CHAPTER VI.
_The Escape--The Pursuit--The Capture._
Charge--charge, boys, for "God and for liberty!" See! Their traitorous banner is hurled to the ground. And up go our colors, the "Flag of the Free," While our bands strike "Columbia," oh! glorious sound.
_Col. Weeks._
"Darn my buttons if the captain ain't got back all safe!" shoutedNettleton, as he fairly danced with delight.
"Yes, all safe," replied Hayward "But how have you passed the day,Adjutant Hinton?"
"Not at all pleasantly!" replied the adjutant. "We have had seriousanxiety on your account, and I suppose we came very near beingdiscovered!"
"Indeed! Why so?"
"You had been absent just long enough to reach camp, when we heard thefiring of guns. In a short time a party of horsemen rode past at afurious rate, cursing and speaking of a spy. We feared you had beendiscovered, were making your escape, and that they were in pursuit."
"What did you do?"
"Of course I advised our friends to remain quiet. I thought if we wereto appear and fight, you would reach us in some way, or give us somesignal. But it was very difficult to restrain Nettleton. He determinedto rush upon the pursuers, and once had his gun raised to fire uponthem, but I prevented him from doing so."
"I am very much obliged to you for your good feeling, and admire yourcourage. But, you must not be rash. If you had fired a gun, it wouldhave brought certain destruction upon us all."
"Well, captain, you see I wouldn't have done it, but I was feared thatblack rascal there would expose us all. The curse began to _cry_ just assoon as he heerd the guns shootin', and when they let off that volley upat that rock there, the darned sneak's bones rattled so, I was sure theywould hear them."
"But, how have you succeeded, captain?" asked the adjutant.
"Oh! admirably. That party you saw was led by Price himself. He was inpursuit of an Indian. He left camp just as I arrived at his tent, andthis gave me just the opportunity I desired. There was no person at thegeneral's tent but an orderly, who became very familiar andcommunicative. He gave me the exact plan of their encampment, but itwill be of little use, as Price takes up his line of march for Cassvilleto-morrow. But the most important document I possess is the plan of ourown camp, containing not only my own description, but I suppose that ofyours, and of all the generals, and other principal officers in ourarmy."
"How did you get possession of this document?"
"It was brought to the tent of Price by his spies while he was absent. Ilearned from the orderly that the general did not know the existence ofthe paper, or that his spies had returned. So I worked upon the fears ofthe orderly, got possession of the paper, and his promise not to letPrice know anything about it, and then ordered the men who brought it tobe put in the guard-house and gagged. Of course I accused them ofplaying false to Price, and of being in reality Union spies."
"Of course the trick will be discovered!"
"Oh! certainly--and I suppose it is by this time, as one of theprisoners sent for Price, and he was to meet him at ten o'clock. For ashort time they will be puzzled. The question will be asked the orderly,what he did with the papers, and he will answer that he gave them to me.But, when Price learns that it was me who ordered his spies underarrest, and gagged so that they could not speak, that I have the papers,that my story to him and the orderly did not agree, and that I amnowhere to be found, he will sea at once that he has been terribly sold,and know that I was a spy. If he describes my person, I will be at oncerecognized by one of the men whom I had placed under arrest, as the veryman Price longed to get in his grasp!"
"Why, what does Price know of you?" asked the adjutant.
"Do you remember our second day's march from Tipton, that about fouro'clock in the afternoon, I was stopping at a log-house, near a well, atthe right of the road, and that while the person who appeared to bemaster of the house was helping me to a cup of water, you rode up andgave me a letter?"
"Yes, I remember it perfectly well, and that you remarked the letter wasfrom Mamie."
"Exactly. And do you recollect the words I used about Price, to the manwho gave me the water?"
"I remember they were not very complimentary."
"Well, the man who handed me that cup of water was Price himself!"
"The devil! And did he not recognize you to-day?"
"No, for he spoke of Captain Hayward, and remarked that he had anaccount to settle with him, and had sent for his description, which heexpected every moment. I had it in my pocket at the time, and those whotook it were under arrest by my order. They would have recognized me inan instant if they had seen me. The reason that Price did not recognizeme was, that when he saw me at the well, I was almost black with dust,and I took pains to-day to change the tone of my voice as much aspossible."
"It was a terrible risk!"
"By gracious, captain, if you ain't a trump," said Nettleton, as heopened wide his green eyes.
"But they have discovered all by this time, and we have not a moment tolose. It is eleven o'clock now, and you are expected at yonder rock!"
"You have seen Alibamo?"
"Yes, and kissed her!"
"She knew you, then?"
"No--she didn't--I told her before a large crowd that I was HarryHinton. She understood me, and said I might kiss her. I did so--_on theear!_"
"And whispered at the same time. Thank you, my best friend."
"Well, don't stop for thanks now. That rock is outside the picket guard,but she will be attended by ten or twelve soldiers. Go to her at once. Iwill see our horses placed in a position where we can easily mount. Thenegro shall ride behind Nettleton, and Alibamo shall have White Surry."
"We must fight, of course."
"I think it will not be necessary--that is, only you and I!"
"What do you mean, captain?"
"Why, her guard have all seen you, and by your own story, they think youa lover, although not altogether a favored one. I have met the beautyto-day--they have all seen me. They saw me kiss her, and think, that fora short acquaintance, I am a remarkably favored lover. You are aprivate, and I am an officer, and in that particular, of course, havethe advantage. I will come upon you, after you have conversed a fewmoments, and take the lady under my protection. Her guard will be muchmore likely to permit me to walk with the lady alone than you, as I aman officer in favor with the general. Once near our horses, we havenothing to fear, and none of her guard are mounted. Now go Harry. If wemust fight, all right."
As Adjutant Hinton started for the rock, Captain Hayward directed thatthe horses be brought into the main pathway. It was done, and all was inreadiness.
As Harry reached the rock, Alibamo sprang forward to receive him.
"Let your action be constrained--do not embrace me--and speak low, dearAlibamo. The reason for this, you will discover presently."
"I know you have good cause for this request, my own Harry, but I musttell you how I love you!" replied Alibamo, as she bowed her head uponthe breast of her lover. "But I have been here an hour--and I sang, inthe hope you would hear my voice."
Some words of tenderness passed between the lovers, when Alibamo cried:
"What is that?"
It was at this moment that the brother of Alibamo, as narrated in thesecond chapter, creeping near the rock, had overheard her words, and hadcried, "Then you are not my sister!"
"It is my brother! my own brother's voice. He has been near--has heardall!" shrieked Alibamo. Then checking herself, she said, in a low tone:"He thinks you a rebel, Harry! He forswears me! How can I undeceivehim?"
"The guard has fired upon him. The camp is aroused--they are beating thelong-roll. It is a desperate hazard now!"
"But my brother?"
"Quick--give me your apron--I will wave it--he may see its colors--andsing--sing, Alibamo--sing the Star-spangled Banner!"
Harry seized the apron, and commenced waving it, and Alibamo began tosing.
"Si
lence!" cried Hayward, who came up at that moment. "Silence thattraitorous song. And give me that ensign of abolitionism. For shame,young man. Love has made you blind. Don't you see that the lady's apronwhich you are waving is a federal flag? It may be very romantic to meetyoung ladies at midnight on a moonlit-rock, and whisper love-tales; but_you_, sir, must not wave such things as this, merely to conciliateangry brothers. Now, go to camp, sir, and if I catch you at such tricksagain, I shall order your arrest. I will take charge of the lady."
"Here are her guard sir," said Harry, in a subdued tone.
"Ah! yes. Are you mounted, boys?"
"No, captain."
"Then get within the lines as soon as possible. The federal army areadvancing, and are within a few miles of us, and their scouts are but ashort distance from this point. I have a horse, and will make my servantdismount and give the lady his horse!"
"All right, captain," replied the sergeant in command of the squad Hehad seen Hayward that day several times, and had no doubt he was justwhat he appeared.
Hayward had brought his own horse and that rode by Nettleton, within afew feet of the spot where he was then standing. The adjutant hadalready disappeared, as the captain handed the lady into the saddle andmounted his own horse. As he turned into the main road, a mountedorderly from the camp rode up to the squad and asked:
"Have you seen that fellow who was around camp to-day and pretended tobe from McIntosh--the one that kissed Alibamo?"
"Yes, there he is, just--why he is going _from_ the camp instead oftoward it!"
"It is Captain Harry Hayward, of the federal army, and a spy. Fire uponhim!"
A discharge of musketry rang through the woods, but the captain and hischarge were too well covered by the trees and the darkness to be injuredby it.
Captain Hayward heard the question, and striking his horse with thespur, he dashed forward at a rapid rate, followed by the whole party.
"The story I told the guard of the advancing army," said Hayward, "willprevent an immediate pursuit. But Price will know it is not true, and inan hour we shall be hotly followed. We must make the best of our time!"
The company did not pause for more than five hours, as it was daylightwhen the first halt was made. They had scarcely dismounted when theechoes of horses' feet were heard in the distance.
"We are pursued, but we must press forward. Those sounds cannot be morethan a mile in the rear. They must have ridden very rapidly. But we willescape them without difficulty. We cannot be more than ten miles fromour outposts, and they will not dare pursue us much farther." They hadscarcely prepared to set off again, when Nettleton said:
"There come the skunks that went after the powder!"
It was true. In the opposite direction came the party of twenty. Behind,they were followed by they knew not how large a force, and before,twenty rebels were approaching. Whether they could be so easily misledthis time, was a matter of considerable doubt.
"Quick--ride for the wood, Miss Alibamo. You may save yourself--we mustfight. Stay! They see you. It will be too late; besides, we met thisparty once before, and they may not interrupt us at all. That which Ifear most is, that they will detain us so long in conversation that therear party will overtake us. But we must venture."
"They will know me, captain," said Alibamo.
"If a fight is inevitable, Alibamo, do you start for the river. WhiteSurry can swim--he is accustomed to it. Plunge in--give him a looserein, and he will bear you safely to the opposite shore. Then riderapidly for camp. They are upon us."
"Well, captain, the army is moving, is it not?" asked Hayward.
"What army?" was the sullen question.
"Why, _our_ army moves to-day--or at least the general so informed me;but I speak of the federal army. The general received information lastnight that Fremont would cross the river to-day at four o'clock. And Iwas sent to ascertain if this was so!"
"Indeed! And do you usually take women with you when you act as spies?"
"Not usually. But I thought _my wife_ could gain admittance to the campmuch more easily than a man!"
"Your wife. Bah! Very likely the general would let her go, when he knowsshe passes half her time singing the Star-spangled Banner, and wears thefederal flag as an apron! She would betray us all, and never return."
"Look you, sir!" said Hayward sternly, "I don't intend to hold anyargument with you, and I will not listen to any insults or insinuations.I married Alibamo last evening. She was an old friend, and willhereafter adhere Strictly to my cause and adopt my principles. You see,she no longer wears the flag as an apron!"
"I see it!"
"And when approaching the federal camp, do you suppose she would take itoff, unless it was of her own accord?"
"I don't know. But I _do_ want to know about that powder. When we gotthere, we found the powder gone, and a squad ready to receive us. We hadto swim the river to get away, and, as it was, two of our own party werekilled. Hello! There comes another party, headed by Branch. It may beall right, but d----n me if I don't hold you till they come up, becauseI believe you are nothing more nor less than abolition spies, and thatthe man you sent back after your revolver, went direct to Fremont andinformed about the powder!"
He had scarcely finished these words, when Nettleton's gun came crashingon his head, and the brains flew in every direction. He fell from hishorse, dead. The attack now commenced in earnest, but it had been sosudden on the part of the attacking party, that eleven of the rebels bitthe dust before the party had sufficiently recovered from surprise tomake any effective defence.
"Quick, Alibamo; to the river--save yourself--they are upon us!" shoutedHayward.
The first attacking party had been entirely scattered by the lightningblows dealt by the little Union band, but, as they saw the approach ofat least fifty other horsemen, they rallied for another charge. Thehorses of Hayward and his party were worn and jaded--so were those ofhis pursuers, while those of the fallen foe were fresh.
"Spring into the saddles of those fresh horses--ride for yourlives--quick!"
It was accomplished in an instant. The approaching party were now only afew yards from the devoted band, when a shot was fired, and with a groanCaptain Hayward fell to the ground. In an instant, Adjutant Hinton wasby his side.
"Captain--O God!--captain-speak!" he cried. "Are you hurt?"
"Here--these papers--take them--go--go--save yourself!"
"Never--never!" he cried. "Come on, ye fiends--I will sell my lifedearly--I will die with my captain!"
"No--no! Alibamo--save her--those papers--go, I command--I am mortallyhurt--save yourselves--you cannot benefit me!"
"You may live!"
"Then go, and return to _rescue me_--oh!" And Hayward spoke no more.
"Or to avenge your death!" cried Hinton, as he sprang into his saddleand darted from the spot, amid a shower of bullets, bearing the paperswith him.
In an instant Hayward was surrounded, but they could not overtake theflying party, who had the advantage of fresh horses.
The Border Spy; or, The Beautiful Captive of the Rebel Camp Page 6