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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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: A Rebellion in Dixie - -Author: Harry Castlemon - -Release Date: October 25, 2016 [EBook #53362] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A REBELLION IN DIXIE *** - - - - -Produced by KD Weeks, David Edwards and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<div class='tnotes'> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>Transcriber’s Note:</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c001'>Minor errors, attributable to the printer, have been corrected. Please -see the transcriber’s <a href='#endnote'>note</a> at the end of this text -for details regarding the handling of any textual issues encountered -during its preparation.</p> - -<div class='epubonly'> - -<p class='c001'>The cover image has been repaired to reproduce the first letters -of the title, occluded by a library label, and, so modified, is -added to the public domain.</p> - -</div> - -</div> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> - -<div class='figcenter id001'> -<img src='images/frontis.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p><span class='sc'>Replacing the notice.</span></p> -</div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div>A</div> - <div class='c000'><span class='xlarge'><span class='sc'>Rebellion in Dixie</span></span></div> - <div class='c000'><span class='small'>BY</span></div> - <div>HARRY CASTLEMON</div> - <div class='c000'><span class='small'>AUTHOR OF “THE GUNBOAT SERIES,” “THE HUNTER SERIES,”</span></div> - <div><span class='small'>“WAR SERIES,” ETC.</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div><span class='small'>PHILADELPHIA</span></div> - <div>HENRY T. COATES & CO.</div> - <div>1897</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c1'> -<div class='nf-center c002'> - <div><span class='small'><span class='sc'>Copyright, 1897, by</span></span></div> - <div>HENRY T. COATES & CO.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<div> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_iii'>iii</span> - <h3 class='c003'>CONTENTS.</h3> -</div> - -<table class='table0' summary=''> -<colgroup> -<col width='10%' /> -<col width='76%' /> -<col width='12%' /> -</colgroup> - <tr> - <td class='c004'><span class='small'>CHAPTER</span></td> - <td class='c005'> </td> - <td class='c006'><span class='small'>PAGE</span></td> - </tr> - <tr><td> </td></tr> - <tr> - <td class='c004'>I.</td> - <td class='c005'><span class='sc'>In regard to the Rebellion</span>,</td> - <td class='c006'><a href='#Page_5'>5</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c004'>II.</td> - <td class='c005'><span class='sc'>The Convention</span>,</td> - <td class='c006'><a href='#Page_25'>25</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c004'>III.</td> - <td class='c005'>“<span class='sc'>A Word in your Ear</span>,”</td> - <td class='c006'><a href='#Page_45'>45</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c004'>IV.</td> - <td class='c005'><span class='sc'>Carl Brings News</span>,</td> - <td class='c006'><a href='#Page_65'>65</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c004'>V.</td> - <td class='c005'><span class='sc'>Capturing a Wagon-train</span>,</td> - <td class='c006'><a href='#Page_88'>88</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c004'>VI.</td> - <td class='c005'><span class='sc'>The March Homeward</span>,</td> - <td class='c006'><a href='#Page_109'>109</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c004'>VII.</td> - <td class='c005'><span class='sc'>Breaking the Mule</span>,</td> - <td class='c006'><a href='#Page_129'>129</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c004'>VIII.</td> - <td class='c005'><span class='sc'>Rebels in the Rear</span>,</td> - <td class='c006'><a href='#Page_152'>152</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c004'>IX.</td> - <td class='c005'><span class='sc'>A Night Expedition</span>,</td> - <td class='c006'><a href='#Page_176'>176</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c004'>X.</td> - <td class='c005'><span class='sc'>Cale Wants a Mule</span>,</td> - <td class='c006'><a href='#Page_196'>196</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c004'>XI.</td> - <td class='c005'><span class='sc'>Mr. Dawson’s Strategy</span>,</td> - <td class='c006'><a href='#Page_220'>220</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c004'>XII.</td> - <td class='c005'><span class='sc'>The Rebels take Revenge</span>,</td> - <td class='c006'><a href='#Page_247'>247</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c004'>XIII.</td> - <td class='c005'><span class='sc'>Cale in Trouble</span>,</td> - <td class='c006'><a href='#Page_271'>271</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c004'>XIV.</td> - <td class='c005'><span class='sc'>Leon a Prisoner</span>,</td> - <td class='c006'><a href='#Page_294'>294</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c004'>XV.</td> - <td class='c005'><span class='sc'>A Friend in Need</span>,</td> - <td class='c006'><a href='#Page_315'>315</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c004'>XVI.</td> - <td class='c005'><span class='sc'>A Fight and its Results</span>,</td> - <td class='c006'><a href='#Page_338'>338</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c004'>XVII.</td> - <td class='c005'><span class='sc'>The Events of a Week</span>,</td> - <td class='c006'><a href='#Page_363'>363</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c004'>XVIII.</td> - <td class='c005'><span class='sc'>Coleman Proves his Honesty</span>,</td> - <td class='c006'><a href='#Page_384'>384</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c004'>XIX.</td> - <td class='c005'><span class='sc'>Conclusion</span>,</td> - <td class='c006'><a href='#Page_407'>407</a></td> - </tr> -</table> - -<div> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_5'>5</span> - <h1 class='c007'>A REBELLION IN DIXIE.</h1> -</div> -<div class='chapter'> - <h2 class='c008'>CHAPTER I. <br /> <span class='small'>IN REGARD TO THE REBELLION.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c009'>“Now, Leon, you will take in everybody. -Don’t leave a single man out, for we -want them all there at this convention.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Secessionists, as well as Union men?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, of course. I had a talk with Nathan -Knight, last night, and he says everybody -must be informed of the fact. We are going -to secede from the State of Mississippi and -get up a government of our own, and he declares -that everybody must be told of it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I tell you, dad, we’ve got a mighty poor -show. I suppose there are at least two thousand -fighting men here—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Say fifteen hundred; and they are all -good shots, too.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And Jeff Davis has called out a hundred -<span class='pageno' id='Page_6'>6</span>thousand men. Where would we be if he -would send that number of men after us?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He ain’t a-going to send no hundred thousand -men after us. He has other work for -them to do, and when the few he does send -come here in search of us, he won’t find hide -nor hair of a living man in the county.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>It was Mr. Sprague who spoke last, and his -words were addressed to his son Leon. They, -both of them, stood leaning on their horses, -and were equipped for long rides in opposite -directions. Just inside the gate was a woman -leaning upon it; but, although she was a -Southerner, she did not shed tears when she -saw Leon and his father about to start on -their perilous ride. For she knew that every -step of the way would be harassed by danger, -and if she saw either one of them after she -bade them good-bye it would all be owing to -fortunate manœuvres on their part rather than -to any mismanagement on the part of the -rebels. They were both known as strong -Union men, and no doubt there were some of -their neighbors who were determined that -they should not fulfil their errand. It would -<span class='pageno' id='Page_7'>7</span>be an easy matter to shoot them down and -throw their bodies into the swamp, and no -one would be the wiser for it.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon Sprague was sixteen years old, and -had been a raftsman all his life. He had but -little education but much common sense, for -schools were something that did not hold a -high place in Jones county. In fact there -had been but one school in the county since -he could remember, and some of the boys took -charge of that, and conducted themselves in a -manner that drove the teacher away. Leon -was a fine specimen of a boy, as he stood there -listening to his father’s instructions—tall <a id='corr7.14'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='be-beyond'>beyond</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_7.14'><ins class='correction' title='be-beyond'>beyond</ins></a></span> -his years, and straight as one of the -numerous pines that he had so often felled -and rafted to Pascagoula bay. His countenance -was frank and open—no one ever -thought of doubting Leon’s word—but just -now there was a scowl upon it as he listened -to what his father had to say to him.</p> - -<p class='c010'>These people, the Spragues, were a little -better off than most of those who followed -their occupation, owning a nice little farm, -four negroes, and a patch of timber-land from -<span class='pageno' id='Page_8'>8</span>which they cut their logs and rafted them -down to tide-water to furnish the masts for -ocean-going vessels. His father and mother -were simple-minded folks who thought they -had everything that was worth living for, and -they did not want to see the Government -broken up on any pretext. The negro men -worked the farm and their wives were busy -in the house, which they kept as neat as a -new pin. Just now the men had been butchering -hogs in the woods, and were at work -making hams and bacon of them. These negroes -did not have an overseer—they did not -know what it was. They went about their -work bright and early, and when Saturday -afternoon came they posted off to the nearest -village to enjoy their half-holiday. They -loved their master and mistress, and if anybody -had offered them their freedom they -would not have taken it.</p> - -<p class='c010'>In order that you may understand this -story, boy reader, it is necessary that you -should know something of the character of -the inhabitants, and be able to bear in mind -the nature of the country in which this Rebellion -<span class='pageno' id='Page_9'>9</span>in Dixie took place, for it was as much -of a rebellion as that in Georgia, Tennessee, -North Carolina and Missouri, where men were -shot and hanged for not believing as their -neighbors did, and their houses were set on -fire. They made up their minds at the start—as -early as 1862—that they would not furnish -any men for the Southern army; and, -furthermore, they took good care to see that -there was no drafting done in their county.</p> - -<p class='c010'>If you will take your atlas and turn to the -map of Mississippi you will find Jones county -in the southeastern part of the State, and -about seventy-five miles north of Mobile, a -port that was one of the last to be captured -by the United States army. It comprised -nearly twenty townships, the white population -being 1482, a small chance, one would think, -for people to live as they did for almost two -years. The land was not fertile, “the entire -region being made up of pine barrens and -swamps, traversed by winding creeks, bordered -by almost impenetrable thickets.” It was -bounded on four sides by Jasper, Wayne, -Perry and Covington counties, which were all -<span class='pageno' id='Page_10'>10</span>loyal to the Confederacy, and it would seem -that the people had undertaken an immense -job to carry on a rebellion here in the face -of such surroundings. The inhabitants were, -almost to a man, opposed to the war. They -were lumbermen, who earned a precarious living -by cutting the pine trees and rafting them -to tide-water, which at that time was found on -Pascagoula bay. They had everything that -lumbermen could ask for, and they did not -think that any effort to cut themselves loose -from the North would result in any glory to -them. They could not get any more for their -timber than they were getting now, and why -should they consent to go into the army and -fight for principles that they knew nothing -about?</p> - -<p class='c010'>Of course, this county was divided against -itself, as every other county was that laid -claim to some Union and some Confederate -inhabitants. There were men among them -who had their all invested there, and they did -not think these earnest people were pursuing -the right course. These were the secessionists, -but they were very careful about what -<span class='pageno' id='Page_11'>11</span>they said, although they afterward found opportunities -to put their ideas into practice. -When General Lowery was sent with a strong -force to crush out this rebellion he was met -by a stubborn resistance, and some of these -Confederates, who were seen and recognized -by their Union neighbors, were afterward -shot to pay them for the part they had carried -out in conducting the enemy to their place of -retreat. Taken altogether, it was such a thing -as nobody had ever heard of before, but the -way these lumbermen went about it proclaimed -what manner of men they were. It seemed -as if the Confederacy could run enough men -in there to wipe out the Jones County Republic -before they could have time to organize -their army; but for all that the inhabitants -were determined to go through with it. They -held many a long talk with one another when -they met on the road or in convention at Ellisville, -and there wasn’t a man who was in -favor of joining the Confederacy, the secessionists -wisely keeping out of sight.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Things went on in this way for a year or -more, during which the lumbermen talked -<span class='pageno' id='Page_12'>12</span>amazingly, but did nothing. Finally Fort -Sumter was fired upon, and afterward came -the disastrous battle of Bull Run, and then -the Confederates began to gain a little courage. -They knew the South was going to -whip, and these battles confirmed them in the -belief; but the raftsmen did not believe it. -In 1862, when the Confederate Congress -passed the act of conscription, which compelled -those liable to do military duty to serve -in the army, the lumbermen grew in earnest, -and a few of them got together in Ellisville -and talked the matter over. The market for -their logs had long ago been broken up, and -some of them were beginning to feel the need -of something to eat; and when one of their -number proposed, more as a joke than anything -else, that they should cast their fortunes -with the Confederates, and so be able to go -down to tide-water and get some provisions, -the motion was hooted down in short order. -There were not enough people there to hold a -convention, and so the matter was postponed, -some of the wealthy ones who owned horses -being selected to ride about the county and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_13'>13</span>inform every one that the matter had gone far -enough—that they were going to hold a meeting -and see what the lumbermen thought of -taking the county out of the State of Mississippi. -Leon and his father were two of those -chosen, and they were just getting ready to -start on their journey.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I don’t know as I ought to send that boy -out at all, Mary,” said Mr. Sprague, when he -arrived at home that night after the convention -had been decided upon. “I have never -seen Leon in trouble and I don’t know how -he will act; but the boys down to Ellisville -seemed determined to let him go, and I never -said a word about it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I think you have seen Leon in trouble a -half a dozen times,” said his wife, who was -prompt to side with her son. “The time that -Tom Howe came so near being smashed up -with those logs down there in the bend—I -guess he was in trouble then, wasn’t he?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But that was with logs; it wasn’t with -men,” said Mr. Sprague. “Yes, Leon was -pretty plucky that day, and when all the boys -cheered him I didn’t say a word, although I -<span class='pageno' id='Page_14'>14</span>had an awkward feeling of pride around my -heart, I tell you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon and three or four other fellows of light -build were frequently called upon to start a -jam of logs which had filled up the stream so -full that the timber could not move. A hasty -glance at the jam would show them the -log that was to blame for it, and armed with -an ax and bare-footed the boys would leap -upon the raft and go out to it. A few hasty -blows would start the jam, and the timber -rushing by with the speed of a lightning express -train, the boys would make their way -back to the shore, jumping from one log to -another. Sometimes they did not get back -without a ducking. On the occasion referred -to Tom went out alone, and after he had been -there some minutes without starting the jam, -Leon was sent out to assist him. Two axes were -better than one, and in a few minutes the timber -was started. It came with a rush, too, -but Tom was just a moment too late. The log -upon which he had been chopping shot up -into the air fully twenty feet, and when it -came down it struck the log on which Tom -<span class='pageno' id='Page_15'>15</span>was standing and soused him head over heels -in the water; but before he went he felt -somebody’s around him. It was Leon -Sprague’s arm, for the latter struck the water -almost as soon as he did. Leon came up a -moment afterward with Tom hanging limp -and lifeless in his arms, and heard the cheers -of the “boys” ringing in his ears, but had -to go down again to escape the onward rush -of the logs which were coming toward him -with almost railroad speed. By going down -in this way and swimming lustily whenever -the logs were far enough away to admit of it, -Leon succeeded in landing about half a mile -below, and hauling his senseless burden out -on the bank. Tom could swim—there were -few boys on the stream that could beat him at -that—but when that log came down on him -it well nigh knocked it all out. Leon’s father -never said a word. He walked up and gave -the boy’s hand a hearty shake, and that was -the last of it. Leon had the opportunity of -knowing, as soon as Tom came to himself, -that he had made a life-long friend by his last -half-hour’s operations.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_16'>16</span>“Jeff Davis ain’t a going to send no hundred -thousand men after us,” repeated Mr. -Sprague, preparing to mount his horse. “He’ll -send a few in here to break up this rebellion, -and when they get here we’ll be in the woods -out of sight. Kiss your mother, Leon, and -let’s go. We have got a good ways to ride -before night.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, Leon, be careful of yourself,” said -his mother.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You need have no fear of me,” said Leon, -leaving his horse and going up to the gate. -“I’ve got my revolver in my pocket all -handy.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But remember that when you are riding -along the road somebody can easily pick you -off,” said Mrs. Sprague. “You know you are -a Union boy.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Do you want me to make believe that I -am--Confederate?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“By no means. Stick to the Union. Good-bye.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The farewells being said, father and son got -upon their horses and rode away in opposite -directions. Leon rode a high-stepping horse—he -<span class='pageno' id='Page_17'>17</span>was fond of a good animal and he owned -one of the very best in the county—but he -allowed him to wander at his own gait, knowing -that the horse would be tired enough -when he returned home. As he rode along, -thinking how foolish the people were to consider -seriously the proposal to withdraw from -the Union, he ran against a boy about his own -age who, like himself, was journeying on -horseback. He was a boy he did not like to -see. He was awfully “stuck up,” and, furthermore, -he was a rebel and did not hesitate -to have his opinions known.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Hello, Leon,” exclaimed Carl Swayne, for -that was the boy’s name. “Where are you -going this morning?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I am going around to see every man in -this side of the county,” said Leon. “We are -going to get up a convention on the 13th, and -we want everybody there. The convention is -going to be held at Ellisville.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“By George! Has it come to that?” cried -Carl, flourishing his riding-whip in the air. -“What do you think you are going to do -after you get to that convention?”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_18'>18</span>“We are going to dissolve the Union existing -between this county and the State of -Mississippi.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, I’ll bet you will. How long will it -be before the Confederates will send men in -here to whip you out? You must think you -can stand against them.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I don’t think we can stand against anybody,” -said Leon. “If the Confederates come -in here we shall go into the woods.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, it won’t take me long to show them -where you are,” said Carl, savagely. “I was -talking with uncle about it last night, and he -says you haven’t got but a few fighting men -here, and that it is utterly preposterous for -you to think of getting up a rebellion. I -know one thing about it: you will all be -hanged.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And I know another thing about it,” said -Leon. “When it comes we’ll be in good -company. Will you be down to our convention?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Not as anybody knows of,” replied Carl, -with a laugh. “I’ll get somebody up here to -put a stop to it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_19'>19</span>“Well, I wouldn’t be too hasty about it. -You may get hanged yourself.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes? I’d like to see the man living that -can put a rope around my neck,” exclaimed -Carl, hotly. “I’ve got more friends in this -county than one would suppose. I’ll bet you -wouldn’t be one of the first to do it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon picked up his reins and went on without -answering this question. He saw that -Carl was in a fair way to pick a quarrel with -him, and he had no desire to keep up his end -of it. Carl was hot-headed, and when he got -mad, was apt to do and say some things that -any boy of his age ought to have been ashamed -of. He kept on down the road for a mile -further, and finally turned into a broad carriage-way -that led up to a neat little cottage -that was surrounded by shade trees on all -sides. This was the house of Mr. Smith—a -crusty old bachelor who had always taken a -deep interest in Leon. He was Union to the -backbone, and if he could have had his way -he would have made short work with all such -fellows as Carl Swayne. He was sitting out -on the porch indulging in a smoke.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_20'>20</span>“Hallo, Leon,” he cried, as soon as he -found out who the new-comer was. “Alight -and hitch.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I can’t do it, Mr. Smith,” replied Leon. -“I am bound to see every man in this part of -the county, and that, you know, is a good long -ride. We are going to hold a convention on -the 13th, and we want you to come down to -it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Whew!” whistled Mr. Smith. “You bet -I’ll be there. What are you going to do at -that convention?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon explained briefly, adding:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I just now saw a fellow whom I asked to -come down, and he positively declined. He -says he will get somebody to put a stop to it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s Carl Swayne,” said Mr. Smith, in -a tone of disgust. “Say! I will give half my -fortune if we can hang that fellow and his -uncle to the nearest tree. They have been -preaching up secessionists’ doctrines here till -you can’t rest.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I think we can get the better of them -after a while,” said Leon. “When did you -get back?” he added, for Mr. Smith had been -<span class='pageno' id='Page_21'>21</span>down to tide-water to see what was going on -there. “Did you see or hear anything in -Mobile?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I got back last night. There is nothing -in Mobile except fortifications. I tell you it -will require a big army to take that place. -By the way, Leon, I want to see you some -time all by yourself. Don’t let any one know -you are coming here, but just come.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I’ll remember it, Mr. Smith. You won’t -forget the convention? Good-by.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What in the world does the old fellow -want to see me for?” soliloquized Leon. “And -why couldn’t he have told me to-day as well -as any other time? Well, it can’t be much, -any way.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon kept on his ride, and before night he -was many miles from home. He took in every -house he came to, Union as well as secessionist, -and while the former greeted him cordially, -the rebels had something to say to him -that fairly took his breath away. If he -hadn’t been the most even-tempered fellow in -the world he would have got fighting mad. -They all agreed as to one thing: They were -<span class='pageno' id='Page_22'>22</span>going to see Leon hanged for carrying around -the notice of that convention. His neighbors -wouldn’t do it, but there would be plenty of -Confederates in there after a while that would -string the Union people up as fast as they -could get to them. Leon had no idea that -there were so many secessionists in the county -as he found there when he came to ride -through it, and he made up his mind to one -thing, and that was, it was going to be pretty -hard work to carry that county out of the -State.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But just wait until we get together and -decide upon a constitution,” said Leon, as he -rode along with his hands in his pockets and -his eyes fastened upon the horn of his saddle. -“Jeff Davis has long ago ordered all Union -men out of the Confederacy, and what is there -to hinder us from ordering all these rebels -out? That’s an idea, and I will speak to -father about it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon did not care to spend all night with -such people as these, and so he kept on until -he found a family whose sentiments agreed -with his own, and there he laid by until -<span class='pageno' id='Page_23'>23</span>morning. The head of this household had -but recently come into the county, and Leon -did not know him. When the latter rode up -to the bars the man was chopping wood in -front of a dilapidated shanty, but when he -saw Leon approaching he dropped his axe, -took long strides toward his door and turned -around and faced him. The boy certainly -thought he was acting in a very strange way, -and for a moment didn’t know whether he -was a Union man or a rebel.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Good evening, sir,” said Leon, who thought -he might as well settle the matter once for all. -“Can I stay all night with you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Who are you and where did you come -from?” asked the man in reply.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“My name is Leon Sprague and I live in -the other part of the county,” replied Leon. -“I am a Union boy all over, and I came out -to tell everybody—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Course we can keep you all night if that -is the kind of a boy you are,” replied the man -coming up to the bars. “Get off and turn your -horse loose. I haven’t seen a Union boy before -in a long while. I came from Tennessee.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_24'>24</span>“What are you doing down here?” asked -Leon, as he led his horse over the bars.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I came down here to get out of reach of -the rebels, dog-gone ’em,” said the man in a -passionate tone of voice. “You had just -ought to see them up there. They have got -their jails full, they are hanging men for -burning bridges, and when I left home there -was two or three thousand men going over the -mountains into Kentucky. But I couldn’t go -with them. The rebels cut me off, and as I -was bound to go somewhere, I came on down -here.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon had by this time taken the saddle and -bridle from his horse and turned him loose to -get his own supper. Then he backed up against -the fence and watched the man chopping his -wood.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_25'>25</span> - <h2 class='c008'>CHAPTER II. <br /> <span class='small'>THE CONVENTION.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c009'>“What made you start for the house when -you saw me coming up?” said Leon, as -the man sank his axe deep into the log on -which he was chopping and paused to moisten -his hands.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Because I thought you was a rebel. I -reckoned there was more coming behind you, -and I wanted to be pretty close to my rifle. I -didn’t know that I had got into a community -of Union folks down here.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon was astonished to hear the man converse. -He talked like an intelligent person, -and the boy was glad to have him express an -opinion, for it was so much better than his -own that he resolved to profit by it.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I don’t know that you got in among -Union people,” said Leon, “for I have seen -more rebels to-day than I thought there was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_26'>26</span>in the county; but all the same there are some -Union folks here. You might have gone further -and fared worse.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“So I believe. When you came up you -said you were out to tell everybody something. -What were you going to say?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>It didn’t take Leon more than two minutes -to explain himself. The man listened with -genuine amazement, and when the boy got -through he seated himself on the log and -rested his elbows on his knees.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“How are you going to take this county -out?” said he. “You haven’t got men enough -to do any fighting.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, sir; but we are going to do the best -we can with what we have got.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s plucky at any rate. I suppose -that if the rebels come in here to capture you, -you will take to the swamp.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, sir. That’s just what we intend to -do.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, sir, you can put my name down for -that convention,” said the man, getting upon -his feet and going to work upon his wood-pile. -“I’ve got so down on the rebels that I am -<span class='pageno' id='Page_27'>27</span>willing to do anything I can to bother them. -I’ve got two brothers in jail up there now.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You said something about bridge burning,” -said Leon, and he didn’t know whether -he made a mistake or not. “Perhaps you had -a hand in it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Perhaps I did,” answered the man with a -laugh. “And I tell you I had to dig out as -soon as I got home. So you see I dare not -go back there.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What’s the punishment?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Death,” answered the man. “And they -don’t give you any time to say good-bye to -your friends. They don’t even court-martial -you, but string you up at once.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The man said this in much the same tone -that he would have asked for a drink of water. -Leon was surprised that one who had passed -through so many dangers as that man had -could speak of it so indifferently. But then -he looked like a man who would have been -picked out of a crowd to engage in business of -that kind. He was large and bony, the ease -with which he handled his axe was surprising, -but his face was one to attract anybody’s -<span class='pageno' id='Page_28'>28</span>attention. It was a determined face—a face -that wouldn’t back down for any obstacles. -If the Union men in Tennessee were all like -him, it was a wonder how the rebels got the -start of them.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I can’t give you as good a place here as I -could at home,” said the man, as his wife -came to the door and told him that supper was -ready. “At home I have a commodious house, -and you could have a room in it all to yourself. -Here I have nothing but this little tumble-down -shanty to go into. It leaks, but I -will soon get the better of that. Molly, this -young man is Union all over, and he has come -down here to tell of a convention that is to -be held at Ellisville to take this county out of -the State. Whoever heard of such a thing? -I am going to that meeting, sure pop.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>His wife was greatly surprised to listen to -this, but she accepted the introduction to -Leon, and forthwith proceeded to make him -feel at home. There were two children, but -they had been taught to behave, and did not -try to shove themselves forward at all. Taken -altogether, it was a comfortable meal, and before -<span class='pageno' id='Page_29'>29</span>it was over Leon learned some things regarding -this man that he wouldn’t have believed -possible. He had come all the way through -the rebel State of Mississippi by telling the -people he met on the way that he was going -to see some friends, and had, by chance, struck -Jones county, the very place of all others he -wanted to be.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I must confess it was pretty pokerish, -sometimes,” said the man. “The rebels had -sent on a description of me as the man who -helped burn their bridges, and now and then -I had to get under the bundles of clothing -and cover myself up there, leaving my wife -to guide the horses. But I had my rifle all -right, and it would have gone hard with the -men who discovered me.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The evening was passed in this way listening -to the man’s stories, and when Leon went -to bed in a dark corner of the room he told -himself that he had got into a desperate -scrape, and that he had got something to -do in order to get out of it. He had -never dreamed that men could be down -on their neighbors in that way, and here this -<span class='pageno' id='Page_30'>30</span>man had all he could do to keep from being -shot.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“By George! I tell you we are in for it,” -said Leon, pulling the blankets up over him, -“and I don’t know how we are going to come -out. There are rebels all around us, and if -they are as bad down here as they are up in -Tennessee there won’t one of us come through -alive. But I am armed, and I’ll see that -some of them get as good as they send.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>It was daylight when Leon awoke, and after -washing his hands and face in a basin outside -the door he stood in front of the fireplace, -before which the woman was engaged -in cooking the breakfast, and looked up at the -man’s rifle, which hung on some wooden pegs -over the mantel. It was an ordinary muzzle-loading -thing, and didn’t look as though it -had been the death of anybody.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That rifle has been too much for half a -dozen men,” said the woman.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, how did that happen?” asked -Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“It happened when they came to burn us -out,” answered the woman. “They came one -<span class='pageno' id='Page_31'>31</span>night and tried to call Josiah to the door, but -he would not go. He took his rifle down, but -he wouldn’t shoot until they did, and as he is -a good shot, he hit every time. The next day -we had to move, for they came with a larger -body of men.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There is one thing that makes me think -you are in a bad place,” said Leon. “You -are right here close to the river which separates -the two counties, and if anybody makes -a raid over here they will strike you, sure. I -think if that convention is held you had better -come down to our place. We have room -enough there to stow you away.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, thank you. Perhaps you had better -speak to Josiah about it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Josiah was out attending to his horses and -cow, and Leon went out to him. He looked -at him with more respect than he did the -night before, for, in addition to burning the -bridges, he had “got the better” of half a -dozen men. He bade Leon a hearty good-morning, -but the boy noticed that all the -while he kept talking to him he kept his eyes -fastened on the woods. Probably it was from -<span class='pageno' id='Page_32'>32</span>the force of habit. He agreed with Leon -that they were in a bad place to meet raids, -and promised that after the convention came -off he would see what he could do. He -didn’t want to trespass on anybody until he -had to.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Breakfast over, Leon brought his horse to -the door, put on his saddle and bridle and bid -good-bye to the family from Tennessee, and -rode off. He was two days more on his route, -and on the third day he turned his horse -toward home. He reached it without any mishap, -and his mother was glad to see him, -judging by the hug she gave him. His father -had arrived the night before, but the stories -he had to tell didn’t compare with Leon’s. -Of course his mother was shocked when she -learned that Josiah (Leon did not know what -else to call him) had shot so many men before -he left Tennessee, but she readily agreed to -shelter his wife and children.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I never thought to ask him his name,” -said Leon, “but I will ask him down to the -convention. He was dead in favor of it, and -said he would be there. I tell you that man -<span class='pageno' id='Page_33'>33</span>has passed through a heap. He couldn’t talk -to me without running his eyes over the woods -to see if there was anybody coming.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>On the next day but one was the time of -the convention, and at an early hour Mr. -Sprague and Leon mounted their horses and -set out for Ellisville. On the way they picked -up a good many more, both afoot and on horseback, -and by the time they reached their destination -they numbered fifty or more. They -made their way at once to the church, and -found themselves surrounded by a formidable -body of men, all of whom were armed with -rifles. There must have been a thousand men -there, and there was not a secessionist to be -seen in the party. Shortly afterward Nathan -Knight arrived. He bid good-morning to the -people right and left, and went into the -church, whither he was followed by all the -building would hold. Those who couldn’t -get in raised the windows on the outside and -settled themselves down to hear what was -going to happen.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Nathan Knight was a large man, with gray -whiskers and an eye that seemed to look right -<span class='pageno' id='Page_34'>34</span>through you. But for all that his face was -kindly, and if you got broken up in business -and wanted help, Nathan Knight was the man -to go to. He took his seat in the pulpit, just -where he knew the folks would send him, -took off his hat and drew his handkerchief -across his forehead. His meeting was not -conducted according to order, but those who -were there understood it.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Gentlemen will please come to order,” -said he. “Are there any of us who are opposed -to taking this county out of the State -of Mississippi? If there is, let him now speak -or hereafter hold his peace.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Each man gazed into the face of his neighbor; -but each one knew that the one he -looked at was as much in favor of secession as -he was himself. Finally, some one in the -back part of the church called out:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Nathan, there ain’t nary a rebel here.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I am glad to hear it,” said Mr. Knight. -“But there are some around in the county, -and you want to be careful how you deal with -them. I will now appoint a committee of six -to draw up a series of resolutions of secession. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_35'>35</span>They will go over to the hotel and come back -when they get done.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Knight had evidently been thinking of -this matter before for he appointed the committee -without hesitation, and among them -was the name of Mr. Sprague. They were all -men who would not say a thing they did not -mean, and as they were about to go out the -president beckoned Mr. Sprague to his desk -and placed a piece of paper in his hands.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There’s some resolutions I drew up after -thinking the matter over,” said he. “Perhaps -it will serve as a model to you. You can -amend them or leave them out entirely, as -suits you best.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>When the committee had retired Mr. -Knight got up, and for the next half-hour proceeded -to arraign the Confederate States and -praise the Union, his remarks calling forth -loud and long-continued applause. He took -the ground that it was a “geographical impossibility” -to conquer Jones county, because, -the inhabitants being lumbermen, it would be -easy for them to slip into the woods, and -when there nobody but a raftsman could find -<span class='pageno' id='Page_36'>36</span>them. He kept his speech going until the -committee were seen coming back. Mr. -Sprague made his way to the desk, and amid -the most impressive silence read the resolutions -of secession as follows:</p> - -<p class='c011'><span class='sc'>Whereas</span>, The State of Mississippi has seen fit to -withdraw from the Federal Union for reasons which -appear justifiable;</p> - -<p class='c012'><em>And whereas</em>, We, the citizens of Jones county, -claim the same right, thinking our grievances are -sufficient by reason of an unjust law passed by Congress -of the Confederate States of America, forcing -us to go to distant parts, etc., etc.;</p> - -<p class='c012'><em>Therefore be it resolved</em>, That we sever the union -heretofore existing between Jones county and the -State of Mississippi, and proclaim our independence -of said State and the Confederate States of America; -and we solemnly call upon Almighty God to witness -and bless such act.</p> - -<p class='c013'>When Mr. Sprague ceased reading, the applause -which shook the building was long -and loud. Not satisfied with that, some of -the raftsmen fired off their guns, and for the -next five or ten minutes it was impossible to -do anything inside the church. By that time -the excitement had somewhat died out, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_37'>37</span>then the president asked if there was any debate -on the matter, but no one had anything -to say. Knowing that those six men had the -good of the county at heart, there was not one -who had anything to say against them. Mr. -Knight expressed himself pleased, and was -about to announce that the resolutions were -passed, when somebody on the outside of the -building called out:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Nathan, here’s a couple of rebels out here.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What are they doing out there?” asked -the president, in surprise.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I don’t know. They have just come up -here. It looks to me like they were going to -recruit.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, fetch them in here. Now, boys, -not a word out of you. I will do the talking, -and if you have any questions to ask, you can -ask them; but don’t all talk at once.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Knight settled back in his chair and -the most profound silence ensued. Finally -the crowd about the door gave way as the -rebels and their escort approached, and the -Confederates, seeing so many men standing -there with their hats all off, courteously took -<span class='pageno' id='Page_38'>38</span>off their own. They kept on until they got -up to the desk, and then Mr. Knight drew up -chairs for them to be seated.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, gentlemen, what brought you up -here?” asked the president.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We came up here to recruit,” replied the -ranking officer. “I am glad to see so many -of you here, for it will save us the trouble of -hunting you up.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Will you be kind enough to read that?” -said Mr. Knight, unfolding the paper on -which the resolutions were written and passing -it over to the officer.</p> - -<p class='c010'>The official took the paper, and as he read -his eyes opened with surprise. When he had -got through with it he passed it over to his -subordinate, and then turned and looked at -the men near him. He was satisfied that there -was not a man there who did not believe -every word of those resolutions. The officer -had nothing to fear now—he was the first recruiting -official that ever came there—but -after he got away he would not come back at -any price.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“These are not all your men?” said he.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_39'>39</span>“No, sir. We have not more than three -hundred men, but these extra parties have -come in with their families at odd times. And -every man you see is a Union man.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“My friend, you are making a great mistake,” -began the officer.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We are ready to stand by it, sir.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Do you suppose the Confederates will -stand by and allow you to take this county -out of the State, to be an odd sheep in the -flock?” continued the officer. “The first -thing you know you will be overrun with -men, and you won’t have a house to go -into.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What will we be doing all that time?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, I suppose you will fight, but it won’t -do you any good. The Confederates can send -twenty thousand men in here.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We don’t care if they send forty thousand,” -replied the president. “Whatever you -send we’ll fight.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The men who were crowded in the church -and gathered about the windows couldn’t -stand it any longer. They broke out into loud -applause, which continued for some minutes. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_40'>40</span>When they got through, the officer evidently -thought they were in earnest.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We have a thousand men here, and when -we get into the swamp we are willing to meet -five thousand,” continued Mr. Knight. “You -can’t conquer us.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What will you do for grub?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We’ll steal it,” shouted one of the men; -and the answer was so droll and corresponded -so entirely with the thoughts of the men who -were standing around, that the whole assembly -burst into laughter. Even the enrolling officers -joined in.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I suppose you can do that, of course,” -said he, “but supposing the escort is too strong -to be successfully attacked?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We don’t borrow any trouble on that -score,” said Mr. Knight. “We haven’t got -all the men we are going to have. You see -how they are coming in now. But you are -interrupting us, and we shall have to bid you -good-bye. You see very plainly that you can’t -raise any men here for the Confederate army. -Another thing we’ll tell you, you are the first -to come in, and you will be the last to go out.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_41'>41</span>“Do you mean to say that you will kill any -enrolling officers who come here?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s just what I mean to say. We don’t -want them here.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well,” said the official, rising to his feet, -“we’ll go, but we won’t be the last officers to -come in here. I will tell you that very plainly. -You mustn’t think that the Confederates are -going to allow you to have your own way in -this matter. It beats anything I ever heard of.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We are aware of that, and that’s what -makes us think we are going to go through -with it. I will bid you good-bye, gentlemen.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The men divided right and left to allow the -rebels a chance to get out, and when they had -passed out beyond the door the president proceeded -to call the meeting to order.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I am pleased with the way you obeyed -my commands,” said Mr. Knight. “If you -will obey as promptly as that, we are going to -be hard to whip. The next thing is to elect -a president.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I nominate Nathan Knight as president -of the Jones County Confederacy,” shouted a -man near the door.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_42'>42</span>“We ought to have a ballot for that,” said -Mr. Knight.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We don’t need no ballot. It takes too -much time. Can I get a second to that?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>He could and he did. It seemed as if every -man in the house seconded the motion. Mr. -Sprague put the vote before the house, and it -was carried unanimously. Mr. Knight did -not stop to make a speech, but said the next -vote would be for vice-president, and Mr. -Sprague was nominated.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Hold on, there,” shouted a voice. “We -don’t want Mr. Sprague for vice-president. -We want him for secretary of war. If there -is any man who can put us fellows where we -can do the most good in a fight Mr. Sprague -is the chap.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>And so it was all through the convention. -There wasn’t a ballot taken for anything, and -no man thought of declining an office. By -four o’clock the work was all done, and then -Mr. Knight thought of something else.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There is one thing more that I want the -convention to decide on,” said he. “It is -a ticklish piece of business, but we have got -<span class='pageno' id='Page_43'>43</span>to do it. Jeff Davis has been making things -very uncomfortable for our fellows out there -in the Confederacy by telling them that they -have got to light out or go into the army; -now, what’s to hinder us from doing the same -thing? There are many rebels about here—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And I say let’s get rid of them,” said a -voice. “I know one fellow who is going around -all the time talking secession, and if the meeting -says the word I’ll go to him and tell him -he had better dig out. The county will be -a heap happier if he ain’t in it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Let’s all go in a body,” said another voice.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s what I say,” said a chorus of half a -dozen men.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I think myself that would be the better -way,” said the president. “If a lot of us get -together and call upon a man, he will think we -are in dead earnest. Give them time to take -what they want, and then escort them out of -the county. Don’t leave a rebel behind you. -There being no further business, the convention -stands adjourned, to meet again upon call.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>And where was Leon Sprague all this time? -He was sitting in the front seat, where he -<span class='pageno' id='Page_44'>44</span>could hear all that was going on. He felt -proud when his father was elected secretary -of war. He supposed, of course, that it was his -business to post men in battle, but he learned -better after a while. He was particularly -anxious about escorting the rebels out of the -county, and as soon as the convention adjourned -he hurried out to find Tom Howe. As -he was hurrying through the door, whom should -he run against but Josiah—the “man who had -seen a heap,” and who “got the best of half a -dozen men.” He stood with his rifle hugged -up close to him as if it were an old friend and -he did not want to part from it.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_45'>45</span> - <h2 class='c008'>CHAPTER III. <br /> <span class='small'>“A WORD IN YOUR EAR.”</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c009'>“Why, Josiah, I am glad to see you,” said -Leon, advancing and shaking hands -with the man. “The rebels haven’t raided you -yet? Look here, what is your name? I forgot -to ask you when I was up to your house.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Giddings—Josiah Giddings,” answered -the man. “No, the rebels have not raided -me yet, but I am mighty dubious about them.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I want to make you acquainted -with my father,” said Leon. “He will give -your wife protection at his house. We have a -negro cabin there that is much more comfortable -than the one you live in now, for it -doesn’t leak. And there is plenty of pasturage -there for your horse and cow.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon drew up alongside of Giddings and -in a few minutes his father came out. The -introduction was given, and after a few commonplace -<span class='pageno' id='Page_46'>46</span>remarks Mr. Sprague inquired how -he liked the resolutions.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“They ain’t strong enough,” said Giddings. -“If you had two brothers in jail waiting for -their death-warrant, I reckon you would put -in more language than you did.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Where is that?” inquired Mr. Knight, -who came out just at that moment.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Up in Tennessee mountains. My brothers -were engaged in bridge burning, and now -they have got to suffer death for it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon waited just long enough to see that Giddings -was in a fair way to make the acquaintance -of the principal men of the county, and -then hastened out to find Tom Howe. After -looking all about, he discovered him sitting -under the shade of an oak eating a lunch.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Hallo, Leon; have some,” was the way -in which he greeted the new-comer. “It’s -mighty good, I tell you—chicken and apple -pie.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“A person to look at your lunch wouldn’t -think that we Union fellows would be so hard -up for grub,” said Leon, seating himself on -the ground by Tom’s side. “You heard -<span class='pageno' id='Page_47'>47</span>what that man said, in reply to the enrolling -officer, that if we got short of provisions we -would steal them? But I want to talk to you -about driving those rebels away from here.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I know one who will get out of the county -with once telling,” said Tom.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Who is it?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Carl Swayne.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s just the fellow I was thinking of,” -said Leon, spitefully. “He told me the other -day that if we ran into the swamp it would -not take him long to show them where we -were.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And he told me that he wished I had -been smashed up in that jam while I was -about it, for then there would be one Union -man less in the world,” said Tom. “I’ll -never forget him for that.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, you come around to the house early -to-morrow morning, and we will go up and -send him off. I see father is getting ready to -go home, so I must go. So-long.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon mounted his horse and started on a -lope after his father, but when he came up -with him he found him surrounded by a lot -<span class='pageno' id='Page_48'>48</span>of men and boys who were talking loudly of -the secession resolutions, finding no end of -fault with the Confederate Government, and -praising the Union.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“They won’t get me, no matter which way -they turn,” said one of the men, who lived -away off in the swamp. “I live two miles -from everybody, and right there is where the -fight is going to take place. The river in -front of my house is so narrow that you can -throw a stone across it anywhere, and for a -mile above and below the house it spreads out -into a swamp that they couldn’t get across to -save their necks.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“So you really think there is going to be a -fight, do you?” inquired Mr. Sprague.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, sure. It’s just as that enrolling officer -said. The Confederates ain’t a-going to -leave us to be the black sheep in the flock. -We are going to see some fun before we get -through with this.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>That was the opinion of all the men, and -they concluded, too, that the best place to hold -the fight would be right there in front of this -man’s house. “But I’ll tell you what’s a fact,” -<span class='pageno' id='Page_49'>49</span>said Giddings, “you will have to look out for -your wife and children. The rebels will make -short work of them if they get hold of them.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“The swamp is big,” said the man. “If -they get out in there I will risk the rebels -getting hold of them.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Then men and boys dropped off one after -the other when they came to the cross-roads -that led to their homes, and by the time Mr. -Sprague reached his home there were but few -men besides Giddings left. The latter got off -his horse at the gate and went in to take a -view of the cabin in which Mr. Sprague told -him he could live until the trouble was all -over, and he straightway came to the conclusion -that it was a much better house than the -one he now occupied.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You see there was nobody there to tell -me that I could go into that house or I could -stay out of it,” said Giddings. “It wasn’t -occupied, and so I went into it, and sometimes -when it rains you might just as well be outside. -If it suits you, I will come here to-morrow.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Sprague told him that the sooner he -<span class='pageno' id='Page_50'>50</span>came the better; but Giddings declined an -invitation to supper, because he knew his wife -was waiting for him, so he got on his horse -and rode off.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“It kinder runs in my mind that that man -Giddings will be a good fellow to tie to,” said -Mr. Sprague, as he drew his chair up to the -table. “There’s no end to the way he hates -the rebels, and it’s my opinion that when he -shoots at them he will shoot to kill.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But do you really think there is going to -be a fight?” inquired his wife. She asked -this in a very indifferent manner, as if she did -not care whether it came or not. She had got -used to thinking of such things.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Sprague, by way of reply, told her all -about the convention, and described to her -the visit of the enrolling officers who had -come up there to enlist men for the Confederate -army.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Did they get any?” inquired Mrs. Sprague.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Not much. There were a thousand men -there under arms, and that is rather more than -two men want to handle. They know all -about our plans, for Knight showed them the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_51'>51</span>resolutions. Of course, they are going back -to their headquarters, and are going to make -a fuss about it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I tell you it won’t be long now before we -shall see some Confederate soldiers up here, -and I wonder if I dare shoot at any of them?” -said Leon. “If they will let me alone I -believe I’ll let them alone.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“How about those rebels that we are going -to drive away from here to-morrow?” asked -his father. “I think I have heard you say -something pretty rough against Carl Swayne.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, that’s a different matter. Carl won’t -let me alone, and I am determined that hereafter -I am going to live in peace. He told -Tom Howe that he wished he had been -jammed up in that log heap, and I don’t like -to have people talk that way.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Early the next morning Mr. Sprague’s -family were up and stirring. Leon was surprised -when he looked at his father. There -was a determined expression on his face, and -the boy became aware that he was about to -engage in an enterprise that promised at some -future time to bring him no end of trouble. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_52'>52</span>Leon took his cue from it, and from that time -he was not so joyous as he had been. He -took his revolver out, shot it at a mark, and -then proceeded to load it very carefully. There -was only a man and a boy and two women in -the family he intended to send out of the -county, and Leon could not understand that -determined look on his father’s face. When -he sat down at the breakfast-table he asked -him about it.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Father, you seem to think you are going -to have a handful in sending that Swayne -family away from among their friends,” said -he. “What do you look for?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I don’t look for anything now,” said Mr. -Sprague. “There will be a time when they -will come back. Old man Swayne is a fighter, -and it will stand us well in hand to get rid of -him entirely.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The conversation was dropped there, and -they ate breakfast in silence. Before it was -fairly ended the five men on whom Mr. -Sprague was depending to assist him stepped -up on the porch and came into the house. -They were all invited to sit down and take -<span class='pageno' id='Page_53'>53</span>another breakfast, but all declined, having -broken their fast several hours before.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You see, Mrs. Sprague, we got an order -from the Secretary of War, and we’ve got to -be on hand,” said one of the men. “It would -not do to go back on anything he tells us.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I don’t know what they put me in for -that office for,” said Mr. Sprague. “I don’t -see that I have got anything to do.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, wait until it comes to fighting, and -then you will find plenty to do. Now if you -are all ready we’ll go on,” said the man, forgetting -that he was giving orders to his superior -officer. “We can’t get rid of that Swayne -family any too quick. They’re all the time -boasting and bragging of what they intend to -do, and now we will give them a chance.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon found opportunity to kiss his mother -good-bye, and when he went out on the porch, -where Tom Howe was sitting and waiting for -him, they fell in behind the men, who -shouldered their rifles and marched at a brisk -pace toward Mr. Swayne’s house. There was -no attempt at military movement, for there -was not one in the party who knew anything -<span class='pageno' id='Page_54'>54</span>about it, but they went ahead just as if they -were going hog-hunting in the woods. In due -time they came to a cross-roads which led -down to Swayne’s house, and here they -stopped, for there was something that drew -their attention and angered them not a little. -Before they left Ellisville, on the day of the -convention, Mr. Knight had given several -copies of the resolutions to men living in different -parts of the county, with the request -that they should nail them up on trees (there -was no printing-press in the county), in order -to give those who were not there timely notice -of what they had done. The man who -served this notice performed his duty, for the -tacks were in the tree plain enough, but it -hadn’t been able to do much good. The notice -had been torn down and the pieces scattered -about on the ground.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I do think in my soul!” began one -of the men, “he wasn’t going to let anybody -see it, was he?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Look here,” exclaimed Leon, who had -grown wonderfully sharp sighted of late; “I -know who did it. It was that miserable Carl -<span class='pageno' id='Page_55'>55</span>Swayne. Do you not see his footprints here -in the dust?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s so. Now what shall we do with -him? Sprague, you are Secretary of War, -and you ought to be able to say what shall be -done with him. Knight never thought yesterday, -when he gave out those resolutions, that -somebody would go to work and pull them -down.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Meanwhile Leon had been busy gathering -up the torn fragments of the resolution that -were scattered around. When he got them together -he compared them and saw they were -all there.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I’ll fix him,” said he. “And I’ll make -him so sorry that he ever tore this down that -he’ll go by a resolution the next time he sees it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What are you going to do?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I’ll make him write it over again and -come here and put it up,” said Leon, savagely.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s the idea,” said Tom Howe. “He -pulled it down, and of course he must put it -up. I’ll be close at your heels when you are -doing it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Sprague said nothing, but Leon noticed -<span class='pageno' id='Page_56'>56</span>that the look on his face got deeper than ever. -He led the way at increased speed toward -Swayne’s house, and in a few minutes turned -through the carriageway and saw Mr. Swayne -and his nephew, Carl, sitting on the front -porch. They evidently grew alarmed at seeing -them, for they arose from their chairs and -held on to the backs of them.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Good morning,” said Swayne, and his -voice trembled and his hand shook as he -hauled up some chairs for them to seat themselves. -“I did not expect to see so many of -you here this fine morning.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We have no time to sit down,” said Mr. -Sprague, who was supposed to do all the talking. -“You are a rebel, are you not?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well—yes; that is it depends on what you -call a rebel,” said Mr. Swayne, trying to -laugh at his own wit. “I am opposed to your -trying to take this county out of the State; -because why—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“So I supposed. We have come here to -tell you that you can pack up and leave this -county as soon as you please. We don’t want -to hear any argument about it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_57'>57</span>“Why—why, where shall I go to?” exclaimed -Swayne, while the boy turned whiter -than ever. “If I leave here, I leave everything -I have got behind me.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We will give you an hour to pack up -things. If you are in the house at the end of -that time, we shall set fire to it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, now, see here,” said Swayne, who -grew more frightened than ever; “I can’t -pack up in an hour—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I have told you just what I intend to do,” -said Mr. Sprague, consulting his watch. “It is -now ten o’clock. If you are in here at eleven -we shall set the house going. If you are out -of it in that time, why, we’ll save it. You -want to make up your mind in a hurry.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Of all the brazen-faced fellows I ever saw -you are the beat,” said Swayne, his fear giving -place to anger. “I wish I had half a -dozen Confederate soldiers here to protect -me.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“By gum! We’ll set the house a-going before -you get out of it,” said one of Mr. -Sprague’s men. “You ain’t a-going to talk -to us like that.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_58'>58</span>“One moment, Bud. We’ll sit down here -on the porch until he gets through being mad, -and then maybe he’ll pack up. You had better -go, Swayne, for as sure as we are sitting -on this porch, so sure will we set fire to it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>In the meantime Leon and Tom had stood -close together, and as Carl flounced into the -house after his uncle, the two bounded up the -steps and went up to the frightened boy.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“A word in your ear,” said Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I don’t want anything to do with -you,” said Carl, almost ready to cry when he -found himself driven away from his home. -“A man who will do as you have done has no -business with a white person.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“One moment,” said Leon, while Tom -cocked his gun and brought it to bear on Carl’s -head. “That brings you to your senses, don’t -it? Here’s a resolution of secession that my -father got up yesterday, and which was left -on a tree down here, and I found it torn up -and strewn on the ground. Did you have a -hand in it?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Say, Tom, I want you to turn that gun -the other way,” said Carl, who dared not move -<span class='pageno' id='Page_59'>59</span>for fear that the rifle would still be pointed at -him.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Did you have a hand in it?” repeated -Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, I did,” said Carl, who, remembering -that his uncle had got off easy by showing -some grit, now resolved to show a little himself. -“I will tear up every one you put -there.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I want you to go into the house and -bring out some writing materials, and sit down -at this table here on the porch and draw up a -full copy of this resolution,” said Leon; and -Carl had never heard him speak so before. -As he spoke he drew a revolver from his -pocket.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I can’t write as well as that,” stammered -Carl, who saw that he had got to do something -very soon. “I wish you would put that revolver -away. You don’t know how it worries -me to have those things in sight.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You can write well enough. Go and get -the pen and ink. And mind you, you want -to be out here in short order, or we will be in -there after you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_60'>60</span>Carl hurried into the house, while Tom uncocked -his gun and leaned upon it, and Leon -put his revolver into his pocket. They didn’t -think they would have any more use for them. -Carl went at once to the room in which his -aunt was busy packing up some of her clothes, -and the face he brought with him was enough -to attract anybody’s attention.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, Carl, this is pretty rough, ain’t it?” -said his uncle, who was engaged in getting -some of his own things together.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I should say it was,” whimpered Carl. -“Are you not going to be revenged on these -fellows?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We’ll be revenged on them so quick that -they won’t know it,” said his aunt, in a husky -voice. She didn’t cry, but her hands trembled -and her face was very white.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Where are your writing materials, aunt? -That little Leon Sprague is going to make me -write out those resolutions I tore down. I wish, -with uncle, that we had some half a dozen -Confederate soldiers here. Wouldn’t we make -a scattering among them?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Carl, you can’t have those writing materials,” -<span class='pageno' id='Page_61'>61</span>said his aunt, who was struck motionless -with surprise. “Tell him that we haven’t -got any in the house. The young jackanapes! -Where’s your rifle, that you don’t use it? I -wish I were a man for about twenty minutes. -There wouldn’t be so many of them as there -are now.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But, aunt, they have got fire-arms, and -they pulled them on me,” said Carl. “If I -don’t get them out there very soon they will -come after me.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You will find them in the top bureau -drawer,” said his aunt, who began to think it -was necessary to show a little speed. “Wait -until I get my things all together and get out -there, I will give them a piece of my mind.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, Lydia, you want to be mighty careful -what you say out there,” said her husband. -“They have got weapons, and they had just -as soon use them as not. It is a pretty piece -of business, this allowing strangers to drive -us away from our home, but I tell you we’ll -have revenge for it sooner or later. Pack up -all your things in a hurry, for we have an -hour left us in which to save our home.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_62'>62</span>Carl, seeing that his uncle had no way to -propose for him to get out of making a copy -of that secession resolution, hunted up the -writing materials as soon as he could, and -went out on the porch with them. He found -Leon and Tom there, and they were getting -impatient.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Look here,” said the former, “if you want -to help your uncle get his things together you -will move a little spryer than that. Now, sit -down at this table and make out a full copy -of this paper, just as it was when you pulled -it down.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I’ll bet you won’t always have things all -your own way,” said Carl, as he seated himself -and removed the stopper from the ink-bottle. -“You don’t suppose we’ll come back, -do you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I suppose you will, and that you will have -men with you,” said Leon. “But you must -bring all of two thousand men to put this rebellion -down. Don’t let’s have any more talk. -Go on and write out that paper.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And remember, it’s got to be the same as -it was there,” said Tom, when he saw Carl -<span class='pageno' id='Page_63'>63</span>arrange the pieces without reference to what -came after them. “If you don’t, you will have -to write it over again.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>While Carl was busy with his copying his -uncle and aunt came out on the porch. They -didn’t say a word, but brought with them a -large bundle of clothing that they wanted to -save. Aunt Lydia showed that she would -have annihilated Mr. Sprague if she could, for -the glance she cast upon him was full of hate. -Mr. Swayne then took a horn down from a -nail under the porch and blew two long blasts -upon it. That was a signal to let the field-hands -know that they were wanted. Presently -the field-hands came up, a half a dozen of -them, and although they may have been very -smart negroes, the clothing which they wore -did not proclaim the fact. There was hardly -a piece of cloth on them that wasn’t patched -until it was almost ready to drop off their -persons. They looked on in surprise when -they saw so many Union men there (they used -to say that the darkies were rather blunt in -such matters, and that they didn’t know who -the Union men were), and saw the piles of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_64'>64</span>clothing that had been brought out, but the -first words their master spoke to them cleared -everything up.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We’ve got to go away from home now, or -these men are going to burn it,” said Mr. -Swayne. “Hitch those mules to the lumber-wagons -and bring them up here. Be in a -hurry, now, for we have no time to waste.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The darkies rolled their eyes in great astonishment, -and then went about their work with -alacrity. In a few minutes the wagons were -driven up to the door, and the darkies began -to pile in the clothes. While Mr. Sprague -was watching them he became aware that -somebody was trying to attract his attention. -A pebble thrown by a friendly hand hit -him on the shoulder. He faced about, and -saw one of the darkies behind the house. -When he saw Mr. Sprague looking at him he -beckoned to him to come where he was.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_65'>65</span> - <h2 class='c008'>CHAPTER IV. <br /> <span class='small'>CARL BRINGS NEWS.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c009'>“Say, Marse Sprague, is you Union men -going to burn dese houses ober deir -heads?” began the darky, so excited that he -could scarcely stand still.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We have given them an hour to take their -things out,” said Mr. Sprague. “If they -don’t take them out in that time we’ll set the -house a-going. If they get all their things -out and loaded in the wagons we’ll save the -house, so that they can have something to -live in when these troubles are all over.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Whar do you reckon dey’ll go if dey get -the things all tooken out?” asked the negro.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I don’t know where they will go; over -into the next county, probably. But what -makes you so anxious?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, say, Marse Sprague, I don’t care to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_66'>66</span>go ober into the next county wid ’em. Dey’s -rebels ober dere.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“So I have heard.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I don’t want to go among dose rebels -’cause I won’t get no freedom. Dey say we’ll -get it in a little while if we stays here among -dese Union men.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Who told you that?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Your own Mose told me dat, sah.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Is Mose going to take his freedom when -he can get it?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Sah? No, sah. He say he’s got a Marse -who don’t stripe his jacket none, and he ain’t -a-going to look at his freedom. I tell you, I -don’t care to go ober into dat oder county -wid dem people here.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What are you going to do about it?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We-uns didn’t know what to do about it. -If we slip away from dem while dey are going -ober dar can dey catch us?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I don’t know whether they can or not. -There’s been an Emancipation Proclamation -issued by Abraham Lincoln, saying that if -they don’t quit their rebellion in six months -he will declare their niggers all free.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_67'>67</span>“Dat’s just what I want to get at, sah,” said -the negro, pounding his knees and shaking -his head as if he were overjoyed to hear it. -“Dat’s just what I want, sah. De rebels ain’t -a-going to go and get up such a ’bellion, and -den go and give it up ’cause somebody tells -’em to. I ain’t a-going into dat oder county, -and the first thing Marse Swayne knows my -folks and me will be missing.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, you have got to depend on yourself,” -said Mr. Sprague. “I cannot help you if you -do run away from them.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I knows dat mighty well. But you just -watch out and see if you hain’t got more black -folks up to your plantation dan you ought to -have. You is a Union man and I know it, -and you ain’t a-going to give me up just ’cause -Marse Swayne says so.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The negro started one way because he heard -somebody calling him, and Mr. Sprague -joined the men on the porch feeling as if he -had a big responsibility resting upon him. -He didn’t agree to take all the darkies in the -county who might make up their minds to -run away from their masters, and how was he -<span class='pageno' id='Page_68'>68</span>going to support them all and find work for -them to do?</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I tell you, this thing is coming to a head,” -said Mr. Sprague to the man who sat next to -him. “You remember what Stephens said -about having a Government whose cornerstone -should be slavery?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The man remembered it perfectly. They -used to get Confederate papers when the war -first broke out, but now that they were in rebellion, -and the postmaster was a rebel, they -didn’t get a sight of one. The man who -had charge of the office removed to Mobile -as soon as he saw how things were going, -and since then there had not been any post-office.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, sir, old Cuff has just been talking to -me, and he thinks of running away. He says -that if he goes over into the other county -he won’t get his freedom.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><a id='corr68.20'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='“Good,'>“Good”</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_68.20'><ins class='correction' title='“Good,'>“Good”</ins></a></span> said the man. “I am glad of it. -We’ll see how their ‘corner-stone’ is going to -hold out when they get their Confederacy. -But they ain’t a-going to whip.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But this old Cuff thinks I am going to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_69'>69</span>support him,” said Mr. Sprague. “I haven’t -got any work for him to do.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Send him into the woods to cut logs for -you,” said the man.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I might do that, but I don’t see where I -am going to find market for them. But I will -get along somehow. Well, half an hour is -gone, and they haven’t got many things out -yet. Leon and Tom seem to be making it all -right with Carl, don’t they?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The two boys referred to stood patiently by -until the resolutions were complete; then Tom -took his copy and Leon fastened his eyes upon -the torn manuscript and waited for him to -read it. It was all correct; there wasn’t a -mistake in it.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You write a pretty good hand for a boy -who hasn’t been to school more than you -have,” said Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Keep your compliments for them that -need them,” said Carl, snappishly. “I don’t -care to hear them.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You haven’t got through with this business -yet,” said Leon, in a voice which he -meant should carry conviction with it. “You -<span class='pageno' id='Page_70'>70</span>found this resolution on a tree, and you tore -it down so that people couldn’t see it. I intend -that you shall go back and post this -thing up there.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But you told me I should have to help -my uncle carry out his things,” said Carl, -anxious to shirk all the responsibility he could.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, we’ll wait until you carry out your -things,” said Leon, with a smile. “You are -going right by the tree, and it won’t hurt you -at all to stop and nail this thing up.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Carl gathered up the pen and ink and disappeared -in the house, and Leon and Tom -went down the steps to join the men who were -sitting there.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I got it, but I had hard work in getting -it, too,” said Leon. “How much longer time -has he got?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Not quite fifteen minutes,” said Mr. -Sprague.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And I see he is hustling things more -lively than he did. You won’t start the fire -when the quarter of an hour is up, seeing -that he is doing the best he can to get them -out?”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_71'>71</span>“Oh, no. I wanted to see him get to work, -that is all.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>At the end of half an hour the furniture -and clothes they intended to take with them -had been loaded on the wagons, and then the -women began to slam the blinds and fasten -them securely. When Mr. Swayne came out -on the porch he locked that door and put the -key into his pocket.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We have got some things in there yet, but -we don’t want these traitors to have them,” -said his wife, in a tone which was intended -very plainly for the ears of Mr. Sprague and -his friends. “Let them go somewhere else -and steal somebody else poor.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Swayne did not pay any attention to it. -He buttoned up the key in his pocket, and -looked all around as if he were searching for -someone. At last he called out:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Cuff! Where is that lazy nigger Cuff? -Come here this minute, or I will stripe your -jacket till you can’t rest.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Sprague was surprised. He thought it -very likely that he could tell Mr. Swayne -what had become of the negro Cuff. He had -<span class='pageno' id='Page_72'>72</span>been sent with all his companions to the quarters -to bring some clothes and other things they -wanted to save, and he hadn’t showed up -since. It would be very easy for them to slip -through the cornfield, and so into the woods, -and that was right where Cuff was when his -master was calling him.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Carl, suppose you run down to the quarters -and hurry them up,” said his uncle. “We -want to get away from here as soon as we can. -There’s too many Union people here.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The man who had threatened to burn the -house before they got out of it was sitting on -the steps a little way from Mr. Sprague. He -wiggled and twisted and wanted to say something -in return, but there was his superior -officer who didn’t say anything, and he -thought he would hold in for a better opportunity. -Carl was away about fifteen minutes, -and when he came back his face bore evidence -that he was utterly confounded.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There ain’t a nigger about the quarters,” -said he. “Their clothes, both bedding and -wearing apparel, are gone, and that proves that -they have run away.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_73'>73</span>“That’s the first time I ever had a nigger -serve me that way,” said Mr. Swayne, pacing -up and down the porch. “Run away, have -they? If I ever get my hands on them I’ll -make it awfully uneasy for them to lie down, -now I tell you. Did you follow them into the -woods to see where they went?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, I didn’t. I saw their tracks leading -through the cornfield, and then I came home to -report the matter to you. Those niggers think -they are going to get their freedom now.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, and you might have expected it,” -said his aunt, turning her flashing eyes upon -Mr. Sprague. “What are these Union men -here for if it isn’t to coax the niggers away -from an honest Confederate?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Mrs. Swayne, we had no hand in inducing -your negroes to run away from you,” said Mr. -Sprague, who now began to get angry. “They -said they were not going into the other county -with you, and I told them that they must depend -entirely upon themselves.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“By gum! You want to see your house -go before you get away from it,” said the -man who had threatened to burn them out. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_74'>74</span>“Any more such talk as that and I’ll set her -a-going; by gum I will.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Carl, you will have to do some driving for -us, for we can’t stop to hunt the niggers,” said -Mr. Swayne.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, now, I didn’t agree to do driving,” -whined Carl. “Let’s stop and go into the -woods after them.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You have already got your things loaded -on the wagons, and I must ask you to drive -on,” said Mr. Sprague. “It is my duty -to stay by you until you get beyond Ellisville.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Carl, jump on that wagon and drive after -me,” said Mr. Swayne. “I don’t want to -hear any more argument about it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Tom, you haven’t got any horse, and I -advise you to get into that wagon with Carl,” -said Leon. “When you come to the tree on -which the resolution was posted, make him -get out and post this one in its place. He’ll -object, but we can’t help it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>While Carl was tying his riding-horse behind -the wagon Tom climbed in and seated -himself on the table which had been placed -<span class='pageno' id='Page_75'>75</span>there for one of the negroes who had gone off -with Cuff. Carl saw what he was doing, but -didn’t make any fuss about it. He had arrived -at his uncle’s conclusion that the best -thing they could do was to take no notice of -the Union men. By doing that they would -irritate them, and they would not have so -much to brag of when they talked about driving -Confederate families out of the county. But -they didn’t know Mr. Sprague and his friends. -The task was one they did not like, but they -did it because they had been ordered to. Carl -kept his mouth resolutely closed until they -came to the tree from which he had torn down -the resolutions. He whipped up his mules -when he came there, but Tom laid hold of the -reins and stopped them.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, Carl, this is the place,” said he. -“Here’s the notice, and you want to get out -and tack it up. The nails are all there.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Carl didn’t know whether to refuse or not, -but just then Leon came up on his side of the -wagon. Leon had a revolver in his pocket, -and Carl did not like to see that; so he -grabbed the notice and sprang out of the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_76'>76</span>wagon. In a few minutes it was tacked up -just the same as it was before.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There,” said Leon, “that will do. Now -anybody who comes along here and who -wasn’t at the convention can see what we did -there.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now I guess you had better get out,” said -Carl, addressing himself to Tom Howe.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, I reckon not,” replied Tom. “I’ve -got to go with you as long as you stay in the -county, and I reckon I can get along here as -well as I can afoot. Drive on.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Carl at once closed his lips and had nothing -more to say. As they were going by his own -house, Leon noticed that there was nobody -present, for his mother was too refined a -woman to take such a paltry vengeance on -those who did not believe as she did, but there -was one little circumstance that attracted his -attention. He was certain that he saw old -Cuff’s cottonade coat disappear around the -house. He did not have more than a glimpse -of it, but he was sure it was there. When -they arrived at the cross-roads they met ten -more men on foot who were escorting four -<span class='pageno' id='Page_77'>77</span>more wagon-loads of secessionists to Perry -county, which was the nearest place they -could get and be among friends. They never -said a word, but fell in behind Mr. Sprague, -and followed along after him. They were all -armed with rifles, and some of them had revolvers -stuck in their belts. The sight of -these men made Carl open his eyes. He had -not dreamed that there were so many Union -men in the county.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I believe you’ve got more Yankees here -than Confederates,” said he.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“These men are not Yankees,” said Tom. -“They are men born here in the South. But -these ain’t a patching to what we’ve got. If -you had been down to that convention you -would have seen a thousand men under arms. -There were so many of them that we couldn’t -get them all in the church. Some of them -had to stay outside and raise the windows.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, what did you do there besides pass -the resolutions of secession?” asked Carl; for -now that his uncle was out of hearing he -seemed anxious to learn what had been going -on at that meeting.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_78'>78</span>“We elected officers,” said Tom.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Didn’t you do anything else?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, yes. There was a couple of enrolling -officers came there to enlist men for the -Confederate army, and we sent them back -where they came from.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Then the rebels don’t allow that this -county is out of the State, do they?” said -Carl, who was overjoyed to hear it. “You -have got your own way this time, but I tell -you we are coming back. And I won’t forget -the boys that drew fire-arms on me.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, that’s right. I suppose they won’t -draw any more on you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, sir, they won’t,” said Carl, hotly. “I -don’t mind talking this way to you, but I do -hate the sight of that revolver that Leon -Sprague has in his pocket. Where is he -now?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He is back talking to those men that came -up awhile ago,” said Tom. “He can’t hear -you, but you must remember that we can fight -tolerable sharp.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon had gradually slackened his pace -until the single man on horseback, who -<span class='pageno' id='Page_79'>79</span>seemed to be the leader of the party, came up -and rode beside him.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, sir, you got ’em, didn’t you?” said -the man. “You know, when your father said -he would go up after that man yesterday I -felt rather anxious about him. I thought he -would fight, sure.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, he didn’t. He did not show any -signs of it. He was mighty saucy, though, -and so was that nephew of his.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“One of our men was sassy, too. Do you -see that man driving the next wagon? He’s -got a big lump under his eye. Bob Lee hit -him.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, what did he do that for? Bob had the -right on his side, and there was no reason why -he should get mad and strike the man. My -father had just as good reason to hit Swayne, -but he didn’t do it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He had no business to be sassy. If Bob -hadn’t a hit him I would. He said that he -hoped to goodness that the rebels would come -in and take the last scalp from our heads. -When Bob asked him to take it back he said -he wouldn’t do it, and so Bob upended him. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_80'>80</span>That was the last sassy word given to us. It -showed them that we were in earnest. Hello! -There’s three more fellows come up and are -talking to your father, and by gracious! one -of them is a rebel. Let’s go there and see -what they have got to say.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon and his friend urged their horses forward, -and in a few minutes drew up beside -Mr. Sprague, who was listening to some -words the rebel had to say to him. As he -spoke he looked at the women and Mr. -Swayne, and then sank his voice almost to -a whisper.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Colonel, are these some rebels that you -are taking out of the county?” said he.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We have got so far with them, and we expect -to get the rest of the way,” answered Mr. -Sprague.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I want you to come off on one side so that -I can talk to you without fear of being overheard,” -said the rebel. “Now,” he added, as -the men moved some distance down the road, -“the rebels are going to move a big wagon-train -along that road to-morrow. You see -they have got to go around this county, for -<span class='pageno' id='Page_81'>81</span>they don’t want to run the risk of being captured -if they pass through here.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We stopped and saw President Knight -about it, and he advised us to come on and -see you,” said one of the men who had acted -as guard to the rebel.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Take his gun away from him,” said Mr. -Sprague, and the rebel promptly gave it up, -together with his ammunition-box and bayonet. -“Have you any other weapons about -you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Nary one, sah,” said the rebel. “My family -is down here a little ways from Ellisville, -and you may know that I am all right when -I bring them with me.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“How did you say you escaped?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I wasn’t conscripted, as a great many -were, but there was such a pressure brought to -bear upon me that I thought I might as well go -into the army instead of waiting until I was -conscripted in reality. I have been in the -service only six months, but I have been in -three or four little engagements. I live in -Perry county, and when I found out what -you were doing here, how you had never sent -<span class='pageno' id='Page_82'>82</span>any men into the army, and how there were a -thousand men here who didn’t intend to go at -all, I wrote to my wife, advising her to come -here and I would join her after awhile; but -she wrote back that she wouldn’t stir a step -unless I came. On the night I escaped I was -on guard, and the corporal hadn’t any more -than got away from me when I was missing. -I travelled all night, and at daylight reached -my home. I packed up what few things I -wanted to save and came here, and one of my -mules dropped dead as soon as I got to Ellisville. -I wanted the President to go on at -once and capture that train, but he thought I -had better come on and see you about it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, you tell a pretty straight story, and -I shall have to put some faith in it until I can -prove the contrary,” said Mr. Sprague.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You are at liberty to disprove my story -in any way you can,” said the rebel, earnestly. -“I am dead shot on this thing, and if this -county is going to stay out of the Confederacy -I am going to stay out, too.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I shall have to send you to my house,” -said Mr. Sprague.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_83'>83</span>“Send me anywhere, sah, but stop and explain -to my family why I don’t come home. -She will appreciate the reason, for she is a -soldier’s wife.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Father, come here a minute. I don’t see -what’s the use of sending that rebel to our -house,” said Leon, when his father had drawn -off on one side. “He must have a camp -down there in Ellisville, and, now he has -given up his weapons, I don’t see how he is -going to get away. There are fully five hundred -men camped around Ellisville now.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, that is so,” said Mr. Sprague, after -reflecting a moment. “I think I had better -take him on to Ellisville and leave him there, -with plenty of men to watch him.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That would be my way, certainly.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Forward, march!” shouted Mr. Sprague, -as he placed himself at the head of his little -train, and the cavalcade once more moved onward. -The rebel kept close at his side, and Leon -rode a little ways behind him. There was -one thing that drew the boy’s attention, and -that was the rebel’s horse. Although she was -tired, her gait showed that she fretted and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_84'>84</span>fumed at the bit as if she was anxious to go -faster. She was a beautiful animal, with -limbs so small that they did not look strong -enough to support her weight.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“May I ask you where you got that horse?” -said Leon, after he had watched her for some -length of time.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I stole her from the wagon-master,” said -the rebel. “I should not have been able to -get home if it hadn’t been for her. I did the -rebels all the damage I could before leaving -them.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There must be some escort with that -wagon-train, isn’t there?” inquired Mr. -Sprague.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There are twenty-five men, including two -officers,” replied the rebel. “But half of -them you needn’t be afraid of, for they are all -Union.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“How many wagons are there in the train?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Forty;” whereat Leon opened his eyes in -surprise.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Will the teamsters fight?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Fight!” exclaimed the rebel, in disgust. -“No, they won’t. Half of them are armed, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_85'>85</span>but they don’t know what it is to fight. When -they see you coming up with your guns all -ready the majority of them will throw up their -hands.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>If ever there was a happy man in that train -it was the rebel. He joked and laughed because -he said he was among friends once more -and could say what he pleased, and all the -way to Ellisville entertained his auditors with -thrilling stories of his earliest battles. He -told how frightened he was when he got into -the first one, and how he looked around for a -hollow log into which he could crawl and get -out of sight; but there were his companions -all standing up without being shot, and his -pride made him stay right where he was. At -three o’clock they reached Ellisville, where -the President had located his office. As Leon -had said, there were at least five hundred men -camped around there, some with their families, -some had no homes at all, but all wanted -to be where they could feel that they were of -some assistance to Mr. Knight. They knew -that when a raid was made upon the county -it would come from Perry, the county next on -<span class='pageno' id='Page_86'>86</span>the south, and they calculated to be at hand -to stop it. Here Mr. Sprague halted his train -and went in to hold an interview with the -President, taking the rebel’s gun with him. -He was gone but a few minutes, and when he -came out his countenance indicated that he -had resolved upon something. He mounted -his horse and rode in among the lean-tos and -other shelters which the men had erected for -themselves, and shouted “Attention!” at the -top of his voice, and immediately every man -who heard him came running up to see what -was the matter. When he thought he had -got a sufficient number about him, Mr. Sprague -proceeded to unfold his plans. It wasn’t the -way that a majority of leaders do, for they -never let their men know what sort of dangers -they are going to meet until they get fairly -into them.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We are going out to-morrow to attack that -wagon-train,” said Mr. Sprague, “and I want -all of you who can go to be on hand here -bright and early.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Good!” exclaimed one. “Then we’ll have -something to eat.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_87'>87</span>Mr. Sprague then went on to tell them how -many wagons there were in the train, how -many teamsters, and how large an escort of -soldiers; for he put implicit faith in the -rebel’s word. He was certain that five -hundred men, if he could secure that many, -advancing with their guns at full cock, would -take all the fight out of them. Mr. Sprague -was careful not to talk so loud as to attract -the attention of Mr. Swayne, for he knew that -he would warn the Confederates. Having -given his men something to think about, he -rode back to place himself at the head of his -train, which moved away toward the county -line.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_88'>88</span> - <h2 class='c008'>CHAPTER V. <br /> <span class='small'>CAPTURING A WAGON-TRAIN.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c009'>“Now,” said Mr. Sprague, when Leon -rode up beside him, “you want to go -and tell your mother the reason that I don’t -come home to-night. I shall have to stay -here with the men, to be ready to start out -with them at an early hour.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Then after that I suppose I can stay at -home,” said Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes; I think that would be the best place -for you. Those twenty-five men, and all of -them old soldiers, are not going to give up -that wagon-train without some resistance.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, now, I’ll tell you what’s a fact, -father,” said Leon, decidedly. “I just ain’t -a-going to stay at home.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why not?” said Mr. Sprague, in surprise.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“If you are going to meet those men, I am -going, too. You needn’t think you are going -<span class='pageno' id='Page_89'>89</span>into danger without my being close beside -you. I wouldn’t dare look mother in the face -again if I should be guilty of remaining at -home.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Sprague looked down at the horn of -his saddle and thought about it. Leon had -really more pluck than his father thought he -had, and after awhile he thought it would be -better to let the boy have his own way in the -matter.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I don’t see what is the use of sending any -word at all home to mother,” said Leon, after -pondering what his father had said. “She -knows that we are in the service of the -county, and she won’t care whether we come -home or not. The best way would be to stay -right down here and go home when we get -the job done.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>This settled the matter, and Mr. Sprague -never referred to it again. About eight o’clock -they arrived at the little bridge which spanned -the creek that flowed between Jones and Perry -counties, and there Mr. Sprague halted his -men and motioned to Mr. Swayne to go on. -The man complied, and when he had got far -<span class='pageno' id='Page_90'>90</span>enough across to let all the wagons that came -after him get a footing on Confederate soil he -stopped and jumped out.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Thank goodness I’ve got a white man’s -ground under my feet!” he exclaimed; and no -one had ever seen him so mad before. He -seemed to be holding in for just this occasion, -and he was so angry that he could <a id='corr90.8'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='scarely'>scarcely</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_90.8'><ins class='correction' title='scarely'>scarcely</ins></a></span> -speak plainly. “I suppose that now I can -talk to you as I have a mind to.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Draw yourselves in line across this bridge -and hold your guns in readiness to shoot,” said -Mr. Sprague in a low tone to his men. “He -may open fire on us before we can get under -cover. Oh, yes, you can say what you please, -now,” he said, in his ordinary voice. “But I -wouldn’t say too much till I get behind that -bend.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I want to say this much to you,” -shouted Mr. Swayne; “you have had your -own way this time, but we are coming back in -less than a week to clean you all out.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And remember this,” exclaimed Carl from -his place in the wagon. “I will bear in mind -the boys who drew shooting-irons on me, you -<span class='pageno' id='Page_91'>91</span>see if I don’t. I’ll tear down that notice, and -every other one that I can find.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And you, Bob Lee, I’ll remember you,” -said the man with a lump under his eye. -“I’ll teach you that the next man who says -anything about the Confederates—well, you -had better let him alone, that’s all,” he added, -when he saw Bob raise his gun to his shoulder.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“If you are all ready, go on,” said Mr. -Sprague.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Swayne was a long time in getting into -his wagon. He would place his foot upon the -hub, and then one of the men would say -something insulting in regard to the men they -had just left, and Mr. Swayne would take his -foot down and stand there until he heard what -the man had to say. He was in earnest when he -said they were coming back to clean the -Union men all out, and that there wouldn’t -be hide nor hair of them left when they did -come, and finally he got into his wagon and -drove on. When he looked behind to see -what had become of Mr. Sprague and his -party, he saw them just disappearing around -the nearest bend in the road.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_92'>92</span>“I wish I dared shoot at them,” said he.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I’ll shoot at them, and welcome,” -said the man whom Bob Lee had struck, as -he reached for his gun.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Don’t do it, Jim,” expostulated Mr. -Swayne.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dog-gone it, don’t you see the bump under -my eye?” said the man. “I can see the -chap who did it, and I can pick him off just -as easy as you would kill a squirrel.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“If you shoot at them they will come back -here and arrest the whole of us, and take us -back to their camp and make us stand a court-martial,” -said Mr. Swayne. “I am not a-going -to stand punishment for your deeds and mine -into the bargain.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>This view of the matter rather arrested the -man’s hand, and he sat with his gun resting -across his knees, muttering curses not loud -but deep, until he saw the Union men disappear -around a bend in the road. Mr. Sprague -knew that he stood a chance of being fired -upon, and that was what he intended to do; he -would arrest the whole of them and take -them to camp. But Mr. Swayne was a little -<span class='pageno' id='Page_93'>93</span>too sharp for him. It was two o’clock when -they arrived at the camp, and the men, to -show that they knew what sort of respect -ought to be paid to the Secretary of War, went -off to hunt up some forage for his horse and -Leon’s before they went to bed.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, Leon,” said Mr. Sprague, after the -horses had been picketed with plenty to eat -and the men had all gone away, “we haven’t -got any blankets.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No matter for that,” said Leon. “It -won’t be the first time I have slept out with -nothing to cover me. Get some leaves, and -they will do just as well.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>They walked along the road as they talked, -and Mr. Sprague could not help thinking -what a big army he was going to have to attack -that wagon-train. Every step of the way -he saw lean-tos, and he knew that there were -stalwart men sleeping under them. Finally -he drew up before a lean-to where there was a -sentry sitting in front of the door. He did -not carry his arms at a “support,” nor did he -bring his piece to “arms port” and call out, -“Who comes there?” when he saw Mr. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_94'>94</span>Sprague and Leon approaching. But he -greeted him in regular backwoods style.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Hallo, Sprague” said he. “Did you get -your parties through all right?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The Secretary of War replied that he did, -adding—</p> - -<p class='c010'>“This must be the home of that rebel, isn’t -it?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes. But he has been perfectly peaceable -all night. He didn’t sleep at all the night before.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No; but I am awake now,” called out a -voice from the inside; and there was a little -fussing in the cabin and the rebel came to the -door.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Say, Colonel, are you going to stay here -all night?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That is the intention. I want to get an -early start, and it is too far for me to go -home.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, now, I know that you haven’t got -any quilts,” said the rebel, disappearing under -the roof of the lean-to. “Here’s some that -will add to your comfort to-night. Take them -and welcome.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_95'>95</span>Mr. Sprague thanked the rebel for his gift -and spread the quilts down where they intended -to camp for the night, while Leon told -himself that it was a good thing to have a -father who was Secretary of War, after all. -They slept soundly for a little while, but at -half-past three Mr. Sprague was awake and -busily engaged in arousing the men. In less -time than it takes to tell it they were all up -and cooking their breakfast, and in an hour -more the grove was empty. Five hundred -men were going out to attack that wagon-train, -and, if possible, secure something to -eat. We don’t mean to say that they were -hard up for provisions, for there was bacon -and corn-meal enough in the county to last -them for months; but we mean that they had -lived so long on these things that they had -grown tired of them. They had been used to -something better than that before the war, -and when their boats came back from tide-water, -after their owners had succeeded in -selling their logs, the housewife found pickles, -canned meat and condensed milk enough to -last her family for six months. That was one -<span class='pageno' id='Page_96'>96</span>thing that the men had in view; and another -thing, some of them were in need of clothes; -and they believed that this wagon-train had -something of that kind stowed away for the -boys in Mobile. And, better than all—and -here was the thing that led the men to look -with favor upon robbing the train—it would -show the Confederates they were in earnest;—just -what the Union people wanted to do.</p> - -<p class='c010'>It was a long march from the grove in Ellisville -to the stream that separated the two -counties, but the men went about it in earnest -and determined to get there in time to stop -that wagon-train. Of course, there was plenty -of joking and laughing while they were on -their own ground, but the moment they struck -the bridge a deep silence fell upon the company. -We ought by rights to say that the -men had been divided into five companies, a -hundred men in each, and that each one had -three officers to direct them; but the Union -men of Jones county had not got that far in -military tactics. There was only one man at -the head, Mr. Sprague, and he had the full -management of them.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_97'>97</span>Mr. Sprague rode at the head of the line -in company with all the men who had horses, -and there must have been about fifty of them, -and when he crossed the bridge he sent a -dozen of them on ahead to travel at full speed, -to see if the wagon-train had passed.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I needn’t remind you that you want to go -into every house you come to, and if there is -a man in there take him in,” said he. “Don’t -say a word to the women, but ketch the men. -It won’t do to leave any rebels behind us, for -they can easily warn the train, and so we must -take them with us until we get the job done. -Silas, I will appoint you captain of this squad.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Silas raised his hand to his hat with something -that was intended for a military salute, -called all his men about him, and went down -the road at a keen jump, while the rest of the -company travelled on as before. An hour -afterward they came up with their scouts, and -Silas at once rode up to report.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“The wagon-train hain’t passed yet, and -we’ve got five men, and two of them are rebels. -We had to chase through a cornfield after one, -and fired two shots at him.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_98'>98</span>“Did you hit him?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, we didn’t hit him, but he was mighty -ready to throw up his hands when he heard -the bullets whistling.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Did you get their guns?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, we got them all safe.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now the best thing we can do,” said Mr. -Sprague, turning about to face his men, “is -to go down the road and conceal ourselves in -the bushes. When you see me move my arm -this way,” here he raised his arm above his -head and waved it toward the right and left -of the road, “you will all divide and go into -the timber on different sides; and when you -hear me whistle this way,” he put his hand -to his mouth and gave a whistle that could -have been heard a mile, “then you may know -that it is time for you to get down to business. -But bear one thing in mind: Don’t shoot -unless you have to.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The company, or, more properly speaking, -the battalion, moved on again, and in half an -hour not one of them was in sight. They had -divided right and left, as Mr. Sprague had -directed, and taken up their positions on opposite -<span class='pageno' id='Page_99'>99</span>sides of the road, and there was not the -least noise or confusion about it. Two of the -men had gone down the road to see if the train -was coming, and they were impatiently waiting -their return. The prisoners had all been -turned over to Mr. Sprague, and he was having -something of a time with one of them, -who was determined that he would not hold -his tongue. He had a very shrill voice, and -when he spoke in his ordinary tone it could -be heard a long distance.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, Sprague, I don’t see the sense in -your doing this,” said the shrill-voiced man, -and he seemed to have pitched his tones so -loud that they could have heard him at the -end of the line. “You take me away from -my home, who never did the Union any -harm—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You are a nice fellow, you are,” said one -of the men who happened to be close around -when the shrill-voiced person was talking. “I -take notice of the fact that Ebenezer Hale -wanted to come up here so as to be among -Union men, and you heard his story, and -when he was asleep that night you went off -<span class='pageno' id='Page_100'>100</span>and got a lot of rebels to surround and carry -him off. Where is he now? In jail, likely. -And you, dog-gone you, you never did the -Union men any harm! You had oughter go -to jail until this trouble is all over.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, now, Simeon, I did just what I -thought was best for the community. I didn’t -have nothing against Ebenezer Hale, but I -knew that if he went into this fight—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s enough,” said Mr. Sprague. “We -have listened to you all we want to.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, Sprague, I shan’t quit talking until -I have a mind to,” said the shrill-voiced man. -“You have undertaken more than you can -accomplish, and I say—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Sim, cut a little piece of wood about four -inches long, and tie a string to each end of -it,” said Mr. Sprague. “If Kelley don’t shut -up we’ll gag him.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, now, Mr. Sprague, don’t gag me,” -said the man, sinking his voice almost to a -whisper this time. “I won’t say one word -more. I won’t, upon my honor.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The gag was duly cut and prepared, and nothing -was wanting except another word from Mr. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_101'>101</span>Kelley to induce Sim to put it where it belonged; -but the man took just one look at it -and concluded that the best thing he could do -was to keep still. He never showed any disposition -to open his head until the scouts were -seen coming back with the information that -the train was approaching. They came in a -hurry, too, as if they were anxious to get -something off their minds.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Where’s Sprague?” were the words they -shouted as they galloped along the road; -whereupon Mr. Sprague showed himself. -“The train is coming,” they said, as soon as -they came within hearing of their leader. -“Every blessed one of them is coming, and -are acting as if they didn’t fear anything.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Did they see you?” inquired Mr. Sprague.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, they didn’t. We hid our horses in -the bushes, and then went and lay down -beside the road until we saw the train coming. -Yes, sir, we’re going to get them all.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Sprague and his scouts went into the -bushes again out of sight, and then he noticed -that Mr. Kelley wasn’t so anxious to keep in -the background so much as he had been. He -<span class='pageno' id='Page_102'>102</span>was even disposed to go out of the bushes, but -he hadn’t made many steps in that direction -when Simeon seized him by the collar and -stretched him flat on his back.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, now, Simeon—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Not another word out of you,” said his -guard, savagely. “You will get the gag in -your mouth as sure as you’re alive.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Take your stand close behind him,” said -Mr. Sprague, who was getting angry now, -“and with the very first words he utters -shoot him down. We are not going to have -our plans spoilt for the sake of him.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon, who stood close at his father’s side -and heard all this conversation, grew as pale -as death when he found that the wagon-train -was coming. He clutched his revolver nervously, -and determined that whatever danger -his father got into he would be there to help -him. The leader glanced at his son’s pale -face and said, in a low tone:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Leon, I think you had better stay here as -a guard to these prisoners.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Are you going out there to face that escort?” -asked Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_103'>103</span>“Of course I am. I shall be right in the -thickest of it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Then I’m going, too.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But you will be safe here. They can’t -hit you, even if they shoot at you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>But Leon only shook his head, and at that -moment somebody whispered that the foremost -wagons were in sight. That turned Mr. -Sprague’s attention into a new channel, and -Leon was left to himself. He glanced at -Simeon and his captive, and was gratified to -see that Mr. Kelley had been forced to sit -down, and Simeon was standing there with -his cocked gun ranged within two inches of -his head. He wanted to speak, and made a -motion to Simeon to turn the gun the other -way, but as often as he did this the piece was -raised to his guard’s shoulder, and the words -froze on his lips.</p> - -<p class='c010'>The foremost wagon came along as rapidly as -the mules could draw it, and after what seemed -an age to Leon the wagons were all in view. -When the leading wagon was almost opposite -to him Mr. Sprague raised his hand to his -mouth and gave a shrill whistle. Never in his -<span class='pageno' id='Page_104'>104</span>life had he given a better one. He wasn’t excited -at all. There was a moment’s silence there -in the brush, and out popped the cavalry and -infantry, and in less time that it takes to tell it -the wagon-train was surrounded. Not a shot -was fired. To say that the rebels were astounded -would not half express their feelings. -Every teamster had three or four guns looking -at him, and the cavalry, who occupied the -advance of the train, were surrounded with -horsemen that were two to their one.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, by George! You have done this up -in good shape,” said the rebel captain, after -he had taken time to get his wits together. -“What are you—Union?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, sir; Union to the backbone,” replied -Mr. Sprague. “May I trouble you for your -sword and revolver?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That was as neat a surprise as I ever saw,” -said the captain, as he unbuckled his belt and -handed it to Mr. Sprague. “You didn’t give -us time to fire a shot. What are you going -to do with us? Put us in jail?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, sir. We shall allow you to go where -you please,” said Mr. Sprague, accepting the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_105'>105</span>belt and fastening it about his own waist. “We -are not making war on your folks now, but on -your provisions. We shall have to take your -horses, too. Dismount.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I guess father’s all right, and now I’ll get -some weapons of my own,” said Leon, as he -turned his horse and rode along the line of -the escort. “There must be some rebels in -there that haven’t given up all their fire-arms.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>As he rode along he found a soldier on the -inside of the third four who held his weapons -in his hand and was looking around for somebody -to give them to. When he saw Leon -approaching he held his sword, revolver and -carbine toward him over his companion’s horse.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Come out here,” said Leon. <a id='corr105.17'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='I shall'>“I shall</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_105.17'><ins class='correction' title='I shall'>“I shall</ins></a></span> have -to take your horse as well as your weapons.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I can’t help it, can I?” said the -rebel, who was more inclined to laugh than he -was to feel despondent over it. He came out -and proceeded to give up his horse and weapons -to Leon, and at the same time he took -particular pains to place himself on the boy’s -side next to the woods. In this way he could -<span class='pageno' id='Page_106'>106</span>talk to him without his rebel friends hearing -it.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Say,” he added, “you won’t take me to -jail, will you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Certainly not,” said Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Don’t talk so loud. I don’t want my -companions to know that I have found a friend -among Union men. Let me go out in the -woods a little while, and I will come back -sure when you are all ready to start for home.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You will only be giving yourself trouble -if you do that,” said Leon, who thought his -rebel friend was taking a queer way to escape. -“As soon as we get your weapons we intend -to turn you all loose, to go where you please.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But I don’t want to go with those rebels,” -said the young soldier, earnestly. “I am a -Union man, and I went into the army because -I had to. I will come back, sure.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, go ahead, but don’t let anybody see -you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>When Leon led the captured horse back to -his father’s side he found that the escort had -all been dismounted and disarmed, and were -now standing there and awaiting further -<span class='pageno' id='Page_107'>107</span>orders. Some were disposed to be angry and -sullen, while others were laughing over what -they considered a first-class surprise. Mr. -Sprague was highly elated over it. He did -not show it, but there was something about -him that made Leon feel happy, too. The -goods that were captured that day must have -been worth $500,000.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, Captain, you are all right, and I will -bid you good-day,” said Mr. Sprague. “You -can go ahead, and as fast as the teamsters -come up, we’ll send them on after you. Silas, -go back there and send up all the teamsters.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But suppose they don’t want to go?” said -Silas.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Then leave them behind. If they want to -go and join the Confederate army, send them -up here; but if they want to stay and join the -Union forces, let them alone.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Colonel, I suppose I can say what I -please, can’t I?” said the rebel captain. “You -have got the dead-wood on me now, but it -won’t be long before I’ll come back. Then I -shall ask you for my sword.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>In a few minutes the teamsters began to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_108'>108</span>come up, and, as they approached, Mr. Sprague -told them to fall in behind the escort, which -was marching down the road. Leon kept a -close watch on them, but didn’t count more -than thirty who wanted to go back to the Confederacy. -There must have been at least ten -of them who wanted to stay with the Union -men. The next thing was to turn the mules -around and start back home. This occupied -a good deal of time, for the mules were balky; -and some of them would not “back;” but -those five hundred men soon took the “balky” -out of them, and in half an hour more the -wagons were all turned around and the train -was on its way to Ellisville.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_109'>109</span> - <h2 class='c008'>CHAPTER VI. <br /> <span class='small'>THE MARCH HOMEWARD.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c009'>Leon remained beside his father until the -wagons were turned around, and when -he ordered the cavalry ahead to take its place -at the advance of the column, he went with -them. Forty wagons, and some of them -were loaded so heavily that four mules could -scarcely draw them. Everybody was pleased -with the performance. If all the wagon-trains -they captured were to be taken as easily as -that, they had no fear but that they should -have grub enough. Every driver’s seat was -filled with men who thought that they preferred -riding to walking, and they all joined -in and sang, at the top of their voices:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-b c014'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“John Brown’s body lies a-mouldering in the grave.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'>How the song got down there they didn’t -know. Probably some of those who had been -<span class='pageno' id='Page_110'>110</span>prisoners in the hands of the Federals, and -there were a good many old soldiers in the -lot, had heard it sung by their captors, and -now that they were fighting for the Union -they resolved to imitate them as far as possible. -Finally, when Mr. Sprague appeared -riding along beside them, somebody thought -he ought to be praised for what he had done, -so he called out, in tones that were heard to -the farthest end of the line:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Three cheers for Colonel Sprague. Hip, -hip, hurrah!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>All the men immediately around there joined -in in cheering Colonel Sprague—they had -given him a new title, now—and Mr. Sprague -took off his hat. As far as he went along -the line everybody cheered him, and there -was something in their way of talking to his -father that made Leon feel very happy. He -was bringing up the rear, leading his captured -horse as he went, until he found himself -opposite a wagon managed by his friend Tom -Howe. Leon was glad to see him, for he had -not spoken with him since they left Ellisville. -There were three men on the driver’s -<span class='pageno' id='Page_111'>111</span>seat, and Tom was sitting on the knees of one -and handling the reins over his four-mule -team as if he had been used to it all his life.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“G’lang here!” he shouted when he saw -Leon riding by. “We don’t take no slack -from anybody. But say, Leon, you will stand -by me, won’t you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Of course I will stand by you,” said Leon. -“But I don’t know what you mean.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Do you see that leading muel there, that -white one?” said Tom, pointing out the animal -in question. “Well, that’s mine. There -ain’t been anybody to lay a claim to him and -I want him.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I guess you can have him,” said Leon. -“But why don’t you take a horse?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I would rather have the muel than that -horse you are leading by the bits. Where -did you get him?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I got these weapons,” said Leon, showing -the revolver and sword he carried about his -waist and the carbine he held in his hand, -“from a young fellow who gave them up to -me without being asked. He has gone off in -the bushes, now, to get out of sight of the other -<span class='pageno' id='Page_112'>112</span>members of the escort, but he’ll be back -directly.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Who let him go into the bushes?” inquired -one of the men who was sitting on the -driver’s seat with Tom.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I did.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, he has taken a rough way to escape. -Why didn’t he stay here and march away with -his squad?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But he don’t want to escape,” said Leon. -“He is a Union man, and he wants to go -home with us.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You are the most confiding man I ever -saw. You will never see him again.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Then I shall have a horse and weapons to -give to somebody who needs them. I don’t -need them myself. When you want to get that -mule, Tom, you come to me.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I’ll do it,” said Tom, as he unwound his -lash and gave the leading white mule a cut -with the whip to make him pull faster; whereupon -the mule’s ears came back and he kicked -with both hind feet in the direction of the -wagon, barely missing the wheel-mule’s head. -Leon laughed heartily. “Well, you see, he -<span class='pageno' id='Page_113'>113</span>hasn’t been taught to pull in a wagon. This -is his first attempt, but he is gay on horseback, -and I’ll bet on it. I’ll teach him in two days -so that he won’t kick.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon urged his horse on ahead to catch up -with the cavalry, but he had not made many -steps before the bushes parted at his side and -the young rebel who owned the steed he was -leading came out.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Have they gone?” said he, and he acted -like one who felt overjoyed. “I told you I -would come back, and here I am. May I get -up and ride my horse?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Certainly,” said Leon, and he felt so delighted -to see the rebel that he could have -hugged him. He didn’t know what his father -would say to him for allowing that man to go -out in the bushes. He gave up the horse, -and the young fellow swung himself into the -saddle.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I am glad you didn’t give him up to some -of your men who have no horses of their -own,” said the rebel, as he accompanied Leon -toward the head of the column. “My father -raised this animal, I broke him myself, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_114'>114</span>he’s got just the kind of a gait that I like. -Now, what are you going to do here in this -county? Are you going to rebel against the -Confederacy sure enough?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We have gone out already,” said Leon. -“I haven’t got a copy of the resolutions with -me, but you can see them when you get up to -Ellisville.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“It beats anything I ever heard of,” exclaimed -the rebel, who burst out laughing -every time he thought of it. “The idea that -one county in the very heart of the Southern -Confederacy should cut loose from it and say -that they are Union men beats my time all -holler. I told my father about it—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Where is your father now?” interrupted -Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He is in the rebel army.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Was he conscripted?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No. We didn’t wait for that, but we -heard enough to let us know what Jeff Davis -was going to do. More than that, some of our -neighbors began to talk about hanging those -who did not believe as they did to the plates -of their own gallery, and as we could get into -<span class='pageno' id='Page_115'>115</span>the cavalry by enlisting then, we rode down -to the county-seat one day and gave our -names in.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Have you been in any fights?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Two or three; but, mind you, I always -shot high. I never drew a bullet on a Union -man in my life. I live only three or four -miles from where you stopped us, and I really -wish the authorities of Jones county would -give me permission to go back and get my -mother.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Do you think your father would come up -here after that?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Of course he would. We have done nothing -but think and talk about what you fellows -are doing here ever since we have been -in the army. There was a distinct understanding -between my father and myself that -whoever escaped first should bring my mother -here.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, Mr.— Mr.—,” began Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dawson is my name,” said the rebel.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“If you turn out to be all right I will go -with you,” said Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Will you?” exclaimed the rebel, so highly -<span class='pageno' id='Page_116'>116</span>excited that he could hardly speak plainly. -“I know we will succeed, for you have been -in fights enough to know what it means.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I don’t understand you,” said Leon. “This -is as near as I have come to being in a fight.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What! Capturing our wagon-train? You -don’t tell me! Well, I have seen men who -had been in three or four battles that showed -more nervousness than you did. You were -not excited a bit.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon very wisely concluded that he would -not say anything more on this subject just -then. He never was more excited in his life -than when he rode along the line and demanded -the rebel’s weapons. If Dawson -thought he wasn’t excited, so much the better -for him.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I certainly thought you had been where -you had seen men knocked down by the cart-load,” -said Dawson, looking at Leon to see -what he was made of. “I have been where I -have seen a whole platoon laid out at one fire, -but I never go into action without feeling -afraid. After this trouble is all over I would -like to compare notes with you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_117'>117</span>“To see how many times I am afraid?” -asked Leon. “I don’t care to compare notes -with you on that, for I know I shall feel afraid -all the time. I’ve got one chum here who -won’t haul in his shingle one inch to please -anybody, and we’ll ask him to go with us.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Two men are all we want,” said Dawson. -“By the way, there was a friend of mine deserted -the camp night before last, and he stole -the wagon-master’s horse to help him along. -I don’t suppose you have seen anything of -him, have you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We have a rebel up to Ellisville, and he -says that was the way he got away. But his -horse and weapons have been taken from -him.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s all right. You wanted him to -prove to you that he was true-blue before you -let him have his fire-arms. But he’s all hunky-dory. -He told you about this wagon-train? -I never saw him in a fight with Federals when -he pretended to show any vim about it, but -you give him rebels to shoot at and you’ll -hear something drop. He hasn’t got the -smallest sympathy for a Confederate. Why, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_118'>118</span>they had him with a rope around his neck, -and were going to hang him.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He never said anything to us about that,” -said Leon, in surprise.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“It happened on the very morning that -father and I went down to enlist,” said Dawson, -“and the way they acted made us believe -that when they got through with him they -were coming to see us. We rushed into his -house and did some good talking to save the -man’s neck, and when they let him go he got -onto his horse and went down to the county-seat -with us. But didn’t he give the rebels -a good blessing!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He could say what he had a mind to in -your presence, I suppose?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, sir; and he laid down the law in good -shape, I tell you. There are six men he wants -to find, and they are the men who had the -rope around his neck. What are you going to -do with the prisoners you capture in battle?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I am sure I don’t know,” said Leon, with -a laugh. “We haven’t got any yet.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You haven’t been in a fight yet? How -many men have you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_119'>119</span>“We had about three hundred fighting -men, but first one Union family has come in, -and then another, until we have a thousand -men able to bear arms. Father said that -about three hundred fighting men were all -we had when this war broke out about a year -ago, but they have been coming in from all -sides. One man I know here has come from -the mountains of Tennessee. I tell you we -are going to make a good fight if the rebels -get after us.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I believe you; and these men you have -now won’t be a patching to what you will -have by and by. But say,” added Dawson, -as they drew up in the rear of the cavalry, -“do you really think you will be able to go -with me to get my mother?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That depends entirely on what my father -says. If he continues to let me do as I please, -as he always has done, I’ll go with you. -There is no chance of being captured down -there, I suppose?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Not in the least. Mobile is their nearest -headquarters, and we can slip in there and -get away again without any one being the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_120'>120</span>wiser for it. It can be done just as easy as -falling off a log.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, you stay here and I will go on and -ride by my father. I will tell him about you -and see what he has to say.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon turned out and hurried on ahead to -meet his father, who was riding alone in advance -of the column, with his hat drawn over -his eyes, as if he were thinking deeply. -When he saw who the new-comer was he -pushed back his hat, and beamed upon him -with a smile that reminded the boy of old -times.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I tell you, father, you have done one good -act in capturing this train,” said Leon. -“What were you thinking of?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, there are lots of things to come after -this,” said Mr. Sprague. “We have got to -whip the rebels in order to keep the train. -Where’s your horse?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“The owner has got him;” and taking this -as his starting-point, Leon went on to give his -father as much of the history of Dawson as -he was acquainted with. When he told about -the rebels having a rope around the neck of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_121'>121</span>that man in camp his father was hardly prepared -to believe it.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But do you think the man honest?” -asked Mr. Sprague.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I know he is. No boy could talk as feelingly -of his mother as he did and tell a lie -about it. Now, if you will let me go down there -and bring his family up here, we will make -two good soldiers by the operation.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We will see about it when the time -comes,” said Mr. Sprague.</p> - -<p class='c010'>That was enough for Leon, who reined his -horse out of the road and halted until Dawson -came up. Somehow he had taken a great -fancy for the young rebel. There was something -so honest about him that Leon put -strong faith in everything he said. He drew -up beside Dawson, and the latter’s face grew -more radiant than ever when Leon said that -his father would “see about it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That is as good as saying that I may go, -if something doesn’t turn up in the meantime. -Now, the next thing will be to get Tom to go -with us. I shall feel a heap better with him -alongside of me.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_122'>122</span>It was a long journey toward Ellisville, -and the mules walked so slowly that it was -almost midnight when they got there. Following -the instructions of Mr. Sprague, the -wagons were drawn up in a park in the grove, -the mules were watered at the river and -staked out where they had plenty of food, -and the men left of their own accord and -went to bed. There was no posting of sentries -about the wagons to see that some backwoodsman -did not slip up there to steal anything, -for such a thing as theft was never -heard of in that county. They knew that the -things would be in the wagons in the morning -in just as good shape as they were then. -When Leon and Dawson, after hitching their -horses and foddering them, turned to go to -the opposite side of the grove, the place -where that rebel was under guard, they came -across Tom Howe, who had his coat off and -was building a fire.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, Tom, come with us,” said Leon. “I -am going to get something to eat before I go -to bed.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, sir, you can go and get it, for you -<span class='pageno' id='Page_123'>123</span>are one of these hungry fellows who always -want something,” replied Tom. “Do you see -that muel? I ain’t a-going to take my eyes -off of him until your father gives him into my -possession.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You haven’t had any supper, have you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Nary supper. And I ain’t a-going to have -any, either, until I get that there muel in my -hands.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You can come back here and sleep. Tom, -this is Dawson, whom I want you to be friends -with. He was in that squad, but he gave up -his horse and weapons to me without being -asked.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The moment Leon referred to Dawson Tom -put his hands behind his back as if he didn’t -want to say how glad he was to see him. -Leon noticed the movement and went on with -something which he knew would bring Tom -to his senses. Tom had a mother, his father -was dead, and he fairly worshipped her.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He is going down after his mother, and I -am going, too. And we want you to go with -us.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Howdy!” exclaimed Tom, and his hands -<span class='pageno' id='Page_124'>124</span>came out and he shook Dawson as if he was a -friend from whom he had long been separated. -“Then he’s all right, of course. I’ll go, -but you must get my muel for me.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The boys bent their steps toward the hotel, -for they knew that the landlord was a man -who was determined to do what he could to -help along the cause. He knew that at least -a portion of the men who had gone out to -capture that wagon-train had no place to get -anything to eat, and he cooked up a lot of -food for them, and had it spread out on his -dining-room tables. He had remained up all -night, and the noise the men made when -they returned almost drove him wild.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Who said those who took part with us in -this useless struggle would go hungry?” said -he, standing on the porch, and welcoming -the men as they came up, and sending them -all into the dining-room. “Ah! here’s Leon -and Tom Howe, I declare. Where did you -get shot, boys? And a rebel, as sure as I -am a foot high. Where did you take him -up?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I am a rebel no longer,” replied Dawson. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_125'>125</span>“In spite of my clothes I am as good a Union -man as there is in the county.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You are just the lads we want,” said the -landlord. “Haven’t had anything to eat yet? -No dinner, either? Then go right into the -dining-room. You will find the President -and the Secretary of War in there.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The boys went in and found the two officers -sitting in a remote corner engaged in earnest -conversation. They talked in low tones, -and it was evident that they did not want -anybody to hear what they were discussing, -so the boys sat down and began an attack -upon the food. The way the landlord’s -bacon, eggs and corn-bread disappeared before -them would have astonished that gentleman -could he have witnessed it. It made no difference -to them that the food was cold, for -the coffee was hot, and they finally stopped -because they were ashamed to eat any more. -By the time they had finished eating their -supper the two high officers ceased their consultation, -and Mr. Sprague hauled up a chair -to the nearest table and sat down. Leon decided -that this was his time. Tom Howe -<span class='pageno' id='Page_126'>126</span>would certainly sleep better if he knew that -the mule was his own.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Father, there’s a white mule out there in -the train, and Tom Howe wants him.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, he can have him, I guess,” said Mr. -Sprague. “Anybody else laid any claim to -him?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, sir; Tom is the only one. And he -has taken a mighty queer animal to carry him -through this war. He kicks.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Tom will have to manage that to suit -himself. Why don’t he wait until we can -capture a horse?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Because he would rather have that mule -than anything else.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Tell him to take him, and welcome.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon found his companions in the living-room, -and when he told them that the Secretary -of War had given Tom the mule he -wanted, Tom was delighted. He promised -the others that he would get to work early in -the morning to break him of kicking, and -wanted them to come over and see how it was -done, and then turned away to his own camp, -while Leon and Dawson started out to find -<span class='pageno' id='Page_127'>127</span>the camp of the rebel who was kept under -guard.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There’s his lean-to right there,” said -Leon, after walking some distance up the -road. “Do you see any comparison between -that sentry and the ones you left behind? I -mean, do they sit down and warm themselves -by a fire when they are left on duty?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Not much, they don’t,” answered Dawson, -with a laugh. “If you had our officer of the -day here he would snatch that fellow bald-headed. -He ought to get up, hold his arms -at support and pace his beat.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Who is it that the officer of the day -is going to snatch bald-headed?” asked -the sentry. He sat on a log with his rifle -beside him, and he was warming his hands -over the fire. He seemed to think that he -could see everything that was going on, and -he thought that was all that was required of -him.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“The officer of the rebel army, if there -was one here, would take you to task for not -pacing your beat,” said Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Sho! What would he do that for?” asked -<span class='pageno' id='Page_128'>128</span>the man. “That rebel hasn’t moved in there -without my seeing him, and he can’t get away. -Say, Johnny, are you asleep?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No; I am wide awake,” shouted a voice -from the inside. “I wanted to see the men -that came back with that wagon-train. Well—halloo! -Dawson,” exclaimed the rebel, who, -when he came out, caught sight of his old -comrade in arms. “You’re here, ain’t you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The two men shook hands as though they -had not seen each other for years. Dawson -then explained how the capture was effected, -and the rebel’s eyes fairly flashed as he listened -to it. When he ceased speaking the -rebel asked permission for Dawson to come -under his lean-to and share his blankets with -him, and as the sentry did not find any fault -Leon readily granted it. When he had seen -the two tuck themselves away preparatory to -a good sleep and had exchanged a few words -with their guard, Leon turned about and made -the best of his way to the hotel.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_129'>129</span> - <h2 class='c008'>CHAPTER VII. <br /> <span class='small'>BREAKING THE MULE.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c009'>What Mr. Sprague was talking about -when Leon and his companions went in -to eat their suppers was whether or not it would -be a good plan to send a party of cavalrymen, -say a dozen or more, down to the little creek -that separated the two counties to bring them -warning of a Confederate force which was -coming to subdue them; for Mr. Sprague was -certain that those men would be along before -a great while. The rebels were not the men -to stand still and allow themselves to be -robbed of $500,000.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Their scouts will be a long ways ahead of -the main body, and by the time they get here -we can be safe in the swamp,” said Mr. -Sprague. “The cavalrymen are all good -shots, and by the time they get through with -<span class='pageno' id='Page_130'>130</span>one fire there won’t be so many of them to -follow up our men.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“They will shoot them down, I suppose?” -said Mr. Knight.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Of course they will have to take their -chances on that. While all the rest of them -are asleep one of them can be standing -guard.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I think it would be a good plan. We’ll -send cavalrymen down there every morning -to relieve them. Perhaps you had better detail -some guards for to-morrow morning. But -do you say you captured that train without -firing a shot?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“It is the truth,” said Mr. Sprague. “One -of the soldiers said it was the prettiest surprise -he every saw. The men were all prompt, and -they obeyed my whistle just like clock-work.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The next morning when Leon awoke and -stretched himself on the bench which served -him in lieu of a bed he felt like a new man. -He was not accustomed to spending so many -hours in the saddle, his long ride of the day -before had wearied him, and when he went to -slumber he “slept for keeps,” as he expressed -<span class='pageno' id='Page_131'>131</span>it. He got up, and, after washing his hands -and face, went out on the porch and saw a -party of a dozen men gathered about a tree a -short distance away. There was a white mule -in the party, and three or four men were -fussing around her.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Tom has got to work to break the ‘muel,’ -as lie calls it, from kicking,” said Leon, “and -I am going down to see how it is done. He -thinks he has got a prize there, and I hope he -has.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>When Leon got up with the crowd he found -that the mule had been securely fastened to a -tree, and that there were two men engaged in -holding her head up. You may have noticed -that when a mule wants to kick she always -puts her head down, and by holding her -head up it was impossible for her to kick -Tom, who, by bringing her tail around by -her side, was busy in tying a stone that -weighed two or three pounds, and was wrapped -up in a thick rag so that it would not bruise -her heels, fast to the end of it. Leon saw -through the plan at once, and he laughed -heartily.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_132'>132</span>“There, now, I reckon we’re all right,” -said Tom, as he took a finishing knot in the -string with which the stone was tied. “Kick, -now, and we will see how you will come out. -Let go her head, boys.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>When Tom said this he raised the stone and -let it down against the mule’s heels with a -sounding whack, and the men let go their -hold and backed away. In an instant you -could not have told where that mule belonged. -Her heels were in the air all the time; but no -matter how high the stone went, it always -came down, and the further it went, it came -back to its place and punished her heels severely. -Sometimes she seemed as if she -would kick herself over her head, she stood -up so straight. The men stood around and -laughed heartily, until the mule, after trying -in vain to rid herself of the contrivance, -stopped her kicking and turned around and -looked at it. She seemed to know that it was -fast to her, and after looking first on one side -and then on the other, and trying with more -energy than before to throw off the useless -appendage, which she knew did not belong -<span class='pageno' id='Page_133'>133</span>there, she drew her haunches under her, -looked at Tom and broke out into a faint -bray, as if begging him to take it off.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There, sir, she is done with her kicking -for all time,” said one of the men.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Tom,” said Leon, “don’t go near her. -You know how treacherous a mule can be.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The man promptly stepped up to the mule, -undid the stone, lifted her tail, and did other -pranks which would have led even a mule -who did not know how to kick to lay back her -ears.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I said I would break her of kicking in -less than two days, and we have broken her in -less than half an hour,” said Tom, gleefully. -“Now watch me and see me ride to camp.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Tom mounted in regular Texas fashion, -placing his left hand upon the mule’s shoulder -and throwing his right leg over her back, -and with a “G’lang there, muel!” went down -the road at a furious pace. She loped beautifully, -and Tom wasn’t even moved, although -he rode bare-back. Leon was satisfied that -he had got a prize, after all.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now all he wants is to go around that -<span class='pageno' id='Page_134'>134</span>mule forty times a day, lifting her tail and -patting her, and she won’t kick him,” said -the man who undid the stone. “I just know, -for I’ll bet on it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>When Leon had seen the mule broken and -Tom ride away, he turned his steps toward -the camp of the rebels to see how they were -getting on. There was another sentry on -guard this time, and he was engaged in a favorite -occupation, sitting on a log with his -rifle beside him, smoking a cob pipe and -warming his hands at the fire. The two rebels -were standing in the door of the lean-to, and -they greeted Leon heartily. After exchanging -a few words with them Leon said:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I am going to speak to father about you -to-day, and I think he will let you out. I am -going home this morning, and I want Dawson -to ride with me.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“If he lets me out I will go and be glad of -the chance,” said Dawson. “But what are -you going home for?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“To let my mother know that I shan’t be -home to-night. I reckon we are going down -after your mother.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_135'>135</span>“By George! That’s the best news I have -heard since I have been a prisoner,” exclaimed -Dawson. “You will see father here in less -than a week, and you don’t want to let him -get into any fight where the rebels are. He -don’t take any prisoners.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon next bent his steps toward the hotel -to get his breakfast. In the living-room he -met the landlord, who had three or four men -around him, and was talking gleefully of the -manner in which the wagon-train had been -captured the day before.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“To think that our boys never fired a shot, -and there were twenty-five of them rebels who -were hired to defend it,” said he. “Now here’s -Leon,” he added, taking the boy’s right hand -in his own, throwing his left arm around -his shoulder, and affectionately drawing him -up to his side. “Who would think that this -boy would watch over his father? He gets -close up to his side, and if anyone pops him -over he is going to see about it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You will have to get away from this place, -Mr. Faulkner,” said Leon. “Your house is -right on the main road, and the first party -<span class='pageno' id='Page_136'>136</span>of rebels who come in here will set fire to -it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I know all about that,” said Mr. Faulkner, -with a laugh. “I expect everything I -have got will go up in smoke. But you see -they won’t burn anything but the house. -Your father is going to lend me some of the -wagons as soon as they are unloaded, and I -am going to pile on everything I have got -and take them all up to the swamp. I should -like to see the rebels get them out of there.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“So would I,” said Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I can’t give you as good a breakfast as I -could once,” added Mr. Faulkner. “Bacon, -eggs, corn-bread and coffee—I am almost -out of coffee, now that I think of it. I shall -be all out if you haven’t got some in those -wagons you captured yesterday. Go on and -get your breakfast, the whole of you. There’s -many a better man than you and I dare be -who is living on worse food, and he’s just as -good a Union man as though he stood in our -ranks.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon went into the dining-room and found -his father and Mr. Knight sitting there by -<span class='pageno' id='Page_137'>137</span>themselves, and he concluded that it was a -good time to talk to them about the rebels -who were kept under guard.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I have been thinking about them all the -morning,” said Mr. Sprague, when Leon had -explained things to him, “and I don’t see the -need of keeping them under guard any -longer; do you, Knight?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, I don’t. I say let them out.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I will go back with you and turn -them loose,” said Mr. Sprague. “That will -be the way we’ll work it. As fast as any -rebels come in here and say they are on our -side we’ll take their weapons and horses away -from them, if they have any, and hold them -until they prove that they are just as they -should be.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, what do you say to my going down -to Dawson’s house after his mother?” said -Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What do you think about it, Knight?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why I say let the boy go. He has proved -long ago that he knows how to handle himself -in a tight place; yesterday, for instance; -and he will be just as safe as he would be -<span class='pageno' id='Page_138'>138</span>here in camp. By the way, Leon, we have -given your father a new title. He says the -Secretary of War is too long for him, and so -we have promoted him to Colonel. He likes -that better. Maybe if you conduct yourself -all right he will make you aid-de-camp.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>We are sorry to say that Mr. Knight did -not pronounce this word correctly, and if -there had been some boys like you, who are -fresh from their books, they would have seen -a good many other words whose spelling -bothered him. But he knew one thing that -had evidently slipped the President’s mind. -If his father had been promoted to colonel, -Leon thought that was being promoted backwards. -But then this thing would not last -more than a year or two, and it did not make -much difference to him what people said about -it. He got no money for the position he held, -none of the officers got any, and he was willing -to do what he could for the sake of the -county.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I don’t care if my father never promotes -me to anything,” said Leon. “If he will let -me stay close by him, so as to be on hand if -<span class='pageno' id='Page_139'>139</span>anything happens to him, I shall be satisfied.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The party having finished their breakfast -arose from the table at the same time, and -Mr. Sprague went out with Leon to call upon -the rebels. On the way he talked more plainly -to Leon than he had ever done before.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I shan’t appoint you aid-de-camp,” said -Mr. Sprague.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I know why,” said Leon. “If you should -do a thing like that, the fellows who are not -as high in authority as you are would think -that you were giving me a place to keep me -out of danger. I don’t want anybody to think -that of me.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, yes; that has something to do with -it. But you would be in just as much danger -there as you would anywhere else. I don’t -want you hanging around me all the time. -The men think you are doing it on purpose -to shield me.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I confess that that is what I was thinking -of.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Don’t do it any more. Of course I shall -be in the thickest of the fight, if we have any, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_140'>140</span>but I don’t want you to be there. That’s the -reason I am giving my consent to allow you -to go down after Dawson’s mother.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Do you say I may go?” exclaimed Leon, -joyfully.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes; but I want you first to let your -mother know we are safe and what is the reason -we don’t come home.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I’ll go and get Tom and Dawson to go -with me. By the way, Tom has got his mule -broken.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“So that he won’t kick?” asked Mr. -Sprague, in surprise.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, sir; and he broke him in less than -half an hour.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon then went on to tell how Tom had -operated to break the mule, and when he described -her kicking he made his father laugh -heartily. By this time they had reached -the lean to and found the two rebels enjoying -their breakfast. They arose to their feet as -Mr. Sprague approached, knowing that the -Secretary of War had much authority over -their prisoners, but he motioned them to keep -their seats. Even the sentry got up, put down -<span class='pageno' id='Page_141'>141</span>his plate—for the rebels had helped him most -bountifully—and held his rifle in a way that -was intended to present arms. But then the -Secretary didn’t know whether the motion -was properly executed or not. He touched -his hat, however, and after bidding the rebels -good-morning and lifting his hat once more -out of respect to the woman who sat at the -head of the table, he turned again to the -sentry.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I would like to see all the men who are -on guard with you,” said he. “They are -around here, I suppose?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, yes, sir; they are around here,” said -the sentry. Then lifting his voice he called -out: “All you guards turn out. The Secretary -of War wants you. Come a-lumbering!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The men came in a hurry, three of them, -some bareheaded, some swinging on their -bullet-pouches as they hastened through the -bushes, and all eager to see what the Secretary -of War wanted. Like the good soldiers they -were, they concluded that there was some -business to engage in, and they were impatient -to do it. But when they found out what he -<span class='pageno' id='Page_142'>142</span>wanted they were just as pleased, all the same. -Mr. Sprague told them in so many words that -the rebels were all right, and from this time -they were released from all sentry duty. The -rebels were just as free in their camp as they -were themselves.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Colonel, I want to shake your hand for -that,” said the owner of the lean-to, and as he -spoke he got up from the table and came out. -“Now I want all of you boys to understand -one thing. You have done nothing but call -me ‘Johnny’ ever since I have been in camp, -and now I want you to stop it. My name is -Roberts, and I am as good a Union man as -the best of you. If you don’t believe it, wait -until we get into a fight and I will show you.“</p> - -<p class='c010'>All this was said in a perfectly good-natured -way, and the guards, on being sent -back to their lean-tos, promised that they -would address him as Roberts ever afterward. -They had called him “Johnny” because they -did not know any other name for him.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, Dawson, I am going to start for -home,” said Leon. “Come with me and I -will get your horse and weapons for you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_143'>143</span>When Leon and Dawson turned away the -former was surprised to see standing at his -side another boy, Newman by name, who was -enough like Carl Swayne to have been his -brother, except in one particular. Newman -did not proclaim himself so much in favor of -the secessionists as Carl did, but in every -other way, so far as meanness was concerned, -they were a good team. Leon was not the -only one about there who believed that Newman -was a rebel at heart, and that if he had -his way he would have arrested every Union -man in the county. He noticed that Newman -did not go with them when they assaulted -the train—he had something else that demanded -his immediate attention; but he noticed, -too, that when the expedition came back -Newman had as much to say as anybody. -There was one thing about Newman that did -not look exactly right to Leon. In the early -part of the year, when there was a good deal -of talk about the secession of Jones county, -this Newman’s father had piled all his worldly -goods into a one-horse wagon and started for -Mobile; but in two months’ time he came -<span class='pageno' id='Page_144'>144</span>back. There was more fighting going on -there than there was in Jones county, he said, -and as he was a man of peace and did not believe -in contests of any kind, he thought he -and his family had better come back and stay -in their own house until the trouble was over. -Mind you, that was the story he told; whether -or not it was the truth remains to be seen.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, Leon, we got ’em, didn’t we?” was -the way in which Newman began the conversation.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Got whom?” inquired Leon, and he was -not very civil about it, either. He wished -that Newman would keep to his own side of -the walk and let him alone.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, the rebels, of course,” said Newman. -“You have got one them with you -right now.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“How many of them did you capture?” -inquired Leon, poking his elbow into Dawson’s -ribs when he saw that he was about to -reply.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I captured one, but I let him go. You -know the President said we wasn’t going to -take any prisoners.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_145'>145</span>“Yes, I know. But what made you let -him go?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, he told me such a funny story about -his wife being sick, and all that, that I -couldn’t bear to keep him captive. So I just -told him to clear out.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And you let him take his weapons with -him?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Of course,” replied Newman; and then -finding that Leon was getting onto rather -dangerous ground he changed the subject, for -he had come there to ask a favor. “Say, -Leon, do you suppose that your father would -give me one of them muels that we captured -yesterday? I reckon I’ve got as much right -to them as he has.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I reckon you haven’t,” replied -Leon, indignantly.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Just because he’s a high officer, do you -think he has more right to property that we -capture than them that takes it?” asked Newman, -getting mad in his turn. “He gave -Tom Howe a muel, and Tom didn’t do any -more than I did.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What’s the use of telling such an outrageous -<span class='pageno' id='Page_146'>146</span>falsehood? You was not there. Did -you see me?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, I saw you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What did I do? Did you see me when I -ran from this man, and he followed after me, -swinging his sword in his hand?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Eh? Oh, yes, I saw you,” said Newman, -looking surprised. “He came pretty near -catching you, too, and he would if that man -hadn’t come up and poked a revolver in his -face. Who was that, do you know?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, Newman, I don’t believe you can get -a mule to ride during this war,” said Leon, -once more turning his steps towards the hotel. -“You see Tom wants to do something with this -mule, and you don’t. You simply want him to -ride around, and when the fight comes you will -be miles away. That is, if you are on our side -at all,” said Leon to himself. “I wouldn’t be -afraid to bet that you will stay around here and -lead the rebels to our place of concealment.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Newman thrust his hands into his pockets, -pushed his hat on the back of his head, and -looked after Leon as he walked away with the -rebel by his side.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_147'>147</span>“I’ll bet that boy lied to me when he spoke -of that fellow being after him with a sword,” -said he, “and that he ever run from him a -step. I am no good for a spy. I haven’t got -my wits about me. But his father will give -me one of those mules or I’ll know the reason -why. It is most time for the rebels to come -up here, and when they do come, <a id='corr147.8'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='mye fin'>my fine</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_147.8'><ins class='correction' title='mye fin'>my fine</ins></a></span> lad, -I’ll have that horse of yours.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Who is that fellow, anyway?” asked -Dawson, after they had left Newman behind. -“You don’t seem to like him very well.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Neither would you if you knew him as -well as I do,” replied Leon. “Ever since I -got into a scrape with those logs that fellow -has been down on me, and said he didn’t see -why I should come out all right when other -men had lost their lives in attempting the -same thing.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You don’t bear him any ill-will for that, I -hope?” said Dawson. “He didn’t dare do it, -although I don’t know what danger you got -into.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I ran out on the logs and started a jam, -and Tom Howe fell into the water and I saved -<span class='pageno' id='Page_148'>148</span>him. But that isn’t what I have against -him,” said Leon. “You see, Newman’s father -has never said where he stood. When he -came back to this county, and found that we -were in earnest in threatening to secede, then -he wanted an office, but the men were too -sharp to give it to him.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Ah! that’s the trouble, is it? Let him -go in and serve as a private. That’s what my -father and I intend to do.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But he don’t want to serve as a private. -He wants the position that father holds, so -that he can boss around the men and have -nothing else to do. Father would give it to -him in a minute if he thought he was able to -fill it, but you see he don’t. And mind you, -I don’t say this out loud, but I believe it to -be so, he says if he can’t be an officer he will -betray us all.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Ho-ho!” said Dawson, while a gleam of -intelligence shot across his face. “He is going -to turn Benedict Arnold, is he? By gracious! -You fellows have something to contend -with, haven’t you? A spy! Well, let him -come on and see how much he will make by it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_149'>149</span>“Now, don’t say that out loud,” said Leon -earnestly, “for I don’t know that it is so. I -only judge him by his actions. Now, here’s -the place where your weapons were left. -We’ll go up and see the President.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I don’t look fit to go into the President’s -office,” said Dawson, looking down at his -clothes. “I want to get home and see my -wardrobe, so that I can get some clothes more -befitting my station in life.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“O come on,” said Leon, with a hearty -laugh. “Ten to one you will find the President -with a <a id='corr149.13'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='pais'>pair</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_149.13'><ins class='correction' title='pais'>pair</ins></a></span> of jean breeches on, and a -pair of cowhide boots. He is like all the rest -of us, but then he will be glad to see you, for -you were a rebel once.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There’s where you make a mistake,” said -Dawson. “I never was a rebel, although I -wear the clothes. Introduce me as a Union -man forced into the rebel army.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>At this moment Leon opened the door that -gave entrance into the office of the high dignitary -of Jones county, where they found him -leaning back in his chair and conversing with -three or four men. He was just such a man -<span class='pageno' id='Page_150'>150</span>as Leon said he was—to the manor born. He -didn’t act as though he considered himself -better than other men simply because he was -President. Dawson took off his hat, while the -other men did not remove theirs. He followed -Leon to a corner in which several stand of -fire-arms were stowed, and assisted him in -picking out his own weapons. Leon gave him -the sword and revolver, and motioned him to -buckle them around him, while with the carbine -in his hand he approached the President’s -chair. When he got through talking with the -men he looked up to see what Leon had to say.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Mr. Knight, here’s a good man I have -got for us,” said he. “His name is Dawson, -and although he wears the rebel uniform, he -is as much of a Union man as anyone here.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Howdy, Dawson,” said the President, nodding -his head, “So you are coming over to -side with us, are you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, sir,” said Dawson. “I was obliged -to go into the rebel ranks to escape being -hung.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He wants his horse and his weapons, too,” -added Leon. “Father says he is all right.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_151'>151</span>“Let him have them,” said the President.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon promptly handed over the carbine. -“He wants to go home to-night to get his -mother,” said he. “There are two of us, myself -and Tom Howe, going with him.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I heard all about it from your father,” -said Mr. Knight. “Now, be careful of yourself, -Leon. If you should get captured it -would drive the first colonel I have got crazy.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The boy promised that he would look out -for himself, and, with a salute from Dawson, -they opened the door and went down the -stairs. They saw that Mr. Sprague had already -hitched the mules to the wagons and -hauled them down in front of the hotel -where they could be examined by all the -principal men of the county. Before they -had taken many steps they saw Newman -walk up to the Secretary of War and accost -him.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_152'>152</span> - <h2 class='c008'>CHAPTER VIII. <br /> <span class='small'>REBELS IN THE REAR.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c009'>“What did I tell you?” said Leon, -turning to his companion. “Newman -is going to strike father for one of those -mules. Let us go up and see how he comes -out.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I don’t think I ought to give you a mule, -Newman,” said Mr. Sprague, as Leon and -Dawson approached within hearing distance. -“You were not with us at all, yesterday.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Newman glanced at Leon and saw there -was one lie nailed, but he had become so accustomed -to being caught that way that he -hardly changed color. He thrust his hands -into his pockets, looked up the road toward -the lean-tos, and said:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, you see one of our cows had strayed -away and I was afraid she might not come up, -so I went into the woods to find her.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_153'>153</span>“And you thought that cow was of more -use to the county than stopping the train, did -you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“It was of more use to us, ’cause, you see, -we wouldn’t have had any milk to put in our -coffee.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And you have milk in your coffee every -day, do you? That’s more than I have, and -I have eight or nine cows on my place.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, can I have the mule? That’s what -I want to know.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, I don’t think you can.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You have given one to Tom Howe and -never asked him what he was going to do -with it,” said Newman, hotly.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But I knew what Tom was going to do -with his mule before I gave it to him. Whenever -we get ready to go out and capture a train -Tom will be on hand, and that’s more than I -can say in regard to you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Then you won’t give me the mule?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, I can’t. You will have to go to -somebody else and get one. It is Government -property that comes into my hands, and I am -bound to take the best of care of it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_154'>154</span>“I’ll get even with you for this some way -or another,” said Newman, starting to walk -off.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Newman,” said Mr. Sprague, sternly, -“come back here.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, now, when I come back you just -blow a horn to let me know it, will you?” -replied Newman, still continuing on his way.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“If I ask you once more I shall put you -under arrest,” said Mr. Sprague. “I am not -in the habit of giving orders twice.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>While he was speaking there were certain -other parties, who had arrived with a wagon, -who happened to overhear the conversation -that passed between Mr. Sprague and Newman. -They dropped whatever they were -about and came up to see about it, for one of -the disputants had got so angry that he raised -his voice a good deal above its natural key. -One of them was Bud McCoy, the man who -had threatened to burn Mr. Swayne’s house -before he got out of it. He did not like -Newman any too well, for he believed that -the young man was more in favor of secessionists -than he was of the Union men.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_155'>155</span>“Come back here, you scoundrel!” said -Bud, shaking his fists in the other’s face.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, now, Bud, you haven’t anything to do -with it,” said Newman, and he retraced his -steps very slowly.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Come faster than that,” said Bud, tucking -up his shirt-sleeves. “I will show you that -I have something to do with it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I will tell my father what you are doing -up here, and perhaps he will think we had -better go back to Mobile,” said Newman.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, go back to Mobile. You belong -there among the rebels more’n you do among -these Union men. Your father has not got -anything to do with this business. We’ve -been talking about playing soldier for a long -time, and now that we have got a constitution -we are going to act. You’ll see that there is -a big difference between the two.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“One moment, Bud,” said Mr. Sprague, -when he saw that Newman had been frightened -sufficiently to put a little sense into him. -“You may not have been aware of the fact,” -he added, addressing himself to Newman, -“but you were treating me in a way that I -<span class='pageno' id='Page_156'>156</span>don’t like when you refused to come back here. -Perhaps I have more authority in this county -than you think for. You talked about getting -even with me. How are you going to do it?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I was only fooling,” said Newman. “I -didn’t mean nothing by it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, hereafter, when you feel aggrieved -by an officer, don’t say that you will get even -with him in some way. That looks to me as -though you had something on your mind.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I haven’t; I haven’t, honor bright,” said -Newman, wondering if Mr. Sprague knew anything -further. There had been talk between his -father and some of the rebel officers who had -their quarters in Mobile in regard to betraying -all the chief men of the Jones-County Confederacy -into their hands, and this was one reason -that brought him back there. But Newman -didn’t suppose that anybody but his own -family knew anything about it.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“It looks mighty suspicious,” continued -Mr. Sprague. “But I can’t give you that -mule. It is not my business, anyway. It belongs -to the quartermaster’s department, and -he is the man you must see.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_157'>157</span>Mr. Sprague turned on his heel and went -away to inspect one of the wagons, and Leon -and Dawson continued their walk toward -Roberts’ lean-to. To say that Leon was surprised -to hear his father talk in this way -would not express his feelings.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I tell you your father can’t be too -strict when it comes to the pinch,” said Dawson. -“I didn’t know he had so much in him. -Well, you see he is high in authority, and it -won’t do to let ordinary men talk to him as -that Newman did. Say, that fellow knew -something he did not want to speak about.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s my idea exactly,” said Leon. “I’ll -keep watch on him, and if I find anything out -of the way with him I’ll arrest him and take -him before father.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“If you do that he’ll shoot him.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“My gracious! Has it come to that?” exclaimed -Leon, astonished beyond measure.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Of course it has. I have seen three men -shot to death because they tried to desert the -army, and you have got to come down to that -way of doing business here. You will have -to be stricter, too, than they are in the army, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_158'>158</span>for you have got less power to back you up. -Oh, you’re not going to have a picnic, I’ll tell -you that.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon was thunderstruck, for he did not believe -that such things could take place in -Jones county. While he was thinking about -it they came up with Roberts, who had borrowed -a mule to take the place of the one that -had dropped dead during his rapid flight, and -was engaged in packing things into his -wagon. He said he was going deeper into the -swamp.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You see these houses are right on the -main road, and the rebels who come in will -come from Perry county,” said he. “I don’t -propose to have what things I own burned up, -and so I am going to take them where it will -cost the Confederates some trouble to get at -them.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, say, Mr. Roberts, what do you suppose -they would do to you if they should succeed -in getting their hands on you?” asked -Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I deserted to the enemy, didn’t I?” asked -Roberts.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_159'>159</span>“Yes, you did.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And I had my rebel clothes on when I -left their camp?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon nodded; and Roberts, after looking at -him a moment, made a turn of a rope around -his neck, drew it up with his left hand and allowed -his head to fall over on one side.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s what they would do with me,” said -Roberts, with a laugh. “I don’t suppose they -would shoot me, but they must catch me first. -I’m not going to be taken prisoner. And -Dawson, there, would come in for something of -the kind.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Dawson smiled and said he well knew what -was coming if he allowed himself to be taken -prisoner, and thrust out his hand, adding:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I don’t suppose I shall see you -again until we get into our first fight. I am -going after my mother to-night.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“So-long, old boy, and remember and -don’t let those Graybacks get a grip on you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I’ll stay right there on the field until I -drop,” said Dawson, earnestly. “You’ll never -hear of my being hung.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>They turned off to find their horses, after -<span class='pageno' id='Page_160'>160</span>which they drew a bee-line for Tom’s camp. -Leon didn’t have much to say. When men -like Dawson and Roberts could talk as they -did about falling into the hands of their old -comrades, it made him feel kind of anxious. -And if they would serve the deserters that -way, what would they do with him? He was -a traitor to the cause of Southern independence, -everybody on the Pascagoula river from -the swamps down knew who he was, and if -he should unfortunately fall into the hands of -the Confederates a captive, they would without -a doubt hang him without giving him -any trial at all. He had never been able to -look at it in this light before, and it made -him feel rather desperate. But here was a -fellow who would take ample revenge for his -death if such a thing should happen. It was -Tom Howe, who, when they found him, was -sitting at the foot of a tree, and he had just -been disposing of a substantial breakfast -which somebody had provided for him.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Halloo, Leon! And you, Dawson, halloo!” -said Tom, getting upon his feet. “Well, if -you are going home now I am going with -<span class='pageno' id='Page_161'>161</span>you. I have been around that muel forty -times, as that man told me to, petting her and -fooling in various ways, and she never offered -to kick me. But what’s the matter with you, -Leon? You act as though your last friends -had been gobbled up by the rebels.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, they haven’t been gobbled up yet, -but I am just thinking of what would happen -to them if they were gobbled,” said Leon. -“Do you know what they would do with you -if they caught you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Hang me, I suppose. But you see, Leon, -these swamps are mighty big.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But you are going right among them to-night.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, no,” said Dawson, quickly. “We’ll -not see a rebel from the time we leave here -until we get back. I’m not going to get you -in any fuss. If I thought there was a chance -I wouldn’t go myself.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But we are liable to be mistaken, you -know.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I’ll tell you what I’ll do,” said Dawson. -“I’ll ride on ahead, and the first glimpse -I see of anything suspicious I’ll warn you. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_162'>162</span>You certainly will not be captured in that -way.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Tom struck up a whistle, as if to show how -much he cared what the rebels might think it -worth while to do, and went to work about the -mule as though he had always owned her, -strapped a piece of gunny-sack to serve in lieu -of a saddle, felt his revolvers to make sure -that they were safe, and then announced that -he was ready. Their ride would have been -gloomy enough, for they did not meet a single -person on the way, had it not been for Dawson, -who was fairly alive with stories. He -was two or three years older than Leon, but, -like all boys who had lived much out-of-doors, -he was almost big enough to be considered a -man. He was young enough in his boyish -tastes and habits to be hail-fellow with Leon -and Tom, and reckless enough to add a spice -of danger to everything he engaged in. They -did not think they had been on their way a -great while before the plantation-house was -in view. Leon did not see anybody about. -The doors of the negro quarters were closed, -and so were the rear doors of the house; and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_163'>163</span>even the pickaninnies, who were usually the -first to welcome him when he rode up to the -bars, were nowhere in sight.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I wonder what’s been going on here?” -said Leon, involuntarily sinking his voice to -a whisper. “There are more people than this -in the house.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I should say there ought to be,” said Tom. -“We haven’t seen any, yet.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“If it was a little nearer the lower end of -the county I should say that some rebels had -been calling here,” said Dawson, in an anxious -tone of voice. “I have seen many a house -look that way.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Filled with forebodings, Leon hurried on -until he came opposite the front bars, and on -the way he saw a man lying down behind a -log with a rifle in his hand, and it was pointed -toward the other bank of the stream, which -here ran through Mr. Sprague’s property. -The moment the topmost bars rattled the -front door opened and his mother came out -on the porch. Thank goodness she was safe.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, mother, what’s up?” cried Leon, -throwing himself off his horse and rushing -<span class='pageno' id='Page_164'>164</span>up the steps with arms spread out. “When -I saw the house closed I supposed something -had happened.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Something has happened,” replied his -mother; and although her face was very pale, -her tightly-closed lips and the way in which -her hands trembled showed that she was trying -to keep down some rising emotion. “The -rebels are at it already.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“At what?” asked Leon, while the other -boys got up close to her to hear what she had -to say.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There have been two men over on the -other side of the creek, and they have got a -complete map made out of all the streams and -the places where they are fordable,” said his -mother.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, how did you find it out?” asked Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“One of the darkies discovered them, and -I slipped out very quietly and told Mr. Giddings -of it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Wasn’t it lucky that I brought Giddings -here? I knew I was proposing a good thing -when I advised him to come. Well, what did -Giddings do?”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_165'>165</span>“He took down his rifle and shot one of -the men,” said Mrs. Sprague, at the same time -clinging to Leon as if she were afraid that the -ghost of the slain man might come back. -“This war is going to be a horrible thing. -I wouldn’t see the thing happen again for all -the money the United States is worth. It -was the first thing of the kind I ever saw -done—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why did you stay here and look at it?” -asked Leon. “How did he know that he -had a map? What made him shoot him, in -the first place?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, he was acting very sly, making use -of every tree and stump to cover him, so Mr. -Giddings thought he would shoot them both. -He went over there in our boat and got the man, -and he is out there now in one of our negro -cabins. And he hadn’t any more than -brought him over here before the other fellow -shot at him.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He didn’t hit him, I suppose?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No; but he made the bullet sing pretty -close to his head.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I reckon that Giddings had better stay -<span class='pageno' id='Page_166'>166</span>here to-night and protect you,” said Leon, -after thinking a moment. “I am not coming -home to-night, and neither is father. We -had some work day before yesterday,” he -added, as if trying to draw her away from the -melancholy event she had witnessed. “We -captured forty wagons without firing a shot. -Here’s a man who was with them. Mother, -let me introduce Mr. Dawson. He is going -back into the country for his mother to-night, -and wants Tom and me to go with him.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mrs. Sprague smiled for the first time, -shook Dawson by the hand, said she was glad -to see him on the Union side if he did wear -those clothes on his back, and then she -turned to Tom Howe, who had just come in -from hitching the horses.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“As those rebels didn’t fire a shot at you -the other day you don’t know how it feels,” -said Mrs. Sprague.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Who? Me? No, ma’am. I just covered -a driver’s head with my rifle and told -him to hold up his hands, and he put them -into his pockets and brought out his revolvers, -which he handed to me. There they -<span class='pageno' id='Page_167'>167</span>are,” said Tom, putting his hands behind him -and bringing out a pistol in each. “You see -Leon had a revolver and I had none, and I -just put these into my clothes and said nothing -about it. If I am going to be a soldier -I’ll soon learn how to steal as well as anybody.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Let’s go out there and see what Giddings -is doing,” said Leon. “Mother, can you get -us up some dinner? We have a long way to -ride to-night, and we want to give our horses -a little rest after we get back to Ellisville.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>His mother said that dinner would be ready -by the time he wanted it, and Leon walked -around the house toward the place he had -seen Giddings lying in ambush, followed by -his companions. Giddings was on his feet -now, and was standing behind a corn-crib, -looking cautiously around the corner of it.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Howdy, Leon?” he exclaimed, when he -saw the boys approaching. “You had better -get something between you and the woods -over there, for that chap is a tolerable fair -shot. I don’t like the way he sent his bullet -a-flying past my head.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_168'>168</span>“He didn’t hit you, though,” said Leon, as -the boys drew up beside the mountaineer from -Tennessee. They kept an eye on the woods, -but all danger from that source had passed. -The rebel who had been left alive had taken -advantage of the bushes, crawled among them -until he was out of sight, and so got himself -safe off.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And the only reason he didn’t make a better -shot was because he had a revolver,” said -Giddings. “I tell you, Leon, we are going -to have trouble now. Those fellows are making -a map of this whole country.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Perhaps they are looking, too, for that -wagon-train we stole from them,” said Leon. -“There were forty wagons in the lot, and we -captured the last one of them.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Sho!” exclaimed Giddings in disgust. -“And I wasn’t there to help. But let’s go in -and look at that man. Perhaps you know -who he is.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The boys followed the man into the negro -cabin with slight quakings of conscience, all -except Dawson, who had seen so many dead -men that he thought nothing of it. He lay -<span class='pageno' id='Page_169'>169</span>there on the floor covered with a blanket, -never to move again in this life, with bushy -black whiskers spread all down his breast, -and dressed in a uniform that had a couple of -bars on the collar. He was a fine-looking -man, and Leon was wondering how many -hearts would break when they heard of his -death.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I hit him right in the heart,” said Giddings, -pointing out the mark of his bullet on -his coat with as much indifference as he -would have shown if it had been a deer instead -of a man that was stretched out before -him. “Know him, any of you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, he is a stranger to me. I think the -best thing you can do, Mr. Giddings,” said -Leon, reverently spreading the blanket over -the dead man’s face again, “is to stay here -and keep an eye on mother. I didn’t think -the rebels would ever trouble her up here.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Did you steal much of them?” asked Giddings.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon replied that to the best of his knowledge -it was pretty near half a million dollars’ -worth.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_170'>170</span>“A half a million? Pshaw! They will -be all over this county looking for them -goods, and you will have to go deeper into the -swamp to be rid of them. When the rebels -come they won’t leave a shingle of this house -that you can use. They will burn them all.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Where’s the map he made out?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Your mother has got that, and his weapons, -too. Yes, I guess the best thing I can -do is to stay here. There may be some -more of these Confederates where these came -from.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon went out, spent a few moments in exchanging -compliments with Giddings’ wife, -who was very comfortably settled in her new -quarters, and went into the house to ask his -mother for the map the rebel had made. -While the dinner was being made ready the -boys spent their time in looking it over. They -were astonished to find all the streams, as far -up as he had time to go, were correctly drawn, -and still more amazed to see that the little -creek which marked the boundary-line between -their county and Perry, which was so -deep at the place where the bridge extended -<span class='pageno' id='Page_171'>171</span>across it, could be forded in five different -localities.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That man must have been a civil engineer,” -said Dawson. “No one, without he -had some knowledge of the business, could go -over those streams in the short time he has -and make such a complete map of them.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>At the end of half an hour the boys had -eaten their dinner and were well on their way -toward Ellisville, Leon having the map, for -which the man in the rebel army had given -his life, safely stowed away in one of his -pockets. He wasn’t as happy now as he was -when he came that way before. Dawson’s -stories of his adventures had made him a -little reckless, and he felt as though he would -like to go through some of them himself; but -unfortunately it did not come to him in quite -that way. Here was his mother liable to see -more adventures than he was, and how did he -know but a squad of rebel cavalry would -come down on her, kill her guard and carry -her off to some Southern prison-pen? Another -thing, the Union men had been very -careful to hold a force on the main road which -<span class='pageno' id='Page_172'>172</span>extended into Perry county, so as to meet the -Confederate troops when they came there, and -now the rebels had been at work operating in -their rear. It told Leon that they had got -something to do before they could establish -their independence.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I know what you are thinking of, Leon,” -said Dawson. “I don’t care how strongly a -place is fortified or how closely it is watched, -the enemy will get in and make a map of it. -They know right where the strongest works -are, and all about it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What do they do with a man they catch -making those maps?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That depends. If he is in citizens’ clothes -they take him and shut him up; but if he is -in uniform, then it’s good-bye, John.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Do they shoot him?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No; they hang him just as surely as they -can get their hands upon him. So you see -that that rebel up to your house got what he -deserved. He knew what was going to happen -to him in case he was caught, and he -would rather be shot than hung.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Before the boys had gone a great way on -<span class='pageno' id='Page_173'>173</span>their road to Ellisville they met a party of -perhaps a hundred men, some with an axe on -one shoulder and a rifle on the other, accompanied -by three or four wagons loaded with -their household furniture. They were going -up into the swamp to build boats, so that their -families would not be cut off when the time -came for them to retreat.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“The President sent us, but I don’t look -for much trouble up here,” said the leader of -the party, leaning on his rifle. “But then it -is well to be on the safe side.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Don’t fool yourselves,” said Leon. “The -rebels won’t come along the main road.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Sho! How do you know?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Because they have got men around in your -rear working at maps, and all that sort of -thing,” said Leon. “Here’s a map that was -taken off a dead rebel this morning.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>As Leon produced the book the men -crowded around in eagerness to see it. They -looked at it in surprise, but they little thought -it was a plan that would lead the attacking -force miles behind them, and that when they -turned they would find five hundred men in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_174'>174</span>front of them, and that they could drive them -pell-mell across the little stream before spoken -of, and into the hands of another Confederate -party who were concealed there in the bushes -waiting for them. It was a scheme to clean -out the Union party at one fell swoop, and -nothing but Leon’s going home that morning -saved them from it.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There’s the little creek right there which -divides our county from Perry,” said Leon, -pointing it out with his riding-whip, “and -that map shows that it is fordable in five different -places—above and below the bridge.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, sir, it’s amazing how he got all the -little streams down there in the little time -that he has had,” said the leader. “Who -shot this rebel?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Mr. Giddings. He is lying in one of -father’s negro cabins. I tell you this that you -need not be caught napping,” said Leon, putting -the book where it belonged. “There may -be more rebels where these came from, and -you don’t want to let them see what you are -doing. Good-bye, and good luck to you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Ellisville was livelier now than they had -<span class='pageno' id='Page_175'>175</span>ever seen it, except on the day of the convention. -There were men scattered all over it, -but the greatest number of them were around -the hotel. All the chief men were there inspecting -the wagons to see what there was in -them, and as fast as one wagon was found to -contain provisions it was pushed off on one -side, to be hitched up directly and taken away -into the swamp. It seemed strange that when -one of them had been doing such good work, -and when all the men about him were so -deeply interested in what was going on before -them, that there was one among them who -ached for an opportunity to “throw it all into -the ditch.” It was Newman. He was waiting -to see the quartermaster. He was going to -get a mule if he could; if not, he was “going -to bust up the whole thing.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_176'>176</span> - <h2 class='c008'>CHAPTER IX. <br /> <span class='small'>A NIGHT EXPEDITION.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c009'>“Who do you report to?” asked Dawson, -as, following Leon’s example, he -pulled his horse up to a halt.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What do I want to report to anybody -for?” asked Leon. These things were entirely -new to him, and he had a good many formalities -to learn.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, it is the rule that you must report -to the men who sent you away, in order that -they may know when you got back.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh! Then I suppose I ought to report to -father. He is busy now, but as soon as I can -get his ear I’ll tell him about this map. Now, -Tom, you and Dawson go back to your camp, -and stay there till I come. We’ll make that -our headquarters until we get ready to go -away.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>But Mr. Sprague was not so very busy that -<span class='pageno' id='Page_177'>177</span>he could not take a little time to listen to -Leon. The last two wagons were loaded with -clothing, and he told the person who officiated -as quartermaster that it would be proper for -him to call up any of the men who needed -something to wear, adding:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There are rebel uniforms in there, and I -expect the men won’t want to wear them, but -it can’t be helped. I know I shouldn’t want -to take off my clothes and put on a gray -jacket. Well, Leon, how did you find your -mother? No Confederates been near her, I -suppose?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Sprague opened his eyes in surprise -when he received a warning gesture from -Leon, but he followed him off on one side, out -of reach of everybody. The boy then began -a hurried account of what had transpired at -his house, showed him the map, and told how -he had left Giddings there to keep an eye on -his mother. To his surprise his father never -changed his countenance at all. He listened -to Leon’s recital with the same apparent unconcern -that he would have received any -ordinary piece of news.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_178'>178</span>“Now, father, what are you going to do -about this?” said Leon, in conclusion. “It -looks to me as though the rebels were getting -up something, and the first thing we know -they will be after us.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I don’t know what I shall do about it yet,” -said Mr. Sprague. “I shall want to see Knight -about it first. Now, as you are going into -foreign parts to-night—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, I am not going away,” exclaimed -Leon. “I am only going into Perry county.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, that is a foreign country. That is -what the rebels call the United States, and -head all their news as ‘foreign intelligence.’ -What’s the reason that we can’t so designate a -county which they claim? You are going -into Perry county to help Dawson bring his -mother up here, and I must instruct you how -to pass the sentries.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Have you got some sentries out?” inquired -Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We’ve got ten men down by that bridge, -but this map you have shown me proves that -they won’t do much good there. Now, when -you come up with them—”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_179'>179</span>Mr. Sprague took this as his starting-point, -and went on to tell Leon just what he must -do when he passed the sentries. It was new -business to him, and he must be very careful -how he acted. He must not attempt to run -by them—Mr. Sprague thought that Dawson -was rather careless, and was afraid he might -do something to draw the sentries’ fire—but -must do just as he was told. When ordered -to dismount and bring the countersign, “Fidelity”—could -he remember it?—he must be -sure not to give it until the sentry was close -upon him, and then utter it in tones so low -that no one but the man for whom it was intended -could hear it. Leon promised compliance, -repeated the countersign over to be sure -he had it in his mind, then shook his father -warmly by the hand and went off to Tom -Howe’s camp. In reply to their inquiring -glances, Leon then went on to tell that his -father had decided to see Mr. Knight before -he determined what to do in regard to the men -who had been operating in the rear, and described -how he was going to work it to get -by the sentries.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_180'>180</span>“That’s all right,” said Dawson. “We -can’t attempt anything wrong there, although, -to tell the truth, I have run by my own sentries -more than once.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What would they do with you if they -were to catch you in that business?” inquired -Tom.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, if you hadn’t made any effort at deserting -they would put you in the guard-house,” -replied Dawson, with a laugh. “They -would think it was merely a little fun on -your part, and they wouldn’t punish you very -severely. But if you were known to be a deserter, -they would hang you in a minute. -Now, I suppose we can wait here until it is -pretty near dark, and then we must be up -and doing. If you fellows don’t want to go -say the word, and I’ll go alone.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I shall be with you when you see your -mother,” said Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Here too,” said Tom. “You just bet I’ll -stick close to Leon’s coat-tails. If he gets -into a row I’ll be there to help.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>After that there was silence in the camp, -for two of the boys had something at least to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_181'>181</span>think about. They were about to begin soldiering -in earnest. It is true that the events -of the day before had infused new confidence -into them, but the attacking Union party -was a great deal stronger than the Confederate -escort, and a battle, if one had taken -place, could have ended in but one way. Now, -they were going right in among those fellows, -and who knew but they might run onto a -squad of rebels who were numerically their -superiors, and be all taken prisoners? That -was what bothered Leon. He wasn’t afraid -of being shot, but he was afraid of being -hanged. There was something murderous -about a rope and the men getting ready to -haul away on it, but with a bullet the case -was different.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, if I am going to die I’ll show myself -a man,” soliloquized Leon, as he rolled -about under the trees watching Tom, who was -getting an early supper for them. “How cool -Dawson takes it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>His rebel friend lay opposite to him, on the -other side of the fire, with his saddle for a -pillow and his hat drawn over his face, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_182'>182</span>the regular breathing that came to Leon’s -ears told him he was fast asleep.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, it seems to me that if I was going -back among a lot of comrades who were just -aching to hang me I should find something -to think about to keep me awake,” muttered -Leon. “Maybe it is all in a lifetime. Perhaps -when I have been through as many dangers -as he has I can go to sleep, too.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><a id='corr182.10'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='“Supper'>Supper</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_182.10'><ins class='correction' title='“Supper'>Supper</ins></a></span> was ready at last, Dawson aroused -to eat his share of it, and the moment he was -settled with a plate of bacon and corn-bread -before him, he became at once full of stories. -He seemed surprised because Leon told him -that he was asleep.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I couldn’t make the time pass quicker -by staying awake, could I?” said Dawson. -“You would have gone to sleep if you knew -what’s before you. You may see the time when -you will be glad to take a wink all by yourself.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>In half an hour more the boys rode out of -the grove and turned their horses toward the -bridge. In passing by the hotel Leon saw -his father standing on the porch. He saluted -him, but kept right on without stopping. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_183'>183</span>Dawson was surprised, and remarked in his -quiet way that Mr. Sprague was taking the -separation very coolly.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He must have unbounded confidence in -you,” said he. “Most fathers would have -come out to bid you good-bye.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I did that long ago,” said Leon. “My -mother is the only one I am worrying about -now. If the killing of that rebel will convince -them that we have a body-guard out on -all sides, I shall be more than pleased. They -will come with a bigger force than two men to -take a map next time.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The ride through the woods was a lonely one, -and, finally, just as it began to grow dark, -they came within sight of the bridge, and saw -a sentry pacing up and down there with his -piece carried at shoulder arms. One thing -was evident to Leon: his father had improved -his time in giving the men some instruction, -or else the squad was under a corporal who -understood his business. The sentry halted -when he heard the sound of their horses’ -hoofs on the road, faced about, and brought -his gun to arms port before he said a word.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_184'>184</span>“That fellow acts like an old sentinel, -don’t he?” said Dawson. “He has been in -the service before.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, I reckon not,” said Leon. “So far as -I know, everyone of these men is as green as -I am myself.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Halt!” shouted the sentry. “Who comes -there?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Friends with the countersign!” said Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dismount, friends. Advance, one, with -the countersign.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>So far everything was all right; but the -next move was something that was not down -in the tactics. No sooner had Leon’s voice -answered the sentry than nine men came running -from different parts of the woods and -took up their stand directly behind the sentry. -They held their guns in readiness, too, as if -they meant to be on hand for anything that -might happen.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I tell you they meant to be ready for us, -didn’t they?” said Dawson. “You won’t get -the sentries in our army to answer a challenge -like that.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What would they do?”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_185'>185</span>“They would keep out of sight in the -bushes, and perhaps be ready to fire in case -anything goes wrong.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The boys had by this time dismounted, and -Leon, leaving his horse for Dawson to hold, -walked up to the sentry and whispered the -countersign, “Fidelity,” in his ears.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“The countersign is correct,” said the man. -“Why, Leon, where are you going? Don’t -you know that you will be gobbled up if you -go beyond that bend?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No,” said Leon, in amazement; “we are -going down after Dawson’s mother.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well,” said one of the men who stood behind -the sentry, “you can go, but I won’t. A -little while ago two or three of us happened to -be out here, and we looked up and saw a fellow -standing in the road watching us. We -called to him, but he got into the bushes before -we could shoot at him.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>This was something Leon had not bargained -for. The other boys had come up in obedience -to his signal, and they all heard what -the man had to say about the spy who was -watching them.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_186'>186</span>“Did you see more than one?” asked Dawson, -who was utterly amazed to know the -rebels had come between him and his mother. -If that was the case he might as well go back, -for all hope of bringing her into the Union -camp was, as he expressed it, “up stump.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, I didn’t see but one, and he was a -Johnny, for the way he took to the bush was -a caution,” said the man. “That was what -brought us out here in such a hurry. We didn’t -know but there might be others behind you, -and we thought we would be ready for you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, Dawson, I am going ahead if you -are,” said Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Talk enough,” exclaimed Dawson, placing -his foot in the stirrup and swinging himself -upon his horse. “All I want is a little pluck -to back me up, and I will have my mother -up here before you see the sun rise.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You have got the old man’s grit, I can see -that easy enough,” said the sentry. “Good-bye -and good luck to you. We don’t want to -say a word to dishearten you, but if you come -back here at all, you’ll come a-flying. One -sentry can’t stop you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_187'>187</span>The boys laughed, but anybody could see -that it was forced, and in a few moments they -were around the bend, out of sight. It was -there that the rebel spy had been seen. They -looked sharply into the woods as they passed -along—every boy had his revolver drawn and -hanging by his side—but the thickets were as -silent as if nobody had ever been there. Leon -and Tom were very pale, there was no mistake -about that, but they kept as close at the -heels of Dawson’s horse as they could possibly -get. Not a word was said until the woods -had been passed and they found themselves -in the midst of a long cotton-field which -stretched away on both sides of them, and in -the distance was a row of buildings which -Dawson pointed out to them.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“If we can get there inside of that house -we are all right,” said he, and a person -wouldn’t have thought from the way he spoke -that he was thinking of his mother. “There -is where she lives.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“If that spy was in the bushes and saw us -when we went by, what was the reason he -didn’t jump out and grab us?” said Tom.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_188'>188</span>“Perhaps he was alone,” said Leon, who -would have felt safer if that spy, whoever he -was, had been among his friends. “He wants -more help before he attempts to arrest us.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, boys, let’s keep perfectly still and -ride up to the house as though we had a right -there,” said Dawson. “You are not afraid to -shoot, are you, Tom?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“All I ask of you is to give me a chance,” -returned Tom, indignantly. “Anything to -keep from being made prisoner.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The boys relapsed into silence again, and -presently drew up before the gate which gave -entrance into the door-yard. It was an old-fashioned -gate, and was held in place by a -wooden pin, which was thrust into an auger-hole. -The horse Dawson rode showed that -he was accustomed to that way of getting in, -for he moved up close to the pin, so that his -rider could pull it. The gate creaked loudly -on its wooden hinges, whereupon they heard -a little confusion in the house, the door opened, -and by the aid of the light from the fireplace -the boys saw a woman and two little children -fill the door.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_189'>189</span>“Oh, Bo—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>One of the children was on the point of -shouting out Dawson’s name, but quicker than -a flash the mother’s hand covered his mouth. -It was no place to speak a person’s name out -loud.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Sh—! Not a word out of you,” said -Dawson, dismounting from his horse. “You -will bring the rebels on me. That’s a little -boy, but he is Union all over,” he added, -turning to Leon. “Now you stay here and -hold my horse, and I will go in and get things -ready. I needn’t tell you to keep a good watch -down the road. If you hear so much as a foot-step, -I want to know it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now hold on a bit,” said Tom, dismounting -and handing his reins to Leon to hold for -him, “If you are going to leave us here in -silence I must take care of my muel, else she -will arouse the neighborhood. You hold her -head, Leon, and I will look out for her tail.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, why don’t you take care of it, -then?” asked Leon, when he saw Tom station -himself in such a position that he could readily -seize her tail in moments of emergency.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_190'>190</span>“Because she isn’t ready to bray yet,” said -Tom. “Whenever she gets ready to let the -people know she is here she will bob her tail -up and down. Then I will be ready to take -hold of it and keep it down. Oh, there’s a -heap to be learned about muels the first thing -you know.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Dawson laughed—he couldn’t keep from -laughing if he knew his mother was in danger—and -went on into the house, the door of -which was closed after him; so Leon didn’t -hear much of that greeting. And he wouldn’t -have learned much if he had heard it. His -mother had lived in danger for the last year, -and all she did was to kiss him and listen -while he told of his capture.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But I wanted to go,” said he, “and father -and I promised each other that whoever got -away first should go to Jones county, and the -one that was left in the rebel ranks should -come there as soon as he could. I got away -first, and now I am come after you. Pack up -everything you want and be ready to load it -aboard the mule-team which I will bring here -as soon as possible.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_191'>191</span>“Will I be protected there?” asked his -mother.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You certainly will. There is a thousand -men there, and they are growing every day. -I wouldn’t ask you to stir a step if I didn’t -think so. Your house is gone up.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I can’t help that. But do you really -think your father will be able to join us -there?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He’s got to take his chances; that’s what -I had to do. Now, mother, take everything -you need and leave the rest behind for the -rebels.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>This was all that was said, and Dawson left -the house and went out to his companions; -but he knew that his mother had gone hastily -to work to bundle up such things as she needed -and could not possibly do without. He took -his bridle from Leon’s hand and with a whispered -“follow me” led the way around behind -a corn-crib, out of sight.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now I must leave you again, and you will -take notice that your horses don’t let anyone -know they are here,” said Dawson. “I am -going to get a mule-team.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_192'>192</span>“Your mother is going, is she?” asked -Tom.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Of course she’s going. She would look -nice living in that house while she had a husband -and son in the Yankee army! Of course -we have seen the house for the last time. The -rebels will burn it up the first time they come -this way.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>While Dawson was getting ready to go out -and get the mule-team the boys noticed that -their horses raised their heads, and pricked -their ears forward and looked down the road, -as if there was some object down there that -attracted their attention. Dawson was the first -to notice it, and he straightway grabbed his -horse by the bridle and forced his head down.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Somebody’s coming,” said he.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon speedily dismounted and took up a -position by his horse’s bridle, Tom gave his -reins into his hand and occupied his old station -by his mule’s tail, and all the boys held -their breath and listened. It was faint and -far off, but presently they could distinctly -hear the sound of a multitude of horses’ hoofs -upon the hard road. Nearer it came, until -<span class='pageno' id='Page_193'>193</span>Dawson, who was experienced in such matters, -informed his companions in a whisper that -there must be a whole platoon of cavalry approaching. -It came from the south, too, and -that was the direction in which the rebel headquarters -were situated.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I tell you it’s lucky that we got here -just in the nick of time,” said Tom. “Hold -on there, old muel,” he continued, catching -the mule’s tail and pulling it down. “You -mustn’t let those folks know we’re here. Did -you see how I stopped his braying?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon and Dawson were too deeply interested -in what was going on in the road to pay -much attention to him, and finally they could -see, through the cracks in the corn-crib where -the chinking had fallen out, a number of men -ride past the house, or, rather, the majority of -them rode by, while three drew rein and -stopped there.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“By gracious! I hope mother heard them, -and that she had time to put her bundles away -out of sight,” whispered Dawson. “Everything -depends upon that.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Where do you suppose they are going?” -<span class='pageno' id='Page_194'>194</span>asked Leon, who was so excited that he could -scarcely speak.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“They are going up to Jones county to see -how nearly ready for them we are,” said Dawson. -“I reckon they’ll stop when they get to -the bridge. There are some riflemen up there -that act to me as if they were good shots.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, here’s a thing that bothers me,” -said Leon. “You are talking about getting a -mule-team to haul your mother’s things to our -county, and I would like to know how we -are to get it by those fellows? We’ll have to -wait until they go back.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Dawson did not answer at once, for he was -much concerned about those three men who -rode into the yard. He saw one of them dismount -and go into the house, and his heart -beat like a trip-hammer when he saw it. He -waited for the confusion which he knew -would follow when the bundles his mother -had made up were exposed to view, but it did -not come. In a few minutes the man came out -and spoke to the two men he had left on -horseback, and they went on, and the rebel -turned and came directly toward the corn-crib.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_195'>195</span>“He’s coming here,” said Leon; and before -anybody could say a word against it he had -cocked his revolver, rested it in the crack, -and pointed it at the man’s head. He was -right in front of the open doorway, and of -course Leon couldn’t have missed him at -that distance. The rebel came on as though -he knew where he was going, entered the -doorway, placed his mouth close to the crack, -and whispered:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Robert!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“For goodness’ sake turn that revolver the -other way!” whispered Dawson. “It is my -father.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_196'>196</span> - <h2 class='c008'>CHAPTER X. <br /> <span class='small'>CALE WANTS A MULE.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c009'>“I am to go to the quartermaster, am I? It -is his business to give the muels out, is -it? He give one to that Tom Howe and -never asked what he was going to do with -him, and now he had to go and refuse to give -one to me. I’ll get even with you, Mr. -Sprague, for that, and you just see if I don’t.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>It was Newman who spoke, and he leaned -against the corner of the hotel and watched -Mr. Sprague as he went on inspecting the -wagons. He was a boy about nineteen years -old, although he might have passed for thirty, -judging by his looks. He didn’t have a rifle; in -fact he didn’t have anything except the big -hunk of “nigger-twist” which he took from -his pocket, transferring a generous slice to -his mouth. He was not a raftsman, anybody -could have told that, for they generally took -<span class='pageno' id='Page_197'>197</span>some pains with their personal appearance. -This Newman was ragged and dirty, and -looked as though he had been in the habit of -sleeping wherever night overtook him. He -had the appearance of being mean enough -for anything, and the facts proved that he -was.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“See that ole Sprague stepping around like -he owned the nation,” muttered Newman, -shutting one eye and squirting a flow of tobacco-juice -at the nearest tree. “I’ll see pap, -and if he thinks it can be done I am going to -do it. That ’rolling officer, when he was -here, told them that they couldn’t have things -all their own way, and I guess they will find -it out. They will give me something for telling -them where they can find the men, and -I’ll be dog-gone if I don’t do it. Where’s -that quartermaster, I wonder? Busy, as usual, -I’ll bet. Well, let him work his own gait. -He won’t do it much longer.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Newman stayed around almost all day before -he got a chance to speak to the quartermaster, -and before he went away there was -something that drew his attention from Mr. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_198'>198</span>Sprague to Leon. The latter and two companions -came up to report what had happened -at Mr. Sprague’s plantation since his absence. -Leon made a handsome figure, if he only knew -it. He sat his horse with easy grace, was clad -in a suit of blue jeans which fitted his person -admirably, and he raised his hand to his -father with a military salute that would have -done credit to an old soldier. Newman did not -hear any of his report, for it was given in -tones so low that they could not reach his ears; -but if he had heard any of it, it would have -shown the necessity of his being up and doing.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“See how easily he touches his hat to that -old civilian,” said Newman, with a sneer; -“while my father, who could have had that -position if the folks had been a-mind to give -it to him, has to go around without anybody -saluting him. Such things ain’t right, but I -tell you I am going to make them that way. -They offered my father something nice if he -would betray these chief men into their hands—they -didn’t say what it would be, but I suppose -it is some commission—and he don’t seem -willing to do it. I’ll do it, and see what they -<span class='pageno' id='Page_199'>199</span>will give me. There’s the quartermaster now, -and he don’t seem to be busy.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Newman threw his tobacco out of his mouth -and walked up to the quartermaster, who stood -with his hands in his pockets and watching -some wagons that were being hitched up previous -to being hauled into the swamp.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I want to see if you will give me a muel, -please, sir,” said Newman, stepping up and -trying his best to give the military salute as -he had seen Leon do.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“A mule? What do you want of a mule?” -said the officer, more than half inclined to -laugh at the boy’s appearance. “You don’t -want a mule to ride up to the house.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, sir; but I want him so as to be ready -to go with the men when they capture another -wagon-train,” said Newman.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, you didn’t go with the men the -other day. I saw you around here the whole -time. Your father was with you, and so was -Dan.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Dan was Newman’s oldest brother. All we -can say about him is that he was Cale Newman -over again. Dan was the one that stole -<span class='pageno' id='Page_200'>200</span>the bacon and sweet potatoes that the family -lived on. He had courage to go where Cale -wouldn’t dare show his head.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But we would a-had to go afoot,” said -Newman, in an injured tone. “I couldn’t -walk so fur.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“It seems the others did it without any -trouble. You could have gone there and -showed your good-will, if you had been a-mind -to. I reckon you will find it better to -do without a mule.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You gave Tom Howe one and said nothing -about it,” said Newman, growing angry -again.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I did?” said the quartermaster.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Old Sprague done it, and it amounts to -the same thing.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Look here, Newman, you want to be careful -how you talk about that man. He ain’t -a common civilian any more.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What is he, then, I would like to know?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He’s got power enough to put you where -people won’t hear you say that,” said the officer, -fastening his eyes sternly on Newman’s -face. “He will put you in jail.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_201'>201</span>“Well, I’ll bet he won’t put me in jail, -neither. My father has got friends enough -to tear it up.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, Cale, if you are going to hold to -such doctrines as that you might as well go -among the Confederates, where you belong. -You don’t belong here, that is certain.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“If you will give me a muel I won’t hold -no such docterings,” said Newman. “I’ll be -the loyalest fellow you ever see.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The quartermaster looked at Newman in -amazement.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What kind of a fellow are you, any way?” -he asked. “You are going to be loyal or not, -just as you get paid for it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s the way my father looks at it. -You didn’t give him an office, and now he’s -going to let you hoe your own row. Now, if -I could have a muel to ride around—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, you’ll not get any, I can tell you -that. And, furthermore, if I hear any more -such talk from you I’ll have you arrested.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“My father says—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I’ve heard enough. Don’t speak to me -again. A man who will depend upon a mule -<span class='pageno' id='Page_202'>202</span>for his loyalty don’t amount to much. Now -go away, and don’t let me see you again.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The quartermaster was very angry as he -turned away, and Newman stood and watched -him while he went on inspecting the wagons. -Then he took a chew of “nigger-twist,” shook -his head threateningly, and turned his steps -toward home.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You have heard enough, have you?” he -muttered, as he followed the blind path that -led through the woods toward the little shanty -under which his family found shelter. “Well, -I’ll bet you will hear more of it before to-morrow -night. If father don’t give you into -the hands of the rebels I will.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>When Newman arrived within sight of his -home he found his father sitting on the door-step -smoking his pipe, while his brother Dan -was stretched in a sunny spot where he could -enjoy the full benefit of the warmth without -going near the fire. His mother was engaged -in a lazy sort of way over a blaze which had -been started in the fireplace; that is to say, -she was sitting down and watching a pot that -had been set over the coals, while a dingy cob -<span class='pageno' id='Page_203'>203</span>pipe, like her husband’s, was tightly clasped -between her teeth. The house was a tumble-down -affair, and looked as though it was about -to come to pieces, with a dirt floor, and the -door beside which Mr. Newman was sitting -was minus a hinge near the top. The family -were all of them what might have been expected -by this description of their place of -abode. And the work, which might have -been accomplished by one man in three or -four days to make his house worth living in, -was not above Mr. Newman’s ability, for he -showed on his face that he had seen better -times. He had been wealthy once, but now -he had lost it, and was much too lazy to go to -work and earn more. That accounted for -Cale’s way of talking. He didn’t say “pap” -and “mam” unless he spoke before he -thought, for he considered himself better than -those with whom he associated. The raftsmen -used to say that if Mr. Newman’s work was -equal to his talk he would have a much better -house to live in.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, Cale, what’s the matter with you?” -inquired his father, as the new-comer approached -<span class='pageno' id='Page_204'>204</span>the place where they were sitting. -“You act as though you had lost your last -friend.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I want to tell you what has happened -down there in town, and see if you wouldn’t -look so, too,” said Cale, seating himself on -the ground. “I asked old Sprague and the -quartermaster—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Quartermaster nothing,” exclaimed Mr. -Newman. “Who gave him such an office as -that? He had the handling of the mules -and horses and would not give you one.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s just the way of it,” said Cale. -“Now, I want to know if such a thing is -right? He gave Tom Howe one and never -said nothing about it; but he wouldn’t give -me one for fear that I wouldn’t be on hand -when he was going out to capture the next -wagon-train.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No more would you,” said his mother, at -that moment appearing at the door to hear -what Cale had to say. “You ain’t on that -side. The South is going to whip, and you -don’t want to be beholden to those fellows for -anything.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_205'>205</span>“I told ’em if they would give me a muel -I would be just the loyalest fellow he ever -saw,” said Cale.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“The more shame to you,” said his mother, -angrily.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I don’t know about that,” chimed -in Mr. Newman. “If he could get a mule or -one of the horses he could fly around easy, -carrying dispatches and the like. He could -be here to-day and see what was going on, -and to-night he could get on his mule and -take the news down to the Confederates. -Wouldn’t he give you a mule?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, he wouldn’t, I tried Sprague and the -quartermaster, too, and they both threatened -to arrest me if I talked so any more.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I do think in my soul that they are -getting on a high horse,” said Mr. Newman, -taking the pipe from his mouth. “I’d like to -see them arrest you or anybody connected -with this family. Their old jail would stay -up about as long as I could get to it with an -axe.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s what I told ’em; and he said that -I mustn’t talk that way any more.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_206'>206</span>“Say,” said Dan, who had mustered up -energy enough to straighten up during this -talk and was now engaged in filling a cob pipe -with some nigger-twist, “you don’t suppose -that the men who were captured with that -wagon-train have gone on to Mobile, do you? -It seems to me that they ought to be back -here to-night or to-morrow. Them fellows -<a id='corr206.9'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='aint’t'>ain’t</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_206.9'><ins class='correction' title='aint’t'>ain’t</ins></a></span> a-going to stand still and let themselves -be robbed of half a million dollars’ worth.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Don’t I wish I had the stuff that’s in one -of them wagons!” exclaimed Cale. “There’s -grub enough to keep our jaws wagging for one -good solid year; and clothes! You just ought -to see the uniforms there is in there.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I came away before they got to inspecting -the wagons,” said Mr. Newman. “Somehow -I couldn’t manage to stay around and see the -clothes and things our fellows were going to -wear go to those lazy vagabonds.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>That was one reason why Mr. Newman -came away before the wagons were overhauled, -but the principal motive that governed him -was because he did not want to see others -saluted. His attention was first called to it -<span class='pageno' id='Page_207'>207</span>by the actions of Bud McCoy. Bud didn’t -care for anything, but he seemed to be carried -away by his Union sentiment, and once, when -he spoke to Mr. Sprague, he did it without -saluting; but he thought of it at once, and -came back and touched his hat to him.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I declare, Mr. Secretary of War, I almost -forgot my manners to you. I forgot that you -ain’t a plain raftsman any more.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Newman would have given a good deal -if he could have been saluted that way, and -because he was not, he didn’t care to stay -around where the crowd was.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Mr. Sprague let on that he didn’t want to -be saluted every time a man spoke to him, but -I know a story worth two of that,” said Mr. -Newman, getting upon his feet and pacing up -and down in front of his house. “I am better -able to hold that position than anybody else, -because I have seen more military than they -have. But no, they had to go and give it to -a man who don’t know a thing about it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s just what I told them,” said Cale.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And what did they say?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“They said I couldn’t have the muel.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_208'>208</span>“Well, now, if those fellows come back -here,” said Dan, “what’s the reason we can’t -help them get all the chief men of the county? -I am in it, for one.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Here, too,” said Cale.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You must be careful what you do,” said -Mr. Newman. “They have got sentries -posted down there, and you can’t get by them -without the countersign.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Then we’ll go below the bridge and swim -the creek,” said Dan. “If I go into this business -I shall go in all over.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“If you will do that you may be able to get -me the commission of Colonel of the Confederate -army,” said Mr. Newman. “I never -told you this before, but I shall ask that or -nothing.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“A colonel!” ejaculated Cale, with intense -enthusiasm. “Then you will have command. -He rides a horse, doesn’t he?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He certainly does, and he’s got a commission -backed by a government. He’s higher -than the President of the Jones-County Confederacy. -That’s the commission I am working -for.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_209'>209</span>One would not have thought that Mr. Newman -was working very hard for that commission -to have seen him at that moment. In -fact he did not seem to be working for anything. -He was sitting there perfectly quiet -and waiting for the commission to come to <a id='corr209.6'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='him'>him.</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_209.6'><ins class='correction' title='him'>him.</ins></a></span></p> - -<p class='c010'>“I tell you, boys, you must work hard for -that colonel’s shoulder-straps,” said Mrs. -Newman, taking her stand in the door with -her arms placed on her hips. “You won’t be -wearing no ragged clothes like you be now, -and I’ll have a silk dress to wear at all seasons. -You won’t catch me around cooking -as I am now. I’ll be a lady, and have a better -pipe than this to smoke.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And who knows but that father might get -us something?” said Dan. “I’ll bet if you -held old Sprague’s position you would give -me something besides a private in your -ranks.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s just what I am thinking of,” returned -Mrs. Newman. “Your father was -telling me about it last night. Of course he -would have a staff, and you two would come -in for two of the offices mighty handy. I tell -<span class='pageno' id='Page_210'>210</span>you you want to work hard. Your father -doesn’t seem to be able to do anything.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And what is the reason?” exclaimed Mr. -Newman, taking his pipe from his mouth with -one hand and extending the other toward his -wife. “Do you suppose I am going to run -down there among all that crowd and stand -all the risk of getting my neck stretched for -treachery? The boys can do what they please -and nobody will say a word to them; but let -me go down there and carry news of what has -been going on and you will see how long you -have got a husband to take care of you. It -ain’t safe for me to go there.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I didn’t think about your being hung,” -said Mrs. Newman, indifferently.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Of course that is what they are up to, and -they are thinking now how it could be done.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes,” exclaimed Cale, “they told me that -I had best go among the rebels, where I -belonged.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Don’t that prove what I said? I ain’t -going down there any more. But I want to -see them lock you up, if they dare do it. -That’s what I am aching for.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_211'>211</span>But Cale didn’t agree with his father’s -opinions in regard to locking him up, and he -secretly resolved that he wouldn’t say anything -more in the presence of the quartermaster -that would lead him to carry that resolution -into effect. His father filled his pipe and -sat down in his usual place in the doorway, -and Cale, following the motion of Dan’s head, -accompanied him around behind the house. -Mr. Newman didn’t care where they went or -what they did while they were gone. All he -thought of was the carrying out of Dan’s -proposition to surrender the head men of the -Jones-County Confederacy into the hands of -the enemy. It looked like a very small piece -of business for a father to put this into his -sons’ hands, but Mr. Newman thought he was -acting just right. The boys were gone half -an hour or more, and came back in time to get -something to eat. They sat down to their supper -in silence, and when they had got through -they put on their hats and left the house. -They didn’t take their dogs with them, and -that proved that they were not going after -wild hogs.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_212'>212</span>“You just let those boys alone,” said Mr. -Newman, looking down the path along which -they had gone with some satisfaction. “They -are going to get whatever they go for.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I think it would have been some honor -to you if you had gone in their place,” said -his wife. “Somehow it don’t seem right to -leave the capturing of so many men to boys.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, and run the risk of stretching hemp,” -replied Mr. Newman, indignantly. “Those -boys can be away from home as much as they -are a-mind to and nobody will say a word; -but if I go down to where the men are and -find out something about them they would -know in a minute if I wasn’t at home, like I -had oughter be. And I don’t want them to -ask that question. Let the boys go on. We’ll -have some of them men arrested the first thing -you know.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But how are they going to arrest them? -Are they going to come here and take them?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No; it will be in a fight, likely.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And where will you be when the fight -comes off?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, I’ll be around somewhere. You look -<span class='pageno' id='Page_213'>213</span>out for yourself and let your husband look -out for himself. That’s the way to do it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I wish we had a muel to ride,” said Dan, -as they trudged through the woods toward the -creek. “Somehow it puts me on nettles to -walk. Now that Tom Howe has got a muel -I don’t see why we can’t have one. We ought -to have gone with them men that captured -that train.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But we had no guns,” said Cale.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, but we would soon have had them. -There’s lots of guns in the President’s headquarters -that haven’t got any owners. Tom -didn’t have a muel, and now he’s got one.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And that’s what comes of touching his hat -to those civilians,” said Cale, in disgust. “I -bet you I wouldn’t do it. Why didn’t they -give father a position like he ought to have -had? We would have had muels by this -time.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“It’s my opinion that father has got his -foot in it,” said Dan, with a knowing shake -of his head. “He has said all along that the -South was going to whip, and old Sprague -and the other men don’t like it. <a id='corr214.25'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='“I’ll'>I’ll</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_214.25'><ins class='correction' title='“I’ll'>I’ll</ins></a></span> bet -<span class='pageno' id='Page_214'>214</span>you that if the truth was known half of them -are on our side.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>This was the substance of the conversation -that passed between Dan and Cale on their -way to the creek. Boys as they were, they -had every reason to believe that one county -could not stand against the whole Southern -Confederacy, that the Union men in the -county were going to be easily whipped out, -and they wanted to be on the winning side. -Perhaps there was a little hope of plunder -mixed in with it, as Cale finally said:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I’ll tell you what, Dan: I don’t like the -way that young Sprague had of throwing on -style to-day. He rode up on that colt of his -and saluted the old man as if he were the -owner of the State. I’d like to have him go -afoot for awhile and let me ride on that -horse.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, he’ll have to do it,” returned Dan. -“But he’s got some other things that I’d like -to have—his revolver, for instance.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Before long it began to grow dark, but the -gloom that settled over the woods did not interfere -with the movements of these backwoodsmen. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_215'>215</span>They kept straight ahead as -though it had been broad daylight, and finally -arrived on the banks of the creek. Without -saying a word they threw off their clothes -and prepared to plunge into the stream. If -they had known as much as Leon did they -would have looked for that ford which was but -a short distance from the place where they -swam the creek. The water was somewhat -cold, but they took it bravely, and in a few -minutes more stood on the opposite side.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That Leon is going to have a colder place -than this,” said Dan, as he shiveringly put on -his clothes. “I do wish they would turn him -and Tom over to us.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What would you do with him?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I’d make him swim this creek.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Perhaps he wouldn’t do it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He wouldn’t, eh? Wait until he sees his -revolver looking him squarely in the face. I -bet you he would go. Now, we want to be -still, for we don’t know how close those sentries -are to us. We must keep mum and make -as little noise as possible in going through the -woods until we find out where they are.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_216'>216</span>Cale was now perfectly willing that Dan -should take the lead, for as they were getting -pretty close to armed men he did not want -to be the first to draw their fire; so he -gradually fell behind, while Dan made his -way through the bushes with an ease and -celerity that was astonishing. He scarcely -caused a twig to rustle. The experience -which the boys had in hunting wild hogs -stood them well in stead. Finally Dan -pushed aside the bushes and saw the road -fairly before him. There was nothing on it -as far as he could see, and the bridge seemed -to be empty.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Somebody has been fooled in regard to -those sentinels,” said Dan.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Go out in the road,” said Cale. “You -can’t see anything from here.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Dan went, but had scarcely got clear of the -bushes when a voice called out, in a surprised -tone:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Halt!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“By gum, I guess you found something,” -whispered Cale. “You had better be <a id='corr216.24'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='geting'>getting</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_216.24'><ins class='correction' title='geting'>getting</ins></a></span> -out of there.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_217'>217</span>Dan waited to hear no more. He drew a -bee-line for the bushes, and in a moment more -was threading his way noisely through them. -When he had gone a little ways he stopped -and said to his brother:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I didn’t see anybody there.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, but they are there, and they saw you,” -said Cale, who was greatly excited. “Now, -what’s to be done? I wish that cavalry would -come along now, and we would have those -sentinels took in out of the wet. I hope they -did not see you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Nor me. I wouldn’t dare go back home -again. Let’s sit down here a spell.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I—I believe I would rather go a little -further away,” said Cale. “Suppose some -officer should come along the road?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Dan answered this question by seating himself -on the nearest log and resting his chin -on his hands. He wasn’t going any further, -and Cale, rather than be left alone in the -woods, took a place by his side. They stayed -there for a quarter of an hour without saying -a word, except Cale, who wished they had -a gun, so that they could tumble the officer -<span class='pageno' id='Page_218'>218</span>over when he came along to see where they -went, and then they heard another challenge -to halt from the sentinel on the bridge.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There, now, I’ll bet there is somebody -else coming,” said Cale, his excitement and -fear increasing tenfold.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, he didn’t come by here,” said Dan, -who sat where he could see everybody who -passed along the road.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, but he came from Ellisville. Who -knows but there was someone there watching -our house, and who saw us when we came -away?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s so,” said Dan, but he didn’t seem -to be much worried by it.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, now, I say let’s go a little further -back.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>But Dan kept his seat with his eyes fixed -upon the road, and while his brother was trying -to make up his mind whether or not he -ought to leave him they heard the clatter of -horses’ hoofs on the bridge, and even Dan -began to prick his ears. It was a small party -of horsemen who were coming directly along -the road of which he kept watch. They -<span class='pageno' id='Page_219'>219</span>were walking their horses, and that made -the spies eager to escape observation. Dan -stretched himself out at full length in the -bushes, his example being promptly followed -by Cale, and in a few minutes the horsemen -rode by; but they saw nothing to excite their -suspicions, and in a few seconds more they -passed out of hearing.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Don’t I wish I had a gun!” exclaimed -Dan, raising himself on his knees and going -through all the motions he would make in -covering the horsemen.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Who was it?” asked Cale.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“It was Leon, that worthless Tom Howe, -and that rebel fellow that they have been -running with since yesterday,” said Dan. -“Now I wish your squad of cavalry would -come along. But you see we hain’t got no -guns, and each one of them has got a six-shooter.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Cale had never been more astonished in his -life.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_220'>220</span> - <h2 class='c008'>CHAPTER XI. <br /> <span class='small'>MR. DAWSON’S STRATEGY.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c009'>“Yes, sir, I wish I had a gun in my -hands,” said Dan, rising to his feet -and gazing down the road in the direction in -which the horsemen had disappeared. “I -could have tumbled that Leon Sprague off -his horse just as easy as not. And I might -have had if there had been any way for me -to earn it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>There had been plenty of ways for him to -earn a gun, or, for the matter of that, some -better clothes than he wore, if it had not been -for his disinclination to work. He could have -gone into the woods almost any time and -made a man’s wages by chopping, but that -was niggers’ work and a little too low down -for him. Mr. Newman and his boys had tried -it once, but the men who had charge of them -were so cross and snappish, and wanted them -<span class='pageno' id='Page_221'>221</span>to do so much more work than they did, that -they could no longer stand it. At the end of -three days they came home with their axes, -put them up in a corner, and vowed that they -would hunt wild hogs with their dogs and -stick them with their knives rather than work -under such task-masters. And if their father -wouldn’t do it they might be sure that the -boys would not, for Dan and Cale looked for -better times without doing a thing to bring -them about. They preferred to be idle—they -were squatters; even the ground their house -was built upon did not belong to them—and -whenever anybody came near losing his life, -as Tom Howe had come near losing his during -the last spring drive, it pleased them wonderfully. -That little episode added to their -enmity against Leon Sprague. According to -their belief, Leon ought to have stood on a log -and seen him go under.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I didn’t see anybody go by,” said Cale.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I don’t suppose you did,” said Dan, with -something like a sneer. “You are like an -ostrich. Whenever they get frightened they -hide their heads and think their body can’t -<span class='pageno' id='Page_222'>222</span>be seen. Now let’s go down this way a little -further, and then we’ll lay in the bushes and -see what’s going to happen.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What do you suppose that rebel fellow -has come out here with Leon for?” said Cale. -“Has he got any relatives or things down -here that he is going after?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s just what’s a-bothering of me. I -don’t know, but we can watch and find out. -Now we’ll wait until they come back,” said -Dan, picking out a comfortable seat for himself -against a tree where the bushes were so -thick that one might have passed within five -feet of him without knowing that he was -there. “He’s a rebel, he deserted to the -enemy with a uniform on, and if we see some -Confederates come along here we will tell -them where he is.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But we don’t know where he is,” said -Cale, looking around to find an easy spot to -sit down.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, the rebels can easy watch here until -he comes back,” retorted his brother. “What’s -there to hinder them from jumping out on -him and taking him and all that he’s got into -<span class='pageno' id='Page_223'>223</span>the bargain? Now, I like, when I am sitting -down in this way, to talk about what I am -going to do with those things we are going to -take away from Leon. I speak for his revolver.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>This started Cale off on a new subject, and -it wasn’t long before he forgot that there were -armed men within less than a quarter of a -mile from him. If Leon and Tom could have -been dealt with as these young backwoodsmen -wanted them to be it wouldn’t be long before -they would have changed places. They probably -passed an hour in talking over their -various plans, and then they were brought to -an abrupt silence by the sound of horses’ -hoofs upon the road. The men had been advancing -so cautiously that they were close -upon them before they knew it. Cale, whose -greatest care was to keep out of sight, at once -stretched himself at full length in the bushes, -while Dan, who wanted to see who the men were, -raised himself to his full height and looked -over the thicket. What he saw was about a -dozen men, all on horseback, and noted, too, -that they were all dressed in Confederate uniform; -<span class='pageno' id='Page_224'>224</span>but one thing that astonished him was -a revolver that was pointed straight at his -head. The leader of the horsemen was an -old soldier, and he could not be taken -unawares.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Halloo! By George, there’s a Yank,” he -exclaimed. “Come out of that.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Dan was thunderstruck. He had never -expected to be greeted this way by his friends, -and for a moment or two he stood with his -hands down by his side unable to move or -speak; while Cale, uttering a smothered ejaculation, -began to worm his way out of the -bushes on his belly.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Hold on! There are two of you there, -and if you move another hair I will cut loose -on you!” shouted the leader; and to show that -he was in earnest he turned his horse and -rode into the woods. His men were with him, -and when Dan cleared his eyes of a mist that -seemed to obstruct their vision he found that -there were half a dozen revolvers looking at -him. “We’ve got you and you might as -well come out. Where do you belong?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Are you Confederates?” stammered Dan.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_225'>225</span>“Of course we are. What did you take us -for? Come out of that.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, now, if you are Confederates you -want to turn those weapons the other way,” -said Dan, growing bolder when he heard his -own voice. “I am as good a Confederate as -you are.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, well, then, it is all right. Come out -here on the road so that we can talk to you. -Get up there, you fellow lying in those -bushes. You needn’t think we are going to -hurt you. Now, then, what do you know? -Have you seen any Confederates around here -to-day?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, I haven’t. But say,” added Dan, -who had by this time taken up his stand in -the road and grew bolder when he saw that -none of the soldiers addressed him by name, -“you want to get all the head men of Jones -county in your hands, don’t you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I should say so,” exclaimed the -leader, showing more enthusiasm than he had -thus far exhibited. “Can you put me in the -way of getting my hands onto them?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“How much will you give?” said Dan.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_226'>226</span>“How much will I give?” asked the leader, -as if he did not quite catch Dan’s meaning.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes. My father had some talk with you -fellows about it, and he says he is working for -a colonel’s commission. He won’t work for -any less. Now, you can afford to give me -captain and my brother here lieutenant, can’t -you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The captain, for that’s who he was, was -taken aback by this bold declaration on the -part of Dan. He looked hard at him to see -if he was in earnest, and then looked around -at his men. There was one present, a lieutenant, -who evidently measured Dan by his -own estimate, for he said:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I was there and heard all about it, Captain. -We had a long talk with the old man—what’s -your father’s name?” he added, bending -down from his saddle and trying to get a -glimpse of Dan’s face.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“His name is Newman,” said Dan.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And yours?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dan; and this is my brother, Cale Newman. -We are two good Confederates, dyed in -the wool.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_227'>227</span>“I know you are, for I recognize the name. -We had a long talk with Mr. Newman about -it, and we agreed to give him a colonel’s position -if he would put us in the way of getting -the chief men of Jones county into our -hands. Now, Captain, you can afford to give -two such little offices as he wants in return -for his services.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, yes, of course,” said the captain, -who fell in at once with his lieutenant’s ruse. -“You see, Captain—I want all of you men -hereafter to address this man as captain and -his brother as lieutenant—do you hear?” he -added, turning to his squad; and a responsive -“Yes, sir,” came from all the men; although -candor compels us to say that some of them -wanted to laugh. Some of them looked back -down the road, and others had something to -to do with fixing their feet in their stirrups.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Thank-ee, Captain; thank-ee,” said Dan, -who didn’t know whether he was awake or -dreaming. “Just give us a horse apiece and -a gun, and we will lead you against those -men any day.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Cale Newman scarcely believed he had heard -<span class='pageno' id='Page_228'>228</span>aright. He knew more about military matters -than his brother did, and he did not know -that an officer had a right to promote one to -his own rank without going first through -some preliminary steps. He listened in a -dazed sort of way to the conference between -the leader of the squad and Dan, but as no one -spoke to him and addressed him as “lieutenant,” -he did not know whether he was an officer -or not. At any rate, he decided to get -home before he built any hopes upon it. His -father had “seen some military” (although -where he saw it, it would be hard to tell, unless -he had seen some military companies -march along the street), and he would know -whether or not everything was just as it -should be.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You see, Captain, I was not with my officers -when they talked this matter over with -your father, and consequently I didn’t know -anything about it,” said the leader of the -squad. “However, I am glad to be set right -on the matter. You spoke of surrendering -the chief men into our hands; now, how are -you going to do it?”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_229'>229</span>“I will tell you where you can get one of -them right here,” said Dan. “Leon Sprague -has gone down the road with a rebel fellow -that he has been running with since yesterday—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“A rebel fellow?” interrupted the captain, -in astonishment. “Have any of our men deserted -to you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, yes; there’s lots of them. We had -1498 men when this war broke out,” replied -Dan, copying what he had often heard his -father say, “and now we have a thousand -fighting men camped right up this road.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I declare,” said the captain, turning -to his lieutenant. “We came within an ace -of getting right in the midst of it. They are -camping right up this road, you say?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes; and they stole a big lot of provisions -from you yesterday.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We know that, dog-gone them!” said the -captain. “We have come up here to see -about those provisions. Do you know where -they are?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“The most of them have been hauled to -the swamp.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_230'>230</span>“There!” said the lieutenant. “Then it is -of no use to go any further. If those goods -have been taken to the swamp they are lost -to us.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I confess it does look that way. Now, -about this rebel fellow who has just gone off. -What is he going after; do you know?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He may be out scouting, the same as you -are,” replied Dan.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And he takes a couple of green boys to -help him scout the same as we are?” exclaimed -the captain. “I guess not. He’s got some -friends down here, and he wants to get them -on the other side of the line. Do you know -where this boy lives or what he is?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We can easy catch him as we go back,” -said the lieutenant. “And in the meantime I -would suggest to you the propriety of going -up and finding out for ourselves the number -of pickets they have placed at the bridge. I -believe you said there were some there?” he -continued, turning to Dan.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There’s a whole pile of them,” answered -Dan. “We didn’t see them ourselves, because -we swum the creek; but when we got over -<span class='pageno' id='Page_231'>231</span>here I went out to see if I could see anything -of the sentinels, and they saw and halted me.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But you didn’t go in, did you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Not much I didn’t. I took leg bail, and -got into the woods. You see the men up -there are acquainted with us, and if they got -us they would make us stretch hemp.” Another -quotation from his father.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, we shall have to ask you to stay -here until we come back,” said the captain. -“We shan’t be gone but a little while. Forward, -and hold your sabres in so that they -won’t hit against your heels.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The two boys stood there in the road and -saw them ride around the first bend, and they -went so silent and still that one who didn’t -know they were there would not have suspected -anything. As soon as they were out -of hearing Dan showed off a little of the enthusiasm -that was in him.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Captain! Captain Dan Newman!” said he, -with a violent attempt to refrain from giving -a wild hurrah. “And I never was in the -army in my life! And you are a lieutenant, -Cale. But you don’t seem to think much of it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_232'>232</span>“The fact is, I don’t know whether I am -an officer or not,” replied Cale, looking down -at the ground. “I don’t believe that officer had -any right to promote us.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I declare, you are a dunce,” said his -brother, more than half inclined to get angry -with him. “Didn’t you hear what the officer -said to his men—‘I want you all to address -him as captain and his brother as lieutenant’—I -tell you that’s enough for me.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But this officer was a captain.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No matter for that.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And I don’t believe that he had a right to -promote you to the same rank as himself. -They don’t do business like that in Jones -county.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What way?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, the President has something to do -with it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Somebody has been stuffing you. Of -course they don’t do business that way in -Jones county; but these men are in the -service, and of course they know what’s -right.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I am going to wait until I see -<span class='pageno' id='Page_233'>233</span>father, and if he tells me that I am an officer, -why I’ll have to believe it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>This was a new thing to Dan, and he did -not say any more. He supposed that the next -thing was to be ordered to Mobile, where his -uniform, a horse and weapons would be given -him, and after that he would be at liberty to -take command of a body of scouts the same as -this captain had done; but now he began to -look at it in a different light.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I’ll tell you what is the matter with you,” -said Cale, after thinking the matter over. “It -all comes of your wanting father to get that -commission as colonel.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Hasn’t he got a right to it, I’d like to -know?” retorted Dan. “He said he wouldn’t -work for any less.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I know, but they didn’t tell him that they -would give him that commission. He told us -that he was working for it; and here the -rebs have gone and got on your blind side—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Whoop!” yelled Dan, his anger getting -the start of him; and with the word he kicked -out savagely at his brother, who was just a -little bit too quick for him. He slipped out -<span class='pageno' id='Page_234'>234</span>of the way, and Dan’s momentum took him -around on one foot and finally seated him -rather roughly on the ground.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That shows that you don’t believe it more -than I do,” said Cale. “Heavens and earth! -What’s that?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>It was fortunate that something happened -to turn Dan’s mind from all thoughts of revenge, -for just then there was a rapid fusillade -of carbines heard up the road. Dan picked -himself up, and before he could answer there -came another report of rifles in reply to the -first, and they were so accurately aimed that -some of the bullets passed through the -branches above their heads. The first alarm -was given by the rebels, who wanted to see -how many men there were at the bridge. -They had halted a little ways from the creek, -leaving two men to hold their horses, and -crept up on the unconscious sentinel and -brought him bleeding to the ground. A -moment later they became aware that the -pickets at the bridge were too strong to be -carried by the small force they had at their -command, for the answering volleys that came -<span class='pageno' id='Page_235'>235</span>across the creek—they came thick and fast, -too—showed them that the insurgents of -Jones county had taken ample precautions. -It demonstrated another point to their satisfaction: -it showed them that they knew how -to fight.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“They are shooting at us!” cried Cale, who -straightway dove into the bushes.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Dan stood there in the road and didn’t -know what to do. While he was considering -the matter the firing ceased, and then all was -still. He stood there for a long time, half an -hour, it seemed to him, and then he heard the -sound of horses’ hoofs coming from the direction -of the bridge, and in a few minutes the -Confederates rode up.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Did you hit any of them?” inquired Dan.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We hit one that we know of, and that was -the sentry,” said the captain. “We filled him -so full of holes that he never will hold that -position again. Now we will go on and report -that they have got sentries at the bridge. I’ll -look into all the houses as I go by, and if that -rebel fellow is about I’ll have him, sure.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, now, look here,” said Dan, who -<span class='pageno' id='Page_236'>236</span>began to think now that there was some truth -in what his brother told him. “What be I -going to do?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You? Oh, yes. We shall want you to -stay here, so as to be on hand, you know, the -next time we come out after the Yanks. You -will be right here when we want you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No. I live all of twelve miles from here, -and how will I know when you are coming? -Couldn’t you take me on to Mobile with -you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, of what use would you be there?” -answered the captain, speaking before he -thought. “Why—you see,” he added, on -receiving a nudge from his lieutenant, “your -company isn’t ready for you to command it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Couldn’t you take me on your staff?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, you see, I don’t have a staff,” said -the leader, struggling hard to keep from -laughing outright. “I’ll speak to the colonel -about you as soon as I get back. Good-bye. -Forward!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Of all things I ever heard of this is the -beat,” thought Dan, as he stood there and -watched the men out of sight. “If I am a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_237'>237</span>captain, I do not see what’s the reason my -company isn’t ready for me to command it. I -guess I have made a botch of this business. -Well, Cale,” he added, aloud, “let’s catch up -and go home. And Cale, I won’t say anything -to the old man about this.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I reckon I wouldn’t if I was in your -place,” said Cale.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No; but I will depend upon you to do it -for me,” continued Dan, coaxingly. “You -can repeat what the captain said to us without -mentioning any names, can’t you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I suppose so.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And all the while I will listen and be as -earnest as you for disbelieving it,” said Dan. -“In that way we will get at the truth of the -matter. But I do say that I think that that -captain was up to mighty mean business. I -reckon he’ll find somebody else that he wants -to promote in the same way, and I wish I -could be there to whisper a word or two in -his ear.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Cale followed along behind his brother as -he bent his steps toward home, swam the -creek, and just at daylight arrived within -<span class='pageno' id='Page_238'>238</span>sight of his dilapidated shelter. His father -was up, and a smoke lazily ascended from the -chimney.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, boys, what luck?” he exclaimed, -when his eyes fell upon the two weary tramps -coming toward him. “Did you see any -rebels?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Dan borrowed his father’s plug of nigger-twist, -and Cale hunted up his pipe before -either of them replied. Dan cut off a generous -chew, and then seated himself on the -doorstep.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You have been gone a long time,” continued -Mr. Newman, “and I think you must -have seen something. Did you capture any -of the head men of the county?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No,” replied Dan. “We saw some Confederates, -but they wouldn’t go after them.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, how was that?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Dan began and told his story just as it -happened, and the old man became so interested -that he allowed his pipe to go out. He -told about his meeting with the Confederates, -described the conversation they had with -them, all except the promotion, told about the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_239'>239</span>firing on the pickets, and that they went back -to report that they had found sentries at the -bridge.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And didn’t they charge across the bridge -and capture those pickets?” exclaimed Mr. -Newman, in disgust.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“They didn’t make nary charge that we -heard of,” replied Dan. “They said they -would go back and report it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, if that ain’t a pretty way to do -business I don’t want a cent. They ought to -have a couple of thousand men behind them; -then they could have captured the sentries, -and come on up here and gobbled these -men.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>It was now Cale’s turn to try his hand.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Father,” said he, “has a captain any right -to promote a man to the same rank as himself?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No,” said his father. “What made you -ask that question?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, I was just thinking about it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“The captain has a right to watch his men -in action, and if he sees them doing any brave -act he reports it to the colonel,” said Mr. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_240'>240</span>Newman. “But he has no authority to promote -them himself.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The boys were satisfied. Cale stretched -himself out upon his shake-down and dropped -off into a dreamless slumber, while Dan threw -out his tobacco, filled a pipe with nigger-twist, -and sat down and thought about it. There -was one thing he did not neglect to do. While -he was lost in dreaming of the glory that -might have been his if his promotion had -been according to law, he did not forget to -vow vengeance upon the captain who had -presumed to play upon his credulity in that -outrageous way.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I know just how he looks,” soliloquized -Dan, “and if it ever comes in my way to do -him a mean act he’ll see how quick I’ll take -him up. But that promotion is what gets me. -How fine that old fellow looked in his high-topped -boots, slouch hat, and gloves that came -up to his elbows! Never mind. I’ll see the -day when I will be better off than any of -them.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Meanwhile there was one soldier in the -captain’s ranks who would have given everything -<span class='pageno' id='Page_241'>241</span>he possessed to have been able to have -pulled out his revolver and shot Dan down -when he talked about “that rebel fellow” -who had gone off with a couple of Yanks. -He well knew what had brought him out -there. He was Mr. Dawson, and the boy who -had escaped at the time the wagon-train was -captured was his son. The boy had lived up -to his agreement, and was now paving the -way to take his mother and younger brothers -inside the Federal lines in Jones county.</p> - -<p class='c010'>We have said that Mr. Dawson came out -and spoke to the two men who had come into -the yard with him, and they went on, while -Mr. Dawson himself came toward the corn-crib, -behind which he knew his boy was concealed. -He was after a saddle, for his own, -together with his horse and weapons, had been -taken by the Jones county men when they -captured the train. He had seen his boy go -off into the bushes and drew a long breath of -relief, for he knew that his troubles were -ended. He obtained the saddle, placed it on -the old clay-bank which had been given to -him to replace the horse he had lost, and rode -<span class='pageno' id='Page_242'>242</span>on and overtook the line just after they had -made a capture of Cale and Dan Newman. -He was in something of a scrape, because if -either of the boys saw or recognized him -they might have mistrusted something. So -he sat there on his mule, and heard what Dan -had to say about that “rebel fellow,” but no -one thought of connecting him with it. They -supposed that young Dawson was somewhere in -Mobile, and that they would find him there -when they got back.</p> - -<p class='c010'>The captain went into all the houses as he -went along, but without finding any preparations -for hurried departure. The women came -to the doors as fast as they could find some -clothing to put on, obediently struck a light in -response to the captain’s request, and then he -departed with a slight apology for his intrusion. -One garrulous old woman followed him -to the door and inquired:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What did you-uns think you wanted to -find, anyway?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I just wanted to see if any of your men folks -had been at home packing up goods to take -them into the Yankee lines,” said the captain.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_243'>243</span>“Sho! My men folks been in the Conf’drit -army before you was born. They ain’t seed -nuthing to make ’em desert yit.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Finally they reached the house where Mr. -Dawson lived, and he noticed one thing that -attracted his attention at once. There was -but a single dog to welcome him, and he was -tied up back of the house. All the others -had gone off somewhere. As the lieutenant -reined his horse up close to the pin the captain -turned about and said:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, this is the place where one of you -men live, isn’t it? You came in here after a -saddle, didn’t you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, sir,” replied a voice from somewhere -in the line.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Your boy is in the service, too. You -don’t suppose that he has deserted, do -you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, he went off into the woods, and I -haven’t seen him since. You can go in and -see for yourself, sir.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Seeing is believing. It will not take but -a minute.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The captain dismounted from his horse and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_244'>244</span>pounded loudly upon the closed door, but met -with no response. Then he pushed open the -door and entered the house. By the flickering -light that was thrown out by the fire that was -blazing on the hearth the lieutenant found a -candle, and when he had struck a light a -scene of the greatest confusion was presented. -The bureau drawers were all thrown every -which way, and when they made their way to -the sleeping-room, not a vestige of clothing -was there on the bed.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Gee-whizz!” shouted the captain. “Here’s -where one of those fellows has been. Arrest -that man out there—the one riding the clay-bank -mule.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The men outside began riding about the -house, but no such man could be found. They -saw the place where the solitary hound had -been confined, but he was gone, and the man -on the clay-bank mule had disappeared.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Don’t you find him anywhere?” shouted -the captain, coming out of the door in great -excitement.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, sir. He has skipped,” exclaimed one -of the men.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_245'>245</span>“He’s gone off this way,” shouted another. -“I hear somebody going through the field.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Take after him, the last mother’s son of -you!” commanded the captain. “And remember -and don’t come back without him. I tell -you I’ll get fits for this, going out on a scout -and letting one of my men desert under my -very eyes!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>In an instant the captain and all his men -were in hot pursuit of the horseman whose -hoof-beats could just be heard. The chase led -through a wide cotton-field, with a high fence -at the other end, but the horseman, whoever -he was, had a long start and seemed determined -to make the most of it. Toward the fence he -held, the men scattering out so as to head him -off when he got there, and finally the captain, -who rode a splendid horse, got near enough to -the object he was pursuing to see that it was a -clay-bank mule.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Halt!” he shouted. “We’ve got you, and -you might as well give up. If you don’t we’ll -leave you right here for the buzzards to eat. -Halt, I say.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Still there was no response, and the mule -<span class='pageno' id='Page_246'>246</span>kept on as fast as ever. The captain began -to get angry, and he drew his sabre, intending -to cut the man down when he got within -reach of him; but just then they came within -reach of the fence, and the mule turned and -ran alongside of it. That brought him within -reach of the captain’s vision (it was so dark -that they couldn’t see the man on the mule’s -back), and the officer, after taking a look or -two at the mule, drew up his horse.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Gee-whiz!” he shouted, making use of -his favorite expression; “we have been chasing -that clay-bank mule, but where’s the man -on her? The mule was going home but the -man’s got off. Catch him, men, and then -we’ll go back and hunt for somebody else who -is hidden somewhere in the bushes.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The captain was mortified in the extreme, -and no doubt he was a little suspicious. At -any rate, he was certain that he heard one or -two of his men giggling softly to themselves. -The idea of halting a clay-bank mule and telling -him that if he didn’t give some heed to it -he would leave him there for the buzzards to -eat was almost too much for them.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_247'>247</span> - <h2 class='c008'>CHAPTER XII. <br /> <span class='small'>THE REBELS TAKE REVENGE.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c009'>“Robert,” whispered a voice close to -the crack where the chinking had -fallen out, “is that you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“For goodness’ sake turn that revolver the -other way, Leon!” exclaimed Dawson, so full -of excitement that he could scarcely speak -plainly. “It is my father, and if you kill -him I am gone up. What is it, pap?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You got away, didn’t you?” continued -the voice, and one would have thought there -was a slight chuckle mingled with it, “and -you have come here to take your mother over -into Jones county.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You’re right, I have,” returned Dawson, -gleefully, “and you are here to help us. I’ve -got two Yanks here with me, and they are -just as good as they make them.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_248'>248</span>“I thought I heard you mention Leon’s -name. Is it Leon Sprague?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, sir,” returned the owner of that -name. “I am here and ready to assist him -in any way I can.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I am glad to see you here,” continued Mr. -Dawson, “for I shall know that we are going -to stand some show.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, father, what shall I do first?” asked -Dawson, who was impatient to get to work.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Hitch the first two mules you can get to -that wagon, and by the time you have done -that your mother will be ready for you. Leave -one dog behind you, so that I can readily follow -your trail.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, are you not going to stay, too?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No; I must go on with the squad, and run -my risk of getting away afterward,” replied -Mr. Dawson. “I will be missed if I don’t go -with them, and I want you and your mother -to get a good start. Be lively, and work as -hard as you can, for I don’t know when we -shall be back.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What shall I do after I get the mules -hitched up?” asked Dawson. “Will it be -<span class='pageno' id='Page_249'>249</span>safe for me to drive around in front of the -house?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You can go where you please. There will -be nobody to bother you. Keep up a good -heart till I come.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The man went off to get his saddle, which -hung in a remote corner, and Dawson kept a -close watch on him as long as he remained in -the crib. Leon couldn’t help thinking how -coolly father and son went about escaping -from serving under the flag they didn’t like. -If they made a success of it, well and good; -if they failed, it was certain death to the one -of them that happened to be caught. What -would Leon’s own mother have said if she -could have seen him at that moment? When -Mr. Dawson got his saddle and turned to go -out he waved his hand toward the crack as a -farewell signal, and that brought the first long -breath from the young fellow at Leon’s side. -It was plain now that all the nonsense was -gone out of him.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There goes the best father that any fellow -ever had,” said Dawson. “He is plucky, too, -and when he next joins us he won’t come so -<span class='pageno' id='Page_250'>250</span>still. He’ll have all that crowd after him. -But now I must get to work,” he added, -brightening up. “You fellows can help me -by staying right here and watching these animals, -so that they won’t arouse the whole -neighborhood, while I get the team ready.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why don’t you let one or the other of us -go with you?” asked Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You’ll only be in the way; and, besides, I -have got plenty of negroes out there to help.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Dawson went away, and although the boys -who were watching the animals caught sight -of him once in a while through the cracks, it -was fully half an hour before he came back. -Then he had the team, which an old negro -was driving, and the wagon was loaded so full -that there did not seem to be room for so -much as a skillet anywhere about it. Safely -perched among the feather-beds was his -mother, and she was having as much as she -could do to keep the children quiet. On the -end-board in front was Cuff, who was talking -to his mules in a quiet sort of way, and it was -astonishing how much speed he got out of -them. Following along behind the wagon -<span class='pageno' id='Page_251'>251</span>were ten or fifteen negroes, who wished her -every success in her journey and promised to -come to her on the following day. The dogs -were there, too, all except the one that had -been tied behind the house, and they seemed -to think they were going off on a pleasure -trip.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, then,” said Dawson, taking his -bridle from Leon’s hand and mounting his -horse, “you darkies have followed us far -enough. Go back now and go to bed, and -remember and don’t come out of your house -again to-night, no matter how much noise is -made here. Leave that dog tied up. Father -wants him to follow our trail by. Good-bye. -Now, Cuff, whip up. We don’t want to stay -around here any longer. Mother, take a good -look at your home, for it is your last chance -to see it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, Robert, I will see it in my dreams, -anyway,” replied his mother, who was almost -heart-broken at the idea of separating herself -for so long a time from all her associations. -“If your father only comes up with me I shall -be satisfied.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_252'>252</span>“What do you think of that, Leon?” asked -Dawson, as the wagon passed on out of hearing. -“These rebels want killing. Father -brought my mother to that house when he -first married her, and we have lived there ever -since. I am going to shoot every rebel that -comes in my way.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon did not know what reply to make to -this. It was probable that his own mother -might be obliged to leave her home in the same -way, and he didn’t know how he would feel -if she were turned loose in the world. It was -no wonder, he thought, that Union men -should talk of killing every rebel that came -within reach. He knew he would feel so, too.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There is one thing about it,” said Dawson, -with something that sounded like a sigh. -“A woman has more pluck than a man to -stand under such things. I never believed so -until to-night.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The road they intended to take had evidently -been explained to Cuff before they -started, for he took to the lane that led through -the cotton-fields, and he kept his mules on a -keen trot all the way. Dawson didn’t go so -<span class='pageno' id='Page_253'>253</span>fast. He allowed the wagon to gradually get -ahead of him, in order to cover their retreat, -and of course the boys stayed behind with -him. When they arrived at the cover of the -woods Cuff turned into it, and in a few moments -more was out of sight, while Dawson -turned his horse into a fence-corner and dismounted.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, we will wait here for father,” said he.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Where’s your wagon?” asked Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“They are going on ahead toward the -bridge. Taken in connection with those -pickets I saw there they will get across, too, -because I believe they would turn out to help -us. Now, if you see that squad coming back -along the road, just hold your breath. Father -is with that crowd.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon had never known what excitement -was before. He tried to take it coolly, as -Dawson did, but did not succeed very well. -He threw the bridle off his horse’s neck and -placed it around his arm, leaned on the top -rail of the fence and kept watch of the road, -and all the while he kept thinking how he -would have felt if his father had been with -<span class='pageno' id='Page_254'>254</span>that squad of Confederates and watching for -a chance to escape. Tom Howe took it philosophically, -as Dawson did. He had a mother -to worry over him, but all he cared for was -the successful outcome of Dawson’s scheme. -The baying of the lonely hound came faintly -to their ears, but with the exception of that, -silence reigned unbroken. They stood leaning -on the fence, watching first the house -and then allowing their eyes to roam as far -down the road as they could reach, and finally -Tom broke the stillness.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I see some fellows away off in that direction,” -said he, pointing with his finger to -direct the attention of his comrades, “who are -coming along this way. There’s a whole body -of them, too.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“The time is coming,” said Dawson, after -he had taken a look at the advancing horsemen. -“We’ll know in a minute what’s going -to happen.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>After that all was still again. The three -boys stood there in the fence-corner and -watched the men when they rode into the -yard, and in a few minutes the baying of the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_255'>255</span>hound ceased. Judging from the distance they -were from the scene, there was a fearful commotion -in the house. Men were seen riding -rapidly about, a faint voice like a command -came to their ears, and the squad suddenly -vanished from view.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Father has the start of them at last,” exclaimed -Dawson, so excited and nervous that -he could not stand still.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, how do you make that out?” asked -Leon. “You must have an owl’s eyes, for I -can’t see anything from here.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Neither can I; but he is doing just what -I would have done if I had been in his place. -You don’t hear the hound any longer, do -you? Well, you just wait until father comes -up and he will tell you that the men are -chasing a riderless mule.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon began to understand the matter now, and -he was utterly amazed at the strategy the man -had used. He had dismounted from his clay-bank, -given him a tremendous dig from some -weapon or other he had in his hand, knowing -that the mule would go home before he would -go anywhere else, unloosed the dog, which -<span class='pageno' id='Page_256'>256</span>showed him the way down the lane, and he -was now coming that way with the speed of -the wind. His pursuers had gone on after -the mule, and were leaving him behind every -moment. All this Leon went over for the -benefit of Tom Howe, and Dawson simply -nodded his head and then walked out in the -lane to find his father. Presently he saw the -hound, which sprang upon him, delighted to -see him, and a long way down the lane behind -him came his father.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s father’s lope and I know it,” said -Dawson, addressing himself to his companions. -“He’ll hold that for two hours in order -to beat a deer on his runway. But I am going -to show him that I am a good soldier. Who -comes there?” he added, in a voice pitched -just loud enough to reach the fugitive’s -ears.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“It is I, Robert,” came the joyful response; -and in a few seconds Mr. Dawson came up. -“By George, I have had a good race for it!” -he went on, pulling his hat from his head -and using his crooked finger to remove the -big drops of perspiration that clung there. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_257'>257</span>“Now, let us see what those laddy-bucks are -going to do with the house.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You’ll never see it again after to-night,” -replied Dawson. “Father, this is Leon -Sprague, who has stuck to me all along.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Leon, I am glad to meet you,” said Mr. -Dawson, extending his hand. “If you wait -here for a few minutes you’ll see what you are -going to come to. The rebels are making up an -organization already to go up to Jones county -and clean them out.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And, father, here’s another Yank that we -must not forget,” said Dawson, laying his -hand upon Tom Howe’s shoulder. “He’s -little, but he don’t say much. You heard -about the boy that came so near losing his life -during the last drive? Well, sir, he’s the -man, and there is the one who saved him.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I’m no Yank,” returned Tom, indignantly. -“I am Tom Howe, Southern born, the same -as yourself; but I hate a rebel.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I am glad to know you, Tom, and sometime, -when I get opportunity, I am going to shake -hands with you. You see the reason we never -knew you before is because you kept to the river -<span class='pageno' id='Page_258'>258</span>during your drives, and never came back into -the country at all,” said Mr. Dawson, turning -to Leon. “Now, we will wait here a few -minutes and see what those fellows are going -to do with the house.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>They were not obliged to wait very long, -for the squad soon returned, having captured -the clay-bank mule, and two of them at once -proceeded to ride out the lane in which the -fugitives had gone. They came on until they -got within fifty yards of the woods, and there -they stopped.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I declare they are coming on in pursuit -of us,” whispered Leon, drawing one of his -revolvers and resting it upon the top rail of -the fence in readiness to shoot.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s the captain and the lieutenant,” -said Mr. Dawson. “They’re not coming any -further. When they see that we have gone -into the woods they will go back. There isn’t -a man in that squad that dare trust himself -within reach of these thickets.”</p> - -<div class='figcenter id001'> -<img src='images/p258.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p><span class='sc'>The old homestead doomed.</span></p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'>The boys stood there and watched the two -men—Leon at the bridle of his horse to hold -his head down, and Tom keeping a firm hold -<span class='pageno' id='Page_259'>259</span>of his mule’s tail—and finally they saw one of -them alight and strike a match. By the aid -of the light which it threw out they examined -the ground and easily saw the wagon-tracks, -but they didn’t care to go any nearer the woods. -They held a short consultation, after which they -turned their horses and rode back to the house.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I told you they wouldn’t come any further,” -said Mr. Dawson. “If I was in command -of that squad I would think twice -before I would put my men in danger of certain -death by bringing them in here.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Dawson leaned upon the fence again and -devoted himself to the house. He wanted to -see what was going to happen to his property -before he went away. He had not held this -position for more than five minutes before his -heart gave a violent throb, and then he became -satisfied that the enemy was carrying -out his plan of setting fire to the house. He -saw a bright light on the inside, which grew -brighter every moment, and finally the flames -came out of the doors and windows. And not -only the house, but the barns, the corn-crib -and the negro cabins went up in smoke.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_260'>260</span>“Well, boys, I have seen enough,” said Mr. -Dawson, turning away to follow up the -wagons. “The rebels have one enemy now -that they never had before. Which way did -your mother go, Robert?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, and they have got two now,” said -Dawson, who was almost ready to cry when -he saw the home of his boyhood going up in -flames. “I’ll shoot every rebel that comes -across my path.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What could you expect in war times?” -said his father. “Of course, I looked for -them to burn my house—indeed, I should do -the same if I were on their side; but there’s -one thing they can’t burn, and that is the -ground. When these troubles are all over, -if we live to see it, we have the plain land with -which to start over again.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But what have they done with our black -ones?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, they have gone.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Gone where?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“They are on the road towards Mobile before -this time.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I’ll bet you they don’t keep them -<span class='pageno' id='Page_261'>261</span>there long,” said Dawson, angrily. “They -will have to watch them all the time or -they’ll get away. Mother went out this way, -father.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You see, it wouldn’t do for them to leave -the darkies with us,” said Mr. Dawson, pausing -for a few moments to allow the boys time -to mount their animals, “because we are -traitors to the South. They calculate to whip -us, and when the war is ended we’ll have to -get out.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But they ain’t a-going to whip us,” said -Dawson.</p> - -<p class='c010'>The fugitives followed along the road—it -had been cut in better times, to enable the -planter to haul out the logs—for a mile or -more, and then they came up with the wagon, -which had halted for them to come up. They -had been within sight of the burning house -all the while, and the mother, although she had -all she could do to choke back her tears, was -endeavoring to explain the matter to her children, -who could not see into it at all. When -young Robert appeared in sight, they forthwith -assailed him with questions.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_262'>262</span>“Say, Bobo, what’s the matter?” said the -elder.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, some men wanted to burn our house, -and so we had to get out and let them do it,” -returned Dawson.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Go on, Cuff,” said Mr. Dawson; and all -he did was to reach in and give his wife a cordial -grasp of the hand. “Keep right in this -road until you strike the main road, and -then go for the bridge the best you know -how.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But, Bobo, I don’t see what them folks -should want to burn our house for,” said the -boy. “We’ve always minded our own business—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Wait till we get to where we are going -and then I will tell you all about it,” said -Dawson; and that settled the question of -burning the house until the party reached -Ellisville.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Following the directions of his master, the -negro stuck to the woods-road, while Mr. -Dawson and the boys stopped in a fence-corner -to reconnoiter. The house was a mile -away, but it threw out so much light that -<span class='pageno' id='Page_263'>263</span>anything that happened around it could be -plainly seen. They saw some of the men -moving about, and when everything was well -started they all mounted their horses and disappeared -down the road in the direction of -Mobile. But they had an old soldier to contend -with in Mr. Dawson, who did not leave -his hiding-place for an hour. He didn’t know -but some of the men would come back, and -so get between him and the bridge and cut -him off, and that was the reason he waited -there in the fence-corner. While he waited -there he talked, but it was not about anything -connected with his recent misfortune.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Do you boys happen to know anything -about Dan Newman?” said he.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, sir, we know him,” replied Leon, -with a smile. “And we know Cale, too.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, what sort of fellows are they?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“It’s my opinion that they are all rebels,” -said Leon, with emphasis. “The amount of -it was that the old man expected to get some -kind of a position, and when he didn’t get it -he turned against us.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s just what I supposed,” said Mr. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_264'>264</span>Dawson. “Robert, I heard all about you -before I ever saw you to-night.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Who told you?” asked his son, in surprise.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dan Newman told me; or, rather, he told -it to the captain and I overheard it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Was he out here?” asked Leon, and he -was so surprised that he could scarcely believe -he heard aright. “Was he out here among -the rebels?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He was, and he was the one that kept the -squad from running into the pickets stationed -at the bridge.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Dawson then went on to tell what he -knew about Dan, and before he got fairly -started he had two surprised and angry boys -for listeners. When he told how “that rebel -fellow” had ridden on before them in company -with Leon and Tom, and that he could -easily capture them if they would only wait -until they came back, Leon took off his hat, -scratched his head and declared:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“If that fellow is at home when we get -there I am going to have him arrested. I -don’t see why the fellow didn’t wait.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_265'>265</span>“Well, I don’t think he paid much attention -to what Dan had to say,” replied Mr. -Dawson. “He preferred to go on and see -how many men there were at the bridge, and -when he came back he would look into all the -houses and see if there had been any evidences -of hasty departure. I guess he didn’t find -any until he got to our house, and then he -found all he wanted,” added Mr. Dawson, -with a laugh.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, now, this beats me,” said Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Don’t it?” replied Tom.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There was one amusing thing that was -connected with the interview,” said Mr. Dawson, -“and that was Dan’s rapid promotion. -The captain made him a captain, too, and his -brother a lieutenant.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, had the captain right to do that?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Certainly not; but the captain saw what -manner of man he was, and so promoted him -on the spot. I thought I had better tell you -of this, so as to put you on your guard.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Thank you; and you may be sure that -we shall take advantage of it. Captain Newman! -How that sounds!”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_266'>266</span>As for Tom Howe, he was almost beside -himself with fury. When Leon punched him -in the ribs and asked him what he thought -about it, he simply shook his head and said -nothing. After awhile he inquired: “Was -Cale there?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, Cale was there, but he didn’t have -much to say.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No matter. He was knowing to it all, and -he would have been the worst one in the lot -if he had only dared.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What would you have done, Robert?” -asked Leon of his rebel friend, although the -latter hadn’t made any remark thus far.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What would I have done if they had laid -alongside the road and tried to capture us?” -replied Dawson, and there was much more -determination in his words than Leon had -ever noticed before. “Well, sir, I wouldn’t -have been here now. Didn’t you hear me say -that I would drop before I would be captured? -I meant every word of it. If I should be -taken prisoner I would only be hanged, and -I would rather be shot than that.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, boys, I have seen enough to make -<span class='pageno' id='Page_267'>267</span>me believe that the rebels have gone home,” -said Mr. Dawson. “Now let’s go and find -your mother and see how much luck we will -have in getting by the sentries.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, we won’t have any trouble there,” -said Leon. “I’ve got the password.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes; but it won’t be of any use to you in -broad daylight.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Then I’ll make my face pass us. Everybody -about here knows Leon Sprague.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>They had something more to do in coming -up with the wagon, for Cuff, when he struck -the main road, kept on “the best he knew -how,” so they had almost reached the bridge -when they came within sight of his span of -mules. After a short consultation it was decided -that Leon and Tom should go on ahead -to smooth the way for the fugitives, leaving -them to follow with the team; so they galloped -their horses and presently heard a voice -ordering them to halt. By this time it was -almost sunrise, and Leon, profiting by the -experience of the old soldier, didn’t say he -had the countersign. He and Tom stopped -and got off their horses.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_268'>268</span>“Well, I declare, it’s you, ain’t it?” said -the one who came out to see who and what -they were. “Did you see anything of the -rebels last night?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I should say we did,” returned Leon, with -a laugh. “We stood right by and saw Mr. -Dawson’s house burn up.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Was that before they fired into us?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, I didn’t hear anything about that. -Did they shoot into you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, sir; and they killed Bach Noble as -dead as a hammer. You see he was standing -guard when they crept up and had no show -to defend himself; but we got the better of -them.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What did you do with Bach?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We laid him out there in the bushes and -sent a man up to Ellisville after a wagon to -take him home. He was the first man killed -on our side, but I’ll bet he ain’t the last.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You are sergeant of this post, are you -not?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I reckon. That’s what they call me.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I want you to pass along this road a party -of rebels who are now coming toward us. I -<span class='pageno' id='Page_269'>269</span>saw their houses burned last night. They are -mighty tired of fighting our fellows, and are -now going over into Jones county to battle -under our flag. And I will tell you another -thing about them: they won’t take any -prisoners. Here they come now.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, Leon, I reckon you’ll swear by -them?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I will, any day in the week. Ask the man -any questions you want to. They have got -children with them, and they wouldn’t surely -take them into an enemy’s country.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The Dawson party approached, being beckoned -to by Leon’s hand, and young Robert -was promptly recognized by the so-called sergeant -in charge of the post. He shook him -warmly by the hand, and said if the rest of the -family were as strong for the Union as he was -they might all come in and go on to Ellisville.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“They are as strong,” said Dawson. “If -you had stood where my father stood and saw -your property burn up, you wouldn’t have -much love in you for rebels.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The party passed on over the bridge, lingered -<span class='pageno' id='Page_270'>270</span>there to exchange a word with the squad -on guard at the bridge and to look at the -blood-stains the sentinel had left when he fell, -and finally kept on the road to camp.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_271'>271</span> - <h2 class='c008'>CHAPTER XIII. <br /> <span class='small'>CALE IN TROUBLE.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c009'>The Dawson party now drew a long breath -of relief. They had crossed the bridge -and were now on the road to Ellisville, the -pickets were between them and their pursuers, -and all danger of capture was passed. Young -Robert walked along beside his horse—the -elder Dawson seemed determined to foot it, -and his son kept him company—and, judging -from the remarks exchanged between husband -and wife, all peril of being made prisoners -was gone. Even Cuff drew a long -breath and slowed up on his mules, while -Leon and Tom rode on ahead, apparently very -much occupied with their own thoughts. -Everybody knew what they were thinking -about, and for a long time no one troubled -them; but at last Dawson could stand it no -longer.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_272'>272</span>“It’s rather rough on you, ain’t it, Leon?” -said he. “To see where that sentinel shed his -blood is enough to make you believe that you -have not undertaken a picnic.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I tell you, boys, you have taken something -of a job on your hands,” said Mr. Dawson. -“I never heard of such a thing, and I am -afraid before the thing is up you will find it -an impossibility. The sight of a little blood -don’t worry me. When you belong to a company -that charges a battery, and the battery -opens on you and kills all but five or six of -you, then it will be time for you to open your -eyes.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I don’t see why you took that -method of finding out how many men there -were at the bridge,” said Leon. “Why -couldn’t you have made a fuss of some kind -out there in the bushes and then counted the -men when they came out?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Because it was orders,” said Mr. Dawson. -“If you were in the rebel army for a few short -weeks you would know what that means. I -fired with the balance, but I shot wild. I -never fired at a Union man in my life.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_273'>273</span>“But, father, how did you come to be on -this scout?” asked Dawson. “You don’t belong -to that company.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, no. I happened to be present when -the squad was made out, and among them was -an old German fellow who didn’t care to go, -and I borrowed his weapons and mule and -went in his place. I expect he’ll get tired -waiting for his weapons before he sees them -again. That’s a pretty good carbine,” added -Mr. Dawson, holding his gun off at arm’s -length and looking at it.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I didn’t know that a man could do that,” -said Leon. “I thought you had to obey orders, -no matter whether you wanted to or not.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Not in a case like this. I didn’t say anything -to anybody about it. I got on the -mule, and when the squad was called together -I put in an appearance. I was afraid that -something was going to happen to my family, -and I couldn’t bear to stay behind.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I tell you, things turned out all right, -didn’t they?” said Dawson, gleefully. “You -came home just in the right time to join us.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What I want to know is, am I going -<span class='pageno' id='Page_274'>274</span>to get my horse?” said Mr. Dawson. “I -raised him myself, and shouldn’t like to part -with him.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You will get your horse all right,” said -Leon. “If he has been given to anybody, -that man will have to give him up.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>That settled the matter to the satisfaction of -all the Dawson family. Leon soon began to -get over the forebodings caused by that crimson -stain on the floor of the bridge, and riding -beside the wagon he kept up a conversation -with Mrs. Dawson, who told him many -things connected with the service that he -hadn’t dreamed of. In due time they arrived -at Ellisville. Just as they were going up the -main road that led past the hotel they met a -squad of sentinels going down to relieve those -at the bridge. It was plain that an old soldier -was in command of them, for they were -closed up, held their guns at a carry and -marched by twos. The two officers who commanded -them marched at the head. They had -evidently had some time to drill their men, -and the result showed that the backwoodsmen -were not at all behind in military matters. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_275'>275</span>When they came up, they reined their horses -out of the way and passed on without speaking.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There’s a squad that is well drilled,” said -Mr. Dawson. “But I do not see why you do -not destroy that bridge. It seems to be a world -of trouble to you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There’s a very good reason why we don’t -destroy it,” said Leon. “There are five other -places where it can be forded.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, I hadn’t heard of that,” exclaimed -Mr. Dawson.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Do you remember sending two men up -here to make a map of the country?” asked -Leon. “Well, they found it out.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And did you let those men go <a id='corr275.15'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='back?’'>back?”</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_275.15'><ins class='correction' title='back?’'>back?”</ins></a></span></p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, one of them stayed up here,” said -Leon, who somehow could not find it in his -heart to say the man had been killed. “If -we destroy the bridge, anybody like you, who -is tired of serving under that old rag, won’t -know that they can get across, and we have -nobody to send them to show where the fords -are. We don’t know, ourselves.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>As they drew near to the porch of the hotel, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_276'>276</span>Leon saw his father standing there. He dismounted -and shook him by the hand—he -was certain that his father put a little more -grip into the shake than usual—and presented -Mr. Dawson, who, it is not necessary to -say, was received with a hearty welcome.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“The first thing this man wants is his -horse,” said Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Was he with us when we captured that -wagon-train?” asked Mr. Sprague. “If so, -he can have his horse. They have not been -given out yet.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There, sir, you got your horse,” added -Leon, turning to Mr. Dawson. “Now the -next thing is, we want to report. Is the President -in his room? Then, father, I want you -to come up there with Mr. Dawson. He’s got -some things to tell you that will astonish -you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>His father replied that he didn’t see how -he was going to be astonished any more than -he had been, but followed Leon up the stairs -to the President’s office. They found the -gentleman there just as they had seen him -before, with a pair of blue jean pants on, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_277'>277</span>which were tucked in heavy cowhide boots, -and no coat on. He greeted Mr. Dawson very -cordially and inquired, in his hearty way:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“So you’ve got tired of serving under a -flag that you don’t like, and have come over -here to cast your lot with us. Well, sir, the -best we have got is yours.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I am well aware of that, Mr. President,” -said Mr. Dawson. “But there is one thing -that I want to post you on at once. It is about -that man Dan Newman.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Knight removed the pen from behind -his ear and settled back in his chair. He had -been expecting to hear something from Dan -Newman for a long time. Mr. Dawson began -and told him the whole story of Dan’s meeting -with the Confederates, his sudden promotion, -and all about it, and when he got done -there was an expression on the President’s face -that few people had seen there.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, Dawson, you can go down there and -pick out any place you can find to draw your -wagon up,” said he. “You are right at home -here. Sprague, what is your opinion regarding -Dan Newman?”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_278'>278</span>“My opinion is that he ought to be arrested -at once,” replied Mr. Sprague.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And after that are you going to try him -by a court-martial?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That will be just as the men say. If he -is not tried by court-martial he will be shipped -off among his friends. They can promote -him faster than we can,” said Mr. Sprague, -with a smile.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, get to work at once. Take as many -men as can surround Newman’s old shanty -and make prisoners of those boys. If the old -man says too much, bring him along, too. -Dawson, I shall send for you presently.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Very good, sir. I will be on hand when -I am wanted.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Sprague lost no time in getting his men -together, and while he was hunting them up -Dawson held a short interview with his -father.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, you take my horse,” said he, “and -when we get back we’ll get your nag. Of -course Leon is going to arrest Newman, and -I am going with him. Turn into any open -place you can find in the grove, and there -<span class='pageno' id='Page_279'>279</span>make your camp. You will find them all -friendly here.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Dawson mounted the horse and led the -wagon down the road, and just then Bud McCoy -came up. Bud was always on hand when -he was wanted. He got so in the habit of -staying close around to Mr. Sprague that it -was not long before the men came to call him -Colonel Sprague’s body-guard. But Bud -didn’t mind that. He said he got more to do -by being around there than he could anywhere -else, and that was what a Union volunteer -wanted in times like these.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What’s up?” he exclaimed. “What does -the old man want with volunteers?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He is going out to arrest Dan Newman,” -said Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, there; I always thought that man -ought to be arrested,” said Bud. “He has -been preaching up secession docterings till you -can’t rest. What’s he been doing now?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>It did not take long for Leon to make Bud -understand the matter, and as he went on to -tell what Dan had been guilty of, the scowl -on the man’s face changed to one of furious -<span class='pageno' id='Page_280'>280</span>hatred. When Leon ceased he struck his fist -into his open palm with a ringing slap.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You’ll go, too, won’t you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Of course I’ll go. I ain’t a-going to stand -no fooling like that. He has said enough to -hang him higher’n Haman.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>While they were talking Mr. Sprague was -seen coming at the head of five men whom -he had summoned to make the arrest. We -said he had summoned five men, but the news -of what he wanted to do had gradually worked -its way through the camp until there were -more than twenty men who were slinging on -their bullet-pouches and hurrying to catch up -with those who had been summoned. The -feeling was so great against Newman that all -hands wanted to have a finger in his arrest. -As he passed by the porch of the hotel, Leon, -Tom and Dawson joined him.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There’s one thing about it,” said Leon, -looking back at the stalwart fellows behind him. -“No Newman can get away from this party.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You’re mighty right,” said one of the -men. “It’s a wonder to me that your father -didn’t arrest him long ago.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_281'>281</span>“See here, boys,” said Mr. Sprague, from -the head of the column. “Be quiet and still. -Those Newmans are like quails; they’ll run -and hide if they hear a twig snap. When we -come up with the house I’ll give the word, and -then you know what to do.”</p> - -<div class='figcenter id001'> -<img src='images/p280.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p><span class='sc'>The Newmans in trouble.</span></p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'>Silently the men fell in behind their leader, -and swiftly did they work their way toward -the shanty. It was probably half a mile to -where it was located, and although everybody -moved so cautiously that they were certain not -a twig snapped, they were not careful enough -to conceal their presence from the man they -were going to arrest. At length, when Mr. -Sprague dashed aside the thicket and stepped -out into the little space that surrounded the -cabin, they saw Newman and his wife at the -door. The former held in his hand an axe, -and the other had a skillet, which she flourished -to and fro as the men approached.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What do you want here?” exclaimed -Newman, and he lifted his axe threateningly -in his hand.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Surround the house, boys,” said Mr. -Sprague. “We’ll talk to you in a minute.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_282'>282</span>The most of the men were prompt to act -upon this suggestion, and no sooner had Bud -McCoy, who was leading one squad, appeared -behind the house than he caught a glimpse of -Cale Newman in the act of leaving it through -the window.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Ah! here you are, my fine lad,” said Bud, -seizing him by the arm. “Where’s that -brother of yours?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, now, what are you going to arrest me -for?” exclaimed Cale, who turned white and -trembled in every limb. “I ain’t done nothing. -Father, do you see what they are doing?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We hain’t done you no harm yet, but just -wait until we get back—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Bud had been on the point of looking in at -the window to see if he could discover anything -of Dan, when, to his surprise, there came -something down on his head which knocked -the hat over his eyes and narrowly escaped -laying him out flat. It was the skillet in the -hands of the old woman; but Bud didn’t -wait to see what it was. He straightened -himself up by the side of the house, and when -the skillet descended a second time he caught -<span class='pageno' id='Page_283'>283</span>it in his hand and came within an ace of jerking -the woman through the window. He -wrested the novel weapon from her and threw -it as far as possible into the bushes.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Say, old woman, you want to keep your -distance!” said Bud, who was so angry that -he could scarcely talk straight. “You try -that again and I’ll have you through that -window!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>By this time the men from the front part -of the house had entered through the door—the -man with his axe didn’t make half the battle -his wife did—but no Dan was there to be -seen. You will remember that when he came -back he sat down with his pipe to smoke and -think over the perfidy of the captain in giving -him promotion when he had no business -to do it, and that he had not yet gone to bed. -While smoking he was startled by a noise in -the bushes. He listened, but the noise increased -and grew louder, and in an instant -it flashed upon him that his interview with -the rebel captain was known. That was -enough to start him into the bushes. Giving -his father a sign to call Cale, he was out of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_284'>284</span>sight in a moment, and all efforts to find him -were useless.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Here’s one of them, colonel!” said Bud, -coming around the house. “Now, where’s -the other?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The man had been disarmed of his axe, and -the woman didn’t seem to have any more fight -left in her, the powerful jerk she got from Bud -satisfying her that the best thing she could -do was to keep quiet; but they had plenty of -talk left in them.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Of all the mean things that I ever saw -this is the beat!” said Mrs. Newman, as she -gazed around at the number of men that had -come there to take her boy into custody.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“It is an outrage!” chimed in Mr. Newman, -stamping about over the floor as if he -were almost beside himself. “They come -with an army of men to take away one little -fellow! I hope you feel duly ashamed of -yourselves.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Let go my coat!” exclaimed Cale to the -man who held him tight by his collar to see -that he did not escape. “What are you going -to do with me?”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_285'>285</span>“We’ll put you in jail; that’s what we’ll do -with you,” said the man. “You have -preached up secession long enough.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Say, father, are you going to let that old -jail stand?” demanded Cale, trying hard to -escape from the grip that held him. “You -said that you would cut it down if they took -any of us there.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Where’s your brother?” demanded Bud.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He’s gone where you won’t find him,” retorted -Mrs. Newman. “Now, I want you to -turn my boy loose.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We have had enough out of you,” said -Mr. Sprague, who had looked all around in -the hope of finding Dan hidden somewhere in -the house. “If you say another word I’ll -take you along to keep Cale company. You -two stay here and watch the cabin, one in -front and one at the back,” he added, pointing -out two of the men he wished to obey his -orders. “Don’t let Newman and his wife go -out of doors, and if Dan comes back here, -gobble him up. I will relieve you in a couple -of hours. Forward, the rest of us.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Taking Cale along the narrow path that -<span class='pageno' id='Page_286'>286</span>led through the woods was as much as two men -wanted to do, he kicked and struggled so furiously. -As long as he remained within reach -of his father he constantly appealed to his -father to “cut down the jail” so that he could -not be confined there, and it was only when -Mr. Sprague threatened him with the gag that -he condescended to keep still. They hustled -him along the half a mile that led to Ellisville, -and when they arrived within sight of -the grove they found all the men there to see -how they had come out. Cale must have listened -to some things that astonished him, for -he heard one man say that hanging was too -good for such as he was, and advocated that -he be tied to a tree and left there. He was -marched through the crowd of men, some of -whom shook their fists in his face, and up -the stairs that led to the President’s office. -Then the men let go of his collar, and in -an instant every inch of standing-room was -filled. There wasn’t the least chance for escape.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, Cale Newman,” said the President, -taking off his spectacles and settling back in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_287'>287</span>his chair, “you tried to get those Confederates -last night to go after our boys.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I never,” began Cale.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I am not here to argue the matter with -you; I am here to tell you what you have -done,” said Mr. Knight. “They offered you -promotion in case you would do something for -them.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I’ll tell you how it was,” said Cale, -who didn’t think that he was betraying his -brother by the confession he was about to -make. “The captain offered to make me -lieutenant, but I didn’t think he had any right -to do it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Ah!” said the President.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes; and my brother he offered to make -captain. Dan was in for it, but I was a little -jubius. He offered to show them where Leon -and that rebel fellow was, but the captain said -he would go on and see how many men they -were at the bridge.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And that was the time they killed Bach -Noble,” said Mr. Knight, with suppressed -fury.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, it was all in war times, wasn’t it?”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_288'>288</span>“War times? What do you mean by that?” -ejaculated the President, while a restless -movement among the men told that they did -not uphold anybody in thus taking the life -of a sentry. Bach Noble was one of the -most popular lumbermen in the county, and -this method of shooting him just because it -“was war times” aroused all the anger there -was in them. A word from the President -would have seen Cale swung up to a tree in -less than no time.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“It was war times, wasn’t it?” inquired -Cale, who seemed to think he had said too -much.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We’ll not discuss that. The Confederate -captain offered you and your brother promotion. -Then what?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>By a little questioning Mr. Knight got at -all that had transpired during their interview -with the Confederate captain, and the old soldiers -that were in there were amazed when -they saw how green Dan was. After thinking -a moment, he said:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I don’t think that Cale has been guilty of -treason. What do you men say to that?”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_289'>289</span>“No,” said a voice. “But he has been -giving out docterings that won’t go down with -this county.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s so,” chimed in others.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I acknowledge that,” said Mr. Knight. -“But I say let’s shut him up and keep him -until we can catch his brother. He can’t be -far off.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I noticed that some of my men went into -the bushes to find him,” said Mr. Sprague. -“Some of them haven’t returned yet.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Very well. We’ll shut Cale up until we -find that slippery brother, and then we’ll examine -them both. We’ll find a room somewhere -in the hotel—I see Bass Kennedy has -got his corn in the jail and it would be hardly -worth while to take it out for the sake of one -prisoner—and, Eph, if you will keep watch -of him I will relieve you in a couple of hours.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, say, Knight,” began Cale.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Mister Knight, if you please. I am mister -to all such fellows as you are. What were -you going to say?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I want you to understand that you dassent -hang me,” said Cale, not daring to venture -<span class='pageno' id='Page_290'>290</span>upon the man’s surname again. Like -everybody else in the county he had learned -to call a man by his name without any fixture -to it, and he did not care to begin now. -His father had always spoken of him as -“Knight,” and Cale thought he was as good -as the President.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dassent, eh?” said Mr. Knight, with a -look of surprise. “You will find that we -dare do anything.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But I tell you that my father will tell -the folks at Mobile about it,” whined Cale, -almost ready to cry.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There you have it. Shut him up. Eph, -you want to open the door every time you hear -the clock strike, to see if he is there. If there -is no further business before the meeting it -stands adjourned.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Eph at once seized his prisoner and hurried -him before the proprietor of the hotel, who at -once hit upon a room that would do for his -confinement.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We’ll put him high up, so that he can’t -get down,” said he. “We’ll put him up in -the third story. Come on.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_291'>291</span>Taking a key from behind his desk, the -proprietor led the way up the stairs until he -came to a small room with only one window -in it, pushed open the door and stood aside, -so that Cale could enter. There was literally -no furniture in the room, it all having been -removed down-stairs, so that it could be ready -to be moved whenever Mr. Faulkner got ready -to go to the swamp.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, sir, you’ll stay here till you come -out to be hung,” said Eph, giving him a shove.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Good mercy me!” exclaimed Mr. Faulkner, -opening his eyes in surprise. “Is that -what’s to become of him? Well, it’s a mighty -hard death for a young man to die.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, no, they dassent hang me,” said Cale, -almost ready to cry again.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“If we do your pap will tell the folks in -Mobile about it,” said Eph, with a sneer. -“Well, you tell your folks in Mobile to go -somewhere and do something about it. Didn’t -you hear what our President said, that we dare -do anything?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He ain’t any more a President than I be,” -declared Cale, boldly.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_292'>292</span>“Let me hear you say those words again -and I’ll begin operations right here!” said -Eph. “He’s as much of a President as Jeff -Davis, and I am not going to hear a word said -against him. Go in there!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Hold on. He hasn’t got a chair. I’ll get -one.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Faulkner was gone not more than two -minutes and came back with a chair, which -was pushed into the room, and then the jailer -locked the door and put the key into his -pocket. Cale took a look around his prison, -and then walked to the window and took a -good look there, too. It wasn’t a great ways -to the ground, and Cale was certain, if his -enemies did not put a sentry there to see that -he did not drop down and take himself safe -off, his escape would be an assured thing. He -tried the window, and was gratified to find -that it yielded to his touch. Then he walked -back to the chair and seated himself upon it.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Those Union men is mighty smart,” he -soliloquized. “Because I am three stories up -they think I am safe. I’ll show them how -easy it will be for me to hang by my hands -<span class='pageno' id='Page_293'>293</span>and drop down. And they talk about hanging -me! I’ll bet they can’t do it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The muffled tread of the sentry came to his -ears, and finally, when the clock struck, Eph -opened the door to see if he was there.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_294'>294</span> - <h2 class='c008'>CHAPTER XIV. <br /> <span class='small'>LEON A PRISONER.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c009'>“Ah!” said Eph, “you’re there yet. You -are thinking over how you can escape -being hung for your treason. Well, that’s a -good way to put in one’s time.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Cale did not answer. He sat with his -elbows on his knees and his head bowed upon -his hands, and he was thinking deeply—not -of how he could escape being hanged, but of -where he should go and what he should do in -case he made the attempt at escape successful. -He had heard Mr. Sprague, when he placed -sentinels over his house, one in front and another -behind—had heard him tell them not -to let his father or mother go out of the house—and -he knew it would be foolhardy to go -home after that. The sentries would capture -him and bring him back to his prison. Eph -took an unbounded delight in bothering the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_295'>295</span>boy. He knew that the most that would be -done with Cale would be to ship him off among -his friends, and that would be the last of him. -He glanced at the window to see that it was -all right, and then went out, closing the door -behind him.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That fellow keeps telling me that I am -going to be hung,” said Cale, raising his head -and glancing at the door through which Eph -had just gone out. “What would I give to -be in here at night when he comes in and finds -the window open and Cale Newman gone? I -tell you that would be worth some money. -Now, if I could only find Dan. He would -know where to go and what to do.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>For long hours Cale sat there and listened -to the tread of the sentinel, and every time -the clock struck down-stairs he lifted his head -and looked at the sentinel, who opened the -door and looked in. They were changed every -two hours, and finally it began to grow dark. -By that time Cale began to grow hungry, and -while he was thinking about it the door opened -and in came Mr. Faulkner, whose hands were -filled with bedclothes and eatables.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_296'>296</span>“I can’t bear to have any man around me -who I know is hungry, even if he is going to -be hung,” said he. “Let me put this bread -and meat on the chair. There’s something -for you to lie down on. It’s pretty rough, I -know, but I expect you get rougher at home. -Good-night and pleasant dreams.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Cale examined the bedclothes as well as -he could in the dark, and found that he had a -pillow and, what was better than all, two -quilts, which he could tear up, fasten to the -chair, and thus let himself down from the window. -He chuckled to himself and devoted -his attention to the viands. By the time he -had got through the sentry opened the door, -and Cale saw a light streaming in.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, I’m here yet,” said Cale.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I know you are,” said the man. “And -you’re going to stay there until you come out -to be hung.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“All right. But you won’t hang me until -you catch my brother. He had the most to do -with talking with that captain.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No matter. You was knowing to it all, -and that counts for a heap against you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_297'>297</span>The sentry closed the door, and in an instant -Cale was on his feet. Things had to be -done in a hurry, and quietly, too, for in an -hour more the man would look in to see if his -prisoner was all right. It was something of a -job to tear the quilts; but fortunately he had -them all done at last, and when he knotted -them together he was glad to see how long -they were. He didn’t think he would be -obliged to drop more than ten feet.</p> - -<p class='c010'>The next thing was opening the window -and fastening the quilts to the chair; but he -accomplished it without alarming the sentinel, -and drawing in a long breath, he launched -himself over the side of the window and -heard the chair bang loudly as he threw his -weight upon the quilts. In his haste the -quilts did not do much toward assisting him -to the bottom, for he slid rapidly down them -and landed all in a heap under the window -just as the sentry opened the door to see what -was going on.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Are you there yet, Cale?” asked the man, -as he looked all around the room. “By gracious, -he has gone!”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_298'>298</span>With two jumps the man reached the window -and leaned over and looked out. Everything -was concealed by darkness, and even -the crouching Cale, who was close to the -wall, right under the man’s gaze, escaped his -notice. Then the man thought of his rifle. -He rushed back into the hall and got it, fired -it once out of the window, and then went -down-stairs to tell the men what an extraordinary -escape Cale had made. This was the -time for the prisoner to make the most of his -opportunity. He arose to his feet and made -good time across the narrow cotton-field that -lay between him and the woods, and he never -ceased running until he reached the banks of -a little bayou a mile back in the forest, where -he stopped and sat down to rest.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There, sir,” said Cale, wiping the big -drops of perspiration from his forehead. “I’ve -done it; as sure as the world I have done it. -That is the first time I ever was put in jail -for something I didn’t do. Let them get somebody -else and talk about hanging them. Now, -if I could only find Dan.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Cale did not take very long to rest himself -<span class='pageno' id='Page_299'>299</span>before he got upon his feet again and cautiously -worked his way toward his father’s -shanty. The darkness had no effect upon -Cale, for he took his course as straight as he -could have done in the daytime. The sentries -might have been removed by this time, but -all the same he made his way stealthily -through the bushes, as though the sentries -were there and liable at any minute to jump -out and make a prisoner of him. It would -never do to be captured again, for the next -time he would be put where it would be impossible -for him to get away. But he walked -right onto Dan, who had been up to the house -for the same purpose; that is, he wanted to see -if there was any chance for him to communicate -with his father. As Cale was working his -way cautiously through the bushes, going so -still that he could not hear the thicket rattle -behind him, he was startled out of a year’s -growth by hearing a voice close at his side -mutter:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I’ll be dog-gone if there ain’t Cale!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“D—Dan, is that you?” stammered Cale, -so overjoyed that he could <a id='corr299.25'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='scarely'>scarcely</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_299.25'><ins class='correction' title='scarely'>scarcely</ins></a></span> speak.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_300'>300</span>“You’re right, it’s me,” said Dan. “Where -you been?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“They had me shut up in jail,” was the -answer.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“In the calaboose?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, in the hotel; and they left one window -there without any sentry to guard it, and -I just come out.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, sir, I will say hereafter that you’ve -got pluck. But come up here. I’ve got -something to show you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Cale began feeling his way toward the place -where Dan was, and in a few moments he -placed his hand upon his shoulder. But -there was something else that he touched -there. It was a revolver.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, Dan, where have you been to get -that?” asked Cale, in surprise.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I have not only got that, but the man -what owns it,” returned Dan, with the same -pride he would have exhibited had he won an -enemy’s colors in battle. “I’ve got Leon -Sprague.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Cale was so astonished that he couldn’t say -anything just then.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_301'>301</span>“While you have been shut up in jail I -have been working for the glorious cause,” -said Dan. “I got him just as easy as falling -off a log. I’ve heard so much tell about Leon’s -courage that I was kinder afraid to tackle him; -but pshaw! I handled him as easy as you -would handle a baby.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Let us now go back for a moment and tell -what had happened to Dan while Cale was -being shut up in the hotel. When he came -back from holding his interview with the -Confederate captain he did not go to bed, as -Cale did, but filled his pipe with negro-twist -and lay down on the ground to smoke and -think. He lay there for an hour—he didn’t -want any breakfast; besides, he was getting -tired of corn-bread and bacon, anyway—building -his air-castles and dreaming how proud -he would be if he could only hold a position -equal to the captain’s.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Boots on his feet that came up to his -knees and gloves on his hands that came clear -up to there,” said Dan, motioning with his -finger to a point on his arm that came clear -up to his elbow. “And didn’t he handle that -<span class='pageno' id='Page_302'>302</span>horse gay? She was a frisky animal, but he -managed her as easy as if he was seated in a -rocking-chair. And, dog-gone him, he went -and fooled me!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>By this time his father had eaten his breakfast -and came out to his usual place on the -threshold, pipe a-going. He took a few pulls -at the tobacco, cast his eye up to the clouds to -see what the weather was going to be, and was -then ready to begin his topic of conversation.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“The South is going to whip,” said he. “It -don’t stand to reason that one county in the -midst of a State that’s in rebellion is going to -whip all the counties around her.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But, father, do you think they are going -to fight?” asked Dan.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Fight! No, they won’t. I only wish I -could get my position as colonel. I would -show them how to clean these men out.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And the men here wouldn’t give you the -position of Secretary of War,” said Dan. -“What would you have done if you had got -that position?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Eh? Well, I would have done a heap -more than that old Sprague is doing, I can -<span class='pageno' id='Page_303'>303</span>tell you that. I would have made you boys -officers, to begin with. You would make a -bully captain, Dan.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s just what I think, and—and—I -ought to be one, too.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes; and think of the money we would -make. That’s what makes me so down on all -these officers. That must be worth six or eight -thousand dollars a year.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Whew!” whistled Dan. “And old Sprague -is making that much?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I have no doubt of it. At any rate they -might have offered it to me, and I would ask -how much they was going to give. If the -price didn’t suit me—What’s the matter?” -added Mr. Newman, seeing that Dan removed -his pipe from his mouth and sat up straight -on the ground. “Do you hear anything?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Father, there is some one coming along -through the bushes,” said Dan, involuntarily -lowering his voice to a whisper. “And they -are coming fast, too.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Newman listened, and presently he -heard the faint rustle of the thicket as a body -of men worked its way through them. It was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_304'>304</span>still very faint, but it came plainly to his -ears.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I’ve got to go,” said Dan, hurriedly. -“You call Cale.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What have you been a-doing?” said his -father, in astonishment. “You stay where -you are, and if they should put one of you -in the calaboose I’d cut it down as soon as I -could get to it with my axe.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I know, but I’ll tell you at some future -time what I have been a-doing. Call Cale.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Dan turned and made a dive for the bushes, -and no sooner had he disappeared than Mr. -Sprague came in sight. While Mr. Sprague -was holding his colloquy with the father and -mother, who stood at the door, and Bud McCoy -had gone around the house in time to -catch Cale Newman coming out of the -window, Leon noticed the pipe which Dan -had thrown down, and which was not yet extinguished. -He took a few pulls at it, and it -went as lively as it ever did.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dan is out here in the bushes,” said he to -Tom and young Dawson, who remained close -at his side. “Let’s go out and capture him.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_305'>305</span>“All right,” said Dawson. “Let us spread -out a little, so that we will cover more ground. -Be in a hurry, now.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon was out of sight before he had ceased -speaking. He made no attempt to draw his -revolver, for he did not think it would be -worth while. He had always known Dan, -and knew him to be a lazy, worthless fellow, -but he was little prepared for what happened -afterward. He was looking everywhere for -Dan—he must have been half a mile or more -from his friends by this time—when suddenly, -as he pressed down a thicket to look into it, -he felt something on his back and he was -thrown violently on his face. Knowing in a -minute what it was, his hand went behind -him, but he felt some fingers at work with his -own, and his revolver was torn from his grasp. -A feeling of horror came over him when he -knew that he was disarmed. The weight was -lifted off his back, he was rolled over, so that -he could see what he had to contend with, -and his own revolver was looking him in the -face. It was cocked, too, and it needed only -the pressure of a finger to make all things -<span class='pageno' id='Page_306'>306</span>blank to him. It was Dan Newman who was -bending above him. His face was very pale, -but there was a glint in his eyes that spoke -volumes.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Not a word out of you,” said Dan, fiercely. -“Not a word out of you. Roll over, with your -face downwards.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon had no alternative but to obey. There -was shoot in Dan’s eyes, and Leon saw it. He -rolled over, and Dan arose to his feet and took -off his coat, and then his shirt, which he proceeded -to tear up into small strips. It was -then a task of no difficulty to bind Leon’s -arms. It was done in less time than it takes -to tell it, and then Leon was pulled to a sitting -posture, while Dan stood and looked down at -him.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I’ve got you, ain’t I?” said Dan, who -hardly knew whether he stood on his head or -his heels. “Now, what are you going to do -about it?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I don’t see that I can do anything,” said -Leon, wondering if he was to give up and remain -a prisoner in the hands of this man. -“You can do what you please with me.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_307'>307</span>“And it pleases me to take you down to -Mobile and give you up to our folks,” said -Dan. “Mebbe they’ll think that my company -is in a condition for me to command it. It -ain’t often that a man can get the son of a -Secretary of War prisoner, is it?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon did not care to talk any longer. He -knew what Dan was going to do with him, -and he did not feel much elated over it. He -sat there in silence and watched Dan, who -was grinning all over and hardly knew -whether or not his good fortune had stood -him so well in stead or not. He wanted to be -sure about it, and so began a conversation -with Leon; or rather, he talked and Leon -listened. He examined his revolver repeatedly, -took aim at certain spots on the -trees, and acted for all the world like one -who was bereft of his senses. Having spent -an hour in this way, and being at last satisfied -that Mr. Sprague had looked around the -house without being able to find him, Dan -thought he would go home and hold a short -consultation with his father.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“The old man will be dreadful glad I’ve -<span class='pageno' id='Page_308'>308</span>got you,” said Dan, wondering how he was -going to leave Leon so that he wouldn’t arouse -the whole neighborhood by his yelling, “and -perhaps he’ll think I had better do something -else with you. I want to go home and get a -shirt, too, for these nights are mighty damp.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Does the old man believe as you do?” -asked Leon. He thought it would be policy -to learn all he could concerning the belief of -the squatter’s family, for he did not expect to -remain a prisoner all his life. When he returned -he would know how to go to work. -The first thing he did would be to put all that -family under arrest.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Of course the old man believes as I do,” -said Dan. “The South is going to send men -enough in here to whip you. I tell you, Leon, -you fellows are crazy.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What are you going to do with that?” -asked Leon, referring to a piece of shirt which -Dan was carefully folding.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I am going to use it as a gag,” said Dan. -“You must think that I am a pretty smart -man to go away and leave you with your -mouth wide open. Now, I guess this will do.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_309'>309</span>“I assure you that I won’t halloo,” exclaimed -Leon, who did not like to have any -of Dan’s clothing in his mouth. “Try me -and see.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, I reckon I’d best be on the safe side. -If you will let this go into your mouth, well -and good; if not, it will have to go in anyway,” -said Dan, picking up his revolver.</p> - -<p class='c010'>There was but one course open to Leon, and -he submitted to have a wad of shirt tucked -into his mouth that almost made him sick. It -was tied hard and fast, too, so that he could -not get rid of it. Dan next turned his attention -to his feet, which he bound with another -piece of shirt, and fastened them to a tree so -that he could not get up. Then he looked at -the way his hands were fastened and got up, -shoving the revolver into his pocket.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I won’t be gone but a little while,” said -Dan, straightening up the thicket in which -Leon lay. “I reckon I’ll bring the old man -back here with me. You will be glad to see -him, I know. My father might have been top-notch -in this county if it hadn’t been for your -old man. But no, they wouldn’t have him for -<span class='pageno' id='Page_310'>310</span>Secretary of War, and now they see what they -made by it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Dan took one more look at his prisoner to -see that his bonds were all safe, and then went -away. He was hardly out of sight before -Leon began tugging and twisting at his fastenings -in the hope of being able to get rid of -some of them; but the harder he worked the -more he exhausted himself. Dan had done -his work well, and finally Leon gave it up as -a bad job. Dan was gone fully an hour, and -when he came back Leon noticed that he -didn’t have a shirt on. He noticed, too, that -he was in pretty bad humor.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“They have got two sentries up there to the -house, dog-gone them, and I guess they must -be waiting for me,” said Dan, as he began to -undo the fastenings that confined Leon’s -mouth. “They think I’ll come back after -awhile, but they don’t know Dan Newman.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>When Leon felt the gag removed from his -mouth he coughed once or twice and acted as -if he was about to expel the contents of his -stomach; but after awhile he was able to reply -to Dan’s question.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_311'>311</span>“It makes you sick, don’t it?” asked Dan.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, and that shirt would make anybody -sick. I suppose they have got the sentries -there in order to catch you when you come -back.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But I say they don’t know me,” retorted -Dan. “I didn’t go near the house till I had -looked around a bit, and then I saw those men -there and I came away. They won’t let me -get even a shirt. I wonder if they have got -Cale?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Where was Cale when the men came up -to capture you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He was in the house and fast asleep.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Then of course they have got him. He -didn’t come out of the front door or I would -have seen them. It rather bothers a man to -be up all night, don’t it?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Who said I was up all night?” asked Dan.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I do. You were up all night, and held a -conference with that rebel captain.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Who’s got a better right? You fellows -here in this county won’t give me anything, -and I have a right to go where I can get to be -a captain.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_312'>312</span>“Well, untie my feet, will you?” said -Leon, who didn’t <a id='corr312.2'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='seemed'>seem</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_312.2'><ins class='correction' title='seemed'>seem</ins></a></span> disposed to discuss -this matter with Dan. “You have got them -fastened to that sapling until they hurt me.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Dan was accommodating enough to untie his -feet, but he didn’t make any move towards -untying his hands. After that he sat down and -held a long talk with his prisoner, who, considering -the situation in which he was placed, -took the matter very coolly. He knew he -couldn’t get away, but there would come other -times, he thought, when his hands would be -at liberty, and then he would try his best at -escape. They passed the afternoon in this -way, and finally it began to grow dark. Leon -was getting hungry, and he knew that Dan -was bothered the same way, and consequently -he was relieved when his captor said he would -try and reach home again and get something.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But first I must tie you up,” said he.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, what’s the use of going to all that -trouble?” said Leon, who couldn’t bear the -thought of having that shirt thrust into his -mouth for the second time. “I didn’t halloo -before.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_313'>313</span>“No, of course you didn’t,” said Dan, with -a laugh. “’Cause why, the gag wouldn’t let -you. I won’t be gone but a little while, and -then I will untie you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon yielded with a very bad grace while -Dan was placing the gag in his mouth; and -well he might, for there was the revolver, lying -within easy reach of his captor’s hand. -He was tied up just as he was before, and -Dan, after a few parting words, disappeared in -the darkness.</p> - -<p class='c010'><a id='corr313.12'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='Oh,'>“Oh,</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_313.12'><ins class='correction' title='Oh,'>“Oh,</ins></a></span> how I wish Tom Howe knew where I -was!” panted Leon, after he had tried in vain -to get rid of some of his bonds. “I’ll bet you -that I wouldn’t be here much longer. Now, -what will be done with me if I am given up to -the rebels? Beyond a doubt I’ll be hanged, -for of course they will take revenge on my -father through me. Well, if I go up there -will be one less to fight them.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Dan was gone longer than he was before, -and when he came back Leon was surprised -to hear him talking to somebody. Of course, -it was so dark that he couldn’t see anything, -but as his captor drew near he began to recognize -<span class='pageno' id='Page_314'>314</span>Cale Newman’s voice. Leon was thunderstruck. -He did not know where Cale had -been confined, but by some inadvertence on -the part of his jailers he had got away. Leon -was impatient to hear Cale’s version of it.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_315'>315</span> - <h2 class='c008'>CHAPTER XV. <br /> <span class='small'>A FRIEND IN NEED.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c009'>“Well, sir, you have got him as easy as -falling off a log, haven’t you?” said -Cale, gleefully, as he sat down on the ground -beside Leon and passed his hands over him -from head to foot. “It’s Leon, as sure as I -am alive, and you’ve got him tied up hard and -fast,” he added, as he felt of the prisoner’s -face.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Hold on till I take the gag out of his -mouth,” said Dan. “He talks as sassy as you -please.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He does? Then I would punch him in -the mouth for it,” said Cale, who showed that -he could be brave enough when he had the -power.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, that won’t do,” said Dan, who forthwith -proceeded to take the shirt out of Leon’s -mouth. “You are an officer—”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_316'>316</span>“Oh, get out!” sneered Cale. “I’ll bet you -when our officers get him into their hands -they’ll treat him worse than we will.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“They didn’t treat them so at Mobile when -we saw those prisoners brought in there,” retorted -Dan. “We are officers, and I’ll bet -you that I will get some men to command -when I give this fellow up.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon took a few moments in which to get -over the effect of the shirt being in his -mouth, after which he was ready to talk to -Cale; for, as we said, he was impatient to -hear his version of the story of his escape.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“How did you get away, Cale?” said he.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You thought they had me hard and fast, -didn’t you?” said Cale, shaking his fist at -Leon. “Well, they didn’t. They had me -in the third story of the hotel, and once, -when the sentinel wasn’t looking, I tore up -the quilts they had given me to sleep on and -dug out.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Didn’t they have any sentry under the -window?” said Leon, astonished at such a want -of foresight on the part of the Union men.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, they didn’t; and I took note of that -<span class='pageno' id='Page_317'>317</span>the first thing when I went in. I stayed up -close to the building while the sentry was -looking out, and when he fired his gun to let -them know that I had gone I dug out across -the cotton-field until I struck the woods. I -wondered what I should do without Dan, and -I run onto him the first thing. Now, what are -you going to do with this fellow?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“As soon as it comes daylight we’ll take -him down to Mobile.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Ah! that’s the place for you,” said Cale, -giving Leon a pinch. “You won’t be riding -around on that horse of yours and making us -all wish we had one, too. You’ve got the revolver, -Dan, and now I’ll have the horse. I -wish father could get away from the house. -Mebbe he would make you stretch hemp right -where you are.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, Cale, as I didn’t have any sleep last -night I’ll lie down,” said Dan. “Do you -reckon you can watch him while I doze a -little?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You’re right, I can,” said Cale, with savage -emphasis. “Give me your revolver. -Now, let us see him make a move to get away. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_318'>318</span>I’ll stretch him out so stiff that he won’t be of -any use down there at Mobile.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That fellow has got a mighty nice shirt on -that I’d like to have,” said Dan, as he drew -his coat about him, but couldn’t confine it, for -it had no buttons. “As soon as it comes -daylight I’ll make him shed that linen. I -ain’t a-going among our officers with no shirt -on.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why don’t you make him take it off -now?” said Cale. “I’ll watch him so that he -can’t run away.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, I guess I’d better be on the safe side. -Let it go until to-morrow.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon was glad that he had such a reputation. -He was able to sleep warm for one -night at least. His clothing was comfortable, -and his coat being buttoned up to the chin, -and being protected from the keen wind by -the thicket in which he was placed, he slept as -warm as he would if he had been at home. -The only thing was, his hands hurt him. He -knew it would be of no use to appeal to Dan, -so he gritted his teeth and said nothing. -When Leon awoke it was broad daylight. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_319'>319</span>Both his captors were asleep. The revolver -that Cale threatened him with was lying by -his side, and all he needed was his hands at -liberty to turn the tables on them in good -shape.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“By gracious!” muttered Leon; and once -more he began trying the effect of Dan’s -knots. But they were there to stay. He -could not move his hands at all. “Halloo! -here,” he added aloud. “Do you want to go -to sleep and let me run off? I am cold, and -it is time I was moving.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, now, I’ll be shot!” said Dan, opening -his eyes and rubbing them, while Cale -made a clutch for the revolver. “It was good -of you not to go away.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You can thank yourself for it,” said Leon. -“If I could have got away I’d had my revolver -in my hands, and then you would have -gone to Ellisville.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes; and what would we be doing all -that time?” said Cale.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You shut up!” answered Dan. “You said -you could watch him, and so you did. You -went fast asleep watching him.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_320'>320</span>“I only just closed my eyes, that’s all,” -protested Cale. “If he’d a-made any move—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, shut up, and let’s be moving,” interrupted -Dan. “The sooner we get him where -our officers are, the sooner we’ll be rid of him -and get something to eat.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon found that he was somewhat stiff -when he came to get upon his feet, but before -they had gone half a mile he stepped off with -his accustomed free stride. Dan led the way -with the revolver in his hand, and he was -considerate enough to keep the bushes from -striking his prisoner in the face. Leon knew -how far it was to the river, but the distance -seemed to lengthen out wonderfully since he -last passed that way. He kept a bright look-out -in the hope that he would meet some of -the Union men, but in this he was disappointed.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, right up that way, not more than a -mile, is a company of your fellows stationed -there to watch the bridge,” said Dan, stopping -at length. “How much would you give to -holler and bring them down here?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Don’t talk to him that way,” exclaimed -<span class='pageno' id='Page_321'>321</span>Cale, disturbed by the thought. “The first -thing you know he will holler.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Then this revolver will settle his hash,” -said Dan, savagely. “Let him holler, if he -wants to.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>A little further on came the river, whereupon -Dan backed off for a few feet and told -Cale to undo the prisoner’s hands. Cale was -prompt to obey, and the first thing that Leon -did when he felt his arms free was to stretch -them above his head, as if he enjoyed having -them at liberty once more. He did not make -a motion to escape, for there was the revolver -looking him in the face.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now take off your clothes, you two, and -be ready to swim the river,” said Dan.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Am I going over there with him?” asked -Cale, and he was thoroughly frightened at the -prospect.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You go first, and when you get over there -you can pick up a club. I’ll keep his clothes -behind with me, and the revolver, too, and if -he wants to run off naked let him go. I bet -you he’ll be glad to have his clothes again.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The two boys lost no time in taking off -<span class='pageno' id='Page_322'>322</span>their clothes, and there was one thing that -Leon didn’t like pretty well. He would lose -his shirt by the operation; but there was no -help for it that he could see. In due time the -boys were all over, and Leon saw his shirt go -upon the back of Dan Newman.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There, now, I feel like myself again,” exclaimed -Dan. “I can go among our officers -now and have a shirt on. Button your coat -up tight, Leon, and no wind can get in. Now -you must have your hands tied again.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>This much being accomplished, the prisoner -and his captors went ahead at a more rapid -pace, the woods being more open, and they -held their course parallel with the main road. -Their object was to get below the bend, where -they would be out of sight of the sentries. -At the end of half an hour they emerged -from the woods, and striking the road went -on their way with increased speed.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Don’t you know some place along here -where you can go and get something to eat?” -asked Leon. “I could travel twice as fast if -I had something on my stomach.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I was just thinking of that thing myself,” -<span class='pageno' id='Page_323'>323</span>answered Dan. “I am going to stop at the -first house I meet. And remember, Leon, no -trying to get away,” he added, showing the -revolver he still carried in his hand.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon didn’t make any reply. He knew -now that he was beyond all reach of help, -and after he got something to eat—that was -the first thing on the programme—he must -make up his mind to face “our officers,” who -wouldn’t be apt to treat him any too well. -But first one house was passed and then another, -and as neither Dan nor Cale had the -courage to go in and beg something to eat, -Leon finally gave it up as a bad job, and -thought he would have to go on to Mobile before -he could get a mouthful to stay his appetite. -At last they came along to a place that Leon -remembered. The first time he saw it there -was a pleasant farm-house, and corn-cribs and -negro quarters in abundance; but now everything -had been given up to the flames, and -some of the ruins were still smoking.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I declare, somebody has been -burned out, here!” said Dan. “Is this the -place where you came last night, Leon?”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_324'>324</span>“I was around here somewhere,” replied -Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Then here’s where that rebel fellow lives,” -continued Dan. “It serves him just right. -Before I take an oath to support a government -and then go back on it I would deserve to be -burned out myself.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon did not make any reply to this, for -he thought that Dan might be burned out and -still not lose a great deal by it; but he did not -want to say so for fear of making him angry. -His captors had treated him all right so far, -but he knew what the consequences would be -if he got them down on him. While he was -thinking about it, and wondering how Tom -Howe and young Dawson would look upon -his absence—they certainly would know he -had been captured—they came suddenly -around another bend in the road, and saw -before them a long line of horsemen who were -travelling as though they had some place to -reach before night. He took a second glance -at them, and saw that they were all dressed in -Confederate uniform.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There’s some of our men now!” exclaimed -<span class='pageno' id='Page_325'>325</span>Dan, so overjoyed that he took off his hat -and waved it to them. “But, Cale, that -ain’t our captain in front, is it? He was a -big man, and this is a little one. There must -be a whole regiment of them, and if that is -the case they are going up to whip the Union -men.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon’s heart fairly came up into his mouth. -He would know soon what the rebels were -going to do with him. The Confederates discovered -them as soon as they came around the -bend, and they kept a close watch of them -until they came up. The man in front certainly -was not a captain. He had a mark on -his collar that no one had ever seen before.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, boys, where are you going?” inquired -the man; and they found out before -the interview was over that his men called -him colonel. Of course, Dan looked at him -with a great deal of respect after he found out -what his rank was.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, we’ve got a Yankee prisoner here,” -said Dan, who was expected to do all the -talking. “He is the son of the Secretary of -War up in Jones county.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_326'>326</span>“He is, hey?” exclaimed the colonel, beginning -to show some interest in the matter. -“Well, we’ll send him right down to Mobile the -first thing we do. Are you from Jones county?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Dan replied that he was.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Then you must know all about the men -up there,” said the colonel. “How many -have they got, anyway?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“A thousand fighting men,” replied Dan. -“And I tell you, you will want more men -than you have got here to whip them.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I don’t know about that. We have got a -thousand men here in this regiment, and they -are all disciplined, and when they draw up -against your crowd of bushwhackers you will -see some scattering. Now, we want to get -across that bridge; how far is it from here?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You will find it right straight up this -road about twenty miles. You want to be -careful, because they have got ten men hidden -up there, and they are all good shots.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We will take care of them, don’t you fear. -Now, after we get across the bridge we must -deploy in line of battle; how far will we have -to go before we can strike their main line?”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_327'>327</span>“It is ten miles from the bridge to Ellisville, -and when you get there you will find -all the men you want.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, now, see here: suppose you go with -me? You know all the crooks and turns of -the road that leads—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But, Captain,” began Dan.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“This gentleman is a colonel,” interrupted -the man who rode by his commanding officer’s -side.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“A colonel!” exclaimed Dan, somewhat -surprised to find that he had found the man -who held the position his father was working -for. “Colonel, I am glad to meet you,” he -added, advancing and thrusting out a dirty, -begrimed hand to the man, who merely -reached down and touched the tips of it with -his fingers. “My father calculates to hold -the position of colonel when he has delivered -up all the head men of the county into your -hands. But, Colonel, I want to see this man -located in Mobile. I had a heap of trouble to -gobble him, and I don’t want to lose him.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>But that wasn’t the principal reason why -Dan did not want to go back. Some of the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_328'>328</span>men at the bridge would be certain to recognize -him, and if he escaped the bullets which -they would send after him he would not dare -go home.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We’ll take care of him,” said the colonel. -“The son of the Secretary of War is too -valuable to lose.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What do you reckon you will do with -him, Colonel?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Hang him, probably.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon heard the words, and looked around -at Dan and Cale. Dan smiled upon him as -if he had just heard a glorious piece of news, -but Cale was grinning with delight. He said -to himself: “If Leon is going to be hung I’ll -have his horse.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Adjutant, pick out a good, trusty man to -march this fellow to Mobile,” said the colonel. -“A faithful fellow, mind you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Captain Cullom, have you such a man in -your company?” said the adjutant, turning to -the officer who commanded the advance of the -line.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, sir. Ballard, step out here!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The man referred to, who was one of the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_329'>329</span>leading fours of his company, urged his horse -to the front and brought his hand to his hat -with a military salute. Then he slung his -carbine upon his shoulder and drew his revolver -from his belt. Leon looked at him, and -he told himself that if he had been a rebel -he would have trusted that man with his life. -He was young, not more than twenty-four, -but he was from Texas, and had been a cowboy -all his life; consequently he was a little -better clad than the majority of his comrades.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Ballard, you take this man before General -Lowery and tell him that I sent him,” said -the colonel. “Tell him that he is the son of -a high-up man of Jones county, and let him -do what he pleases with him.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Very good, sir,” answered Ballard.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I wouldn’t untie his hands,” continued -the colonel, “but you have got your revolver -in your hands and can easily stop him in case -he runs for the woods.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Very good, sir,” replied Ballard. “Forward, -march! Go off at one side of the road -so as to be out of the way of the column.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_330'>330</span>“Now, two of the men must make room -for these boys,” said the colonel. “Forward!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Dan and Cale were quickly provided with -places to ride behind two of the cavalrymen, -the adjutant shouted “Forward!” with all the -strength of his lungs, and Leon stood at one -side of the road and watched the men as they -marched by. He had heard a good deal about -Texas, and he finally came to the conclusion -that all the soldiers were from that region. -They were all long-haired, and many of them -were unacquainted with combs, but there were -some among them who were dressed like his -cowboy, with handkerchiefs around their -necks, broad tarpaulins on their heads and -fine boots on their feet. A good many of -them had a word to say to Ballard and his -prisoner, and they were not of the kind that -was calculated to encourage Leon. When -Leon wasn’t looking Ballard raised his pistol -and took a deliberate aim at his head—a proceeding -that was welcomed by shouts from all -the men who saw it.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s the way; shoot him down!” shouted -<span class='pageno' id='Page_331'>331</span>one of the soldiers. “There will be one less -Yank for us left to fight, anyway.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, sonny, I guess all the men have -passed,” said Ballard. “Take the middle of -the road and travel ahead as if you were -going for the doctor. Mobile is a long ways -from here.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon accordingly took to the road and -plodded along at his best pace; but he was -wearied, and his hands hurt him so that he -was on the point of urging his captor to untie -them for a little while, so that he could stretch -his arms and get the kinks out of them. He -walked along until he had got around the first -bend, out of sight of the cavalrymen, and then -Ballard, after looking all around and up and -down the road, to make sure that there was -nobody in sight, leaned forward and whispered -to him:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Say, sonny, go into the woods.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon turned around and faced him. He -had heard that was one way the Confederates -had of getting rid of their prisoners, namely, -to take them into the woods and “lose” them. -They would shoot them down and leave them -<span class='pageno' id='Page_332'>332</span>there. Leon couldn’t help himself if Ballard -had decided to lose him, for his hands were -tied.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What will I go in there for?” he asked, -and one wouldn’t suppose that his life was in -danger, to hear him talk.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Go into the woods quick!” said Ballard. -“I’m Union.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The revulsion of feeling was so great that -Leon staggered and would have fallen to the -ground if Ballard had not ridden up and -caught him by the collar.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Go in there quick before some one sees -you!” said Ballard, looking up and down the -road as he spoke. “I wouldn’t hurt the hair -of your head. I’ve wanted to get with those -Jones county people ever since I have been -here, and now I have got a chance at last. Go -into the woods quick as you can walk. I’ll -untie your hands in there.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon waited to hear no more, but dived -straight into the bushes, and he never stopped -until he had gone half a mile from the road. -But fast as he went, Ballard was close behind -him. When he stopped his captor dismounted -<span class='pageno' id='Page_333'>333</span>and pulled a big bowie-knife from his boot. -One blow was enough, and Leon’s arms were -free.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Ballard, I never shall forget you!” said -Leon, and his voice was somewhat husky as -he spoke. “I have been wondering how I -should get away, but I never thought that -you would help me. You are a friend indeed. -But first I want to know if you have anything -to eat in your haversack? I haven’t had a -bite since yesterday.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Ballard at once unslung his haversack, and -while Leon was regaling himself on the corn-bread -and bacon, which tasted wonderfully -good to him, he told Leon how he happened -to go into the service, while he knew that the -South was going to be utterly impoverished. -He owned a fine cattle-ranch in Texas, and -when the Southern men around him began to -talk of going into her service he found that -he had to go, too, or run the risk of stretching -hemp.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I didn’t want to go for a long time,” said -Ballard, “and when I found that my neighbors -were all giving in their names, and began -<span class='pageno' id='Page_334'>334</span>to look cross-eyed at me and make remarks -that people who were not for us were against -us, I saw it was high time I was doing something; -so I got an Englishman to take care -of my place, and here I am. I tell you, there -is a lot of men in the rebel army that think -just the same as I do.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Let them come over into our county and -we’ll treat them right,” said Leon. “Father -says we will have at least ten thousand men -by-and-by, and it is going to take more than -double that number of men to whip us. Now, -Ballard, I am much obliged to you for this -breakfast, and I am now able to go on. Are -you going to take your horse with you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, I couldn’t think of going anywhere -without that horse,” said Ballard, hastily. -“I’ll warrant that if the rebels went by within -ten feet of us he wouldn’t say a word.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon at once stepped out at his old pace, -and Ballard kept close behind him. The -woods were so thick that they couldn’t stop to -do much talking, and by the time it began to -grow dark they were on the banks of the -creek.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_335'>335</span>“Now, we are half way home,” said Leon. -“I would like to know just how that cavalry -came out in attacking our men. I’ve listened -every once in a while, but I didn’t hear any -sound of rifles or carbines.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Probably they are too far away for us to -hear them,” said Ballard. “If your men will -fight—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, they will fight, and there are some of -them with us who have repeatedly declared -that they won’t take any prisoners. If they -drive our men back to the swamp they are -whipped, sure. By gracious! what’s that? It -sounds like a couple of horses coming through -the woods.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Ballard took his horse by the bridle to hold -his head down in case he wanted to call to -them and listened intently. Soon the measured -tread of the horses could be heard coming -through the woods, and in a few minutes a -couple of rebels appeared on the opposite -bank of the creek and but a short distance -above them. One of the Confederates had no -hat on, his left arm was hanging loose by his -side and his companion was holding him on -<span class='pageno' id='Page_336'>336</span>his horse. They paused for a few moments, as -if they didn’t know what to do with the -creek in front of them, and then the uninjured -one urged the horses in, and in a few strokes -of the hoofs they were safe across.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I’ll tell you what’s the matter with our -side,” said Ballard, as soon as the two rebels -had disappeared in the bushes. “We have -been whipped!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Do you mean to say that our fellows have -whipped the cavalry?” inquired Leon, and he -was surprised and delighted to hear it.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That is just what I mean. If the cavalry -had been successful they would have kept to -the road and taken some prisoners with them; -but their being scattered in this way makes -me think that they have been worsted. You -saw that man who was being held on his -horse? Well, he was wounded.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We have got to swim the creek before we -can get over,” said Leon. “I am impatient -to see how my father came out. Take off -your clothes and hold them above your head. -I’ll carry your carbine for you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon worked in earnest now, for his father -<span class='pageno' id='Page_337'>337</span>had been in danger and he was not there to -share it. In hardly less time than it takes to -tell it he was on the other side of the bayou -and pulling on his clothes. Ballard was not -very far behind him, and seeing how impatient -Leon was he donned his uniform with -all possible haste, after which they struck out -for Ellisville.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_338'>338</span> - <h2 class='c008'>CHAPTER XVI. <br /> <span class='small'>A FIGHT AND ITS RESULTS.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c009'>Let us now return to the cavalrymen and -see how they came out in their assault -on the Union men who had been left to guard -the bridge, and particularly to tell how Dan -and Cale felt when they found themselves -going back among those who would be sure -to know them. Cale was frightened, and -consequently he said nothing, but Dan was -just scared enough to have plenty of talk in -him.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Take that man up behind you,” said Captain -Cullom, addressing himself to one of the -leading fours of his company.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Up you come with a jump,” said the man, -reaching down to catch Dan by the hand.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, now, I tell you I don’t want to get up -there,” said Dan. “Those people at the bridge -<span class='pageno' id='Page_339'>339</span>will surely know me, and I’ll be tumbled off -with the first volley you get.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Get on up there,” said Captain Cullom, -and he reached over as if he was going to -draw his sword.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Give us your hand,” said the man, getting -impatient. “Now throw your leg over the -back of the horse. You are Southerner -enough to do that.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Dan finally made out to get on the cavalryman’s -horse, but it was more the effects of the -sword, which had leaped half-way out of its -scabbard while the captain was talking to -him. Cale was already seated behind his -man, and in response to the adjutant’s order, -“Forward!” they moved toward the bridge. -Dan was more than half-inclined to cry when -he found that he must go whether he wanted -to or not, and the man he was with began to -torment him.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, they will give it to you if they catch -you up there,” said he, in a tone so low that -the captain couldn’t hear it. “Say, Charlie, -you remember what they done to those two -fellows they caught down to Mobile?”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_340'>340</span>“<a id='corr340.1'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='You re'>You’re</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_340.1'><ins class='correction' title='You re'>You’re</ins></a></span> right, I do,” replied the man thus -addressed. “They hung ’em up to the nearest -tree.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What did they do that for?” asked Dan.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Because they wanted to betray their friends -into our hands,” said the man.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But these ain’t friends of mine,” replied -Dan, “I’ve been down on them ever since I -have been here.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No matter. You know what we will do -to them if we catch them, and the others will -serve you the same way. I would rather be -in my boots than in yours.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But you are going to lick them, ain’t -you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Lick them? Of course we are. That’s -what we are going up here for. Have you -got any friends there?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I’ve got a father and a mother.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Then they had better get out. We’re -going to sweep everything clean. There won’t -be hide nor hair left of a Union man to-night.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, if you will let me get off and go -through the woods,” said Dan, “I can warn -my relatives.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_341'>341</span>“Can’t do it,” said the man, shaking his -head. “Didn’t you hear what the captain -said? If you were in the service you would -know how to obey orders.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Silence in the ranks!” commanded Captain -Cullom, and this put a stop to all conversation -between them, although Dan had many -things that he wanted to say.</p> - -<p class='c010'>After this they rode along in a sort of a -fox trot, but Dan noticed that they didn’t -take as much pains to go quietly as the squad -had done the night before. By the time they -got to the bend Dan was certain that the -pickets had heard them and taken to the -bushes, and when they got around it in plain -view of the bridge there was not a sentinel in -sight. But before they had gone many feet -along the road a voice called out:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Halt! Who comes there?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Draw sabres and revolvers!” shouted the -colonel, and the order was repeated by the -adjutant, who galloped back along the column -and yelled out the command as he went. -“Forward! Charge!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>In a second Dan was flying along the road -<span class='pageno' id='Page_342'>342</span>faster than he had ever travelled on horseback -before, and in another second the line was -thrown into confusion by a discharge of rifles -and carbines from the woods on each side of -the bridge. The shots were well-aimed, too, -for each man was sure of his mark. The -colonel and his horse went down, and so did -the two men who were carrying Dan and Cale -double. The leading four were also badly cut -up, and before the major could get up to command -in place of his colonel a second discharge -followed, which came within an ace of -putting the column to a rout. Dan and Cale -were on their feet as soon as they struck the -ground, the former with his left arm hanging -loose and the latter with a bullet-hole through -both cheeks.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I’ve got it now! I’ve got it now!” moaned -Dan, and when he tried to raise his arm he -saw that the lower part of it was useless.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And I, too!” yelled Cale. “What’s the -matter with my face, Dan? I can’t hardly -talk.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>But Dan wasn’t staying around there to -tell Cale what was the matter with his face. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_343'>343</span>In fact he didn’t think anything of his -brother at all, for his thoughts were wrapped -up in his own wound. He gazed at the fallen -men who were scattered around him, heard -the major issue some rapid orders, and then -he, too, fell off his horse. The pickets were -evidently going for the officers, and they made -short work of them. Dan saw and heard -all this and then made a desperate lunge for -the bushes, and Cale was close at his heels -when he got there.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, my face!” groaned Cale. “I wish -I knew what was the matter with it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Do you think there is nobody killed but -yourself?” retorted Dan. “Look at this arm. -It don’t hurt me so much, but it feels bruised, -and you have got nothing but a bullet-hole -through your cheeks.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>By this time the column was under command -of a captain, who had little difficulty in -rallying them, and Dan heard a yell such as -he had never heard before, the yell of charging -cavalry, and he saw the body of men -sweep on toward the bridge; but when they -got there they saw the Union pickets far up -<span class='pageno' id='Page_344'>344</span>the road. But they loaded their rifles as fast -as they went, and when they turned around to -fire at their pursuers some man was certain to -go down. At last the captain who commanded -the cavalry went over also, and this -left Captain Cullom, who was the second in -rank, in charge of the regiment.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Forward!” he shouted at the top of his -voice. “They are going on ahead to arouse -the other men, and we must overtake them -before they get there.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Again that charging yell arose, and it was -answered by yells equally as savage from the -Union men, who turned and fired another -volley at them. The ten miles that lay between -them and Ellisville were quickly passed -over, and by the time the pickets had arrived -within sight of the camp there was not a -man to be seen. The houses didn’t look as -though there was anybody around them, but -when they came nearer they found that every -window was filled with sharpshooters. The -church, too, was used as a barricade, and as it -stood broadside to the road we can imagine -that it must have been hot work for that column -<span class='pageno' id='Page_345'>345</span>of cavalry to have stood against it. As -they came opposite the hotel the door opened -and Mr. Knight and Mr. Sprague stepped out.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What is going on down the road?” asked -the former.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“The rebs are coming!” shouted half a -dozen voices. “They have got a whole regiment -of cavalry with them. We hain’t lost a -man.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You have done nobly,” said Mr. Sprague. -“Go around behind the church-house and -make your horses fast, and go in there. Be -ready to shoot when you hear us.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“This looks like a fight,” said one of the -pickets, as they made their way into the -church. “Boys, I laid out one traitor the -first fire I had. It was that miserable Dan -Newman.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And I made all haste to lay out the other -one,” chimed in a second. “His brother, -Cale Newman, was there, and Bob, here, shot -the man’s horse, and I took particular aim -at his head. I know I hit him, but I did not -fix him. I saw him get up and go into the -bushes.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_346'>346</span>“Here they come!” said one of the sharp-shooters, -who was keeping watch at one of the -windows. “There is lots of them, ain’t they?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, but it is going to take more than -they have got to get away with us,” said one -of the pickets. “If ten men can throw a -column like that into confusion, they won’t -stand long against the fire of five hundred.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, all you men who can get there at -the window fire your one shot, and then fall -back and give somebody else a chance,” said -the quartermaster—the one who had refused -to give Cale Newman a mule. “In that way -we can keep up a regular fusillade on them.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The Confederates came on, yelling as they -went, and there was more than one man who -took note of the fact that discipline was a -great thing. All those in front were coming -to their death, but not one was seen to flinch. -The men in the church began to wonder if -Mr. Sprague had forgotten how to shoot, his -signal was so long delayed, and some of the -most excitable ones yelled “Fire!” as the -rebels came on, but the calm voice of their -leader broke in with:</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_347'>347</span>“Steady there, men. Don’t shoot until -you have the word;” and scarcely had he got -the words out of his mouth when a rifle-shot -came from the hotel across the way, and an -instant afterward nearly a thousand rifles and -carbines cracked in unison. The slaughter -was fearful. The captain, who was leading -the charge, fell with a dozen bullets in his -person, and when the smoke cleared away so -that they could see the effect of the shot, they -found that the leading company had been dismounted, -and their horses were running -about as if they didn’t know which way to go.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, you men at the window who have -had a hand in this fall back,” said the quartermaster; -but nobody seemed to hear him. -The men struggled to keep their places, and the -men in the body of the church, finding that no -opportunity was to be given them, opened the -door and went out. Then the rebels got another -volley, and it was almost as disastrous -as the first. And this wasn’t the worst of it. -All the men came out from their hiding-places, -from the hotel and from behind the -trees that concealed them in the grove, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_348'>348</span>the surviving rebels, seeing nothing before -them but a regiment of Union men who were -backed by rifles that never missed, and more -running up to join them, took to their heels -and made the best of their time down the road.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Get on your horses and follow them!” -shouted Mr. Knight from the window of the -hotel. “Don’t let one escape!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>That was the way the rebels got scattered. -The Union men pursued them on fresh horses; -and some of them, seeing that their chances -for escape were slim indeed, threw down their -arms and surrendered, while the rest took off -through the woods. That was the time that -Leon and Ballard might have added some -glory to their escape by capturing the two -men who went across the creek, but the -trouble was they didn’t know how the thing -had ended.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, if you think they were whipped we -can go up the main road,” said Leon. “But -I really shouldn’t like to get so close to home -and then have them jump onto me.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I shouldn’t like it, either,” said Ballard, -with a laugh. “I would be apt to fare worse -<span class='pageno' id='Page_349'>349</span>than you would. But can’t we go on and reconnoitre -the ground? If we find some of -your men there we’ll be safe.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Let us try it,” said Leon. “Anything is -better than walking through this thick underbrush.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon was not more than half a mile below -the bridge, and before he had gone that distance -he heard somebody talking in the road. -He raised his hand to Ballard, and the latter at -once took his horse by the head and forced it -down. Leon held on, and after carefully -feeling his way came upon several Union men -who were gathered about a rebel who had -been shot from his horse. One of the Union -men he recognized as Bud McCoy, but who the -others were he didn’t know.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Halloo! there. You licked them, didn’t -you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I’ll be dog-gone!” exclaimed the -man, as he turned about and saw Leon advancing -upon him through the bushes. -“Where have you been? Your pap has been -in a heap of worry about you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And well he might be,” said Leon. “I -<span class='pageno' id='Page_350'>350</span>have been a prisoner. Come on, Ballard; it’s -all right.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The men all <a id='corr350.3'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='straightend'>straightened</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_350.3'><ins class='correction' title='straightend'>straightened</ins></a></span> up—they were -busy getting ready to remove the wounded -rebel—and presently saw Ballard coming -through the woods leading his horse.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And here’s the man who saved me,” -added Leon. “Know him, boys. His name -is Ballard. He was going to take me down -to Mobile, but after he got out of sight of -the rebels he asked me into the woods and -gave me something to eat. How many of -the Confederates did you kill?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But first, I want to know how you came -to be taken prisoner?” said Bud. “Did you -run onto the rebels before you knew it? The -last time I saw you, you were up to old Newman’s -house.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, I didn’t run onto the rebels before I -saw them,” said Leon; and he knew the confession -he was about to make would not meet -the entire approval of Bud McCoy. “One -man made a prisoner of me.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Who was it?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dan Newman.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_351'>351</span>“And you had a revolver in your pocket?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, but he got it away from me.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Dan Newman! Well, I’ll be dog-gone! -Before I would let a man like Dan Newman -capture me—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But, Bud, he threw me down when I -didn’t know he was near me,” protested Leon, -“and when I turned over to see what had -happened to me, there was my own revolver -aimed straight at me.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, you will never have an opportunity -to get even with him now,” said Bud. “He -was shot right through the arm, and his -brother got a bullet-hole through both cheeks.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, who did that?” exclaimed Leon, -who felt very much disappointed to hear it. -He had always contended that no Newman -could handle him, and now he would have to -live with that shadow on his mind.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I don’t know; some of the pickets did it, -Tom Howe was almost as worked up as your -father. He’s down there now, helping gather -up the wounded rebels,” said Bud, jerking his -head down the road.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I hope Dan will get well, for I am bound -<span class='pageno' id='Page_352'>352</span>to try my strength with him some day,” said -Leon. “Has anybody here got a horse that -I can ride?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Take that gray,” said one of the men, -“I have got to carry this man to Ellisville, -so I will have to walk.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon thanked him, unhitched the horse, -swung himself upon his back and galloped -across the bridge and down the road to the -place where his two friends were at work. -Tom and Dawson were surprised to see him, -and while he was telling them the story he -looked all around to find Dan and Cale. He -<a id='corr352.14'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='want'>wanted</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_352.14'><ins class='correction' title='want'>wanted</ins></a></span> to see how badly hurt Dan was, for he -believed, if they were to measure strength -once more, that Dan would go under.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There’s one thing that happened about -this business that you won’t like,” said Tom; -and he spoke as though he was very much -disheartened himself. “Old man Smith was -badly wounded during the fight.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, how did that happen?” asked Leon -in surprise.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, you must know that all the shooting -that was done wasn’t confined to our -<span class='pageno' id='Page_353'>353</span>men,” said Tom. “The rebels rallied two or -three times, and every time they poured in a -volley.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But how did Mr. Smith get hit? Wasn’t -he under cover?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes; he was in the hotel with your father, -but he came out. He was just getting all ready -to fire when a bullet took him in the side and -over he went.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon was very sorry to hear this. He remembered -that Mr. Smith had told him particularly -that he had something to say to him, -and he had not been near him since. Perhaps -if he went directly home he would get -there in time to hear what he had to say. He -didn’t think it anything worth listening to, -but he would show his good-will. While he -was looking around at the dead and wounded -Confederates lying there—and he was really -surprised when he saw what a havoc ten guns -had made in the assaulting column—he became -aware that there was a man leaning on -a rifle and keeping guard over several -prisoners. Among them were Dan and Cale. -One’s arm and the other’s face had been bandaged -<span class='pageno' id='Page_354'>354</span>after a fashion, and they were waiting -until the rebels were all gathered up, when -they would go on to Ellisville and be placed -under the care of the doctor. Leon gave his -horse the rein and rode up and accosted Dan.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, old fellow, I am sorry to see you in -this fix,” said he.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, no doubt you are glad of it,” whined -Dan, moving his wounded arm to a better -place.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I am, really. I was in hopes that you and -I would come together again, and I wanted -you to see that you couldn’t take me down as -easy as you did before. You handled me as -easy as though I wasn’t there.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I can do it all the time,” replied Dan, -snappishly, for just then his arm pained him -and he moved it to another position. “I can -get away with you the best day you ever saw.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, it is very easy for you to talk that -way now, but if you had two good arms I -would try you right here.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Say, Leon, what do you reckon those fellows -will do with us after they get us to Ellisville?” -said Cale, speaking with difficulty.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_355'>355</span>“I am sure I don’t know. If I had my -way with you I would send you among the -rebels, with orders not to come back. You -talk of the rebels as ‘our men,’ and you belong -with them.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I guess you’ll stretch hemp,” said the man -who was acting as sentry over them.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I hope they won’t go that far, but I don’t -know,” said Leon, as he turned his horse about -and started for Ellisville.</p> - -<p class='c010'>It was getting dark by this time, but all -the way Leon saw some signs of the fight. -Here was a dead rebel who had been shot -during the retreat, and who had fallen in the -middle of the road, and he had been moved -out on one side and his body covered with a -blanket. A little further on he came across -a wagon which was loaded with wounded -Confederates, and the Union men all greeted -him as though they were glad to see him. -There was one thing about it, if there was any -faith to be put in what the men said to him: -His father had been in a constant worry ever -since he failed to show up at Newman’s house, -and he became so satisfied that Newman was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_356'>356</span>to blame for his capture—for Mr. Sprague -knew that somebody had made a prisoner of -him—that he sent a squad of men back to the -house and placed them all in custody. Finally -Leon came up to the place where the slaughter -had taken effect when the Confederates got -ready to make their charge, and he shuddered -when he looked at it. The rebels and their -horses had fallen together in a heap until they -were piled on top of one another. The Union -men had not got through removing them -yet.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“By gracious, if those rebels could come -up here from Mobile and see what I have -seen to-day, I’ll bet they would give up trying -to conquer us,” said Leon, as he once more -gave his horse the rein and drew up before -the hotel porch. “I didn’t suppose that a -battle ended in that way. I thought the dead -and wounded were scattered all around, and -that you had to hunt a long time before you -found them, but—I never want to see another -fight.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The hotel porch was empty when he got -there, but a little way up toward the grove he -<span class='pageno' id='Page_357'>357</span>saw a company of Confederates, all huddled -together, and Union men were keeping guard -over them. They were waiting there until -their paroles could be made out. You see -they had no printing-press in Jones county, -and everything like this had to be made out -by hand. He went up into the President’s -room, and there he found as many men as -could find seats at the table engaged in writing. -Some of the prisoners were there to -assist them.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“The way we do this,” said Mr. Knight, -addressing himself to the captain who had -last commanded the regiment (by the way, he -was wounded, too, for a handkerchief that was -wet with blood was tied around his forehead)—“the -way we do this is all owing to you -rebels alone. You have not hung any of our -men yet; indeed, I don’t know that you have -had a chance, but if you had hung any of -them, we should pick out as many men as had -been executed and hang them to the nearest -tree. We want you to understand that these -paroles are matters of life and death with -you. If you go into battle against us without -<span class='pageno' id='Page_358'>358</span>being exchanged, and we capture you, you can -expect nothing but death. I think you have -found out, by the way that cavalry charged -upon us, that we know how to fight. How -many men had you to go back to Mobile?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, sir, I should say about two hundred.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And how many had you in the first -place?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We marched up here to assault you with -eleven hundred men, sir.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And only two hundred escaped! That’s -doing pretty good work.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon was astonished when he found out -that so small a number of Confederates had -got away, and then, seeing that the conversation -between the President and the rebel captain -had ceased, he began looking around for -his father. He found him at last sitting at -a table in a remote corner of the room, and -walked up and placed his hand upon his -shoulder. Mr. Sprague looked up, and finding -Leon’s face beaming down upon him, put -his pen in his mouth and extended his hand.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Halloo, Leon; you have got back, haven’t -you?” he exclaimed; and for the first time in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_359'>359</span>his life he saw his father’s eyes filled with -tears.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, sir, I have got back. Where’s Mr. -Smith?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Mr. Smith has got his death-wound, I am -afraid,” said his father, looking down at the -paper on which he was writing with a most -gloomy expression. “He wants to see you -bad, and I would advise you to go down to -him at once. You will find him in the parlor, -lying on the sofa.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon waited to hear no more, but worked -his way through the men toward the door, -stopping to shake hands with this one, or to -give a bow and a smile to another, and presently -found himself in the parlor. The doctor -was there and bending over the wounded -man, and so was a distant relative of his, who -seemed determined that the doctor should not -exchange any words with Mr. Smith without -he could hear them. Leon had never liked -that man, Leonard Smith. It is true that he -had never worked for his father, nor for Mr. -Smith, either, for there was something about -him that neither of the gentlemen approved -<span class='pageno' id='Page_360'>360</span>of. He was constantly telling around that he -was going to have a lot of money one of these -days, and nobody knew where he was going to -get it. Mr. Smith had a little, just how much -no one knew, and it was very clear to everyone -that Leonard Smith wouldn’t get any of -it when he got done with it. Mr. Smith had -often been heard to declare:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I’ll never help a man who is too lazy to -help himself. What does that Leonard Smith -do to earn his living? He works at the logs -about half the time, and the balance he -spends in visiting me. I have often told him -to go to work, but he won’t do it. He is a sort -of second cousin to me, but all the same he -has no claim on me.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>When Leon came into the parlor Mr. Smith -turned his head and saw him. With more -strength than a person of his injuries would -be likely to show he thrust out his hand and -welcomed him in his cheery way.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, Leon, where have you been?” exclaimed -the wounded man. “Come here and -tell me all about it. Now, doctor, I can get -along without any more help until I get -<span class='pageno' id='Page_361'>361</span>through with Leon. Take everybody out of -the room.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The only person in the room besides the -doctor and Leon was this Leonard Smith, and -he didn’t seem inclined to move. He walked -back toward the foot of the sofa and leaned -upon it, and there he seemed determined to -stay.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I want you to go, too,” said Mr. Smith, -in angry tones. “Take him out with you, -doctor.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I guess I had better stay here,” said Leonard. -“You might want me to hand you -your water or something.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I reckon this man I have got here is -enough to hand me my water or anything -else,” retorted Mr. Smith. “Doctor, I want -to see Leon about something particular, and I -would thank you to take that fellow out of -the room. I haven’t got but a short time to -live—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Come, now, Leonard, go out of the room,” -said the doctor.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leonard waited a moment, just long enough -to cast a glance of mingled hate and rage -<span class='pageno' id='Page_362'>362</span>upon Mr. Smith and Leon, and then went out, -banging the door after him.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s all right,” said Mr. Smith. “Now, -lock the door. It will take not more than a -minute, but what little I do say I want to -reach your ears, and your ears alone. Pull up -a chair and sit down.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon complied. He fastened the door, and -then drew a chair close to the wounded man’s -side and leaned over him.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_363'>363</span> - <h2 class='c008'>CHAPTER XVII. <br /> <span class='small'>THE EVENTS OF A WEEK.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c009'>“That’s all right,” repeated Mr. Smith, -as Leon seated himself close by his -side. “I didn’t want that Leonard Smith to -hear a word I had to say to you, for he is a -slippery fellow, and I don’t deny that I have -detected him in efforts to steal money from -me. The funds I have got— Put your hand -inside my vest and pull out my pocket-book.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon arose to his feet and was about to -comply with the man’s request when the door -of the parlor was tried with a careful hand, -but the lock prevented intrusion.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s Leonard,” said Mr. Smith. “Let -him work. He has got rid of the doctor and -was coming in to hear what I had to say to -you. That’s it,” he continued, as Leon drew -out a pocket-book which was made so large -that it would contain bills at full length. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_364'>364</span>“Now, put it in your pocket and button it up -and give it to your father the first thing you -do. My will is in there, and my money is all -bequeathed to you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon gasped, but he had never thought of -anything like this, and he didn’t know what -to say to it. Finally he stammered:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Do you think it right, Mr. Smith, to take -all this money away from Leonard and give -it to me, who—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I have a right to do what I please with -my own,” interrupted Mr. Smith. “I have -worked hard for every cent of it, and I have -made it all. The money is all in gold, and -the will tells where to find it; but don’t you -let Leonard get hold of the pocket-book, for -if you do he will cheat you out of it. Keep -watch of him the first thing you do, and -don’t let him catch you off your guard. Now, -Leon, that’s all. Hand me a drink of water. -This fever, or something else in me, is burning -me up.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon made all haste to bring the wounded -man a tumbler of water from the table, and -when he had drained it he thought it wise to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_365'>365</span>provide for the use of the money in case Mr. -Smith’s injuries should not be as severe as -they thought.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Of course, if you get well,” he began.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, then, of course, I’ll get the money -back. I understand that; but, Leon, you -don’t want to talk about such things. I know -when I am done for as well as anybody. Now -you may unlock the door and let Leonard in. -After that, take the money up and give it to -your father. It is all willed to you, mind you, -but of course your father will have full charge -of it until you are twenty-one. Now unlock -the door.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon lingered a moment. Something told -him that he would not see Mr. Smith alive -again, and he wanted to bid him good-bye, -but he didn’t know how to go about it. The -wounded man was getting impatient, so he -stepped up and shook him by the hand; after -that he unlocked the door, and he unlocked it -so suddenly that it came open with a jerk, -and Leonard Smith, who was leaning over -with his ear close to the key-hole in the hope -of hearing something that would be of use to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_366'>366</span>him, came into the parlor on all-fours. He -didn’t apologize for his abrupt entrance, and -neither did Leon for letting him into the -room so suddenly, while Mr. Smith looked -the disgust he could not express in words.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“If I were in that man’s place I should -feel so ashamed of myself that I couldn’t look -Mr. Smith in the face,” said Leon, as he -bounded up the stairs that led to the President’s -room. “But I suppose he has been -caught in so many tricks that he isn’t -ashamed of anything. Father,” he added, in -a whisper, “this is what Mr. Smith wanted to -see me about. This pocket-book has got his -will in it, and tells us where to find his -money. How much of it there is I don’t -know; but he wanted me to give it into your -hands, with instructions to look out for Leonard -Smith.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Ah!” said Mr. Sprague, taking the pocket-book -and slipping it inside his vest. “So -Leonard has got onto it in some way or another, -has he?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes; and it was all Mr. Smith could do -to get him out of the parlor when he wanted -<span class='pageno' id='Page_367'>367</span>to talk to me. He says don’t you let Leonard -catch you off your guard one instant, for if -you do he will cheat you out of it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, if the money is made over to you -I don’t see what Leonard can have to do with -it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But he will find out where the money is -hidden, and go there and dig it up.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I reckon Mr. Leonard won’t get it -now,” said Mr. Sprague, buttoning his vest.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, I don’t think he will. Now, hadn’t -you better go down and see Mr. Smith? He -thinks he isn’t going to last much longer.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I will go down and see him now. I hope -he will get well, so that he can have this -money back again.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Sprague laid down his pen and got -upon his feet, and just then there was a -rumble of wagons in front of the house, which -told them that some of the wounded had arrived. -Leon went down to assist them and -to look for Ballard, whom he wanted to introduce -to the President, while his father went -on to the parlor. Leon found that there were -four wagon-loads of wounded rebels there, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_368'>368</span>and while he was looking around watching -for a chance to lend a hand his father came -to the door and beckoned to him.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He has gone,” said he, when Leon approached -within speaking distance.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Is he dead?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes; and all his pockets are turned inside -out.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon followed his father into the parlor, -and they found no one there except the doctor -and Leonard Smith. The doctor shook -his head and turned and went out, while -Leonard stood in his accustomed place at the -foot of the sofa, and did nothing but glare at -the father and son. The pockets had evidently -been searched, and Leonard did not -have time to put them back again before the -doctor came in. Leon drew a long breath of -relief when he saw how mad Leonard was. -He had arrived home just in the nick of time. -If he had delayed his coming half an hour the -pocket-book would now be in the possession of -one whom Mr. Smith did not want to have it. -But it was plain Leonard did not intend to -give it up in this way. As Leon took hold of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_369'>369</span>the sheet to spread it reverently over the dead -man’s face, Leonard suddenly aroused himself -and seemed determined to find out where the -pocket-book was.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I would thank you to give up what you -got from him when I went out,” said he, and -he was so angry that he could scarcely form -the words into a sentence.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“What did I get?” inquired Leon, while -his father straightened up and looked at him -without speaking.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You got a pocket-book, or something else, -in which he kept his will,” said Leonard. -“That pocket-book is mine, and I am bound to -have it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“It’s safe,” replied Mr. Sprague. “I’ll tell -you what I will do in order to find out -whether it is in the possession of the one who -ought to have it. As soon as these troubles -are all over I will take out the will and read -it in the presence of the men—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But I don’t intend to remain out of my -money so long,” interrupted Leonard. “Some -of these rebels might come here and dig down -and find it. If I have it now it will be safe.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_370'>370</span>“How do you know it is in the ground?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I just suppose it is. I don’t know -any other place he could put it where it <a id='corr370.4'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='would'>would be</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_370.4'><ins class='correction' title='would'>would be</ins></a></span> -equally safe.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I told you that I would read the will in -the presence of the men and let them decide -who owns the money. More than that I cannot -promise.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, I will just tell you what’s the gospel -truth,” said Leonard, leaving his place at -the foot of the sofa and striding up and shaking -both his clinched hands in Mr. Sprague’s -face.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Put down your hands or I will have you -arrested in a minute!” said Mr. Sprague, not in -the least alarmed by the other’s threatening -manner.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I will shake my fists in your face or in -anybody else’s face who intends to rob me of -my birthright!” exclaimed Leonard, at the -same time allowing his hands to fall by his -side. “I tell you that I will camp on that -place every night, and woe be to the man or -boy who comes there after that money. He -will not get away with it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_371'>371</span>“I hope you have said enough in the presence -of this dead man—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He was my cousin; that is what he was,” -shouted Leonard.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“—of this dead man to make you ashamed -of yourself,” said Mr. Sprague. “Now, we -will go out.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But I want you to understand what I said -about camping on that place,” said Leonard. -“The man or boy who gets that money don’t -get away with it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Sprague and Leon went out without -making any reply, the former going back to -the President’s room to resume his work upon -the paroles, and his son to wander aimlessly -about, with no disposition to do any work, although -he saw plenty of it before him. After -awhile he found Tom Howe, and both his -friends with him. They were tired of removing -wounded rebels and were now going up to -Tom’s camp for a good nap. Ballard was -evidently much impressed with the sharp-shooting -the Union men had done, and declared -that he had never seen the beat.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I don’t see how any of our fellows came -<span class='pageno' id='Page_372'>372</span>out alive,” said he, and his astonishment was -so great that he threw his arms about his -head. “You Union men are dead shots!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, there are plenty of deer and bear -loose in the swamps, and squirrels in abundance,” -said Leon, “and you can’t expect that -men who sometimes have to depend on them -for a living will miss them every time.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Come on, Leon,” said Dawson. “You’ll -have to go up to Tom’s camp, too. We -haven’t heard your story yet.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon began his story as they walked along, -and as he did not have very much to tell, anyway, -his companions knew all about it by the -time they got to the place where Tom had left -his mule. Tom was disgusted when Leon -told him about his being captured by one -man, and more than all by such a man as -Dan Newman, but he was elated just as much -when Leon told how Ballard had taken him -into the woods and given him something to -eat.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Howdy, Mr. Ballard,” said Tom, walking -up and shaking the Texas rebel by the hand. -“I didn’t get a chance to shake hands with -<span class='pageno' id='Page_373'>373</span>you before, but now I am glad to see you. -That boy is a friend of mine, and if you do -anything for him it is as though you did it -for me. Now, we will take some supper and -then go to bed.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>While Tom was kindling the fire Leon related -to him the particulars of Mr. Smith’s -death, and to say that Tom felt quite as badly -as Leon did would be telling nothing but the -truth. He did not say anything about the -will which he had given into his father’s care, -or about the trouble that Leonard Smith had -threatened to make on account of it, for something -told him that he had better keep that -to himself. Thus far, he and Mr. Sprague -were the only ones that knew anything about -it. Of course, he would have been perfectly -willing to have trusted Tom with his secret, -but there were other men there, Ballard and -Dawson, of whom he knew nothing. How -did he know that they would not hunt for the -money and make off with it? It was hidden -in the ground somewhere. Leonard seemed -to think that that was the place he would go -to find it, and if he told everybody of it -<span class='pageno' id='Page_374'>374</span>they would dig Mr. Smith’s farm full of holes -but that they would find it.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I don’t think I had better say anything -about that,” said Leon to himself, after he -had thought the matter over. “I will talk -about it to father the first chance I get. These -men will all be poor when this war is settled, -and they may fight about the money as readily -as they fired into that regiment of cavalry.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>During the week following there was nothing -happened that would be of interest to you, -although it was full of interest to the Union -men of Jones county. In the first place, as -soon as they had eaten breakfast, the prisoners -who had been captured the day before were summoned -to the hotel, and there signed their paroles. -They did it, too, knowing full well what -was to be expected if they didn’t keep them, for -Mr. Knight was there, and he went over the -same speech he had delivered to the captain -in his room. There were a number of wagons, -and the wounded were placed carefully in -them, and they were to be taken away and -delivered to their friends. There were also -two hundred Union men with them who were -<span class='pageno' id='Page_375'>375</span>to guard them as far as the bridge, and then -they were to bid them good-bye and come -back.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I hope,” said Mr. Knight, after he had -got through with his speech, “that you all -have been treated right since you have been -here.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, yes, sir,” responded a dozen voices. -“You have treated us like we were your own.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Then I hope that if you get any of my -boys in the Confederate lines you will treat -them in the same way. That’s all. Go on.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Knight did not raise any objections -when the men took off their hats and gave -him a cheer. He simply bowed and went up -the stairs that led to his room.</p> - -<p class='c010'>The next thing was taking Mr. Smith and -Bach Noble, and several other men who had -been killed and wounded during the fight with -the cavalry, to their homes. It was done with -rather more of solemnity than had yet been -displayed, and a long line followed after each -man who had given up his life in defence of -the flag. Mr. Sprague and Leon went with -the man who had bequeathed them all he had -<span class='pageno' id='Page_376'>376</span>in this world to give, and saw a grave dug -where he had always said he would wish to be -laid, and when the ceremony was over they -came back to the hotel very much depressed -in spirits. And it was a long time before -they got over thinking about Mr. Smith. He -was so lively and full of fun that he was -sadly missed, but it was not long before something -else demanded their attention. There -was one thing that Leon was glad to see. -Leonard Smith was not present at the funeral. -It was not the man he cared for—it was the -money he thought he had laid away, and -which he believed he was in duty bound to -get, seeing that Mr. Smith had no one else to -bestow it upon. But he saw that he was not -likely to get it by fair means, and so he kept -out of the way.</p> - -<p class='c010'>There was another thing that happened -during the week that made the Union men -draw a long breath of relief. The boats -which that squad had been sent up to build -were all done, and now it needed nothing -but a strong force of Confederates, much too -large to be handled by them, to send the last -<span class='pageno' id='Page_377'>377</span>man of them over to the island, where they -would be comparatively safe. They were now -ready to fight, and they didn’t care how soon -it was forced upon them. During that week, -too, a large number of men, probably two -hundred of them in all, came in to give themselves -up. Some of them were on foot, and -others had their wagons along loaded with -their families and household furniture. They -had heard the particulars of the capture of -that wagon-train, and believing that the men -in Jones county were in earnest, and that they -did not intend to be forced into the rebel -army, they watched their opportunity and -came in by night. And this wasn’t the worst -of it. There were more came in every day, -until Leon wondered where they should get -food for them all.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I don’t think the rebels knew how many -fighting men there were about here,” said he. -“We must have as many as twenty-five hundred -men here.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, and I guess if you had said double -that you wouldn’t have been far out of the -way,” said Ballard, who stuck close to the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_378'>378</span>boys wherever they went. “It will take ten -thousand men to whip us.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Do you suppose that Jeff Davis can send -that number of men up here? We are only -one little part of the Confederacy, and I -should think he would want to save his men -for something else.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“He may now, but he won’t after a while. -When Mobile becomes surrounded by Union -troops, as she certainly will, he will need all -the men he can get.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>And there was one other thing that happened -during this week that caused Leon and -Tom to look at each other in perfect astonishment. -It proved that the chief men of the -county, although they might act so very innocent, -were not to be taken unawares. They -had spies out. Some of them went to Mobile -to see what they could find there that was -worth looking at, especially to keep track of -that strong force which they knew would be -sent against them sooner or later, and the -others went up into the interior of the State -to keep a lookout for some more wagon-trains. -These men took their lives in their hands, for -<span class='pageno' id='Page_379'>379</span>every one of them that went into the Confederate -lines was dressed in a rebel uniform. If -they were caught and could not make a good -excuse in regard to the regiment and company -they belonged to, they would be hanged. -Leon had been so very busy ever since he -came into camp that he had not had time to -learn all these things; but there was one other -thing that he did learn which afforded him -infinite gratification. It was what happened -to Mr. Newman and family. They had been -arrested as soon as Mr. Sprague found out, or -rather mistrusted, that one of their number -could tell more about Leon’s absence than -any one else, and Bass Kennedy’s corn being -thrown out of the calaboose, they were chucked -in there, and guards placed over them to be -sure that they stayed, too. Of course, Mr. -Sprague was very much astonished when he -learned that Dan had made a prisoner of -Leon and had been wounded and captured by -the pickets, and when he was brought to Ellisville -he had him put into the jail with his -father and mother. On the morning that the -prisoners were sent away they were given a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_380'>380</span>wagon to themselves and forwarded to the -rebels in Mobile, and Leon never heard of -them afterward. We may tell you, however, -that Dan’s arm was amputated when he got -among the doctors, and Cale never recovered -his good looks. He looked as if his jaws were -sunk in, and all the negro-twist he could get in -them would not make them look any different.</p> - -<p class='c010'>By this time everything had been got ready -for the visit of that force which was to crush -out the rebellion of the Jones-County Confederacy. -We don’t say that Mr. Sprague -and the other chief men looked upon it as -boys’ play, because they knew well enough -what it meant. The actions of the regiment -of cavalry which came in there, as well as the -threats they had made that they were “going -to sweep everything clean,” and that before -night there wouldn’t be a Union man left, -showed them that they couldn’t hope for any -mercy. The head men of the Confederacy -would be hanged, and the others would be -forced into the rebel army. Mr. Sprague -talked this all over with Leon, but the latter -did not exhibit any signs of wavering.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_381'>381</span>“Well, I suppose if that is what we have -got to contend with we can’t meet it any too -soon,” said Leon, compressing his mouth -firmly, as he always did whenever his courage -was tested to the utmost. “I never thought -that this thing was coming through all right. -Such an exploit was never thought of -before.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I know it; and that is what makes us -think we shall come through with flying -colors. There’s one thing about it: We won’t -fight against our old flag.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>In spite of all the constant work there was -for him to do at headquarters, Mr. Sprague -found opportunity to go home and assist his -wife in packing up for the island, which was -the place the backwoodsmen had decided upon -to make their last stand. It was a piece of -ground in the midst of the swamp, entirely -surrounded by water, and now that the inside -of it had been cleared of all underbrush, which -had been piled around the outside of it to answer -for a breastwork, the island seemed to be -a larger camp than the force of men at their -disposal needed. Leon went up and saw it. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_382'>382</span>He took his mother over in one of the boats, -making their stock swim behind, and through -a long, winding pathway, made of corduroy -logs, and obstructed at every turn by numerous -barricades, and when he came at last into -the cleared space he was astonished.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, father, we haven’t got men enough -to fill up that space,” said he. “There’s room -enough for ten thousand men.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Don’t worry yourself,” said his father, -with a smile. “This war is not half over yet. -By the time we have our first fight here we’ll -have more men than we want.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>We must not forget to say that Tom Howe’s -mother and Mr. Giddings and his family went -with them. They all settled right down close -together, and seemed as happy and contented -there as they would have been under their -own roofs. Mr. Giddings especially was the -source of constant merriment to the boys. It -didn’t make any difference to him that he was -so far from his mountain home, but he pitched -right in and had a good time. Of course, he -was careful of his rifle. Whenever he could -get his hands upon that he seemed to throw -<span class='pageno' id='Page_383'>383</span>care to the winds. It was on this very day -that Mr. Sprague thought it best to speak to -Leon about that will. The boy didn’t know -anything about it, and if anything happened -to him during the fights that followed he -wanted Leon to know where to get the money. -Mr. Sprague, in the presence of his wife, had -examined the will a few days before, and the -result almost took his breath away. There -were a few gold-pieces in the pocket-book, -perhaps a hundred dollars or two, and a few -bills payable; but they were all marked off, -as if to show Mr. Sprague that Mr. Smith did -not want to press the men for the money. -Among these bills was the will, and when Mr. -Sprague came to examine it his hand shook -and he passed it over to his wife, saying:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“My goodness! Mary, who would have supposed -that Mr. Smith was worth so much -money? We dare not say anything about -this, for if we do our lives will not be worth a -moment’s purchase. These men around us -will fight as hard to keep the money here as -they will to keep the rebels away. Now, what -had we better do?”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_384'>384</span> - <h2 class='c008'>CHAPTER XVIII. <br /> <span class='small'>COLEMAN PROVES HIS HONESTY.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c009'>Mrs. Sprague fastened her eyes on the -document, and as she read the color all -left her face. She looked around. There was -plenty of opportunity for her to be overheard -now, for they were living in a brush lean-to, -and there were people constantly passing back -and forth almost within reach of them. There -were plenty of folks there that could be -trusted with their secret, but there were lots -more from whom it must be kept at all hazards.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“And do you think that some of these people -will fight for this money?” she said in an -earnest whisper.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There are lots of them that will do it,” -returned her husband. “You see we will be -as poor as they make them when this thing is -ended, and where they are going to get money -to start on, I don’t know. I tell you, we -<span class='pageno' id='Page_385'>385</span>mustn’t let anybody know it. Put that away -and I will go out and call Leon.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The heir of all this wealth was found assisting -Mr. Giddings, who was just putting -the finishing touches on his brush shanty preparatory -to getting his family under it. He -looked up when he saw his father approaching, -and he had never seen him look so white -before; but he was warned by the signal his -father made him, and so he didn’t say a word. -His mother handed him the will when he entered -their brush lean-to, and in less time -than it takes to tell it Leon was master of its -contents.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“A hundred thousand dollars!” he gasped.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Sh! Not so loud,” cautioned his mother. -“You don’t want everybody to know it, do -you? Sit down here and tell us what you -think of it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“To think that old Mr. Smith, who went -about with his knees and elbows out, should -be worth so much money!” said Leon. “It is -no wonder that that fellow wanted to fight -for it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, and you must be careful what you -<span class='pageno' id='Page_386'>386</span>say around where he can hear it,” said his -father, who had taken up a position in the -door of the lean-to so that he could partially -screen Leon while reading the will. “If he -finds out where that money is hid, it’s all up -with you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But he won’t find it,” said Leon, who -quickly copied after his father and spoke in -an almost inaudible whisper. “He has got it -hidden in the pig-pen. I was there while he -was laying that floor along in the early part -of the war, and he said then that I might -some day dig up something under it. I -couldn’t think then what he meant, although -I know it now.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, you had better let your mother -take care of the will,” said Mr. Sprague, -“and then if anything happens to us she will -know right where to go and get the money. I -tell you that is a good deal more than we -thought we were going to have.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon was almost overwhelmed by the result -of the last few minutes, and if he could have -had his own way he would have been glad to -get off somewhere by himself and think the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_387'>387</span>matter over. But now it was impossible. -Everywhere he went there was somebody -around, and it seemed to Leon, now that he -thought about it, that those who knew about -Mr. Smith’s will had a way of looking at him -as though they knew the secrets of what was -hidden under the pig-pen. Of course, it was -all imagination on his part, but still he -wanted to get away and talk the matter over -with Tom Howe.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Mustn’t I take anybody into my confidence -at all, not even Tom?” said he.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Take nobody into your confidence,” said -his father, earnestly. “You don’t know what -sort of a fellow Tom is. He may be all right -to have around where there’s a jam of logs in -the river, but you don’t want to say anything -to him about this money business.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, when are you going to get it? We’ll -have to go away from here in order to use -it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We’ll go to it after this war is settled, and -not before. Of course, we shall have to go -away from here, for we can’t use it around -where Leonard Smith is. And here’s another -<span class='pageno' id='Page_388'>388</span>thing I want to tell you. Remember and keep -close within reach of me, and don’t let Smith -or anybody else get you off on one side. If -you do, you will suffer for it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon smiled and wondered what sort of a -story Smith could make up to draw him off in -the woods, and it wasn’t so very long before -he found out. Ever since the night that Mr. -Smith died, Leonard had been half-crazy. He -had no idea how much the will in the pocket-book -contained, but he was certain that it was -enough to keep him all his days without work. -This was what this lazy vagabond was building -his hopes upon. Anyway, he didn’t want -the Spragues to have it, and what was more -he was determined that they shouldn’t. If -there was any way by which could get the will, -or any means to learn the hiding-place of the -money, why then it would be clear sailing -with him. Leon undoubtedly had time to -read the will and find out where the money -was concealed, and if he could get him off by -himself somewhere he would find out where -that money was concealed, or he would leave -Leon hanging to a tree in the woods. It took -<span class='pageno' id='Page_389'>389</span>him two days to come to this decision, and all -the while he roamed about over Mr. Smith’s -place, poking into every place that he could -think of where there was the least chance of -hiding money. When the funeral procession -came there he slunk into the woods, but when -they went away again he came out and renewed -his endeavors to find the fortune.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There is money hidden somewhere about -here, and I am as certain of it as that I am -alive,” said Leonard Smith, when the men -who had composed the funeral procession had -gone away. “If it were not that Leon has -the secret stowed away in his head I would -up-end him the moment I saw him; but if I -can get him in the woods and make preparations -to hang him, I’ll find out where the -money is. I can’t do anything by myself, -and I must have somebody to help me. Now, -who shall I get?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Fortunately it was an easy thing for Leonard -Smith to decide upon this question. He -thought over all the worthless fellows who -occurred to his mind just then, and finally -hit upon one who was just about of as much -<span class='pageno' id='Page_390'>390</span>use in the world as he was. Caleb Coleman -was on the island beyond a doubt—he was -always around where he was certain there was -no danger—and if he could only get over -there and see him he was sure that he could -induce him to lend a hand in finding the -money. But the trouble was he did not care -to go around where Leon was.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I don’t know whether that boy is certain -that I am looking for the money or not, but -he acts as if he did,” said Smith, as he took a -look around to make sure that he had not -missed any place where he thought there was -a chance of hiding the money.</p> - -<p class='c010'>He had removed every pile of boards there -was about the farm-house and had dug under -them until he saw that the earth had not recently -been disturbed, and then threw the piles -of boards back again. He had even been in -the cow-stable and plied his search there; but -with all his looking he could not find any -place which bore the appearance of having -been dug over, and he was almost inclined to -give up his search in despair. But he had -one more trump card to play, and the more -<span class='pageno' id='Page_391'>391</span>he thought of it the more confident he became -that it would surely work.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Here’s one thing that I have got to blame -old Sprague for,” said Smith, as he picked up -his rifle—nobody ever thought of going -abroad without a rifle in war times—and -turned his steps toward the island. “He’s -gone and sent off that Newman family, and -if they were here I would know right where -to go to find three good men to assist me; but -seeing that he couldn’t mind his own business, -I suppose Coleman is the best one I can get. -I’ll bet I will make his eyes open if I promise -him one thousand dollars in gold.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Smith had not yet been over to the island, -but it was no trouble at all for him to get -there, for the boats were constantly employed -in carrying over the household furniture of -the refugees. He did not know that there -were so many men in the county before, and -when he came to look closely at them he found -that the most of them were strangers. A great -many of them, too, were dressed in rebel uniform, -and they worked like honest men who -were anxious to take their families to a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_392'>392</span>place of safety; but he did not see Coleman -there.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I’ll bet I’ll find him on the island, laid -down alongside the fire,” said Smith, as his -boat touched the shore and he jumped off. -“You may be sure that he wouldn’t do any -work while there is anybody to do it for -him.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Smith was surprised to find that no one on -the island had missed him, for nobody spoke -to him. The majority of the men were busy -building their houses and getting their household -goods under cover, and well they might -be. After they got through here they were -to march in a body down to the hotel and -meet the assault of that force which was coming -to crush out the last vestige of the Jones-County -Confederacy. The men all acted with -a feverish eagerness, as if they were impatient -to get at it. Smith thought, too, that if that -invading force succeeded in following the -Union men to their island they were bound -to be whipped. The passage through the cane -was long and winding, and at every turn there -were barricades erected, behind which three -<span class='pageno' id='Page_393'>393</span>or four hundred men could have resisted a -thousand. These breastworks of logs had -been thrown up by the party who came out -to build the boats and without any orders -from headquarters, and Mr. Sprague showed -what he thought of them by praising the men -without stint.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You will make good soldiers some day,” -said he. “The rebels can’t get in here any -way they can fix it. They are bound to come -in column when they assault these breastworks, -because the cane is so thick that they -can’t come in any other way, and before they -can get in here they won’t have a man left.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There’s one of them now,” muttered -Smith, as he caught sight of Mr. Sprague -standing in the door of his lean-to. If Smith -had only known it, Leon was in the act of -reading the will. “If I can get a-hold of -that boy of yours I’ll soon know as much as -he does. He knows where the money is, and -he will tell it all sooner than be hung.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Sprague bowed to Smith as he passed -by, but the latter didn’t pay any attention to -him. The man wanted to know where he -<span class='pageno' id='Page_394'>394</span>could find Coleman, but he was much too -sharp to speak to Mr. Sprague about it. He -kept on a little further, and found somebody -of whom he could make inquiries. Another -thing that attracted Smith’s attention right -here was the air of neatness and order with -which all the lean-tos were arranged. They -were laid off in streets, so that one could go -the whole length of them on the darkest of -nights without stumbling over a brush shanty -which contained some sleeping occupants.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You will find Caleb up there on the outskirts -of the camp,” said the man of whom he -made inquiries. “He’s got sick of poleing -the boats over, and so has gone up to camp to -lie down.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Then he isn’t doing any work at all?” -asked Smith.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Work? Naw. He says he hain’t got -but a little time to stay with his folks, and so -he intends to see them all he can. When we -go down there to meet the rebels, he is going -to stay in camp.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Then he is just the man I want,” said -Smith to himself, as he pursued his way toward -<span class='pageno' id='Page_395'>395</span>Coleman’s lean-to. “I aint a-going to -meet the rebels myself, and consequently I -don’t blame him.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Smith followed along up the street until he -came to the end of it, and there he found -Coleman. The lean-to that he had over him -was not very secure, but Coleman didn’t seem -to mind that. He lay stretched out on the -bedding with his pipe in his mouth, and three -or four dogs and as many children kept him -company.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why don’t you put a roof on your lean-to?” -asked Smith. “When it rains you’ll -wish you had paid more attention to it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, when it rains I can’t fix it; and -now it don’t need it,” replied Coleman with a -laugh. “It will do.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why don’t you get out and pole the boats -over?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, there’ll be plenty of men besides me -to do that little thing,” replied Coleman. -“Besides, I’ve poled some of them over until -I am all tired out.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, get up, if you can. I want to see -you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_396'>396</span>“Anything particular?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You will think so when you hear it,” replied -Smith, impatiently. “Kick some of -those dogs out of the way and come along -with me.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Coleman arose with an effort, laid the children -carefully aside and followed after Smith, -who led the way around on the outside of the -lean-to, being particular to keep out of sight -of Mr. Sprague at the other end of the street. -There he threw himself down upon the leaves -and waited for Coleman to join him.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Sit up closer—not so far off,” he said, -when the man halted at least five feet away. -“I have got something in particular that I -want to say to you, and I don’t want anybody -to overhear it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“It seems to me that you are mighty -friendly, now that the old man is dead and -you have come into his fortune,” said Coleman, -moving up closer. “How much did you -make out of that? I think I have heard you -say that you wanted as much as twenty-five or -thirty thousand dollars.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s what I said,” answered Smith, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_397'>397</span>frowning fiercely. “But the trouble is I have -not got it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Who has got it, then?” demanded Coleman, -looking surprised.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That little snipe, Leon Sprague. Smith -had no business to give it to him, but he did, -and I am left out in the cold.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I say! That’s a pretty how-de-do, ain’t -it?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I should say so. Now, I will give you a -thousand dollars if you will help me to get -it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s a power of money, ain’t it? But -how can I help you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“By going to Leon and telling him that I -want to see him in the woods,” said Smith, -sinking his voice almost to a whisper. “If I -once get him out there, away from everybody, -I will tell him that if he wants to see daylight -again he can tell me where that money is.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Good gracious! What are you going to -do with him? Kill him?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Smith nodded.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Then you can get somebody else to help -you get that money,” said Coleman, drawing -<span class='pageno' id='Page_398'>398</span>a long breath. “You won’t get any help out -of me.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But think of the thousand dollars,” said -Smith, who began to see that he had made a -mistake.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I don’t care if it’s twice a thousand dollars. -I wouldn’t dare show my face in Jones -county again.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You needn’t come back to Jones county,” -said Smith, who began to fear that he had run -against a snag when he least expected it. “I -am not coming back. I am going over to the -rebels.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, there! That’s just what I expected -you to do. Here you promise to support this -government, and then go back on it the first -chance you get!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You say you won’t meet the rebels,” retorted -Smith.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I know it; but I didn’t say I was going -over to them. Good land! You can get -somebody else to help you,” said Coleman, -rising to his feet. “That’s a little too dangerous -a piece of business for me. If that’s -all you wanted to say I’ll go back.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_399'>399</span>“Well, here, hold on a minute,” exclaimed -Smith, who saw that it would not do to permit -Coleman to go back among his friends -feeling as he did now. “There is all of -twenty-five or thirty thousand dollars in that -will, and Leon knows where it is.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Let him keep it. That’s what I say.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now, suppose, instead of hanging him,” -continued Smith, paying no heed to the interruption, -“we will just make believe to hang him—pull -him up until he sees stars and then -pull him down again. We could do that.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, we couldn’t. Leon’s eyes would be -unbandaged, and he could easy see who pulled -him up. I tell you you had better get somebody -else.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I supposed you were willing to work -hard for a thousand dollars,” said Smith, in -disgust. “But you are willing to live along -just as you are now, without any thought for -the morrow. Thank goodness, there are -plenty of men in this party who will help me.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Then you had better get one of them.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You won’t say anything about what I -have told you?”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_400'>400</span>“Never a word; only, don’t mention it to -me again. I would rather be poor all my life -than make a living in that dishonest way.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Say, Coleman, sit down here a minute. I -want to whisper something to you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The man was a long time in sitting down. -He seemed to think that Smith had some -other terms to disclose which would lead him -into his scheme, whether he wanted to or not.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I will give you five thousand dollars,” -said Smith, in an earnest undertone. “Just -think of that! Here you will be as poor as -Job’s turkey, and that amount of money will -easily set you on your feet.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I don’t care if it’s ten thousand. I won’t -do it.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, Coleman, I was only just fooling -you,” said Smith, and in order to give color -to his words he leaned back and laughed -heartily. “You will do to tie to.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes?” said Coleman, and he laughed, too, -but it was a different sort of laugh. “You -have an awful funny way of fooling a fellow, -I must say. If you were not in earnest when -you sat down here I shall miss my guess.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_401'>401</span>Coleman got upon his feet again, and Smith -was so angry that he let him go without compelling -him to promise over again that he -would not tell anybody of the scheme that -had been proposed to him. He laid down on -his bed and filled his pipe, but he rolled over -to see where Smith went.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That fellow is a-going to get himself in a -power of disturbance the first thing he knows,” -said he to his wife, as he saw Smith moving -down toward Mr. Sprague’s end of the street. -“He is fixing himself to get hung.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Good land! How is that?” exclaimed the -woman.</p> - -<p class='c010'>In spite of the fact that he had promised -Smith that he would not say a word about it, -it did not take Coleman long to go over his -interview with him, and when he told of the -amount of money that had been offered him -his wife fairly gasped for breath.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I know that is a big sum,” continued -Coleman, “but just think of the danger there -will be. If Leon gets off in the woods and -don’t come back they will hunt high and low -for him, and it won’t take them long to determine -<span class='pageno' id='Page_402'>402</span>who it was that had a hand in his taking -off. If they make-believe they were going -to hang him, why, of <a id='corr402.3'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='course.'>course,</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_402.3'><ins class='correction' title='course.'>course,</ins></a></span> he will know -who it was and he’ll tell of it when he comes -back. I think I was pretty smart in keeping -out of it. There goes Smith off toward the -boats. Now I believe I’ll go and see Leon.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Smith had evidently missed his guess by a -long ways when he selected Coleman to assist -him. He had never known anything against -this man’s honesty. He supposed, of course, -that a fellow who hated to work as bad as he -did, and who was content to lay around home -all the time in company with the dogs and -the children in preference to handling an axe, -ought to be willing to engage in anything -that he thought would bring him money; but -as it happened, there were some honest men -in that party, although they did wear ragged -jackets. Without further thought Coleman -arose and sauntered off toward Mr. Sprague’s -end of the street, and when he came opposite -their lean-to he found the boy he wanted to -see, talking with his mother.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, Caleb, what can I do for you to-day?” -<span class='pageno' id='Page_403'>403</span>asked Mr. Sprague, who still occupied -his old position in the door of the lean-to.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Not a thing,” replied Coleman. “But I -want to see Leon for about five minutes.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Do you want him to go out in the woods -with you?” said Mr. Sprague, with a wink -that spoke volumes.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Eh? No; but I want to tell him to keep -away from the woods,” replied Coleman, who -wondered if Mr. Sprague knew all about it.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, you might just as well come in here -and tell it,” said Mr. Sprague, taking Coleman -by the arm. “There are no secrets between us.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Coleman went, and in a few minutes was -seated on a trunk revealing the scheme that -had been proposed to him. Leon and his -father exchanged significant glances, and the -boy thought how wise Mr. Sprague had been -when he advised him to stick closely by his -side and to let nothing draw him away.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I did say that I wouldn’t tell this to anybody,” -said Coleman, in conclusion. “And I -won’t tell it to any one except you-uns, who -are so deeply interested in it. You won’t tell -on me?”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_404'>404</span>“Did he say how much he was going to -get?” asked Leon, after his father had made -the required promise.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Coleman replied that he thought he was -going to get twenty-five or thirty thousand -dollars, and this proved that Mr. Smith did -not know anything of the value of the deceased -man’s legacy.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s a heap of money,” said Leon. -“And now, Coleman, I’ll tell you what we -will do with you. If you will stay around -with Smith and learn all you can in regard to -his plans you shall not lose anything by it. -I want to find out if he gets somebody else to -assist him.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Coleman promised, and having had his talk -out went away.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I can easily give him a thousand dollars -to pay him for the trouble he has taken,” said -Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But you must remember that you haven’t -got the money yet,” said his father.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, I know I shall have some trouble in -getting it,” said Leon, while that firm expression -settled about his mouth. “When this -<span class='pageno' id='Page_405'>405</span>trouble is over that fellow is going to camp -on the place, and just as likely as not he will -shoot down everybody who goes anywhere -near the money.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Leon, I am afraid to have you go there,” -said Mrs. Sprague.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“But think of the money! I tell you that -will set us up. Then I can get an education. -That’s one thing I will never have if I stay -down here.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The matter was settled for the time being -by Mrs. Sprague’s putting the will into her -bosom and pinning it fast; then Leon went -out and mingled with his fellow-refugees. -But his feelings were very different from -those which he had experienced when he followed -his father into the lean-to. When he -came to think of what the will bequeathed -him it fairly took his breath away. It would -get them a little home somewhere, his mother -would be obliged to do no more work, and, -better than all, he would have money enough -left to send him to school.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, Leon, you seem to be particularly -happy, and so am I,” said Mr. Giddings, as -<span class='pageno' id='Page_406'>406</span>he took his seat near the door of his lean-to, -pulled off his hat and wiped the big drops of -perspiration from his forehead. “Or rather, -I should be happy if my brothers were out of -prison. I expect they have been executed by -this time.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“If I thought that, it would make me shoot -to kill,” said Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Oh, won’t I, when I get the chance!” replied -Mr. Giddings, with so much excitement -that Leon was glad he was not a rebel. “I -am waiting for the colonel to say the word -and get me down there where I will have full -swing at them, and then every one that I pull -on goes up. I tell you, you don’t know anything -about rebellion down here.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>This started Mr. Giddings on his favorite -subject of conversation, and Leon sat there -and listened to him until they were called to -supper.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_407'>407</span> - <h2 class='c008'>CHAPTER XIX. <br /> <span class='small'>CONCLUSION.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c009'>But two adventures remain to be told regarding -Leon Sprague’s life as a Jones -county Confederate soldier. One was the -first real fight in which he bore a part, though -to tell the truth he didn’t remember much -about it, and the other the exploit he went -through in getting the money that had been -bequeathed to him.</p> - -<p class='c010'>It took one hundred men to guard the -island, and although there was no necessity -for having this number of men out, the colonel -thought it best to be on the safe side. He -selected the men, posted them himself, and -sat up nearly all night to make sure that they -were doing their duty. At the first peep of -day the men were all aroused, and, having -had breakfast, were getting ready to march -down to the hotel. How Leon’s eyes opened -<span class='pageno' id='Page_408'>408</span>when he saw the men all in line after they -had got across the stream! His father said -that there were at least three thousand of -them—enough to whip four times their number -of rebels, if they were brought against -them. They were going back to the hotel -because it was the first point that the rebels -would strike in Jones county; and, more than -that, they had things very neatly fixed there -for the reception of any body of men who -might be brought against them. A long line -of breastworks extended across the edge of -the woods, one side being flanked by a deep -swamp and the other by the river, so it was -impossible to get behind them. They calculated -to whip the men right there. If they -didn’t, the island would be their next halting -place. The women had congregated on the -edge of the island to see them off, and after -giving them a hearty cheer to ease their hearts -when they were away, the cavalcade set out -on its journey.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Now bring on your rebs!” said Dawson.</p> - -<p class='c010'>Nearly two-thirds of the men were on -horseback. They had attempted to form column -<span class='pageno' id='Page_409'>409</span>of fours as nearly as they could, and -aided by some old soldiers, of whom there -were a goodly number in the ranks, they -managed to hit the right number at last, and -before the brigade had marched a mile it was -going along as orderly as any old body of -cavalrymen could have exhibited. Leon was -riding in the first four in company with Mr. -Giddings, Dawson and Tom Howe, and he -was as lively and jolly as could be. He -looked all around, but <a id='corr409.11'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='be'>he</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_409.11'><ins class='correction' title='be'>he</ins></a></span> couldn’t see either -Smith or Coleman. But, in spite of the fact -that there were men enough to protect him, he -wished that Smith was out of the way.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I declare, it is always so,” soliloquized -Leon. “When you get everything going -just as you want it to, there is always somebody -to step in and knock the thing into a -cocked hat. Smith won’t get the money, and -he might as well give up trying.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Bring on your rebs, I say,” repeated Dawson, -raising his carbine and looking all around. -“We’re ready for a fight!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You may sing a different tune from that,” -said Mr. Giddings.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_410'>410</span>“I know I may, but I hope not,” said Dawson. -“I want to keep up long enough to pay -the rebels for burning our house.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>It was three o’clock when they arrived -within sight of Ellisville, and then Mr. Dawson, -who had been riding all the way with -Mr. Sprague, took command. Under his -supervision the Union men were all posted behind -the breastworks, and each one knew -where he belonged. His camp was right where -he halted, and all the men had to do was to -throw off their arms, picket their horses and -wait for dinner and supper, which were to be -served together. If there was anything to -which Leon objected it was to being held -down with a firm hand. He wanted to go -with his father, for by doing that he knew -that he would be in a fair way to learn all the -news that happened within the borders of the -Jones-County Confederacy, as well as some -things that occurred outside of it; so he -climbed the breastworks and went down to -the porch of the hotel, where he found all the -chief men of the county gathered and holding -a consultation with his father.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_411'>411</span>“I thought it best to burn the bridge, and -move our pickets up nearer headquarters, for -it would put the rebels to some trouble to swim -their horses over the creek,” Mr. Knight was -saying to his father when he came up. “If -we only had our breastworks built nearer the -creek we could whip them before they ever -got across.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I think that is the best way, and I wondered -long ago that you didn’t think of it before,” -said Mr. Sprague. “Halloo! there is -something coming, down there. And what’s -that waving over them? It is a white flag, as -sure as I live! Knight, you are getting to be -a big man when the enemy comes to consult -you in that way.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I declare, I believe that’s what it is!” said -Mr. Knight, after he and the other chief men -of the party had taken a good view of it. -“Now, we don’t want them to see how many -men we have got, and I want you to order -them all into the breastworks out of sight. -Tell them that we will describe the whole -thing to them after the rebels go away.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The chief men went off at once to obey the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_412'>412</span>order, and by time the two Confederates got -up to the hotel porch there wasn’t more than a -half-dozen of them in sight—just enough to -act as body-guard for the President. There -were two rebels in the party, and with them -were four pickets whom they had picked up -after they had swam their horses across the -creek.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Here’s a couple of gentlemen who -want to see the President,” said one of the -pickets. “They have come to us with General -Lowery’s compliments and want us to surrender.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I guess they can take General -Lowery’s compliments back to him and say -we didn’t come out here to <a id='corr412.15'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='surrender'>surrender,</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_412.15'><ins class='correction' title='surrender'>surrender,</ins></a></span>” said -Mr. Knight.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I want to see—are you the President?” -asked one of the rebels, opening his eyes in -surprise.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I have that honor,” replied Mr. Knight.</p> - -<p class='c010'>The rebels looked at him in profound astonishment. -If any of the other men standing -around had said that he was the President -of the Jones-County Confederacy, they -<span class='pageno' id='Page_413'>413</span>might have believed it; but for this man, who -stood there with his coat off, his hands in his -pockets and his hat perched on the back of -his head—for him to say that he was the head -and front of that rebellion, was almost too -much. The rebels looked at him, and then -they looked at the men standing around. -There didn’t seem to be but a few of them, -and perhaps it was not going to be much to -whip them, after all.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“General Lowery wants you to surrender -at once,” said the rebel, who had grown bolder -since he looked around.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You have my answer, sir,” said Mr. -Knight.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“If you surrender, we will let the privates -off if they will enlist in the army,” said the -colonel, for Leon made out that that was his -rank. “But the chief men of the party will -have to go under arrest and be tried for treason.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s very kind of General Lowery, but -somehow we are not ready to be tried yet. We -won’t surrender.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, my goodness, my friend, there won’t -<span class='pageno' id='Page_414'>414</span>be a living man of you left by this time to-morrow. -How many men have you got here, -anyway?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“About five thousand.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Why, I don’t see anybody.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Of course you don’t; but if you bring -your four thousand four hundred men up -here—”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Have you had spies out?” asked the rebel, -more surprised than ever.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We know how many men you have, and -we know that we outnumber them,” said Mr. -Knight.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Then, of course, you won’t surrender if -you have that number of men. Then we may -as well go back.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I think it would be as well. We are -bound to kill and capture some of the men -you bring against us, and to-morrow we’ll -send them inside of your lines with their -paroles.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes? Well, their paroles won’t amount -to a row of pins.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I think they will. If we capture any of -the men without being exchanged we’ll hang -<span class='pageno' id='Page_415'>415</span>them to the nearest tree. Good-morning, -sir.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>It was right on the rebel’s tongue to tell -Mr. Knight to look out or he would get hung -himself, but he didn’t say it. After looking -all around to make sure that there were no -Union men in sight he wheeled his horse and -rode off, accompanied by the pickets. No -sooner were they out of sight around the first -bend than the men began to pour out of their -breastworks, and in five minutes more the -hotel grounds in front of the porch were just -black with an eager, excited crowd, all anxious -to hear what the rebels had to say. Mr. -Sprague took the part of spokesman, and -when he told them what the Confederates -had said about there not being one Union -man left alive by this time to-morrow, the -announcement was received with whoops and -yells.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Let them bring their men on!” shouted -Bud McCoy. “We are all ready for them.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You must remember that the demand for -a surrender comes before a fight,” said Mr. -Sprague. “They may be up here in an hour, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_416'>416</span>and I think I had better send some men down -there to reinforce those pickets.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I’ll go for one,” and “I’ll go for another,” -were the exclamations that arose from the -crowd, and in less time than it takes to tell it -five hundred men were all mounted and armed, -and rode up to the porch to listen to their -final instructions from Mr. Knight. Leon -wanted to go, too, but a positive shake of the -head from his father told him that that thing -wouldn’t do at all.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You will get fighting enough if you stay -right here,” said Mr. Sprague. “You do your -duty here under my eye and that is all I shall -ask of you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Make as good a fight as you can, boys,” -said Mr. Knight. “Only, don’t let them get -behind you. Be sure and retreat while you -have the <a id='corr416.19'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='chance.’'>chance.”</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_416.19'><ins class='correction' title='chance.’'>chance.”</ins></a></span></p> - -<p class='c010'>The reinforcements rode on down the road -with Mr. Dawson in command, and as soon as -they were out of sight a silence fell upon the -men they had left behind. All were listening -for the first report of a carbine or rifle that -should announce the opening of the battle. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_417'>417</span>One hour passed, and then two, and just as -darkness came down to conceal the movements -of the rebels the long-wished-for report -came. It was followed by a moment’s silence, -and then it seemed as if a hurricane was going -through the woods. The Confederates had -deployed their line until it reached the woods, -where it was lost to view, and in that manner -charged across the stream and through the -timber. But where were the Union men who -were to oppose them? For three miles they -went through the woods, and then all of a -sudden the opposition came when they least -expected it. It was the report of a carbine -in the hands of young Dawson, and the nearest -colonel threw up his arms and fell from -his horse. A moment afterward the woods -were fairly aflame in advance of them. -Scarcely a yell was heard, for the Union men -fought as though they had life and liberty at -stake.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Fire low, boys,” said Mr. Dawson, as he -loaded up for another shot. “If you strike a -man in the legs it will take two to carry him -off.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_418'>418</span>The Union men fired three times before -they thought of retreat, and the middle of the -line was not only thrown into confusion, but -it was annihilated, so that their officers could -not get anybody to charge upon their concealed -enemy; but the wings were all right—they -were stretched out so far in the woods -that they could easily wrap around the Union -men and capture them all—and they hastily -got on their horses and beat a quick retreat. -The company that came along the road was -badly cut up. They were marching in column -of fours, and it was their intention, after they -got the Union men in full flight, to follow -them in, and they would go with such rapidity -that they would take the breastworks at once. -But after the smoke had cleared away there -wasn’t more than a dozen men left. The -riders had been shot down, and the horses, -having no one to control them, were running -frantically about, trampling the dead and -dying under their feet.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“That’s pretty well done for the first time,” -said Mr. Dawson, when he had made up his -mind that all of his battalion were in the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_419'>419</span>road. The rest were in the woods, and could -easily fight their way to Ellisville. “Now, -boys, give them as good as they send.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The retreat to Ellisville was accomplished -in short order, and when the rebels broke from -the woods and uttered their charging yell -they couldn’t see a single man. They were -all behind their breastworks.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I tell you we gave it to them down there -in the woods,” said Dawson, as he rode along -behind the breastworks until he found Leon -and Tom. “You ought to have been along. -I reckon I have paid the rebels for burning -our house. I lifted one officer out of his saddle -as clean as a whistle.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Did you kill him?” asked Leon.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Well, I reckon so. He threw his arms -above his head, and that is a pretty good sign -that he was done for.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Did you hear any bullets come near you?” -inquired Leon, who shuddered when he -thought how coolly Dawson could talk of -shooting another in cold blood.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, sir, I heard them; but the rebels -fired too high. I saw one man clap his hand -<span class='pageno' id='Page_420'>420</span>to his mouth and say ‘Oh!’ but I didn’t see -who it was. There they come!” said Dawson, -grasping his carbine with a firmer hold and -creeping up to an opening in the breastworks. -“Now, Leon, show what you are made of.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“It is certain death to send those fellows -up here!” said Leon. “I wish I could warn -them away.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Haw! haw!” laughed Dawson. “They -know what is behind here better than we can -tell them. If they don’t, they will soon find it -out.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Sprague stood a little ways from Leon -with his rifle in his hand. He had charge of -the brigade now, and it was his duty to give -the order to fire. Nearer and nearer came the -rebels, yelling like so many mad men, but the -report of Mr. Sprague’s gun couldn’t be -heard. As soon as the men saw him raise his -piece to his shoulder they all fired, and the -way the rebels went down before it was certain -proof that their bullets had not all been -thrown away. But these men were not to be -defeated by one volley. They kept on until -they reached the breastworks, and then they -<span class='pageno' id='Page_421'>421</span>found that they were too high to be scaled by -their horses. The Union men on the other -side reached over and fired their guns in their -faces, until the Confederates could stand it no -longer. They turned their horses and fled, -and did not stop until they were safe in the -woods, from which they had just emerged.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Long live the Jones-County Confederacy!” -shouted some one in the ranks; and the shout -was taken up by all the men in the line.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Let’s go after them!” said another. “We -can easy whip them.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“No, stay where you are,” said Mr. -Sprague, who got his instructions from Mr. -Knight. “We can whip them here, but if -we should get out of line of the breastworks -they might prove too much for us.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>It was the occasion of no little difficulty -for the Confederate officers to rally their men, -and the trouble was that those who belonged -to the right and left wings reported that it -was impossible to flank the Union position. -Those on the right said that there was a -swamp in which many men had been killed -in their efforts to get around it, and the men -<span class='pageno' id='Page_422'>422</span>who belonged on the left reported that there -was the river there, and that any attempt to -get by it would be useless. General Lowery -began to see that the Union men were not to be -easily whipped, but he used all his eloquence -and authority to induce them to make an effort -to carry the centre of the line. He dismounted -some of his men with instructions to -go and throw down the breastworks, and the -rebel cavalry was to be close behind them and -go in at the openings they had made. This -was the plan that General Lee decided on -when he made the attempt to split Grant’s -lines by his assault on Fort Steadman. He -had half his army in that exploit, but his effort -ended just as General Lowery’s did to -split the Union lines here. The second attempt -was grandly made, and the fight lasted -a little longer than it did at first; but the dismounted -men were quickly picked off, the -cavalry began dropping here and there, and -finally, without a word from anybody, they all -took to their heels. This time there was -nothing said about pursuit, for the Union -men had their blood up, and nobody could -<span class='pageno' id='Page_423'>423</span>have controlled them. By the time the rebels -were in the woods the Union men had -mounted their horses and started after them. -Leon was in this exploit, and his father did -not tell him to stay behind. He didn’t find -any Confederates on the way, but he assisted -in making some noise, so he did just as much -as anybody.</p> - -<p class='c010'>This was the last attempt that was made to -break up the Jones-county Confederacy. The -rebels saw that the Union men were in earnest -and they gave it up as a bad job. A week -afterward a big wagon-train was captured and -taken to their place of refuge on the island, -and after that the Union men breathed a good -deal easier. They were going to have grub -enough to support them, no matter what happened. -About this time, too, some more men -began to come in, and Leon saw the army -grow from one thousand men to more than -twenty thousand. Of course with such an -army as that the Confederates wouldn’t try to -whip them. They minded their own business, -going out whenever they thought that their -provisions were getting low, and picking up -<span class='pageno' id='Page_424'>424</span>wagon-trains and taking them where they -would do the most good. Of course, too, these -parties when they went out always captured -some papers, which were read until they almost -crumbled to pieces. When the rebels -were defeated at Vicksburg and Gettysburg -the Union men drew a long breath of relief, -for they thought that the war was almost -ended and that they could go home; but there -were some severe battles to be fought before -their flag could wave over the entire country. -One day, long months after this, when Leon -had got so tired of being a soldier that he -wished that the Confederacy would sink or do -something else that would wipe it out of existence, -he was out with a party of skirmishers, -when they ran plump onto a rebel soldier -who had a gun on his shoulder, and acted as -though he was going somewhere. In an instant -Bud McCoy’s pistol was aimed at his -breast.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Put up your revolver, young man!” said -the rebel, who did not seem at all abashed by -finding himself in the company of Union -men. “You belong down in Jones county, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_425'>425</span>don’t you? Well, I want to say that you are -behind the times. General Lee has surrendered!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Bud and the rest were so astonished that -they could not say a word.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“It’s a fact,” continued the rebel. “I -wasn’t there, because I was in our Western -army, but I heard of it, and more than five -thousand of us escaped that night. The Confederacy -has gone up!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I tell you I am glad of it,” replied Leon. -“Why didn’t you surrender when you got -whipped at Gettysburg?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“A good many men said it ought to have -been done,” answered the rebel, “but I wasn’t -at the head of affairs. You had better let me -go, for I want to reach home and see my wife. -I haven’t seen her since I went into the service.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>The foragers were only too glad to let him -go. They would have passed anybody who -brought such news as that; and, furthermore, -they wheeled their horses and went back to -Ellisville with much more speed than they -had shown in coming out. There was joy on -<span class='pageno' id='Page_426'>426</span>the island when they told what the rebel had -said to them, and some of the men fired off -their guns in ecstacy; but Mr. Knight said -that the rebels had so long been accustomed -to lying that they didn’t know when they -spoke the truth, and suggested that it would -be better for them if they sent a couple of -men down to Mobile to see what was going -on there. Any number of men offered themselves, -but two were promptly sent, and while -they were gone the refugees hardly knew what -to do with themselves. In due time the men -came back, and, better than all, they swung a -paper over their heads.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“It’s a Yankee paper, and now we’ll get at -the truth of the matter,” said one of the messengers. -“Yes, sir, Lee has surrendered; -that whole army has surrendered, and the -fortifications down at Mobile are just black -with Yankees!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Cheers long and loud rent the air at this -announcement, so that it was a long time before -Mr. Sprague could read what the paper -said in regard to Lee’s surrender. When he -read it, the cheers once more broke out afresh.</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_427'>427</span>“They said that we couldn’t take this -county out of the Confederacy,” said Mr. -Knight. “I reckon we’ve done something -that nobody else could do.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>A day or two after this, companies of Union -cavalry began scouting about Mobile to see if -they could find any rebels, and some of them -presented themselves before Mr. Knight. The -officer listened in amazement while he was -told the story, and when Mr. Knight had got -through he laughed until he could hardly sit -on his horse. The Union men all laughed, -too; and, taken all together, it was a jolly -party—very different from what they felt -while they were resisting the cavalry that -tried so hard to overpower them. The officer -told them that they could go home, that the -war was ended, and that they would never be -called upon to fight for the flag again.</p> - -<p class='c010'>After that there was a good deal of excitement -in and around Ellisville, for the refugees -were making efforts to go home. The -bridge over the bayou that had been burned -to keep the rebels from getting across so easily -was rebuilt, and after that Leon and his father -<span class='pageno' id='Page_428'>428</span>had their hands full in saying good-bye to -the Union men, who wished them every success -in life. Then they went home and went -to work, getting their ground ready to plant -a supply of cotton, glad indeed to handle -a plow once more instead of a rifle. Their -object was to throw Smith off the scent. They -had seen him a few times during the last few -months, but he had nothing to say to them; -but the sequel proved that he knew what he -was talking about when he threatened to -camp on his cousin’s place and shoot the man -or boy who came there for the money. He -lived in Mr. Smith’s house, for the rebels had -not had time to set the buildings on fire; but -it was close to the pig-pen, so it would be next -to impossible for them to go there and dig for -what was hidden in it, and every day he rode -over the plantation, to make sure that the -Spragues had not dug in some other place. -Mr. Sprague kept close watch of his movements, -and one day announced to Leon his -plan of action.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“We will go there and hunt for that money -to-night,” said he. “But, mind you, we won’t -<span class='pageno' id='Page_429'>429</span>dig where it is. We will go down into the -lower part of the plantation and dig there, -and when we come away we’ll leave a shovel -there. How will that do? He will be sure -to see the shovel, and at night he will watch -that place and leave the pig-pen free for -us.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Leon didn’t see that anything else could be -done, so he readily fell in with his father’s -proposal. When night came they set out, -and selecting a place where some brush had -been thrown to get it out of the way, they -threw it aside, and in a few minutes had a -hole dug there that was six feet deep. Then -they placed a shovel in a conspicuous position -and went home, wondering what was to be the -result of Mr. Sprague’s new scheme. They -were not long in finding out. The next day -about ten o’clock Leonard Smith rode by on -his horse, and, seeing the father and son employed -in plowing the field, stopped and had a -word to say to them.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“You didn’t get the money last night, did -you?” he asked, while his face was white with -fury. “I know where it is now, and I will -<span class='pageno' id='Page_430'>430</span>give you fair warning that if either of you go -there again I will shoot you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>Mr. Sprague made no reply, and Smith rode -off. When night came they set out again—only, -this time they went on horseback, and -told Mrs. Sprague that if she heard them -going by some time during the night—she -must pack up the next day and go to Mobile. -Mr. Sprague and Leon were armed, of course. -They went up the road until they came to Mr. -Smith’s gate, and there Mr. Sprague left Leon -while he went ahead to reconnoitre. He was -gone half an hour, and when he came back his -words were full of news.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“There’s nobody about the house,” said he, -and one wouldn’t think that he had a hundred -thousand dollars at stake. “Now, we -must go quickly. Stay by the horses’ heads, -so that they won’t call out. I will do the digging.”</p> - -<p class='c010'>With a heart that beat like a trip-hammer -Leon dismounted, passed the shovel over to -his father, and followed along after him when -he led the way toward the pig-pen. The -house was all dark, and it didn’t look as -<span class='pageno' id='Page_431'>431</span>though anybody lived there, but Leon couldn’t -help drawing a long breath when he thought -of the unerring rifle that was hidden somewhere -about. His father got into the pen and -pried up the boards, and he did it without -causing anything to creak. Then by putting -down his shovel in various positions he found -where the earth had been disturbed, and then -he went to work. Never had he worked so -hard before, but it seemed an age to Leon, as -he stood there holding fast to the horses. At -length, to his great relief, his father seized -something and held it over the side of the -pen.</p> - -<p class='c010'><a id='corr431.15'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='“Leon,'>“Leon,”</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_431.15'><ins class='correction' title='“Leon,'>“Leon,”</ins></a></span> he exclaimed, “here’s one of them!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>How heavy it was! But just as Leon was -going to take it he heard the sound of horses’ -hoofs up Mr. Smith’s lane. His horses heard -it, too, and raised their heads to see what was -coming.</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Father, father, they are coming back!” -he faltered. “Can’t you find the other one?”</p> - -<p class='c010'>“Yes, here it is. <a id='corr431.23'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='“Now,'>Now,</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_431.23'><ins class='correction' title='“Now,'>Now,</ins></a></span> you get on your -horse and ride for dear life and I will stay behind. -I will keep them from overtaking you.”</p> - -<p class='c010'><span class='pageno' id='Page_432'>432</span>Leon was on his horse in a moment, the -other valise was passed up to him, and in another -second he was flying down the road. Mr. -Sprague was close behind him, but before they -had gone far they heard some muttered ejaculations -from the horsemen, followed by the -command:</p> - -<p class='c010'>“I declare, there is that <a id='corr432.8'></a><span class='htmlonly'><ins class='correction' title='Sprague,'>Sprague.</ins></span><span class='epubonly'><a href='#c_432.8'><ins class='correction' title='Sprague,'>Sprague.</ins></a></span> Halt! -I say halt!”</p> - -<p class='c010'>But Leon and his father were not given to -halting. Their horses went faster than ever, -and by the time Smith—for he was one of the -party—had lingered to look at the pig-pen, -they were far out of sight. Then followed a -volley from their carbines—not one or two -of them—but from a dozen which proved -that Smith had found more than one man to -assist him. But all the balls went high or -wild, and Mr. Sprague and Leon got safely -off. They crossed the bridge, travelled rapidly -along the road that led to Mobile, and by ten -o’clock the next day had the money safely in -the bank. On the next day but one Mrs. -Sprague came along. She told a pretty thrilling -story about what had happened to her -<span class='pageno' id='Page_433'>433</span>since Mr. Sprague left. Smith was so mad to -think they had got away with the money -that he burned her house over her head, and -did not even leave her a negro cabin to go in to.</p> - -<div class='figcenter id002'> -<img src='images/p432.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -<div class='ic001'> -<p><span class='sc'>The hidden fortune safe at last.</span></p> -</div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'>Here we will leave Leon Sprague, only -stating that he came on to Clayton, where Mr. -Sprague had some friends, who gave him a -cordial welcome. They purchased a neat little -house which had been deserted by its -owner during the war, and as they now lived -there six years it began to look very home-like. -He made the acquaintance of Bob Nellis -almost as soon as he got into town, through -him learned of the academy at which the latter -was preparing for college, and went with -him and entered his name on the books when -he went there next term. Of course he was -in the lowest class, but he studied his books -night and day, and the result was very soon -apparent. In two years he was up with boys -of his own age.</p> - -<p class='c010'>We said that Joe Lufkin had not forgotten -the raid he was going to make on that watering -place the time he talked of stealing all -the jewels. He made it, and perhaps we shall -<span class='pageno' id='Page_434'>434</span>see what came of it. His son Hank got a -boat about this time; and what he did with it, -and how it took Joe Lufkin almost two hundred -miles to sea, shall be told in “The Cruise -of the Ten-Ton Cutter.”</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c000' /> -</div> -<p class='c010'><a id='endnote'></a></p> -<div class='tnotes'> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='large'>Transcriber’s Note</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c010'>Errors deemed most likely to be the printer’s have been corrected, and -are noted here. The references are to the page and line in the original. -The following issues should be noted, along with the resolutions.</p> - -<table class='table1' summary=''> -<colgroup> -<col width='12%' /> -<col width='69%' /> -<col width='18%' /> -</colgroup> - <tr> - <td class='c005'><a id='c_7.14'></a><a href='#corr7.14'>7.14</a></td> - <td class='c005'>tall [be-]beyond his years</td> - <td class='c015'>Removed.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c005'><a id='c_68.20'></a><a href='#corr68.20'>68.20</a></td> - <td class='c005'>“Good,[”] said the man.</td> - <td class='c015'>Added.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c005'><a id='c_90.8'></a><a href='#corr90.8'>90.8</a></td> - <td class='c005'>he could scar[c]ely</td> - <td class='c015'>Added.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c005'><a id='c_105.17'></a><a href='#corr105.17'>105.17</a></td> - <td class='c005'>“Come out here,” said Leon. [“]I shall have</td> - <td class='c015'> </td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c005'><a id='c_147.8'></a><a href='#corr147.8'>147.8</a></td> - <td class='c005'>[mye fin/my fine] lad,</td> - <td class='c015'>Misplaced.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c005'><a id='c_149.13'></a><a href='#corr149.13'>149.13</a></td> - <td class='c005'>with a pai[s/r] of jean breeches on</td> - <td class='c015'>Replaced.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c005'><a id='c_182.10'></a><a href='#corr182.10'>182.10</a></td> - <td class='c005'>[“]Supper was ready at last, Dawson aroused</td> - <td class='c015'>Removed.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c005'><a id='c_206.9'></a><a href='#corr206.9'>206.9</a></td> - <td class='c005'>ain[t]’t' a-going to stand still</td> - <td class='c015'>Removed.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c005'><a id='c_209.6'></a><a href='#corr209.6'>209.6</a></td> - <td class='c005'>the commission to come to him[.]</td> - <td class='c015'>Added.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c005'><a id='c_214.25'></a><a href='#corr214.25'>214.25</a></td> - <td class='c005'>and the other men don’t like it. [“]I’ll bet</td> - <td class='c015'>Removed.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c005'><a id='c_216.24'></a><a href='#corr216.24'>216.24</a></td> - <td class='c005'>“You had better be get[t]ing</td> - <td class='c015'>Added.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c005'><a id='c_275.15'></a><a href='#corr275.15'>275.15</a></td> - <td class='c005'>“And did you let those men go back?[”]</td> - <td class='c015'>Added.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c005'><a id='c_299.25'></a><a href='#corr299.25'>299.25</a></td> - <td class='c005'>so overjoyed that he could scar[c]ely speak.</td> - <td class='c015'>Added.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c005'><a id='c_312.2'></a><a href='#corr312.2'>312.2</a></td> - <td class='c005'>Leon, who didn’t seem[ed] disposed to discuss</td> - <td class='c015'>Removed.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c005'><a id='c_313.12'></a><a href='#corr313.12'>313.12</a></td> - <td class='c005'>[“]Oh, how I wish Tom Howe knew</td> - <td class='c015'>Added.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c005'><a id='c_340.1'></a><a href='#corr340.1'>340.1</a></td> - <td class='c005'>“You[ /’]re' right, I do,” replied the man</td> - <td class='c015'>Replaced.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c005'><a id='c_350.3'></a><a href='#corr350.3'>350.3</a></td> - <td class='c005'>The men all straighten[e]d up</td> - <td class='c015'>Added.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c005'><a id='c_352.14'></a><a href='#corr352.14'>352.14</a></td> - <td class='c005'>He want[ed] to see how badly hurt Dan was</td> - <td class='c015'>Added.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c005'><a id='c_370.4'></a><a href='#corr370.4'>370.4</a></td> - <td class='c005'>he could put it where it would[ be] equally safe.</td> - <td class='c015'>Added.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c005'><a id='c_402.3'></a><a href='#corr402.3'>402.3</a></td> - <td class='c005'>to hang him, why, of course[./,] he will know</td> - <td class='c015'>Replaced.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c005'><a id='c_409.11'></a><a href='#corr409.11'>409.11</a></td> - <td class='c005'>but [b/h]e couldn’t see either</td> - <td class='c015'>Replaced.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c005'><a id='c_412.15'></a><a href='#corr412.15'>412.15</a></td> - <td class='c005'>we didn’t come out here to surrender[,]” said Mr. Knight.</td> - <td class='c015'>Added.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c005'><a id='c_416.19'></a><a href='#corr416.19'>416.19</a></td> - <td class='c005'>while you have the chance[.]”</td> - <td class='c015'>Added.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c005'><a id='c_431.15'></a><a href='#corr431.15'>431.15</a></td> - <td class='c005'>“Leon,[”] he exclaimed, “here’s one of them!”</td> - <td class='c015'>Added.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c005'><a id='c_431.23'></a><a href='#corr431.23'>431.23</a></td> - <td class='c005'>“Yes, here it is. [“]Now, you get on your</td> - <td class='c015'>Removed.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c005'><a id='c_432.8'></a><a href='#corr432.8'>432.8</a></td> - <td class='c005'>“I declare, there is that Sprague[,/.] Halt!</td> - <td class='c015'>Replaced.</td> - </tr> -</table> - -</div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Rebellion in Dixie, by Harry Castlemon - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A REBELLION IN DIXIE *** - -***** This file should be named 53362-h.htm or 53362-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/3/3/6/53362/ - -Produced by KD Weeks, David Edwards and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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. 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