." + +"I only wanted to make him answer the question. If you give me leave, +I'll find a tongue for him." + +"He is the man I want; bring him out," replied the officer. + +"Bring him out? I beg your pardon, sir; but I don't know who you are. I +can't give up a prisoner without orders." + +The officer, who seemed to be suffering with a bad cold, and wore the +collar of his cloak turned up so as to conceal the greater part of his +face, opened the lower part of his garment, so that the corporal could +see his uniform. At the same time he took from his pocket a paper, which +he opened, and handed to the guard. + +"That's all right," said the latter, when he had read the document. "Of +course, you will leave this with me?" + +"Certainly. Now bring out the man; and lose no time, for I am in a +hurry." + +Somers was conducted from the room to the car-house below, where the +officer asked for a soldier to guard the prisoner to the office of the +provost-marshal, who was waiting for him. The corporal furnished the man; +and the captive walked off between his two companions, bewildered by the +sudden change which had taken place in the course of events. He could not +imagine why he had been singled out from the rest of the prisoners in the +station-house, unless some specific and more definite charge than being +in arms against the great Southern Confederacy had been laid at his door. +The most unpleasant thought that came to his mind was that Captain de +Banyan had betrayed the object of his mission to the south side of the +river. There was good evidence that his fellow-officer had come over as a +spy; and the hope of saving his own life might have induced him to +sacrifice even one who had been his best friend. + +It was not pleasant to think of Captain de Banyan as capable of doing so +mean an act; for he had been regarded in the regiment as the soul of +honor,--of worldly honor, which scorns to do a vile thing if public +opinion has condemned it. But the astounding information which he had +obtained among the rebels concerning his friend's antecedents had +destroyed his confidence in him, and he was prepared for anything from +him. In this light, his situation was almost hopeless; for the evidence +would certainly condemn him before any court-martial in the Confederacy, +and the chances of escape were lessened by his separation from his +unfortunate companions in arms. He had probably been taken away from them +to prevent even the possibility of exercising his talent in getting away, +as he had done after his capture. + +They walked in silence along the gloomy and deserted streets; and Somers +felt just as if he were marching to his execution. He knew that the rebel +officers had a summary way of dealing with cases like his own; and he was +prepared to be condemned, even before another sun rose to gladden him +with his cheerful light. He thought of his mother, of his father, of the +other members of the family, and of the blow it would be to them to learn +that he had been hanged as a spy. He thought of Pinchbrook, of the happy +days he had spent there, and of those who had been his true friends. He +thought of Lilian Ashford, the beautiful one, in the remembrance of whose +sweet smile he had reveled every day since they parted, and which he had +hoped to enjoy again when war should no more desolate the land, and he +should be proudly enrolled with the heroes who had saved the nation from +ruin. + +All these pleasant memories, all these bright hopes, all these loving +forms, though present in his heart, seemed dim and distant to him. He had +nothing to hope for in the future on this side of the grave, nothing in +the present but an ignominious death on the scaffold. Yet it was sweet to +die for one's country; and, disgraceful as his end might be in its form, +it was still in the service of the nation. He felt happy in the thought; +and, if there was nothing more on earth to hope for, there was still a +bright heaven beyond the deepest and darkest grave into which the hate of +traitors could plunge him, where the ruptured ties of this life are again +restored, never again to be subject to change and decay. + +There was a tear in his eye as he thought of his fond mother; and he wept +for her when he could not weep for himself. No one saw that tear, and the +officer permitted him to indulge his sad revery in silence. But, after +they had walked two or three squares, his companion in authority suddenly +stopped. + +"I have left a book, which I carried in my hand, at the depot," said he, +in tones full of chagrin at his carelessness. "I must have it; for I can +do nothing without it." + +"Where did you leave it?" asked the soldier. + +"In the guard-room. You may go back, and bring it to me. Give me your +gun; you needn't carry that." + +"Where shall I find you?" + +"Here, where you leave me. Go quick, my man." + +"I won't be gone ten minutes," replied the soldier, as he started off at +a run for the missing volume. + +The officer took the gun, and stood by the side of his prisoner, at the +corner of the street, till the soldier disappeared in the darkness. +Somers, still thinking of the sad fate which he was confident was in +store for him, wished to confirm his impressions in regard to his +destiny. His companion seemed to be a gentleman of a kindly nature, +though stern in the discharge of his duty. It was possible that he would +give him some information in regard to the probable disposal of him. + +"Will you tell me, sir, why I am separated from the rest of the +prisoners?" said he, as soon as the sentinel had departed upon his +errand. + +"Because you are an officer." + +"How do you know I am?" asked Somers, very desirous of ascertaining how +much Captain de Banyan had told in regard to him. + +"We know all about you," answered the officer, muffling his cloak more +closely around his face, as if afraid the night air might injure his +lungs as he opened his mouth. + +"What do you know about me?" + +"All about you." + +"That isn't very definite." + +"In a word, you are Captain Thomas Somers, of the --th regiment." + +"Who told you that?" + +"That's of no consequence." + +"What is to be done with me?" + +"I don't know." + +"I suppose I am only a prisoner of war?" + +"You crossed the James River in disguise, and went into our lines for the +purpose of obtaining information. I suppose you can put those two things +together." + +Somers's worst fears were confirmed. He was to be tried as a spy, and De +Banyan had told all he knew about him. Before he had time to dwell on the +dark prospect any longer, the officer said he was cold, and could not +stand there any longer. Taking his prisoner by the arm, he led him down +the cross-street. Somers was just thinking of an attempt to bid his +companion good-night, when the latter spoke again: + +"I shall catch my death from this night air," said he. "Just before the +battle of Magenta----" + +"Captain de Banyan!" exclaimed Somers. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +A FRIEND INDEED + + +"Hush, my dear boy! not a word!" said Captain de Banyan in an impressive +whisper, as he led the way along the street. + +Somers made no reply; for he readily perceived that the utmost caution +was necessary, though he did not understand the position of his friend, +or what complications there were in the situation. He was filled with +rejoicing at finding himself again in the way of getting back to the +Union army. Of course, his feelings towards Captain de Banyan, in spite +of his antecedents in the Third Tennessee, underwent a sudden and +agreeable change; and in the joy of his heart he was disposed to embrace +his friend, and beg forgiveness for the suspicions he had entertained of +him. + +They had advanced but a short distance from the main street, when they +heard the clatter of horses' hoofs. + +"That's bad," said Captain de Banyan, as he stopped to ascertain in what +direction the horsemen were going. + +"What's bad?" demanded Somers. + +"My absence has been discovered, I am afraid. The provost-marshal has a +section of cavalry to run down Union prisoners who may escape. I think +they are after me; at any rate, we must be very careful where we go." + +A few moments later, a small party of horsemen dashed down the street by +which the captain was conducting his retreat. It would prove fatal to +their hopes, if they were seen; and Captain de Banyan entered the yard of +a house, followed by his companion. There was a stable on the premises; +and, without a special invitation from the owner, they entered, making +their way to the hay-loft, which seemed to be the most promising place of +concealment. A horse in the stall below whinnied when they reached the +second floor, expecting, no doubt, his morning rations of hay. + +Unfortunately for the fugitives, still more unfortunately perhaps for the +horse, there was very little hay in the loft; so that a secure +hiding-place was not readily found. But, as it was no part of the +captain's intention to remain long in this loft, they seated themselves +on a grain chest, to wait till the troopers should pass the house. + +"What time is it, captain?" asked Somers. + +"About four in the morning. We are rather late. It will be daylight in +about an hour." + +"Where have you been since we parted?" + +"Since we parted, my boy? We didn't part. You did all the parting, +Somers," replied De Banyan in a reproachful tone. + +"I know I did; but, after what I had heard, you need scarcely wonder. You +acknowledged that you had been a rebel officer, and a member of the Third +Tennessee regiment." + +"I grant it; but I thought enough else was said to enable you to +understand my position." + +"Well, I had some hopes that you were all right; but I could not banish +my fears. How could I know that you had not been sent over on the other +side for the same purpose that we crossed the James?" + +"You might have known it, my dear fellow. They don't usually send men +over on such business whose loyalty is doubtful. You heard the captain +say that I had been suspected." + +"I did; but I could not fully understand your position." + +"And so you gave me the slip? Well, Somers, I forgive you." + +"I am sure, if I had not been in doubt in regard to what you were, I +would not have left you, even if I had been certain of hanging with you." + +"I know you wouldn't, my boy. I confess there were a great many dark +things against me; but I assure you I am a loyal and true man. I have +suffered more for the Union than you have; for I was born in the sunny +South, and all my friends and neighbors went with the rebels. I had no +alternative but to go into the army, where my experience in the Crimea, +in Italy, and in Mexico, made me an officer. I escaped as soon as I +could, and enrolled myself on the right side." + +Somers grasped the hand of his brave and devoted companion, which he +pressed with a warmth that indicated his feelings more eloquently than +words could have done. He was entirely satisfied with the explanation, +because it was fully sustained by the conduct of the captain, and by the +words of the rebel cavalry officer who had claimed his acquaintance. He +was even disposed to believe that De Banyan had been a soldier in the +European wars and in Mexico; which was a degree of credulity hardly to be +expected of a sensible young man. + +"You will forgive me for my unjust suspicions, captain? I assure you it +went against my grain to believe that you were a rebel." + +"You had good reason for it. I was more afraid of you, when I confessed +my sins to the rebel officer, than I was of him. We are friends again, +Somers; that's all I want." + +"You have proved yourself my friend by this last act; and I should have +needed no further explanation to convince me that you were a loyal man." + +"I am all that, my dear boy." + +"Where have you been since I parted from you?" + +"I got up to Petersburg in the afternoon. I was put in that hole where I +found you at first; but, when the provost-marshal learned my story, he +sent for me, and I was conducted to his office. Just as I came out of the +depot, you went in. He wanted to question me, he said. Well, I happened +to know him, though he did not know me. I knew his weak point; and, in a +word, I bamboozled him. I assured him I was an officer in the Third +Tennessee, and that, on further inquiry, he would find I was all right; +that I had rendered greater service to my country by going over to the +Yankees than I could possibly have done by remaining with my regiment; +which, you are willing to believe, was strictly true. + +"I asked the privilege of putting on my uniform again, which he granted; +and, with the gold in my pocket, I purchased a full fit-out of the +quartermaster. The provost-marshal told me that I must report at +Richmond, which I promised to do; and, my dear boy, I hope I shall be +able to do so at no distant day, though it doesn't look much like it just +now. He gave me an apartment next to his office, for the night; where, of +course, he expected to find me in the morning. In the night, I got up, +and went into his office to transact a little business on my own account. + +"After I saw you at the depot, my dear fellow, I couldn't forget your sad +look. You seemed to be as hopeless as a stray chicken in the wet grass, +and I was trying to think what I could do for you. I couldn't have gone +back to Harrison's Landing without you; it would have broken my heart. +And what could I have said to the general, when he asked for you? How +could I have made my peace with the officers of the regiment, if I had +gone back without you?" + +"It was very kind of you, after the shabby manner in which I had treated +you," added Somers. + +"That was the very reason why I was bound to help you out of the scrape, +if I could. I wanted to set myself right with you. I wanted to convince +you I wasn't the man you took me to be." + +"You have convinced me in the fullest manner; and I owe you a debt of +gratitude which I shall never be able to pay." + +"Steady, my boy; we are not out of the scrape." + +"No matter whether we get out of the scrape or not, my feelings towards +you will be just the same." + +"Thank you, Somers; I am satisfied." + +"But where did you get the pass you gave the corporal of the guard at the +depot?" asked Somers. + +"I found the provost-marshal's signature on certain papers, one of which +I filled out to suit myself. But there was a sentinel at the door of the +office, put there, I suppose, for my benefit; though I was sorry to +trouble the poor fellow to stand there on my account. My friend, the +provost, had done this little act in the most delicate way in the world. +He did not tell me that I was under guard; but I happened to find out +before I put my foot in the trap. + +"In a word, not wishing to disturb the sentinel, I took the liberty of +leaving by the way of the window of my chamber, instead of the door. +Luckily there was a one-story shop next to the office; and with the aid +of a blanket from my bed, I dropped down upon it, without disturbing the +meditations of the sentinel or the slumbers of the provost. I got into +the street, and went to the depot. There I told the corporal of the guard +a very interesting story about the prisoner who had been brought up in +the afternoon, meaning myself; and that the man I wanted was needed +immediately as a witness. You know the rest, my dear fellow; and here we +are." + +"And here we are likely to remain, I'm afraid," added Somers. + +"Not a bit of it. I haven't exhausted half my expedients yet. On the +night before the attack on the Redan, at Sebastopol, I went all over that +city, and spent the evening at the house of one of the most distinguished +citizens--a gentleman who had a government contract for rations. Of +course, he didn't know me." + +"Hush! There is some one coming into the stable below," said Somers, as +he heard a door opened on the floor below. + +It was impossible to move then without making noise enough to excite the +attention of the person who had entered; for the stable was old and +rickety, and the boards creaked at every step they took. The fugitives +listened with breathless interest to the movements of the unwelcome +visitor. The horse whinnied again; and the person entered the stall, and +spoke to him. The sound of his voice filled the occupants of the loft +with consternation; for evidently the speaker was not a negro servant, as +they had hoped and expected to find him, but a white man, and one who +used the English language well. + +"Come, Jenny, there's a job on hand for us; and you must postpone your +breakfast till we catch the Yankee prisoners," said the person, who, the +fugitives were now satisfied, was an officer of the cavalry service. + +While De Banyan was telling his story, they had heard some noise at the +house; and they now concluded that the party which had ridden up the +street had come to call this officer for duty. They hoped that nothing +would require him to pay a visit to the loft, and that, like a good +officer, he would be as expeditious as possible in his preparations. + +"You are my prisoner, if he comes up-stairs," whispered De Banyan. + +Somers pressed the hand of his companion to assure him that he understood +his plan; and they held their breath, in the intense anxiety of the +moment, for further developments. The present seemed to be the turning +point in the career of the adventurers; and, if they could once escape +from the horns of this dilemma, skill and prudence would conduct them in +safety to the Union lines. + +The officer below, after he had politely informed "Jenny" of the early +movement, seemed to be in no hurry to get into the saddle. He went out at +the door of the stable, and all was silent again, except the voice of +Jenny, who seemed to be protesting against any movement before she had +received her customary feed of corn. + +"Peters!" shouted the officer from the door, "hurry up! The Yankees will +get to the James River before you get the saddle on my horse. Where have +you been?" + +"I was looking for my boots." + +"An orderly ought to wear his boots to bed with him, if he can't put them +where he can find them," replied the officer, as the heavy step of +another man was heard in the stable below. + +"What news did you hear?" asked the officer, as the orderly led the horse +from the stall. + +"The sergeant said some officer that had been took as a deserter done +runned away," replied Peters, as the fugitives heard the rattle of the +saddle-gear. + +"Hurry up, then!" + +"He done took a Yankee prisoner from the depot with him," added Peters, +who, if he had not been called an orderly, the listeners would have taken +for a negro. + +"You may take a peck of corn in a bag for Jenny, Peters. We may have a +long ride of it," added the officer, as he left the stable. + +A peck of corn! De Banyan and Somers were sitting on the grain chest! It +was impossible to avoid discovery; and De Banyan threw off his cloak, +ready for the emergency. + +"Somers, my boy, we must change our tactics. They have heard the whole +story, and we can't blind them. We must make the best of it. Have you a +pistol?" whispered the captain. + +"No; all I had was taken from me," replied Somers. + +"I have only one. No matter; it would never do to fire up here," added De +Banyan, as he picked up a short pitch-fork which lay near him. + +"Are you going to kill him?" asked Somers. + +"It's life or death for you and me! We can't stop for trifles," answered +the captain in hurried tones, but still in a whisper. + +They listened for a moment longer to the quick movements of Peters in the +stable below. It was evident that Jenny was duly caparisoned for service; +and then another horse was led out, which belonged to the orderly. He was +prepared for service in less time than Jenny had required; and, a moment +later, the step of Peters was heard on the stairs. With the bag in his +hand, he was coming up for the corn, as he had been ordered by the +officer. He did not see the fugitives till he had reached the last step; +when, as he was on the point of opening his mouth to speak, De Banyan +leveled a blow at his head with the handle of the pitch-fork, which +felled him to the floor. + +He sank down upon the stairs stunned or dead; and the captain, as though +he had carefully matured his plan beforehand, dragged the body to one +corner of the loft, where he covered it with hay. + +"Not a word, Somers," said he in an excited whisper, as he crouched down +behind the grain chest. + +"Are you going to stay here?" demanded Somers, astonished at this +singular disposition of the forces. + +"Hush--the officer is close by." + +With beating heart, Somers waited for the further action of his resolute +companion. It was the most critical period of his life, it seemed to him, +especially as he did not fully comprehend the purpose of De Banyan. Only +a moment elapsed, but it was long enough to be a week, before the owner +of Jenny returned to the stable. + +"Peters! What are you about?" shouted he angrily. "I shall never get off +at this rate. Peters!" + +Peters was not in condition to answer the summons at that moment. Somers +hoped he was not dead; but he might as well have been dead, so far as +speaking was concerned. + +"Peters!" shouted the officer again, with a string of Southern +Confederacy oaths; "where are you? What are you about?" + +Of course, the orderly could not answer; and his silence only added to +the rage of his master, who continued to swear in a manner which must +have disgusted the gentle Jenny, and the other respectable horse standing +on the stable-floor. + +The officer rushed out of the stable, and the heaviness of his step +indicated the state of his mind. He had gone to look for Peters; but, as +Peters was not outside, he must be inside; and the officer entered again. +He now walked towards the stairs leading to the loft. + +"Peters!" he continued to roar as he rushed up the stairs. "Peters! this +is your last day's service with me!" + +But the poor orderly was unable to remove the stain which rested upon his +fidelity. He still held his peace; still silently submitted to the unjust +imputations on his character. The officer landed in the loft just as +Captain de Banyan rose to receive him. + +"Who are you?" demanded he, as the stout form of the captain confronted +him. + +"Your most obedient servant to command," replied De Banyan. + +"You are a Confederate officer?" + +"I seem to be; but I am not. Be that as it may, your presence is +dangerous to my health and comfort." + +"I see: you are the deserter." + +"I am; but the future lies between you and me." + +"Then we will let the future speak for itself," answered the officer, +drawing a pistol from his belt. "Surrender, or you are a dead man!" + +"I must positively decline the honor," replied De Banyan, as he swung the +pitch-fork over his head, and attempted to strike him down. + +He failed; and the officer fired, but without effect. At that moment, +Somers stepped forward with a billet of wood he found on the floor. At +the same time, De Banyan raised the pistol; but the rebel fired a second +time before he could discharge it. Somers instantly dropped his stick, +and his left arm fell to his side; the ball had passed through it. De +Banyan fired; the officer sank down, not killed, but badly wounded. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +DR. SCOVILLE'S PATIENT + + +The ball from De Banyan's pistol had passed through the right side of the +officer; and he sank upon the floor, the blood flowing copiously from the +wound. These proceedings were so irregular, that Somers could not +reconcile himself to them. He was wounded himself; but, when the officer +fell, he was full of sympathy for him. It was evident that the sufferer +would bleed to death in a short time, if left to himself without any +attention; and Somers could not endure the thought of letting even an +enemy die in this forsaken condition. + +"Come, my boy; we have no time to lose. It's daylight now, and we ought +to be five miles from the city before this time," said De Banyan, as he +moved towards the stairs. "Take the man's pistol and ammunition, and come +along as fast as you can." + +"Will you leave this gentleman in this condition?" asked Somers, gazing +with pitying tenderness at the pale face of the fallen officer. + +"Leave him? Of course; we can't take him with us." + +"But he will bleed to death if we leave him here." + +"Let him bleed to death; I can't help that. Many a better man than he has +bled to death since this war began. Come along, Somers! What is the +matter with your arm?" demanded he, when he saw that it hung useless at +his side. + +"I was hit." + +"Hit! We are lost, then!" + +"No, we are not lost, either. I am not killed," replied Somers, whose arm +was still numb from the effect of the shot. + +"That's a misfortune. I am afraid it will spoil everything. Can you sit +on a horse?" + +"Of course I can. But I can't bear to let this man die here alone. He is +a brave fellow, and deserves a better fate." + +"Come along, Somers! You are an odd stick, when you are wounded, to +trouble yourself about your enemies. Let me see your arm." + +The captain examined the wounded member, which was now bleeding very +freely. He tied a handkerchief around the arm, and did the best which the +circumstances would admit for his friend. He then led the way +down-stairs, where the horses were impatiently waiting for their riders. +Jenny was a noble mare, and the orderly's horse was an excellent animal. +De Banyan, knowing how much might depend upon the endurance of the horses +in the flight before them, filled the bag with corn in the loft, after he +had helped Somers to mount the horse of Peters, which appeared to be the +steadier beast of the two. + +The noise of the affray in the loft had probably been heard by some of +the occupants of the house; and, just as the fugitives had mounted the +horses, a black woman from the dwelling approached the stable. She gazed +with astonishment and alarm at the riders, and seemed to be satisfied +that all was not right. + +"Your master is up in the loft," said Somers, as they rode by her. "He is +hurt, and wants attention." + +"Now whip up, Somers. We must make quick time; for we shall have the +whole city after us in ten minutes," said De Banyan, as he urged Jenny to +the top of her speed. + +The spirited animal seemed as willing to exert herself for the enemies as +the friends of the Southern Confederacy; thus proving that she was a +neutral horse, or cherished Union sentiments. But the other horse could +not keep pace with her, and De Banyan was compelled to restrain her +speed. The fugitives had scarcely appeared in the street before a hue and +cry was raised; for the place had been thoroughly aroused by the clamor +which the troopers had created. Still, there was nothing in sight which +promised to offer any serious resistance to their progress. + +A few moments brought them to the outskirts of the town; though in what +direction, or to what point, the road they had taken would lead them, +neither De Banyan nor Somers had the most remote idea. To go in the wrong +direction was equivalent to plunging into certain ruin; to go in any +direction was hardly less perilous; for the rebel cavalry was out upon +every road, intent upon capturing the deserter and the Yankee. As they +emerged from the more thickly settled parts of the city, they discovered +a negro approaching them. + +"Where does this road lead to?" demanded De Banyan, reining in his fiery +steed. + +"Prince George's Court House, massa," replied the man. "Wha' for you +gwine down dar?" + +De Banyan was not disposed to answer any unnecessary questions, and again +spurred on his horse. + +"See here, massa!" shouted the negro. + +"What do you want?" asked De Banyan impatiently; for, being a Southerner +himself, he had no particular respect for the negro race. + +"Don't go down dar, massa." + +"Why not?" + +"Git cotched if you do, massa," said the man with an expressive grin. "De +sodgers on de horses is down dar arter you." + +"How do you know they are after us, you black rascal?" + +"Kase dey ax dis chile if he see two men, one ob 'em dressed like de +'federate ossifer, and de odder a Yank. Dis nigger didn't see no sich +pussons den; but, golly, sees um now fur sartin. You done git cotched as +shore as you was born, massa, if you go down dar." + +"Where shall we go, then?" + +"Dunno, massa; but you mustn't be seen gwine down dar." + +"How many soldiers did you meet?" + +"Four, sar." + +"This won't do, Somers. How is your arm?" + +"It begins to ache. We may as well go forward as back," said Somers, who +was now suffering severely from his wound, which had not been improved by +the hard gallop of the horse he rode. + +"Who lives in that house?" demanded De Banyan of the negro, pointing to a +splendid dwelling a short distance ahead. + +"Dr. Scoville, massa." + +"Doctor?" replied the captain, glancing at Somers. + +"Yes, sar; Dr. Scoville. Dat's a mighty fine mar you rides, massa. I +reckon dat's Captain Sheffield's mar." + +"Very likely." + +"Don't mind me, massa; dis chile's a Union man for shore," grinned the +negro. + +"All the negroes are Union men," replied Somers faintly. + +"Dat's so, massa!" + +"What's Dr. Scoville?" asked De Banyan hopefully. + +"Secesh, massa--drefful secesh. He done been in de army fur a surgeon." + +"He is a dangerous man, then." + +"Dar, massa, dar!" shouted the negro suddenly, as he pointed down the +road over which the fugitives had just come. "Dey's some more arter you." + +De Banyan started his horse again, followed by Somers; but it was evident +from the appearance of the latter that the chase was nearly finished for +him. He was beginning to feel very faint from the loss of blood, while +the pain of his wounded arm was almost unsupportable. The gait of the +horse seemed to wrench the bones asunder, and cause the shattered parts +to grate against each other. + +"Hurry up, Somers, my dear boy," said his companion, as he glanced back +at the pale face of his friend. + +"I am afraid I can't go much farther, De Banyan," replied Somers. "I am +very faint. I feel sick." + +"Cheer up, and make one effort more. The rebels are upon us!" + +"I cannot. I shall fall from the horse, I am afraid." + +"Don't do that." + +"I won't if I can help it; but the motion of the horse almost kills me. +Leave me, De Banyan; save yourself if you can." + +"Leave you? I haven't the remotest idea of doing anything of the sort." + +"Better go on, and save yourself. It is all up with me." + +"A mother would sooner leave her baby than I would leave you," replied De +Banyan in tones as tender as a woman's. "I'll never leave you, Somers. If +you go to Richmond, I shall go with you." + +"You cannot do me any good. Save yourself before it is too late." + +"Not I." + +"I beg you----" + +"Cease your blarney, my dear boy! We are one flesh; and we will hang +together to the end of life, or _at_ the end of it, as the case may be. +Here, Somers, stick to your horse a moment more, and we will call and see +the doctor." + +"Dr. Scoville!" exclaimed Somers, alarmed at the idea. + +"Very likely he is a good surgeon. You are on the sick-list now; mind +what I say, and do just what I tell you." + +De Banyan, without stating what he intended to do, dashed up the roadway +leading to Dr. Scoville's house. It was evident that he was about to +resort to some desperate expedient to retrieve the shattered fortunes of +his party; but he kept his own counsel; and Somers yielded himself to the +master will of his companion like a child, as indeed he was in his +exhausted and suffering condition. The roadway led to the rear of the +house where the stable was located; and De Banyan reined up his foaming +steed as soon as he reached the corner of the building. + +"Keep still a moment, Somers, and I'll have you taken care of," said De +Banyan, as he rode back to a point where he could see the road without +being seen. + +It was evident that they had been observed by the party of horsemen which +had just come out of the city; and he wished to ascertain whether they +had seen him turn in at the doctor's premises. The pursuers (for every +mounted man was a pursuer on that eventful morning) were riding in every +direction in search of the fugitives. He hoped they would pass by, +satisfied that any person who should boldly call upon Dr. Scoville must +be a rebel. + +He was disappointed. When the party reached the road, they reined up +their horses; and De Banyan, without losing a moment, dismounted, +fastened Jenny to a post in the yard, and ran down to intercept the +troopers. The captain walked with the quick, sharp, consequential tramp +of a military commander; and, when the soldiers saw him, they +involuntarily saluted him. + +"What are you doing up here?" he demanded in tones of authority. + +"We are looking for the prisoners that runned away," replied a corporal. + +"Well, do you expect to find them in the dwelling-house of Dr. Scoville? +Ride down the road as fast as you can, and turn to the first left. If you +meet the major, report Captain Sheffield badly wounded--shot by one of +the prisoners." + +"Then the prisoners have gone down this way?" + +"Certainly they have. Off with you as fast as you can!" + +The corporal saluted, wheeled his horse, and dashed off, followed by the +rest of the party. De Banyan wiped away the cold sweat from his brow, and +returned to his suffering companion. He helped him to dismount and seated +him on a block while he secured the horse. By this time, a couple of +negro women came out of the house. They were the early risers of the +family, and at once manifested the most abundant sympathy for the +sufferer. The doors of the house were thrown wide open to him; and +Captain de Banyan, supporting Somers, followed the servants into the +sitting-room, where the patient was laid upon the sofa in a fainting +condition. + +"Now call your master," said De Banyan, with as much assurance as though +he had been the lord of the manor. + +"Yes, massa," replied one of the women as she hastened to obey the order. + +"How do you feel, my dear boy?" said De Banyan, bending over his charge. + +But Somers was past answering. He had fainted from loss of blood and the +agony of his wound. The resolute captain did not wait for Dr. Scoville in +this emergency; but, taking a bottle of cologne from the mantel, he +applied himself with skill and vigor to the restoration of his patient. +While he was thus engaged, the doctor made his appearance. He was a man +of fifty, of forbidding aspect and rough exterior. + +"Who are you, sir?" demanded he in brusk tones, placing himself in front +of the captain, and without bestowing more than a glance at the patient +on the sofa. + +"Captain Sheffield," replied De Banyan as sharply as the question had +been put. + +"Are you, indeed? Then you have altered a great deal since I saw you +yesterday," added Dr. Scoville, with an expression of malignant triumph +on his face. + +This reply was a damper on any little scheme which the over-confident De +Banyan had proposed to carry out; but the captain was a profound student +in the mysteries of human nature, and at once correctly read the +character of the gentleman who stood before him. + +"You didn't see me yesterday, and you know you didn't," he replied in +tones hardly less savage than those of his involuntary host. + +"That's very true; I did not," said the doctor. + +"This point settled, I'll thank you to turn to the next one, which is the +patient before you." + +"You are a plain-spoken man," added Dr. Scoville, still gazing intently +into the face of the captain; who, however, returned the look as +resolutely and as earnestly as it was given. + +"I am; I don't waste words when my friend is dying, for aught I know. +Will you attend to this man?" + +"Who is he?" + +"He is a man shot through the arm, and needing instant surgical +attendance," answered De Banyan impatiently. "It isn't necessary to know +any more before you examine him." + +"Good!" exclaimed the doctor with a smile such as that in which a hyena +might be supposed to indulge when pleased, if hyenas ever are pleased. + +He turned to Somers, and proceeded to examine into his condition. The +coat of the patient was removed from his insensible form, and he was +carefully disposed on the sofa, according to the directions of the +doctor; the captain and the negro women assisting in the work. Though the +surgeon was as rough as a bear in his tone and manner, he was as tender +as a loving mother in his treatment of the sufferer, and handled him as +carefully as though he had been a new-born babe. The blood was stanched, +and the wound dressed as skilfully as human hands and human knowledge +could perform the operation. + +"What do you think of him?" asked De Banyan, full of anxiety for his +suffering companion. + +"He won't die just yet; but he may lose his arm." + +"Good heavens! do you think so?" exclaimed the captain. + +"No; I don't think so." + +"What did you say so for, then?" + +"I didn't say so." + +"Didn't you say he would lose his arm?" demanded De Banyan savagely. + +"I didn't say so." + +"What did you say, then?" + +"I said he might lose his arm. You may lose your arm; but I think you are +more likely to lose your head. Who is this young man?" + +"He is a friend of mine; and, as I find it necessary to be entirely +candid with an old fellow like you, I shall answer no questions in regard +to him at present." + +"Indeed!" + +"Not a question, Dr. Scoville. I intend to have him stay at your house +till he is able to join his regiment; and I intend to stay with him." + +"You do me unmerited honor by making my humble house your home," said the +doctor satirically. + +"I think you are worthy of the honor, Dr. Scoville. As your humble house, +I think it is very well got up, creditable to your taste, and altogether +a fine place." + +"Thank you," growled the host. "I suppose you have no objection to my +informing the Confederate States military officers in the city of your +presence here?" + +"Not the slightest," answered De Banyan promptly. "I propose to inform +them myself in due time." + +"What did you say your name was?" + +"Captain Sheffield." + +"Of Petersburg?" + +"No, sir." + +"Not of Petersburg?" + +"No, sir; of Nashville, Tennessee, which I can further inform you is the +capital of the State. I have the honor to be a captain in the Third +Tennessee. I served in Mexico, in the Crimea, and in Italy. I was present +at four battles in the Crimea, seven in Italy, five in Mexico; I have +been engaged in nine battles of the present war, and have been wounded +six times." + +"Were you ever killed?" + +"Never was so unfortunate. Can I furnish you with any further +information?" + +"No more at present," replied the doctor, compressing his lips, +apparently to keep from laughing, but really because he could not think +of anything sharp enough to dash so ready a talker. "If you do me the +honor to remain here a week, I shall have better opportunities of hearing +your marvelous experience, Captain Sheffield. Ah, what have we here?" +continued he as three horsemen galloped up the roadway. + +A violent knocking was presently heard at the side door of the house, and +Dr. Scoville hastened to learn the errand of the excited visitors. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +DE BANYAN AT WORK + + +"How do you feel, my dear boy?" asked Captain de Banyan as soon as the +doctor had left the room. + +Somers, by the skilful applications of the physician, had been restored +to consciousness, and had listened with astonishment, not unmingled with +alarm, to the last part of the conversation between his friend and their +host. + +"I feel a little better, captain; at any rate, I am more comfortable," +replied Somers. + +"I am glad to hear it. I have been terribly worried about you." + +"I think I shall do well enough. But what shall I say for myself?" + +"Say nothing, Somers--not a word. Don't commit yourself to anything." + +"What have you told him?" + +"Nothing; and I don't intend to tell him anything. He is a jolly old +fellow, who thinks he is very eccentric, and takes pride in being +considered so. When I was in the Crimea----" + +"Never mind the Crimea now," interrupted Somers with a languid smile. + +"I was only going to say that I understand the old doctor first-rate, and +can manage him as easily as I could an old plow-horse. Keep still, +Somers; don't let on, under any circumstances. Leave me to do all the +talking." + +"But the cavalry are after us now." + +"Never mind; the doctor will take care of them." + +"They will recognize our horses, if they don't know us." + +"No matter if they do." + +Somers thought it was matter; and he could not see for the life of him +how De Banyan was to get out of such a scrape as this; for it was an +infinitely worse one than his own experience on the Williamsburg road. He +could only hope for the best, expecting nothing but disaster. + +"Good! Bully for the doctor!" exclaimed De Banyan as the sounds of an +excited controversy at the side door reached the ears of the patient and +his friend. "He is doing just what I expected him to do." + +"Pray, what did you expect him to do?" asked Somers, who could not see +what a rebel surgeon could be expected to do under the circumstances, +besides delivering them up to the military authorities. + +"I expect him to protect us to the utmost of his ability; and, in my +opinion, he has quite as much influence as any other man in Petersburg. +When you see a man like Dr. Scoville, you may depend upon it he is a +power in the community where he lives. He knows it as well as any other +person. Let the doctor alone, and he will manage the matter as skilfully +as he dressed your wounded arm." + +Whatever confidence Captain de Banyan had in the will and the ability of +Dr. Scoville to protect them, he was curious to hear what the soldiers +and what the doctor had to say. He was not quite willing to be seen by +the rebel soldiers; so he passed quickly into the entry, and took a +position where he could hear without being observed. + +"Do you know who I am, you villain?" demanded the doctor, in tones so +full of rage, that the troopers ought to have been annihilated, though it +appears that they were not. + +"I don't care who you are; I want the men that came here an hour ago," +replied one of the troopers. + +"If Jeff Davis himself came for them, he couldn't have them!" roared Dr. +Scoville. + +"I tell you, sir, one of them is a deserter, and the other is a Yankee." + +"I don't care what they are. Report my answer to the provost-marshal; +tell him Dr. Scoville will be responsible for the safety of the men." + +"I won't report any such answer to him." + +"If a man of you attempts to enter my house, I'll shoot him!" replied the +doctor, taking a rifle from a nail in the entry. + +"Very well, sir; if you can shoot any better than we can, you may begin," +said the soldier. "But, as sure as you fire, you are a dead man." + +"And those of you whom I don't shoot will be hung as soon as you report +the death of Dr. Scoville at headquarters." + +Whatever the soldiers thought, they were not willing to assume the +responsibility of shooting a man like the doctor, whose splendid mansion +was a guaranty of his wealth and high standing, and whose strong words +assured them that he was a man of influence. Even the possibility of +being hanged in such a cause was not agreeable to contemplate; and the +doctor carried the day against his assailants. + +"I don't want to shoot you, Dr. Scoville; but I shall put a guard over +your house, and wait for further orders," said the soldier, who appeared +to be a sergeant. + +"Do anything you please; but don't you enter my house. Every man, woman +and child here is under my protection," replied the doctor, as he +restored the rifle to its original position; and the troopers retired +from the door. + +Captain de Banyan withdrew from the hall, and joined Somers in the +sitting-room, where he was immediately followed by the doctor. The +situation did not look very hopeful, even to a man of such desperate +fortunes as the bold Tennessean. The house was surrounded by rebel +soldiers, and a report of the case would probably be made to the +provost-marshal; therefore it was not at all likely that the doughty +doctor could long remain contumacious. + +"So, my mysterious friend, you are a Confederate deserter, are you?" said +the doctor, as he placed himself in front of the captain, thrust his +hands deep down into the pockets of his pants, and stared at his guest +with all the vigor of an active and piercing eye. + +"You say that I am; but I adhere to my original resolution, to say +nothing at present," replied De Banyan, returning the gaze of the doctor +as earnestly as it was given. + +"If you were Abe Lincoln himself, you are safe in my house," said the +doctor after a long pause. "But I wish you to understand clearly and +precisely what I mean. I am not the man to shield a deserter or a Yankee +from the penalty due to his crimes. You came into my house with a wounded +man. I am an Arab on the subject of hospitality. Whoever comes into my +house is my guest; and I never betrayed a man who trusted in me." + +"Thank you, doctor." + +"You needn't thank me, for I despise you from the deepest depths of my +heart; and in due time you will fall into the hands of the military +authorities, but not in my house." + +"Thank you, Dr. Scoville. I appreciate your hospitality, and despise you +as much as you do me," answered De Banyan. + +"Despise me! How dare you----" + +"Oh! I dare do anything; and I beg leave to inform you that neither +myself nor my friend will fall into the hands of the soldiers, either in +your house or outside of it. You can set your mind entirely at ease on +that subject." + +"I am tempted for once to violate even my own law of hospitality." + +"As you please, doctor; that matter is for you to consider, not for me. +But I beg you to understand precisely what I say. I am very thankful to +you for your kindness; and I assure you that whatever you do and say, I +shall remember your hospitality with the most grateful emotions. I speak +for myself and for my friend." + +Dr. Scoville seemed to be very much perplexed, as the captain evidently +intended he should be; and, turning abruptly from the deserter, he paced +the room, rapidly and in silence, for several minutes. De Banyan sat down +by the side of Somers, and said a great many comforting things to him, +which, in his weak and suffering condition, were as grateful as a woman's +smile at the couch of pain. + +Breakfast was ready, and with the utmost politeness the doctor conducted +his guest to the table, while one of the black women was ordered to +supply the wants of the patient on the sofa. During the meal, not a word +was said about the war, or the peculiar circumstances under which the +patient and his friend had come to the house. The captain discoursed +about the wars in other lands, and it is more than probable that he +exercised the credulity of the doctor to the utmost. Both the host and +the guest were affable to the last degree; for the choleric physician was +conscious that he had more than a match in the other. + +After breakfast, Somers was conducted to the guest-chamber on the second +floor of the mansion. He was as tenderly cared for by the doctor and the +servants as though he had been an honored friend, instead of a hunted +enemy. In the course of the forenoon, Dr. Scoville received a visit from +the provost-marshal, attended by half a company of cavalry. Of course, +the captain was exceedingly curious to know the result of this interview, +which was conducted in the most courteous manner; and he was so impolite +as to play the part of a listener. The officer was informed that Captain +Sheffield had been dangerously wounded by the fugitives; but the +eccentric physician positively refused to have his guests taken from his +house, assuring the provost-marshal that he would be responsible for +their safe-keeping, and offered to board a dozen men who should be +employed in guarding them. The officer protested in gentlemanly terms +against such a course; but it was evident that the doctor was the +greatest man in Petersburg, and must have his own way. + +The result of the conference was, that the provost-marshal yielded the +point, and a sentinel was placed at the door of Somers's chamber, to +which the captain had retreated. The officer visited the room, and fully +identified his prisoner, between whom and himself a sharp conversation +ensued, much to the amusement of the doctor. The captain was assured that +in due time, he should swing, which pleasant information he received with +becoming good nature, promising to be present when the exciting event +should take place. The provost-marshal retired, satisfied with the +precautions he had taken. + +For the following three days, the sentinel at the door, with a loaded +musket in his hand, kept guard over his prisoners. Somers had improved +rapidly, though by the advice of his managing friend, he pretended to be +much worse than he really was. Dr. Scoville, though he still kept his +word and maintained his position with regard to the prisoners, +continually "thorned" the captain with a prospect of the gallows, which +he declared was his certain doom. De Banyan still preserved his +equanimity, and still declared that he should never be hanged. + +"What do you intend to do?" asked Somers on the third day of his +confinement, after the doctor had taunted his guest with more than usual +severity. + +"I haven't the least idea, my dear boy," replied the captain with a grim +smile. "So far, I have no plans. When you are able to move, Somers, we +will see what can be done." + +"I can move now; you need not delay a single hour on my account. I am all +right but my arm." + +De Banyan was by no means as cheerful as he appeared to be. He was +troubled, and paced the room with uneasy tread; but, the moment the +doctor entered the room, he was as gay as a Broadway beau. Somers had +vainly attempted to persuade him to make his own escape, and leave him to +his fate; but the brave fellow steadily refused to desert him under any +circumstances that could possibly present themselves. + +The captain was remarkably still for him, after Somers had convinced him +that he was able to move. He paced the room as before; but his eyes were +glancing uneasily at the floor, the ceiling, and the walls of the +apartment. The work had commenced in his mind; and Somers watched his +movements with interest, yet without hope. On one side of the fire-place +in the room there was a door, which was locked, but which evidently +opened into a closet. + +Before this door, De Banyan suddenly came to a dead halt. He examined it +with the utmost care; and then with a fork from the breakfast things +which had not been removed, he commenced operations upon the lock. One of +the prongs of the fork was broken off between two bricks in the +fire-place, and the other bent; so that the instrument formed a very good +pick-lock. The door was opened without the expenditure of much time or +patience; and the captain proceeded to explore the interior of the +closet, after instructing his fellow-prisoner to give him timely warning +of any movement on the part of the sentinel. + +Somers did not see the captain again for half an hour, but when he came +out he looked as though he had endured the tortures of a month of +suspense; but, with a ghastly smile, he told his companion that the hour +for action had come. + +"What do you mean, captain?" demanded Somers. + +"Let us use haste; we shall have more time to talk to-morrow, when we get +back to the camp on the other side of the James River. Are you very sure +that you can stand the fatigue of a long walk?" + +"I know I can." + +"Then come with me; but a particle of noise will be fatal to us." + +De Banyan led the way to the closet; but, before he entered himself, he +tied together the two sheets of the bed, and made one end fast to one of +the bed-posts, near a window at the end of the house, which he opened +without noise. Dropping the sheet out, he retreated to the closet, and +with the pick-lock secured the door. They were in darkness now, and +seating themselves on the floor, with palpitating hearts they waited the +issue. For more than an hour they waited the expected alarm. They could +occasionally hear a movement on the part of the sentinel in the entry; +but he probably thought it was foolish to be very vigilant over a man so +sick as Somers. But the demonstration came at last; and the prisoners, +sweltering in the confined air of the closet, listened with breathless +interest to the shouts of the soldiers outside, and to the rapid steps of +those within the mansion. + +The doctor and the sentinel entered the chamber so lately occupied by the +prisoners. The former swore in no measured terms at the faithlessness of +the sentry at the door, and at the stupidity of those who guarded the +house outside. But they seemed to have no doubt as to the manner of the +escape. + +There was the open window, and the rope made of the bed-linen, which De +Banyan had pulled with his hands till it had the appearance of having +sustained a great weight. Dr. Scoville did not even try the door of the +closet; and the anxious listeners soon had the pleasure of hearing the +sounds of horses' hoofs, as the cavalry rode off to engage in the search +for the fugitives. + +Everything about the house soon subsided into the most profound quiet, +and it was evident that the doctor and all the soldiers were engaged in +the search. After this solemn stillness had continued for a time, they +heard the voices of the servants in the chamber. They talked about the +escape, and all of them expressed a hope that "poor young massa would get +out ob de way." Here was an opportunity for an alliance, offensive and +defensive, which the prudent captain could not reject. Carefully opening +the door, he presented himself to the astonished negroes. With +considerable difficulty, he hushed their noisy exclamations, and opened +the case so eloquently, that all three of them readily promised to help +the fugitives in making their escape. They grinned with delight when they +comprehended the trick by which the doctor and the soldiers had been put +on the wrong scent. + +With their assistance, the fugitives left the house, and made their way +to the stable, where Alick, the man who had waited upon them in the room, +raised a plank in the floor, and introduced them to secure but not very +comfortable quarters under the building. There was no cellar under the +stable, and the space which they occupied was not more than two feet in +height; but what it lacked in this direction, it made up in length and +width. + +When the fugitives were fairly installed in their new hiding-place, Alick +sat down on the floor, and told them all he knew about the events which +had transpired since their absence had been discovered. He brought them +an abundant supply of food and drink, and promised to provide them with +horses as soon as it was dark. It was nearly night before the doctor +returned; and while attending to his horse, Alick asked him some +questions about the chase. He was not very communicative, for, of course, +the pursuit had been unsuccessful; but the ingenious black wormed some +facts out of him in regard to the events of the day, which enabled him to +be of great assistance to the fugitives. + +The doctor had hardly gone into the house before Alick commenced his +preparations for departure; and three horses instead of two were in +readiness when Somers and the captain emerged from their covert. Alick +was to be one of the party; and by the fields in the rear of the house +they commenced their perilous journey. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +ANOTHER COMMISSION + + +The horses which De Banyan and Somers rode were those taken from the +stable of Captain Sheffield, which had not yet been removed from Dr. +Scoville's stable; while that on which Alick was mounted was one of the +best of his master's stock. The party proceeded through the fields for a +short distance till they came to a cross-road, when they put their horses +to the top of their speed. The guide was familiar with all the roads in +the vicinity. The information which he had obtained from the doctor was +exceedingly valuable; for it assured the fugitives in what direction the +search for them had been pushed. + +Dr. Scoville believed that the prisoners were concealed in the vicinity +of the city, and that at night they would attempt to make their way in +the direction of City Point; and he assured Alick that they would +certainly be caught before morning, for the country in that region was +strongly picketed by cavalry. It is more than probable they would have +been taken if the doctor had not been so obliging as to inform Alick of +these facts. The faithful black, who had served his master, man and boy, +for forty years, was entitled to this consideration. Of course, he could +not have believed that Alick would be so ungrateful and ungenerous as to +run away from him; but it is a fact which speaks well for the negro race, +that so many have preferred liberty with toil and hardship to slavery +with ease and plenty. + +Somers had over-estimated his power of endurance; and a hard gallop of +five miles was about the extent of his capacity. The rude jolting of his +arm made it extremely painful, while his system, reduced by the fever +attending the wound, was incapable of supporting such a heavy draft upon +his strength. He bore up against the pain and faintness which beset him +as long as he could; but at last, to the oft-repeated inquiries of +Captain de Banyan in regard to his condition, he was compelled to answer +in the most discouraging terms. + +"We must stop and rest," said the captain. "We have about fifteen miles +more to go; and you mustn't break down yet, Somers." + +"Here, massa, take some of this," said Alick, as he reined in his horse. + +"What is it?" asked Somers faintly. + +"Brandy." + +"I can't drink brandy." + +"It will do you good, my dear boy. There is strength in brandy--only as +medicine. Don't be stubborn, Somers." + +"Good brandy, massa," added Alick. "I brought it along on purpose for +you. I was mighty feared you wouldn't be able to stand the ride." + +"I am willing to take it if it will do me any good," said Somers. "I am +about used up." + +The sufferer drank two or three swallows of the fiery liquid from the +bottle after he had dismounted. The potion gave him an artificial life, +which enabled him to ride five miles farther, though at a much slower +pace than before. The roads seemed to be entirely deserted, and the party +felt satisfied that they had passed out of the reach of a successful +pursuit. Another dose of brandy gave Somers strength enough to accomplish +fifteen miles of the journey; but at this point he was absolutely unable +to sit on his horse. With the assistance of De Banyan, he got off and lay +for two hours on the ground, where his devoted companions made him a bed +of their coats. Alick produced some bacon and crackers, which he had +brought for an emergency, of which Somers partook in small quantities. +Pressed by his fellow-fugitives, he again drank some brandy; and while +his head was flying round like a top, his friends placed him on the horse +again. + +In the overpowering weakness and suffering of the hour, Somers had begged +his companions to leave him to his fate; but De Banyan declared that he +would be hanged a dozen times before he would do so mean and wicked an +act. With the fumes of the brandy darting in every direction through his +brain, which seemed to be about fifty feet above his shoulders, he +spurred on his horse. The liquor had inspired him to a kind of +desperation. He hardly knew what he was about, and even forgot the pain +of his wounded arm. + +"Halt!" shouted De Banyan, as the party dashed over a rude bridge +extending across a broad creek. "Halt, Somers!" + +But Somers heeded not the word, and still spurred on, till the captain, +who rode the fastest animal, could overtake him. He succeeded in stopping +the furious rider, and in making him understand that they had reached the +end of their journey in this direction. They returned to the bridge, +where the sharp eye of the captain had discerned a boat moored to a tree, +a short distance below the road. Somers, still stupefied by the effects +of the brandy, tamely submitted to whatever disposition his companions +chose to make of him. Taking off their coats, they made for him a bed in +the bottom of the boat, which was a large yawl, evidently used for +conveying merchandise to some point farther up the creek. The horses were +turned loose, and the captain and Alick took the oars. + +After pulling for half an hour, they were rewarded by a view of the broad +river which to them was like the Land of Promise; and moored in the +middle there was a steamer, which in those waters could belong to no +other party than the United States Government. They rowed out to this +vessel, and hailed her. Of course they were cordially welcomed after a +satisfactory explanation had been given. + +"Glory hallelujah! How do you feel, Somers?" said Captain de Banyan, +after he had insured a proper reception on board of the steamer. + +"Badly, very badly," replied Somers faintly. + +"Well, cheer up, my boy! We have got home again." + +"Home!" said Somers, raising himself partially up at the sound of that +magical word. + +The captain and Alick lifted him tenderly, and assisted him up the +accommodation-ladder of the steamer. The vessel was a gunboat bound up +the river, and was waiting for the daylight. Somers was taken to the +ward-room, where the surgeon dressed his arm, and prescribed for his +bodily ailments. Alick was duly installed as his nurse, though Captain de +Banyan performed the greater part of his duty. But the consciousness that +he was again beneath the old flag did more for the patient than even the +assiduous care of his devoted friends. + +After leaving Petersburg the fugitives had pursued a nearly easterly +course till they arrived at the bridge over Chipoak Creek, where they had +abandoned their horses, and taken the boat. Alick had chosen this +direction to avoid the pickets which were on the lookout for them in the +vicinity of the City Point Railroad. His calculations had been well made, +and he was rewarded for his zeal and skill by the priceless boon of +freedom, which he preferred even to the life of comfort and ease he had +enjoyed beneath the roof of his kind but eccentric master. + +How Dr. Scoville ever made his peace with the provost-marshal of +Petersburg we are not informed; but we will venture to say that his whims +were not respected after the events we have narrated. He was a wilful +man; but his guests were very sorry to be compelled to make him such an +ungenerous return for his noble hospitality. When the war is ended, and +he is enabled fully to understand the meaning of treason to our +beneficent Government, no doubt he will be very thankful that his +prisoner guests escaped as they did. + +At nine o'clock on the following morning, the gunboat dropped her anchor +off Harrison's Landing. Somers, who had slept for several hours, was more +comfortable, though he was still in a deplorable condition. With the +kindly assistance of his friends, he was landed at the pier, and conveyed +in an ambulance to the headquarters of the division. Leaning on the arm +of De Banyan, he entered the tent of the general. + +"Captain Somers!" exclaimed the general. "I had given you up for lost. +Why, you have grown ten years older in five days!" + +"I have the honor to make my report, general," said Somers with a faint +smile. + +"Your report? Good! After losing you, I did not dare to send another +officer upon such a perilous errand. But, Captain Somers, you are all +used up," added the general, with a glance filled with sympathy--a look +which Somers regarded as an adequate reward for all he had suffered; for +to have _that_ man feel an interest in him was better in his estimation +than the plaudits of the multitude. "What is the matter with your arm?" + +"I was shot at Petersburg," replied Somers. + +"Well, well, captain, you must go to the hospital: and +Captain--what's-his-name----" + +"Captain de Banyan, at your service," promptly responded Somers's +faithful friend. + +"Captain de Banyan shall report for you, and tell me all about this +scrape," added the general. "Get into your carriage, Captain Somers, and +go to the hospital. I will call and see you to-day or to-morrow." + +"Thank you, general." + +Captain de Banyan assisted him into the ambulance; and, when he had +placed him in the care of the surgeon, he returned to headquarters to +tell the marvelous story of their capture by the rebels, and their escape +from Petersburg. It is quite likely that he did not add his experience in +Tennessee; but when the general called on Somers at the hospital the next +morning, the latter supplied all that had been withheld. The general had +a higher regard for the captain's patriotism than ever before, for he had +voluntarily renounced the ranks of the rebellion, and placed himself on +the side of his country. There was nothing against him; on the contrary, +his conduct had been in the highest degree praiseworthy. But Captain de +Banyan was sensitive on this point; and the general readily promised to +conceal what the brave fellow regarded as a stain upon his character. + +Captain Somers did not improve so rapidly as his friends desired. The +surgeon declared that his night ride from Petersburg, in his feeble +condition, had done him more injury than a year's hard service; and after +he had been in the hospital ten days, it was deemed advisable to give him +a furlough, and send him home, especially as the division was then under +orders to march to Yorktown. The gallant young hero regretted the +necessity of leaving the regiment just as he had been promoted; but he +was in no condition to endure the long and weary march. He was able to +walk about a little; and on the day before the sailing of the transport +by which he was to proceed to Washington, he received another visit from +the general. + +After a few kind inquiries in regard to the invalid's condition, the +general took from his pocket one of those great official envelopes which +so often carry joy to the heart of the gallant officer. Somers was +amazed. It could not be possible that his own promotion was indicated by +this document. It was not three weeks since his commission as captain had +reached him; but then Senator Guilford was a great man, and wielded a +tremendous influence, both at Washington, and with the military +authorities of his native State. + +Recalling his former declaration to Captain de Banyan, he was fully +resolved to decline any further promotion, at least until he had done +something which entitled him to this distinction. The general held up the +formidable packet, while Somers's pale face was suffused with blushes. + +"I have brought you a major's commission, Somers; and I know it will give +you joy." + +"Really, sir; ah! general, I don't think----" + +"Don't you?" laughed the general. + +"I don't deserve it, general; and you will pardon me if I say I cannot +accept it. I am very grateful to you; but----" + +"Oh, it isn't for you!" roared the general as he handed him the official +paper. + +"Major de Banyan!" exclaimed Captain Somers as he read the superscription +with a thrill of delight. "It is indeed a joy to me. I am ten times as +happy as I should have been if my own name had been coupled with that +title. I am ever so much obliged to you." + +"Senator Guilford again! By the way, Captain Somers, you must call on him +when you get to Washington." + +"I shall certainly do so. But I know my friend could not have been +promoted without the good word which you have spoken for him." + +"Well, it is all right, captain. Major de Banyan is a brave fellow. He +has done you a good turn; and I waylaid this document so as to afford you +the pleasure of being the first to address him by his new title." + +"Thank you, general." + +"And, captain, if you could prevail on the major to be a little more +reasonable in some of the lies he tells, his reputation for veracity +would be improved." + +"I will endeavor to do so." + +The general bade the invalid a hearty and even affectionate adieu; and +they did not meet again till they grasped hands on the bloody field of +Antietam, where Somers acted in a new sphere of duty. No sooner had the +general departed, than Somers, inspired to new vigor by the joyful event +which had just transpired, hastened to the camp of the regiment. + +"Ah, Somers; my dear boy! how are you now?" said his friend as he seized +his hand. + +"Better, I thank you, _Major_ de Banyan." + +"Come, now, Somers, that is cruel! A friend of mine, just before the +battle of Solferino----" + +"Confound the battle of Solferino, Major de Banyan!" + +"I was about to say that a friend of mine, just before the battle of +Solferino, made fun of my aspirations, just as you do now----" + +"I don't do anything of the sort. Here's the official document. If I read +right, it says Major de Banyan." + +"Somers," said the captain, winking very rapidly to dissipate some +evidences of weakness which were struggling for existence in his +eyes--"Somers, you have done this." + +"I did write to Senator Guilford about you before we went over the river; +and now I thank God with all my soul that I did so." + +"Somers, you are one of the best of friends!" exclaimed the major as he +stood with the unopened document in his hand. + +"And so are you. Without you, I should have been in a rebel prison or +under the sod at this time." + +"God bless you, Somers!" ejaculated De Banyan, as with trembling hand he +opened the envelope, and took therefrom his major's commission. "I have +loved you just like a younger brother; not selfishly, my dear boy, but +with my whole heart. You haven't disappointed me, only once, when----" + +"Don't mention it. I thought you were a rebel then, but I repented." + +"I don't blame you. Now, Somers, you are going home. May God bless you +and keep you! I shall be as sad as a maiden who has lost her lover, while +you are gone." + +"I shall not be absent long. We shall be together again in a few weeks." + +"I hope so. I have no home now. It has been desolated by treason. I heard +since I came over that my wife was dead. I had a son, a boy of fifteen; I +know not where he is. Well, well; I will not groan or complain. I will do +my duty to my country, and that shall cheer my heart;" and with an effort +of his powerful will, he banished the sad reflections from his mind, and +smiled as though earth had no sorrows. "After the battle of Magenta, I +had the blues, and----" + +"One word, De Banyan. _Were_ you at the battle of Magenta?" said Somers +solemnly. + +The major looked on the ground, at the commission he had just received, +and then into the sympathizing face of his friend. + +"To tell the truth, Somers, I was not; but I fought in every battle in +Mexico, from Vera Cruz up to the capital." + +Somers improved this opportunity to repeat the injunction of the general. + +"Now promise me, major, that you will never say Magenta or anything of +the sort again as long as you live," added Somers. + +"That would be a rash promise. I have got a bad habit, and I will try to +cure myself of it. On my soul I will, my dear boy!" + +In the course of the conversation the major, who was now in a +truth-telling mood, informed Somers that he had, after his escape from +the rebel army, enlisted in the regular army, where he had been made a +sergeant, and, through the influence of a Massachusetts officer, had been +commissioned as a captain. His gallantry had won a swift reward. + +On the following day they parted on board the transport in the river; and +in that sad hour the friendship which, though brief in duration, had been +fruitful enough for a lifetime, was pledged for the future. They parted, +De Banyan to mingle in the terrible scenes in which the regiment was +engaged before the close of the month, and Somers to bask in the smiles +of the loved ones at home. Alick, who had been regularly installed as the +captain's servant, went with him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +WASHINGTON, BOSTON AND PINCHBROOK + + +Though the session of Congress had closed a month before, Captain Somers +was gratified to learn on his arrival that Senator Guilford and his +family were still in Washington, the distinguished gentleman having been +detained by important public business. As soon as he could make himself +presentable, he hastened to pay his respects to the Senator, and thank +him for his kindness. He was not at home. Emma received him with a warm +blush of pleasure on her fair cheeks. She had entirely recovered from the +effects of the accident; and her tribute of gratitude was so eloquently +poured forth, that the gallant young captain, who had hardly seen a young +lady before for two months, could not exactly tell whether he stood on +his head or his heels; for praise from those beautiful lips produced a +sensation of giddiness in the region of the brain. + +Young men will be silly in spite of all we dignified old fogies can say +to convince them of the folly of being carried away by the witching arts +of pretty, graceful little creatures like Emma Guilford. Perhaps the +remembrance of the scene on the railroad was some excuse for him; and it +is entirely unnecessary to apologize for anything a beautiful girl may +do, especially if she be the daughter of a Senator. The young lady said a +great many pretty things, and the young gentleman a great many smart +ones, before she discovered that the captain was wounded in the arm, +though she had already remarked upon his pale face and rather attenuated +form. + +He told her when and where he was wounded; and of course she wanted to +know all about his adventures in Secessia. He was as willing as Othello +to speak + + "Of most disastrous chances, + Of moving accidents, by flood and field; + Of hairbreadth scapes i' the imminent deadly breach; + Of being taken by the insolent foe." + +All this to hear did Emma Guilford seriously incline. But he had hardly +commenced the story before the Senator himself entered the room. + +"Ah! Captain Somers, I am delighted to see you!" said he with enthusiasm, +as he extended his hand, which our hero as warmly grasped. + +"Thank you, sir. I have called to express my obligations to you for all +your kindness to me and to my friend. Major de Banyan wished to be kindly +remembered to you." + +"I am happy to hear from the major; and as for the rest, I feel that I +have not yet begun to discharge my obligation to you. Why didn't you +write to me before?" + +"I did not wish to burden you with any remembrance of such a humble +individual as myself." + +"You are too modest by half, Captain Somers. I should not have known +anything about you if it hadn't been for General---- Well, no matter +who," laughed the Senator. + +"Now, papa, you have cut short the most interesting story that ever was +told!" interposed Emma. + +"The captain must begin again, then. Of course, you will make my house +your home while in the city." + +"Thank you, sir. I left my servant at the hotel" + +Senator Guilford insisted on sending for the servant and the baggage; +and, in half an hour, Alick was present to confirm the wonderful tale +which Somers told of his captivity in Petersburg, to which Emma and her +father listened with the most intense interest. + +Very much to his surprise, Captain Somers found himself quite a lion in +Washington. He was introduced to Senators and Representatives; and on the +following evening actually took the President of the United States by the +hand, just as though he had been one of the patriarchs of Pinchbrook. + +In spite of all these brilliant surroundings, Somers was anxious to get +home. He was too feeble to endure the excitement of the capital; and on +the third day after his arrival, he started for home. When he reached +Boston, by an unfortunate chance it was two hours before a train would +start for Pinchbrook. As he had spent two days with a Senator in +Washington, and shaken hands with the President, he deemed himself +qualified to call at No. -- Rutland Street, where the carriage soon set +him down. + +Lilian Ashford was at home; and Captain Somers, who had faced a whole +rebel brigade, trembled and blushed in the presence of the maiden like +the veriest coward in the world. But it was some satisfaction to know +that the other party was similarly affected. The young hero could not +exactly explain how he felt. It was a different sensation from that which +had come over him in the presence of Emma Guilford. He experienced a +feeling of awe before her, but he could talk as fast as ever; while to +Lilian he stammered, couldn't remember anything, and made woful confusion +in his words and in his ideas. + +When the ice was broken, he succeeded in telling her something about his +adventures in Virginia, and roused a very strong desire in her mind to +see the wonderful Major de Banyan. But his brief hour expired all too +soon; it faded in a moment, and seemed like a tale that was told. + +"I wore your socks at the battles of Savage's Station, Glendale and White +Oak Swamp, Miss Ashford," said he; "and I shall keep them for future +service of the same kind. If I am killed in battle, I shall be found with +those socks on my feet." + +"Oh, I hope you won't be killed!" exclaimed she with a shudder. + +"Well, I hope not; but, as soon as I am able, I shall return to my duty." + +"What a brave fellow you are! I shouldn't think you would dare to stand +up before the cannons, and the muskets, and the bayonets." + +"When I feel like running away, I always think of my socks," said Somers. + +But the carriage had come for him, and Alick stood at the door waiting +for his appearance. He took the little soft white hand in his own, and +readily promised, when she invited him, to call again soon and see her +grandmother, who was out of town that day. Of course, Somers was deeply +interested in that venerable lady, and actually looked forward with +intense pleasure to the anticipated visit. + +He was driven to the railroad station, and reached Pinchbrook at "high +twelve," when the Pinchbrookers were just going to their dinners. Captain +Barney, as usual, was at the depot, and gave him a seaman's welcome home. +He insisted upon being driven to the cottage before dinner; and the old +shipmaster, finding that Captain Somers carried too many guns for him, +gracefully yielded the point. + +"Bless my stars, if there ain't Thomas!" cried Mrs. Somers as she jumped +up from the dinner-table, and actually upset the teapot in the operation. + +"How do you do, mother? How do you do, father?" exclaimed the young +captain as he shook hands with his father and Gran'ther Green, kissed his +mother, and hugged his sister. + +"How pale you look, Thomas!" said his mother. "I declare, you are as thin +as a hatchet! How is your arm?" + +"Better, mother; I shall be as good as new in a few days." + +"You look pale; but your face is as nateral as life," said Gran'ther +Green. "I don't know what we shall do with two cap'ns in the family." + +"I think we can manage that, gran'ther," replied Somers, as he took the +place at the table which had been prepared for him. + + * * * * * + +We drop the curtain upon the scenes which followed; for our patient +reader can better imagine than we can describe them. Our hero was once +more within the hallowed precincts of home; all its sacred joys flowed in +upon his soul; and he thanked the good Father who had conducted him +through so many perils, and restored him to the hearts of the loved ones +who yearned for him in his absence. They were as grateful for his return +as he was--grateful that God had restored him at all; but doubly so that +he had come with his soul unstained by the vices of the camp and the +wickedness of the great world. + +The health of Captain Somers did not permit his return to the army to +participate in those great battles before Washington in which his +regiment was reduced to a mere skeleton of its former self. But, while +the country was breathing slowly and fearfully before the terrors of +Lee's invasion of Maryland, there came to Pinchbrook a letter from the +gallant general of division--now in command of a _corps d'armee_--under +whom he had before served, containing an appointment on his staff. Though +still but partially restored to health, he hastened to accept his new +position, and started at once for the scene of strife. + +His suffering country needed him; and he could not satisfy his sense of +duty, even with the reasonable excuse of a shattered physical frame. He +went, and his record was always honorable and noble in success and in +misfortune. + +THE END + + + + * * * * * * + + + +A. L. BURT'S CATALOGUE OF BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE +BY POPULAR WRITERS, 52-58 DUANE STREET, NEW YORK + +BOOKS FOR BOYS. + +Joe's Luck: A Boy's Adventures in California. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, +cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + +The story is chock fall of stirring incidents, while the amusing +situations are furnished by Joshua Bickford, from Pumpkin Hollow, and the +fellow who modestly styles himself the "Rip-tail Roarer, from Pike Co., +Missouri." Mr. Alger never writes a poor book, and "Joe's Luck" is +certainly one of his best. + +Tom the Bootblack; or, The Road to Success. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, +cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + +A bright, enterprising lad was Tom the Bootblack. He was not at all +ashamed of his humble calling, though always on the lookout to better +himself. The lad started for Cincinnati to look up his heritage. Mr. Grey, +the uncle, did not hesitate to employ a ruffian to kill the lad. The plan +failed, and Gilbert Grey, once Tom the bootblack, came into a comfortable +fortune. This is one of Mr. Alger's best stories. + +Dan the Newsboy. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price +$1.00. + +Dan Mordaunt and his mother live in a poor tenement, and the lad is +pluckily trying to make ends meet by selling papers in the streets of New +York. A little heiress of six years is confided to the care of the +Mordaunts. The child is kidnapped and Dan tracks the child to the house +where she is hidden, and rescues her. The wealthy aunt of the little +heiress is so delighted with Dan's courage and many good qualities that +she adopts him as her heir. + +Tony the Hero: A Brave Boy's Adventure with a Tramp. By Horatio Alger, Jr. +12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + +Tony, a sturdy bright-eyed boy of fourteen, is under the control of +Rudolph Rugg, a thorough rascal. After much abuse Tony runs away and gets +a Job as stable boy in a country hotel. Tony is heir to a large estate. +Rudolph for a consideration hunts up Tony and throws him down a deep well. +Of course Tony escapes from the fate provided for him, and by a brave act, +a rich friend secures his rights and Tony is prosperous. A very +entertaining book. + +The Errand Boy; or, How Phil Brent Won Success. By Horatio Alger, Jr. +12mo, cloth illustrated, price $1.00. + +The career of "The Errand Boy" embraces the city adventures of a +smart country lad. Philip was brought up by a kind-hearted innkeeper +named Brent. The death of Mrs. Brent paved the way for the hero's +subsequent troubles. A retired merchant in New York secures him the +situation of errand boy, and thereafter stands as his friend. + +Tom Temple's Career. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price +$1.00. + +Tom Temple is a bright, self-reliant lad. He leaves Plympton village to +seek work in New York, whence he undertakes an important mission to +California. Some of his adventures in the far west are so startling that +the reader will scarcely close the book until the last page shall have +been reached. The tale is written in Mr. Alger's most fascinating style. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York. + + + + +BOOKS FOR BOYS. + +Frank Fowler, the Cash Boy. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, cloth, +illustrated, price $1.00. + +Frank Fowler, a poor boy, bravely determines to make a living for himself +and his foster-sister Grace. Going to New York he obtains a situation as +cash boy in a dry goods store. He renders a service to a wealthy old +gentleman who takes a fancy to the lad, and thereafter helps the lad to +gain success and fortune. + +Tom Thatcher's Fortune. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, +price $1.00. + +Tom Thatcher is a brave, ambitious, unselfish boy. He supports his mother +and sister on meagre wages earned as a shoe-pegger in John Simpson's +factory. Tom is discharged from the factory and starts overland for +California. He meets with many adventures. The story is told in a way +which has made Mr. Alger's name a household word in so many homes. + +The Train Boy. By Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price +$1.00. + +Paul Palmer was a wide-awake boy of sixteen who supported his mother and +sister by selling books and papers on the Chicago and Milwaukee Railroad. +He detects a young man in the act of picking the pocket of a young lady. +In a railway accident many passengers are killed, but Paul is fortunate +enough to assist a Chicago merchant, who out of gratitude takes him into +his employ. Paul succeeds with tact and judgment and is well started on +the road to business prominence. + +Mark Mason's Victory. The Trials and Triumphs of a Telegraph Boy. By +Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + +Mark Mason, the telegraph boy, was a sturdy, honest lad, who pluckily won +his way to success by his honest manly efforts under many difficulties. +This story will please the very large class of boys who regard Mr. Alger +as a favorite author. + +A Debt of Honor. The Story of Gerald Lane's Success in the Far West. By +Horatio Alger, Jr. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + +The story of Gerald Lane and the account of the many trials and +disappointments which he passed through before he attained success, will +interest all boys who have read the previous stories of this delightful +author. + +Ben Bruce. Scenes in the Life of a Bowery Newsboy. By Horatio Alger, Jr. +12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + +Ben Bruce was a brave, manly, generous boy. The story of his efforts, and +many seeming failures and disappointments, and his final success, are most +interesting to all readers. The tale is written in Mr. Alger's most +fascinating style. + +The Castaways; or, On the Florida Reefs. By James Otis. 12mo, cloth, +illustrated, price $1.00. + +This tale smacks of the salt sea. From the moment that the Sea Queen +leaves lower New York bay till the breeze leaves her becalmed off the +coast of Florida, one can almost hear the whistle of the wind through her +rigging, the creak of her straining cordage as she heels to the leeward. +The adventures of Ben Clark, the hero of the story and Jake the cook, +cannot fail to charm the reader. As a writer for young people Mr. Otis is +a prime favorite. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York. + + + + +BOOKS FOR BOYS. + +Wrecked on Spider Island; or, How Ned Rogers Found the Treasure. By James +Otis. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + +Ned Rogers, a "down-east" plucky lad ships as cabin boy to earn a +livelihood. Ned is marooned on Spider Island, and while there discovers a +wreck submerged in the sand, and finds a considerable amount of treasure. +The capture of the treasure and the incidents of the voyage serve to make +as entertaining a story of sea-life as the most captious boy could desire. + +The Search for the Silver City: A Tale of Adventure in Yucatan. By James +Otis. 12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + +Two lads, Teddy Wright and Neal Emery, embark on the steam yacht Day Dream +for a cruise to the tropics. The yacht is destroyed by fire, and then the +boat is cast upon the coast of Yucatan. They hear of the wonderful Silver +City, of the Chan Santa Cruz Indians, and with the help of a faithful +Indian ally carry off a number of the golden images from the temples. +Pursued with relentless vigor at last their escape is effected in an +astonishing manner. The story is so full of exciting incidents that the +reader is quite carried away with the novelty and realism of the +narrative. + +A Runaway Brig; or, An Accidental Cruise. By James Otis. 12mo, cloth, +illustrated, price $1.00. + +This is a sea tale, and the reader can look out upon the wide shimmering +sea as it flashes back the sunlight, and imagine himself afloat with Harry +Vandyne, Walter Morse, Jim Libby and that old shell-back, Bob Brace, on +the brig Bonita. The boys discover a mysterious document which enables +them to find a buried treasure. They are stranded on an island and at last +are rescued with the treasure. The boys are sure to be fascinated with +this entertaining story. + +The Treasure Finders: A Boy's Adventures in Nicaragua. By James Otis. +12mo, cloth, illustrated, price $1.00. + +Roy and Dean Coloney, with their guide Tongla, leave their father's indigo +plantation to visit the wonderful ruins of an ancient city. The boys +eagerly explore the temples of an extinct race and discover three golden +images cunningly hidden away. They escape with the greatest difficulty. +Eventually they reach safety with their golden prizes. We doubt if there +ever was written a more entertaining story than "The Treasure Finders." + +Jack, the Hunchback. A Story of the Coast of Maine, By James Otis. Price +$1.00. + +This is the story of a little hunchback who lived on Cape Elizabeth, on +the coast of Maine. His trials and successes are most interesting. From +first to last nothing stays the interest of the narrative. It bears us +along as on a stream whose current varies in direction, but never loses +its force. + +With Washington at Monmouth: A Story of Three Philadelphia Boys. By James +Otis. 12mo, ornamental cloth, olivine edges, illustrated, price $1.50. + +Three Philadelphia lads assist the American spies and make regular and +frequent visits to Valley Forge in the Winter while the British occupied +the city. The story abounds with pictures of Colonial life skillfully +drawn, and the glimpses of Washington's soldiers which are given shown +that the work has not been hastily done, or without considerable study. +The story is wholesome and patriotic in tone, as are all of Mr. Otis' +works. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York. + + + + +BOOKS FOR BOYS. + +With Lafayette at Yorktown: A Story of How Two Boys Joined the Continental +Army. By James Otis. 12mo, ornamental cloth, olivine edges, illustrated, +price $1.50. + +Two lads from Portmouth, N. H., attempt to enlist in the Colonial Army, +and are given employment as spies. There is no lack of exciting incidents +which the youthful reader craves, but it is healthful excitement brimming +with facts which every boy should be familiar with, and while the reader +is following the adventures of Ben Jaffrays and Ned Allen he is acquiring +a fund of historical lore which will remain in his memory long after that +which he has memorized from textbooks has been forgotten. + +At the Siege of Havana. Being the Experiences of Three Boys Serving under +Israel Putnam in 1762. By James Otis. 12mo, ornamental cloth, olivine +edges, illustrated, price $1.50. + +"At the Siege of Havana" deals with that portion of the island's history +when the English king captured the capital, thanks to the assistance given +by the troops from New England, led in part by Col. Israel Putnam. + +The principal characters are Darius Lunt, the lad who, represented as +telling the story, and his comrades, Robert Clement and Nicholas Vallet. +Colonel Putnam also figures to considerable extent, necessarily, in the +tale, and the whole forms one of the most readable stories founded on +historical facts. + +The Defense of Fort Henry. A Story of Wheeling Creek in 1777. By James +Otis. 12mo, ornamental cloth, olivine edges, illustrated, price $1.50. + +Nowhere in the history of our country can be found more heroic or +thrilling incidents than in the story of those brave men and women who +founded the settlement of Wheeling in the Colony of Virginia. The recital +of what Elizabeth Zane did is in itself as heroic a story as can be +imagined. The wondrous bravery displayed by Major McCulloch and his +gallant comrades, the sufferings of the colonists and their sacrifice of +blood and life, stir the blood of old as well as young readers. + +The Capture of the Laughing Mary. A Story of Three New York Boys in 1776. +By James Otis. 12mo, ornamental cloth, olivine edges, price $1.50. + +"During the British occupancy of New York, at the outbreak of the +Revolution, a Yankee lad hears of the plot to take General Washington's +person, and calls in two companions to assist the patriot cause. They do +some astonishing things, and, incidentally, lay the way for an American +navy later, by the exploit which gives its name to the work. Mr. Otis' +books are too well known to require any particular commendation to the +young."--Evening Post. + +With Warren at Bunker Hill. A Story of the Siege of Boston. By James Otis. +12mo, ornamental cloth, olivine edges, illustrated, price $1.50. + +"This is a tale of the siege of Boston, which opens on the day after the +doings at Lexington and Concord, with a description of home life in +Boston, introduces the reader to the British camp at Charlestown, shows +Gen. Warren at home, describes what a boy thought of the battle of Bunker +Hill, and closes with the raising of the siege. The three heroes, George +Wentworth, Ben Scarlett and an old ropemaker, incur the enmity of a young +Tory, who causes them many adventures the boys will like to read." +--Detroit Free Press. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by the +publisher, A. L. BURT, 52-58 Duane Street, New York. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YOUNG LIEUTENANT*** + + +******* This file should be named 25886.txt or 25886.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/5/8/8/25886 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. 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