In the Saddle

by Oliver Optic

  CHAPTER XIII

  THE PERPLEXING MOVEMENTS OF THE ENEMY

  The commander of the squadron had not yet become familiar with thetrials, doubts, and anxieties of military life in the midst of actualfighting; and though he was as calm and resolute as ever, he seemed tothe boys to be greatly disturbed about something. Thus far all thefighting had been done by the second company; but before this time MajorLyon had confidently expected to be engaged with the cavalry which hadencamped three miles from the mansion of the planter.

  The reputation of the Texans had been spread over this portion of theState; and they were regarded as terrible soldiers, real fire-eaters,and he had by no means underrated them. He had made the most carefulpreparations to meet them, and had sent the two messengers to obtain are-enforcement from the second company, which had successfullycompleted its work at the railroad bridge, and could spare a portion oftheir strength.

  Deck handed his father the letter from Captain Truman as soon as he cameinto his presence. The major opened it without saying a word, for heexpected it to give him the information he had been so anxiouslyawaiting. The firing to which he had listened, though it was so faintthat he could hardly make it out, had assured him that something notlaid down in his programme had been in progress. While he was readingthe hurriedly written communication, Deck and Artie busied themselves inexamining the region lying to the eastward of the mansion.

  "The road by which the Texans came must be just beyond that hill, acouple of miles from us," said Artie, as they went as far as they couldfrom the major. "I know I saw them come out from behind it; for I sat onmy horse, on the highest ground I crossed, watching them for some time."

  "There's father's map," added Deck, pointing to the sheet which lay onthe railing that surrounded the platform; and then he went for it. "Iwondered father did not see this force from his high perch on thishouse."

  The young soldiers spread out the map, and examined it very closely.They readily found the planter's house, and then a road, nearly parallelto the east one, passing over several hills. The high ground, as theymade out the locality with the aid of the map, was covered with forest,as marked and as they could see with their own eyes.

  "They went behind that highest hill, and of course they could not beseen from the top of this house," said Deck, as he restored the map tothe place where he had found it.

  "I wonder he did not send more messengers down, to ascertain what hadbecome of the force he sent for," added Artie in a low tone.

  "He was expecting an engagement with the Texans all the time, and hadprepared for it, so that he did not want to spare any of his men."

  Major Lyon had finished the reading of the letter, which had evidentlygiven him some trouble, for it was written on horse-back with a pencil.He had not heard the conversation of the sons, so deeply had he beenabsorbed in the perusal of the missive from the bridge.

  "It appears that you have had a fight near the bridge," said he, as theboys approached him. "Both of you are very highly commended for yourcourage and steadiness, and I am glad to hear so good a report of you.And both of you have been wounded."

  "Only some scratches, father," replied Deck. "I got one in the beginningof the action; but it has hardly troubled me at all, and I was able todo my duty through the whole of it.

  "Deck was the hero of the day, and the whole company are talking abouthim down at the bridge," said Artie.

  "But I did no more than my brother. I think we both did our duty, ifsaying that is not vanity; and we had better let it go at that," repliedDeck.

  "We will let the matter rest till another time, at least," added themajor; "for I have something else to think of just now."

  Major Lyon took his field-glass, and directed it to the south, as he haddone all the forenoon, looking for the approach of the main body of theTexans. He scanned the region in detail, but nothing was to bediscovered. Then he proceeded to question his messengers respecting theaction, especially in regard to the manner in which it had been broughtabout.

  "There is something concerning the situation here which I cannotunderstand," said he, with the same perplexed look he had worn since thearrival of the messengers. "I expected your return about two hours ago."

  "We started to come back as long ago as that," replied Deck. "When wecame to the cross-roads we discovered two mounted scouts on the eastroad approaching us. One of them fired, and I was wounded in the arm. Wereturned the fire, and Artie brought down one of them. The other wentback the way they had come. I returned to the camp to notify CaptainTruman, and Artie followed the retreating trooper."

  Artie related his experience in looking for the Texans, and the resultof his search. Between them both they gave the details of the fight.

  "Captain Truman stated that his orders were to join you here; but it wasplain enough to him that the camp at the bridge would be captured if hetook his force away," said Deck.

  "He did quite right; and the approach of the Texan detachment in thatroundabout way put an entirely new phase on the situation," added themajor, looking down at the roof of the building, while his brow waswrinkled by his active reflection. "We have been waiting since daylightfor the coming of the enemy down this south road."

  "Do they know the Riverlawn Cavalry is here, father?" asked Deck.

  "Of course they know it; for it appears that they send out scouts a longway ahead, and they must have found out that we are here. I directedCaptain Gordon to send scouts out till he discovered where the enemywere; and it is time we had a return from them."

  "I have a return from my scouts," said Captain Gordon, springing to theroof out of the skylight at this moment.

  "Where are the enemy now?" asked the major anxiously.

  "They were breaking camp when my men left," replied the captain. "I sentsix men, the most intelligent in the company, in charge of SergeantKnox, who has performed his duty very faithfully."

  "He always does. Have your six men returned?" asked Major Lyon.

  "No, sir; Knox returned alone to report. He left Sergeant Sluder andthe other four as pickets in the road a mile and a half from here, toreport the approach of the enemy if they came this way."

  "But if they were breaking camp, why have we not heard from them beforethis time?" demanded the major.

  "Some of the troopers that escaped from the fight on the east road musthave reached the camp by this time," interposed Deck. "Of course theyhave informed the captain of the company what happened over there."

  "What fight?" asked the captain sharply, as he turned to Deck.

  The captain had to be informed of what the major had already learned.

  "This puts an entirely different complexion on the situation," saidCaptain Gordon, when he had heard something about the fight with theTexan cavalry. "That detachment of forty-five men were sent over to thebridge. Now, the question is, What were they sent for?"

  "I have no doubt the Texan captain is aware of the presence of theRiverlawn squadron in this vicinity. He has found the road here picketedby our men. It looks to me as though this detachment was sent round bythat back road to take us in the flank and rear when the main body camedown upon us in front. They have been waiting all this time for them toget a position," said the major, with less anxiety on his face thanbefore.

  "But those who escaped from the fight have now given him fullinformation that they were beaten off by our men," suggested CaptainGordon. "They were preparing for a move of some sort; for Knox left hishorse in the road, and made his way through fields and groves, till hewas in sight of their camp."

  "Have you anything to advise, Captain Gordon?" asked Major Lyon.

  "I think I should attack them where they are," he replied.

  "I cannot agree with you, Captain," added the superior officer.

  "But we are losing time whatever we do," said the captain.

  "We will march immediately, and with all the haste we can, to thecross-roads. Give your orders to that effect without any delay. Sendthe prisoners first, with a proper
guard," said Major Lyon verydecidedly.

  By this time Captain Gordon had acquired a great deal of respect for thejudgment of the commander, even in military matters; for he had provedhimself equal to the position in which he had been placed; and, mild ashe was ordinarily, he had shown that he had a will of his own. But thecaptain proceeded to obey his orders without offering any objection, andthe major had not time to explain his plans in detail.

  "Captain Truman and his detachment are coming," said Deck, who had beenusing his father's field-glass for his amusement, while he listened tothe conversation at his side.

  "Mount your horse, Artie, and give him my order to return to thecross-roads!" added Major Lyon sharply.

  Artie departed on the instant, and Deck remained on the roof. He couldsee from his lofty position all that took place in the vicinity. He sawthe six prisoners, including his uncle, Captain Titus, marched down theslope with an escort of half-a-dozen troopers. The baggage-wagonsfollowed them; and the company was formed in the road by fours. CaptainGordon had hurried the preparations to the best of his ability.

  "The pickets are coming in, Dexter," said Major Lyon, as he returned thefield-glass to the case slung at his side. "You can take your place inthe ranks, my son. Whether the pickets have been sent for, or are drivenin by the enemy, I don't know. We will see when we reach the ground."

  The young man followed his father down the stairs. In the lower entrythey met the family; and the planter expressed regret that they wereabout to leave the vicinity of his house.

  "I have felt that I was protected from insult and depredation while yourcommand was here, and I am sorry to have you go," said Mr. Barkland.

  "I am afraid we should do you more harm than good if we remained,"replied the major. "If we stayed here it might produce a fight, and thatwould imperil your family. I think the enemy will be too much in a hurryto stop to molest you if they march by this road, as they may or maynot."

  "I had hoped to see more of your son who rendered such a great servicelast night," said Mrs. Barkland.

  "And I wanted to see him very much," said the daughter.

  "They have no time to meet you at present."

  "But what is the matter with your arm, Mr. Lyon?" asked Miss Barkland,when she discovered the extra bandage which the doctor had put onoutside of his coat.

  "I got a scratch; but it wasn't the cat that did it," replied Deck,laughing.

  "Both of my boys have been slightly wounded to-day in the action down bythe cross-roads; but they are still able to do their duty, and I thankGod it was no worse," added Major Lyon, as he took the hand of theplanter.

  They all took the hand of Deck, and repeated their thanks to him. Hefollowed his father out of the house, in front of which they met Knox.

  "The enemy are moving down this road, Major Lyon," said the Kentuckianas he saluted.

  "All right; give the captain my order to march at a gallop," replied thecommander, as he mounted his own horse.

  The column moved; and the major soon reached the head of it, where hetook his place by the side of the captain.

  "The enemy have started upon this road," said he. "Whether or not theyhave sent another detachment around by that back road can hardly beknown till we find them there."

  "The captain of the Texan Rangers does not seem to have any contempt forstrategy, as was reported of him," replied Captain Gordon. "I have nodoubt his scouts informed him that the Riverlawn Cavalry were in camp onthe plantation."

  "And I have no doubt now, from the way things have worked, that thedetachment were sent round to take us in the flank. They don't seem tohave made any connection with Captain Titus's company, and did notexpect to find one of our companies at the bridge."

  There was some confusion ahead, and the company were thrown back. Thecolumn had overtaken the prisoners and the baggage. The captain sentforward an order for both to take the side of the road. The major sawhis brother drawn up with the others, and he shouted "Noah!" as he waspassing; but the commander took no notice of him.