by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER XVIII
THE DEMAND OF CAPTAIN TITUS LYON
Revolvers are dangerous weapons; and Deck and Artie had used them enoughin sport to realize this truth. They had not yet become accustomed toseeing bullets fired into the bodies of human beings; to the sight ofstrong men falling with a death-wound in the head or heart, which wasafterwards almost an everyday spectacle in the battles of the GreatRebellion.
They had been brought up where human life was held to be more sacredthan in the locality to which they had been transplanted; and if theyhad thought of discharging their weapons into the vital parts of eventhe ruffians who menaced the Union meeting with violence, they werecertainly not ready to begin with one of their own flesh and blood,though Titus Lyon had proved himself to be one of the most virulentenemies of the public peace.
"I have no weapons, as you have, boys, and I have something to say tothis meeting," said Titus, after he had meditated for two or threeminutes. "I want to go in; but I shall not stop there many minutes."
"We can't let you in, Uncle Titus," replied Deck decidedly; "that's theorder of the meeting."
"But I'm going in if I'm shot for it," continued the applicant foradmission very quietly, but with none of the bluster which had becomealmost a second nature to him.
Perhaps the interest he felt in the mission which brought him to theschoolhouse had induced him to refrain from his usual potations, for heappeared to be perfectly sober. He used none of the intemperate languagewhich was generally on his tongue, so that the boys were not roused toindignation, even if they were tempted to use their weapons; but both ofthem placed themselves in the doorway as though they intended to disputehis passage into the room.
The meeting was proceeding with its business, though the orators hadfinished their speeches. A Union farmer was telling about one of hisneighbors who had been threatened by the ruffians, as the Secessionistshad come to be generally called by this time. He was quite earnest inhis plea that something should be done to protect men who stood by thegovernment.
The two colonels were interested, and they had moved forward where theycould hear the farmer, who spoke in a low tone; and no one inside wasaware of what was transpiring in the lobby, so that the boys werepractically alone.
"We can't let you in, Uncle Titus, and we don't want to shoot you,"interposed Artie. "I will call Colonel Cosgrove, and you can make yourrequest to him;" and he went to the place where the colonel wasstanding.
"But I am going in," persisted Titus Lyon, attempting to push Deckaside.
"You can't go in!" said Deck, as he crowded his uncle back from theentrance. "Wait a moment, and you can tell Colonel Cosgrove what youwant!"
"I don't want anything of Colonel Cosgrove; he is worse than yourfather," replied the applicant.
"Good-evening, Mr. Lyon," said the Kentuckian, presenting himself at thedoor at this moment.
"I have something to say to this meeting, Colonel, which it is importantfor the meeting to hear," added Titus.
"Come right in and say it, Mr. Lyon," replied the colonel, to theastonishment of the young guardians of the portal.
He was as polite as a Kentucky gentleman generally is; and he took thearm of the applicant, and marched with him to the space behind thedesks, where he halted till the former had finished his remarks. NoahLyon was taken "all back" by the appearance of his brother escorted bythe most influential Kentuckian in the county. The entire audienceturned and stared at the unexpected guest.
"Mr. Chairman, I have the honor to present Captain Titus Lyon ofBarcreek to the meeting," said the colonel. "He claims to have somethingof importance to communicate. He is not a Union man, as is well known,but I trust no objection will be made to hearing him."
"I am not a Union man, as Colonel Cosgrove says," Titus began. "When Icame to this State, I became a Kentuckian, and I go with the people ofthis section of the country. But I did not come here to talk politics.There is two sides to the question before the country, and each on 'emhas its rights. I belong to the party that is tryin' to keep the peacein the State if we have to fight for it. As we had a perfect right todo, we bought about three thousand dollars worth of arms and ammernitionto protect ourselves agin them that is tryin' to force the State into awar of subjergation agin our own flesh and blood.
"Them arms and ammernition has been stole," continued Titus, waxingindignant in spite of his effort to keep cool, and relapsing into hiseveryday speech. "I believe it was done by what you call Union men, andI cal'late I know jest who done it; and I cal'late, Mr. Chairman, youknow jest as well or better'n I do who done it."
"Who was it?" demanded a person in the audience.
"I h'ain't got nothin' to say here about that," answered Captain Titus."But if them arms and ammernition ain't given up right off, here andnow, on the spot, or some plan agreed on for doin' so afore to-morrernoon, the blood will run in the low places round here, and the clouds inthe sky will give back the light from the fires that is burnin' downsome of the nicest houses in these parts. I hain't got nothin' more tosay; but if any one wants to see me about settlin' up this matter, I canbe found near the road in front of the schoolhouse."
"But this is war, Captain Lyon," suggested Colonel Belthorpe.
"I know 'tis; and that's jest what I mean. We want the Union thieves togive up the property they stole; and that's all we ask now," repliedTitus, whose wrath was beginning to be stirred to the boiling point.
"We are ready to meet you on that ground!" shouted Squire Truman,springing to his feet; for he knew that Captain Titus was the ringleaderof the ruffians in the vicinity, and his threat roused him to a fieryindignation. "I know nothing about the arms and ammunition; but whoevertook possession of them has done a noble and patriotic deed, and, Mr.Chairman, I move you that a vote of thanks be tendered to them for it."
This motion was hailed with thunders of applause; and when the presidingofficer put it to the meeting, it was carried unanimously, and no onewished to delay it by making a speech.
Squire Truman then made another speech, in which he pictured the resultof permitting the arms to get into the hands of the ruffians for whoseuse they were evidently intended; and he magnified the prudence andforethought of the unknown persons who had taken the responsibility ofsuch a forward step. This speech was received with cheers, in which thethroats of the audience seemed to be strained to their utmost tension.
"Captain Lyon," said Colonel Cosgrove, when the tumult had subsided in ameasure, "no formal answer seems to be necessary to your demand. Theaction of this meeting and the spirit with which it has been receivedare a sufficient reply. Personally, I can only say I heartily rejoicethat the arms and ammunition have been turned aside from the purpose forwhich they were intended, and we will take care that they are not usedagainst the government of the United States. We are loyal citizens, andwe shall do our duty to the glorious flag under which we live. Have youany further communication to make to this meeting, Captain Lyon?"
"No, I haven't; I've said my say, and fire and blood is the next thing,"replied Titus, as he rushed out of the schoolroom, furious with passion.
The business of the meeting was completed; but the boys informed the twocolonels that the road was full of men. Then several of the Unionistsdrew revolvers from their pockets; for they had fully expected that themeeting would be disturbed, and that it would end in a fight. They hadcome prepared to defend themselves. The situation was discussed, but noone was inclined to avoid the issue. If there was to be a fight, itwould be no new thing in the State.
Colonel Belthorpe, whose title was not one of mere courtesy, for he hadserved in the regular army in his younger days, and won his later spursin the militia, advised that a procession be formed, with the armed menon the right, while the others were told to obtain clubs, or anythingthey could lay their hands upon. But before the column was formed BuckLagger appeared at the door.
"We want Major Lyon and his two cubs!" shouted the ruffian, who appearedto be the right-hand man of Captain Titus.
The ruffians had held a meeting in the grove, privately notified by thisBuck,--for Titus had not been inclined to show his hand,--and adelegation had been sent to try the temper of the assemblage in theschoolhouse. They had been defeated and ejected. It was plain by thistime that the cavern had been visited and the loss of the munitionsdiscovered.
The speech of Captain Titus indicated that he knew who had takenpossession of the property, though Noah Lyon could not conjecture whohad given the information. He was inclined to believe that his brotherhad jumped to his conclusion, though spies about the plantation mighthave obtained some clew to the night visit to the sink-hole of theMagnolia. The flatboat had been loaded with rocks and sunk in thedeepest water of the river, so that it need not betray the planter andhis people.
"We want Major Lyon and his cubs!" repeated Buck Lagger, in a voice loudenough to be heard all over the building. "We don't mean to meddle withnobody else, and all the rest o' you uns can go home without no trouble.Hand over Major Lyon and his cubs so we can get the property he stole,and we won't make no fuss."
"We shall not hand him over, but we will protect him to the last drop ofour blood!" yelled Squire Truman, hoarse with the strain upon his voice."Turn the ruffian out!"
But it was not necessary to turn him out, for he fled as soon as he hadexecuted his mission. There was no great commotion outside, though themob could be seen through the open door. The demand of Buck indicatedthe principal object of the ruffians, and the purpose for which they hadassembled in the grove.
"My friends, I am grateful for your support and promise of protection tome and my boys," said Noah Lyon, who had descended from the platform tothe floor, where the boys had joined him. "It appears from what themessenger of the ruffians has said that I am the sole object of theirvengeance. I have the means here of taking good care of myself and myboys, and I need not involve you all in a fight to protect me."
To a few of the prominent men near him he stated in a low tone, so thathe need not be heard by any ruffian lingering near the door, that hisboat was under the south window, and he could escape without confrontingthe mob in the road. This course would save a fight, and the planter'sfriends decided to adopt it. The door was closed, and the boys passedout of the window first. They ordered the crew to be silent, and afterNoah Lyon had shaken hands with the principal men, he followed them. TheMagnolia was shoved out into the river. Deck headed it across thestream, so as to keep the schoolhouse between it and the ruffians.
Under the lead of Colonel Belthorpe, with his revolver ready for use,the Union men marched out of the building, forming four deep when theyreached the foot of the steps. The ruffians had placed themselves sothat the column passed through them, and they all scrutinized the facesby the light of a fire they had kindled at the side of the road. Theydid not see the victims for whom they were looking, and when the last ofthe procession had passed them they set up a furious howl.
"We have been fooled!" shouted Buck Lagger, as he started after thecolumn. "Where is Major Lyon?" he demanded.
"He is not here," replied some one in the ranks.
"Where is he?"
"I don't know;" and he told the truth, for he had not heard theplanter's statement about the boat, and had not been near the window.
"Where is Major Lyon?" demanded Buck Lagger when he reached the head ofthe procession.
"He came in his boat, and he has returned by it," replied ColonelBelthorpe, with something like a chuckle at the discomfiture of theruffian.
"This is treachery!" howled Buck. "You were to give him up to us."
"No, we were not," returned the doughty colonel. "Didn't you hear us saywe would protect him to the last drop of our blood?"
"We will soon find him and his cubs!" growled the present leader, as hefell back into the grove, followed by the rest of the mob.
The Magnolia reached the boat-pier, and Levi Bedford was there towelcome the party.