by Oliver Optic
CHAPTER XXVIII
DR. SCOVILLE'S PATIENT
The ball from De Banyan's pistol had passed through the right side of theofficer; and he sank upon the floor, the blood flowing copiously from thewound. These proceedings were so irregular, that Somers could notreconcile himself to them. He was wounded himself; but, when the officerfell, he was full of sympathy for him. It was evident that the suffererwould bleed to death in a short time, if left to himself without anyattention; and Somers could not endure the thought of letting even anenemy die in this forsaken condition.
"Come, my boy; we have no time to lose. It's daylight now, and we oughtto be five miles from the city before this time," said De Banyan, as hemoved towards the stairs. "Take the man's pistol and ammunition, and comealong as fast as you can."
"Will you leave this gentleman in this condition?" asked Somers, gazingwith pitying tenderness at the pale face of the fallen officer.
"Leave him? Of course; we can't take him with us."
"But he will bleed to death if we leave him here."
"Let him bleed to death; I can't help that. Many a better man than he hasbled to death since this war began. Come along, Somers! What is thematter with your arm?" demanded he, when he saw that it hung useless athis side.
"I was hit."
"Hit! We are lost, then!"
"No, we are not lost, either. I am not killed," replied Somers, whose armwas still numb from the effect of the shot.
"That's a misfortune. I am afraid it will spoil everything. Can you siton a horse?"
"Of course I can. But I can't bear to let this man die here alone. He isa brave fellow, and deserves a better fate."
"Come along, Somers! You are an odd stick, when you are wounded, totrouble yourself about your enemies. Let me see your arm."
The captain examined the wounded member, which was now bleeding veryfreely. He tied a handkerchief around the arm, and did the best which thecircumstances would admit for his friend. He then led the waydown-stairs, where the horses were impatiently waiting for their riders.Jenny was a noble mare, and the orderly's horse was an excellent animal.De Banyan, knowing how much might depend upon the endurance of the horsesin the flight before them, filled the bag with corn in the loft, after hehad helped Somers to mount the horse of Peters, which appeared to be thesteadier beast of the two.
The noise of the affray in the loft had probably been heard by some ofthe occupants of the house; and, just as the fugitives had mounted thehorses, a black woman from the dwelling approached the stable. She gazedwith astonishment and alarm at the riders, and seemed to be satisfiedthat all was not right.
"Your master is up in the loft," said Somers, as they rode by her. "He ishurt, and wants attention."
"Now whip up, Somers. We must make quick time; for we shall have thewhole city after us in ten minutes," said De Banyan, as he urged Jenny tothe top of her speed.
The spirited animal seemed as willing to exert herself for the enemies asthe friends of the Southern Confederacy; thus proving that she was aneutral horse, or cherished Union sentiments. But the other horse couldnot keep pace with her, and De Banyan was compelled to restrain herspeed. The fugitives had scarcely appeared in the street before a hue andcry was raised; for the place had been thoroughly aroused by the clamorwhich the troopers had created. Still, there was nothing in sight whichpromised to offer any serious resistance to their progress.
A few moments brought them to the outskirts of the town; though in whatdirection, or to what point, the road they had taken would lead them,neither De Banyan nor Somers had the most remote idea. To go in the wrongdirection was equivalent to plunging into certain ruin; to go in anydirection was hardly less perilous; for the rebel cavalry was out uponevery road, intent upon capturing the deserter and the Yankee. As theyemerged from the more thickly settled parts of the city, they discovereda negro approaching them.
"Where does this road lead to?" demanded De Banyan, reining in his fierysteed.
"Prince George's Court House, massa," replied the man. "Wha' for yougwine down dar?"
De Banyan was not disposed to answer any unnecessary questions, and againspurred on his horse.
"See here, massa!" shouted the negro.
"What do you want?" asked De Banyan impatiently; for, being a Southernerhimself, he had no particular respect for the negro race.
"Don't go down dar, massa."
"Why not?"
"Git cotched if you do, massa," said the man with an expressive grin. "Desodgers on de horses is down dar arter you."
"How do you know they are after us, you black rascal?"
"Kase dey ax dis chile if he see two men, one ob 'em dressed like de'federate ossifer, and de odder a Yank. Dis nigger didn't see no sichpussons den; but, golly, sees um now fur sartin. You done git cotched asshore as you was born, massa, if you go down dar."
"Where shall we go, then?"
"Dunno, massa; but you mustn't be seen gwine down dar."
"How many soldiers did you meet?"
"Four, sar."
"This won't do, Somers. How is your arm?"
"It begins to ache. We may as well go forward as back," said Somers, whowas now suffering severely from his wound, which had not been improved bythe hard gallop of the horse he rode.
"Who lives in that house?" demanded De Banyan of the negro, pointing to asplendid dwelling a short distance ahead.
"Dr. Scoville, massa."
"Doctor?" replied the captain, glancing at Somers.
"Yes, sar; Dr. Scoville. Dat's a mighty fine mar you rides, massa. Ireckon dat's Captain Sheffield's mar."
"Very likely."
"Don't mind me, massa; dis chile's a Union man for shore," grinned thenegro.
"All the negroes are Union men," replied Somers faintly.
"Dat's so, massa!"
"What's Dr. Scoville?" asked De Banyan hopefully.
"Secesh, massa--drefful secesh. He done been in de army fur a surgeon."
"He is a dangerous man, then."
"Dar, massa, dar!" shouted the negro suddenly, as he pointed down theroad over which the fugitives had just come. "Dey's some more arter you."
De Banyan started his horse again, followed by Somers; but it was evidentfrom the appearance of the latter that the chase was nearly finished forhim. He was beginning to feel very faint from the loss of blood, whilethe pain of his wounded arm was almost unsupportable. The gait of thehorse seemed to wrench the bones asunder, and cause the shattered partsto grate against each other.
"Hurry up, Somers, my dear boy," said his companion, as he glanced backat the pale face of his friend.
"I am afraid I can't go much farther, De Banyan," replied Somers. "I amvery faint. I feel sick."
"Cheer up, and make one effort more. The rebels are upon us!"
"I cannot. I shall fall from the horse, I am afraid."
"Don't do that."
"I won't if I can help it; but the motion of the horse almost kills me.Leave me, De Banyan; save yourself if you can."
"Leave you? I haven't the remotest idea of doing anything of the sort."
"Better go on, and save yourself. It is all up with me."
"A mother would sooner leave her baby than I would leave you," replied DeBanyan in tones as tender as a woman's. "I'll never leave you, Somers. Ifyou go to Richmond, I shall go with you."
"You cannot do me any good. Save yourself before it is too late."
"Not I."
"I beg you----"
"Cease your blarney, my dear boy! We are one flesh; and we will hangtogether to the end of life, or _at_ the end of it, as the case may be.Here, Somers, stick to your horse a moment more, and we will call and seethe doctor."
"Dr. Scoville!" exclaimed Somers, alarmed at the idea.
"Very likely he is a good surgeon. You are on the sick-list now; mindwhat I say, and do just what I tell you."
De Banyan, without stating what he intended to do, dashed up the roadwayleading to Dr. Scoville's house. It was evident that he was
about toresort to some desperate expedient to retrieve the shattered fortunes ofhis party; but he kept his own counsel; and Somers yielded himself to themaster will of his companion like a child, as indeed he was in hisexhausted and suffering condition. The roadway led to the rear of thehouse where the stable was located; and De Banyan reined up his foamingsteed as soon as he reached the corner of the building.
"Keep still a moment, Somers, and I'll have you taken care of," said DeBanyan, as he rode back to a point where he could see the road withoutbeing seen.
It was evident that they had been observed by the party of horsemen whichhad just come out of the city; and he wished to ascertain whether theyhad seen him turn in at the doctor's premises. The pursuers (for everymounted man was a pursuer on that eventful morning) were riding in everydirection in search of the fugitives. He hoped they would pass by,satisfied that any person who should boldly call upon Dr. Scoville mustbe a rebel.
He was disappointed. When the party reached the road, they reined uptheir horses; and De Banyan, without losing a moment, dismounted,fastened Jenny to a post in the yard, and ran down to intercept thetroopers. The captain walked with the quick, sharp, consequential trampof a military commander; and, when the soldiers saw him, theyinvoluntarily saluted him.
"What are you doing up here?" he demanded in tones of authority.
"We are looking for the prisoners that runned away," replied a corporal.
"Well, do you expect to find them in the dwelling-house of Dr. Scoville?Ride down the road as fast as you can, and turn to the first left. If youmeet the major, report Captain Sheffield badly wounded--shot by one ofthe prisoners."
"Then the prisoners have gone down this way?"
"Certainly they have. Off with you as fast as you can!"
The corporal saluted, wheeled his horse, and dashed off, followed by therest of the party. De Banyan wiped away the cold sweat from his brow, andreturned to his suffering companion. He helped him to dismount and seatedhim on a block while he secured the horse. By this time, a couple ofnegro women came out of the house. They were the early risers of thefamily, and at once manifested the most abundant sympathy for thesufferer. The doors of the house were thrown wide open to him; andCaptain de Banyan, supporting Somers, followed the servants into thesitting-room, where the patient was laid upon the sofa in a faintingcondition.
"Now call your master," said De Banyan, with as much assurance as thoughhe had been the lord of the manor.
"Yes, massa," replied one of the women as she hastened to obey the order.
"How do you feel, my dear boy?" said De Banyan, bending over his charge.
But Somers was past answering. He had fainted from loss of blood and theagony of his wound. The resolute captain did not wait for Dr. Scoville inthis emergency; but, taking a bottle of cologne from the mantel, heapplied himself with skill and vigor to the restoration of his patient.While he was thus engaged, the doctor made his appearance. He was a manof fifty, of forbidding aspect and rough exterior.
"Who are you, sir?" demanded he in brusk tones, placing himself in frontof the captain, and without bestowing more than a glance at the patienton the sofa.
"Captain Sheffield," replied De Banyan as sharply as the question hadbeen put.
"Are you, indeed? Then you have altered a great deal since I saw youyesterday," added Dr. Scoville, with an expression of malignant triumphon his face.
This reply was a damper on any little scheme which the over-confident DeBanyan had proposed to carry out; but the captain was a profound studentin the mysteries of human nature, and at once correctly read thecharacter of the gentleman who stood before him.
"You didn't see me yesterday, and you know you didn't," he replied intones hardly less savage than those of his involuntary host.
"That's very true; I did not," said the doctor.
"This point settled, I'll thank you to turn to the next one, which is thepatient before you."
"You are a plain-spoken man," added Dr. Scoville, still gazing intentlyinto the face of the captain; who, however, returned the look asresolutely and as earnestly as it was given.
"I am; I don't waste words when my friend is dying, for aught I know.Will you attend to this man?"
"Who is he?"
"He is a man shot through the arm, and needing instant surgicalattendance," answered De Banyan impatiently. "It isn't necessary to knowany more before you examine him."
"Good!" exclaimed the doctor with a smile such as that in which a hyenamight be supposed to indulge when pleased, if hyenas ever are pleased.
He turned to Somers, and proceeded to examine into his condition. Thecoat of the patient was removed from his insensible form, and he wascarefully disposed on the sofa, according to the directions of thedoctor; the captain and the negro women assisting in the work. Though thesurgeon was as rough as a bear in his tone and manner, he was as tenderas a loving mother in his treatment of the sufferer, and handled him ascarefully as though he had been a new-born babe. The blood was stanched,and the wound dressed as skilfully as human hands and human knowledgecould perform the operation.
"What do you think of him?" asked De Banyan, full of anxiety for hissuffering companion.
"He won't die just yet; but he may lose his arm."
"Good heavens! do you think so?" exclaimed the captain.
"No; I don't think so."
"What did you say so for, then?"
"I didn't say so."
"Didn't you say he would lose his arm?" demanded De Banyan savagely.
"I didn't say so."
"What did you say, then?"
"I said he might lose his arm. You may lose your arm; but I think you aremore likely to lose your head. Who is this young man?"
"He is a friend of mine; and, as I find it necessary to be entirelycandid with an old fellow like you, I shall answer no questions in regardto him at present."
"Indeed!"
"Not a question, Dr. Scoville. I intend to have him stay at your housetill he is able to join his regiment; and I intend to stay with him."
"You do me unmerited honor by making my humble house your home," said thedoctor satirically.
"I think you are worthy of the honor, Dr. Scoville. As your humble house,I think it is very well got up, creditable to your taste, and altogethera fine place."
"Thank you," growled the host. "I suppose you have no objection to myinforming the Confederate States military officers in the city of yourpresence here?"
"Not the slightest," answered De Banyan promptly. "I propose to informthem myself in due time."
"What did you say your name was?"
"Captain Sheffield."
"Of Petersburg?"
"No, sir."
"Not of Petersburg?"
"No, sir; of Nashville, Tennessee, which I can further inform you is thecapital of the State. I have the honor to be a captain in the ThirdTennessee. I served in Mexico, in the Crimea, and in Italy. I was presentat four battles in the Crimea, seven in Italy, five in Mexico; I havebeen engaged in nine battles of the present war, and have been woundedsix times."
"Were you ever killed?"
"Never was so unfortunate. Can I furnish you with any furtherinformation?"
"No more at present," replied the doctor, compressing his lips,apparently to keep from laughing, but really because he could not thinkof anything sharp enough to dash so ready a talker. "If you do me thehonor to remain here a week, I shall have better opportunities of hearingyour marvelous experience, Captain Sheffield. Ah, what have we here?"continued he as three horsemen galloped up the roadway.
A violent knocking was presently heard at the side door of the house, andDr. Scoville hastened to learn the errand of the excited visitors.
