The Courier of the Ozarks

by Byron A. Dunn

  CHAPTER XIII

  PORTER CAPTURES PALMYRA

  With the disastrous defeats and scattering of the guerrilla bands ofPoindexter, Cobb and Porter, it looked as if Northeast Missouri was, atlast, free from partisan warfare, but such did not prove to be the case.Porter had escaped, and was soon back in his old haunts, gatheringtogether as many of his followers as possible.

  Harry Semans reported this fact to McNeil, who had now been appointedgeneral in the Missouri militia. That officer could hardly believe thatPorter would be able to gather a force large enough to do much damage,but he bade Harry be watchful and report at the first signs of danger.

  "Hist! Bruno, keep quiet!"

  It was Harry Semans, who was once more lying in a thicket by the side ofthe road, and as usual the faithful Bruno was by his side. The dog wasnow showing that he scented danger.

  Harry's method of scouting was peculiar. When in need of information heand Bruno generally scouted alone, and that during the night.

  In the daytime he would lie concealed in some thicket, close to a road,his horse always picketed some distance from him. He would observe anymen that passed along the road, the direction they were going, and thusbe able to determine whether the guerrillas were gathering for a raid ornot. If so, it was his duty to find their rendezvous, report with allpossible speed, and bring a Federal force down upon them.

  When he thought best, he had no scruples in passing himself off as aguerrilla. It was only in case of urgent necessity that he rode in thedaytime. For one reason he did not wish the guerrillas to know he wasalways accompanied by a dog. In the night he could not be recognized,and he was never in fear of a surprise, for Bruno always gave warning.

  To the guerrillas it was a matter of wonderment how the Federals sooften found out their secret hiding places, and many a suspected Unionman was accused of giving information, and suffered in consequence, whenit was Harry who was the guilty party.

  Feeling safe, McNeil had left only one small company in Palmyra to guardthe place, and to protect the prisoners, of whom he had nearly ahundred. He was away looking after other posts in his territory.

  The news of McNeil's absence and the small number of soldiers at Palmyrawas borne to Porter and he determined to make a raid on the village,liberate the prisoners, and capture some of the Union citizens who hadmade themselves obnoxious to Porter and his gang.

  The news was given out and the guerrillas were rallying at a given placein the western part of the county. It was this gathering of theguerrillas that Harry was now watching.

  He quickly quieted the dog and the cause of his excitement was nowapparent, for six men came riding past, all armed to the teeth.

  "There is deviltry on foot, old fellow," whispered Harry to Bruno, "andit 's up to us to find out what it is. There's twenty of these villainsridden past since we've been hiding here.

  "How I wish I could hear what they are saying," continued Harry. "Imust, I _will_ find out what's brewing."

  Harry was in a place which he could not safely leave before night, so hewaited impatiently for the coming darkness. As soon as he dared he madehis way back to where he had left his horse, and cautiously led it tothe road. He then mounted and rode in the direction the guerrillas hadtaken. Two or three times Bruno gave warning, and Harry quietly drew outby the side of the road and let men pass.

  He had gone some two or three miles when he came to a main road leadingto Palmyra. Bruno showed unusual excitement, and Harry stopped andlistened intently. From up the road there came the sound of thetrampling of horses, as if a large body of cavalry was coming.

  "Quick, Bruno, we must get out of this," exclaimed Harry, and wheelinghis horse he rode back a short distance. Then he rode into a clump ofbushes where he dismounted and tied the horse. "I dare not leave you toonear the road when that cavalry passes, you might give me away," hesaid, patting his horse's neck. "Bruno, you stay here."

  Back on the run went Harry. Climbing a fence he quickly made his way tothe road over which the cavalry must pass. Here a fence ran close to theroad and the corners were overgrown with weeds and brush, making a safehiding place.

  He was none too soon. Six men came riding by. "An advance guard,"muttered Harry.

  In a short time the head of the column appeared, and in front rode twomen. As they came abreast of Harry he heard one of them say, "What timedo you expect to attack Palmyra, Colonel?"

  "Just at daybreak." It was the voice of Colonel Porter that answered.

  Harry breathed hard. It was Palmyra that was to be attacked, and he knewthe weakness of the garrison. He calculated as closely as he could thenumber that passed, and concluded there must be about four hundred inthe band.

  What was he to do? The whole force was squarely between him and Palmyra.He could never get through that body of men. He must ride around. Butwould he have time? Could he find his way in the darkness? He could try.

  Harry waited until the last man had passed, then going back he mountedhis horse and followed the band. So close was he after them that threeor four stragglers overtook him, and taking him for one of their number,told him to hurry up or he would be too late for the fun.

  "My hoss is plumb tired out," was Harry's answer, "but I reckon I willgit thar in time."

  After riding three or four miles Harry came to a road that he believedmight enable him to get around Porter's force, and by hard riding get toPalmyra first and give warning. Taking the road he put his horse to afast gallop. Two or three times he was hailed as he passed houses, buthe dashed on regardless of the fact that a bullet might be sent afterhim.

  He soon became aware that the road was taking him away instead of in thedirection he wished to go. He brought his horse down to a walk.

  "I'm afraid it's all up," he sighed, "but I will never cease tryinguntil all hope is gone."

  Keeping a sharp lookout he soon came to a road that ran in the directionhe wished to go. True the road seemed but little traveled, but it washis only hope, so he turned into it, and again urged his horse forward.

  The road twisted and turned and Harry soon lost all idea of direction.Worse than all, it grew fainter and fainter and soon became little morethan a trail. Harry felt himself hopelessly lost. He knew not where hewas, nor in what direction he wanted to go, but he knew by the woodswhich bordered the trail he must be near a stream.

  Soon he came to a clearing, in the middle of which stood a rough loghouse. There was a light burning in the house, and before it a horsestood saddled and bridled, and Harry noticed that a shotgun lay acrossthe saddle.

  Though he knew it was risky he determined to stop and find out where hewas and to inquire the shortest way to Palmyra. Hitching his horse andtelling Bruno to keep out of sight, but near him, he carefully made hisway to the house. He soon became satisfied it was tenanted only by a manand woman; if there were children they were asleep.

  The man kept coming to the door and looking out as if he expected someone. Harry saw he was a sinister looking fellow, and that he wore a beltwhich held in place a huge revolver. Harry waited until the man hadclosed the door after one of his visits, and then marching boldly up hegave a short rap.

  The door was immediately opened and the man he had seen exclaimed,"Hello, Steve, yo' un air late." When he saw Harry he stopped and hishand went to his belt, "Who be yo' un," he growled, "and what do yo' unwant?"

  "Don't be alarmed, pard," laughed Harry. "I reckon yo' un and I air inthe same class. I'm from Shelby an' on my way to join Porter. Yo' unknows we 'uns air to make it hot for the Yanks in Palmyra. I have lostmy way, an' want to know whar I kin find the direct road to Palmyra."

  "Yo' un only have to foller the trail to the branch, cross it and yo' unwill strike the main road. But I kalkerlate to have a hand in thatlittle job at Palmyra myself. Have three or four debts to pay, one aginold Allsman. He reported me to McNeil as a dangerous char'ter. He'llnever peach agin if I lay hands on him."

  "Thank yo' un. I'll be goin'," said Harry, "or I'm afraid I'll be late."
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  "Hold on, pard," said the man. "I be jest waitin' for Steve and SolJones. We 'uns will all go together."

  "Sorry I can't wait. I must be goin'," replied Harry, turning to go.

  "Stop!" cried the man, hoarsely.

  Harry wheeled, his hand on his revolver.

  "Better not," drawled the man, with a grin. "The old woman has youkivered and she's a dead shot."

  Harry glanced up. Sure enough the woman, a gaunt, muscular virago, stoodin the door, a rifle at her shoulder, and Harry saw that he could lookright into the muzzle.

  "Ha! Ha!" chuckled the fellow, "yo' un didn't count on that, did yo' un?Fact is, I didn't take to yo' un's story and I giv' the old woman a signto look out. If yo' un be from Shelby, how'd it happen yo' un got inthis timber along the branch. Yo' un may be all right, and if yo' un airit will be no hurt for yo' un to wait and go with we 'uns. Thar, stopfingering that thar revolver, or I'll giv' the old woman the wink.Better up with yo' hands. Thar, I heah Steve and Sol comin'. If yo' undon't prove all right, we 'uns will have a hangin' bee before we 'unsstart. Hands up, I tell yo' un."

  Harry was still looking into the muzzle of the rifle. It seemed to himas big as a cannon. His hands slowly went up, but as they did so he gavea low, peculiar whistle. Like a flash a great black body bounded throughthe air and Bruno's teeth were buried in the shoulder of his victim. Theforce of the impact threw the fellow over, and as he fell Harry ducked.

  The woman fired, but the shot went wild. In a moment Harry had wrenchedthe gun from her, and with a blow bent the barrel of the rifle aroundthe door frame. But now was heard the approach of horses, and the criesof men. Steve and Sol Jones were coming, and the sound of the rifle shothad alarmed them.

  "Here, Bruno, come quick," commanded Harry. But Bruno was unwilling torelease his victim, and it took a hard cuff and a sharp command to makehim let go. Steve and Sol were now there, excitedly crying, "What's up?What's up?"

  Without a word Harry opened fire. One of the horses and the rider wentdown; the other wheeling his horse, was off like a shot, fortunatelygoing the way Harry had come.

  Without waiting to learn the result of his shots, Harry rushed for hishorse and rode away. He reached the branch spoken of, and, crossing it,was soon on the highroad to Palmyra. But Porter and his men were stillin between him and the place.

  Harry now came to where he was acquainted with the country. He couldride around Porter, but it was a good six or eight miles out of his way."I can never do it and be in time," he groaned, "but I may do somegood." Again his good horse was urged to a stiff gallop.

  Day was just breaking and Harry was still three miles from Palmyra, buthe had got past Porter, and would enter the place from the east. He wascongratulating himself that he might still be in time, when the faintecho of firearms was borne to him on the breeze. Spurring his horseforward he rode some distance, then halted and listened.

  The sounds of firing were unmistakable, but the reports were scattering,not as if any considerable number of men were engaged.

  Harry reached the fair grounds on the eastern edge of town. Here heunstrapped the blanket from his saddle, and carrying it into a vacantstall, said to Bruno, "Old fellow, watch that blanket until I comeback."

  The dog lay down by the side of the blanket, and Harry patted his headand told him to keep his eyes open, then he left him, thinking to returnshortly.

  Harry now rode boldly forward, thinking he would have no trouble inpassing himself off as one of the guerrillas. He soon saw squads of themriding through the town and stopping at the different houses. Heshuddered, for he knew Union men lived in every one of those houses.

  The firing up in the center of the town now grew more severe.

  "Seems as if they air havin' quite a time up thar," he said to aguerrilla whom he met.

  "Yes," growled the fellow. "The Yanks have got into the court house anda brick store. Porter ordered them to surrender and they answered if hewanted them to com' an' take them. That they'd fight till the last manfell before they'd surrender. The Kunnel will find it hard work to getthem out without cannon."

  Harry's heart gave a great bound. If the Federals were in the courthouse and a brick store, they might hold out for hours. Might he not gethelp from Hannibal? McNeil was at Monticello, only thirty miles away,with part of the Merrill Horse. Would it be possible to bring help tothe besieged men? He would try, and he turned up a side street.

  "Hullo! Whar be yo' un goin'?" asked the guerrilla.

  "Thar's a feller up here aways I've got an account to settle with, an'I'll git him no matter what happens," exclaimed Harry, fiercely. Then ahappy thought came to him, "Say," he asked, "didn't the Kunnel tell uswhar to rally after this affair was over?"

  "Yes, at Whaley's Mill," was the answer.

  "Wall, I must git my man an' then I'll find yo' un," Harry answered.

  On the outskirts of the village Harry met another guerrilla who told himhe had better be getting back, as Porter had given up all hopes ofcapturing the soldiers in the court house, and they were going to gatherup their booty and prisoners and evacuate the place.

  "Very well," answered Harry. "Thar is one feller out heah I want to get,an' I'm goin' to get him."

  "Better hurry up then," replied the guerrilla.

  Porter had no idea of holding the place when he made the raid. Hisorders were that while some of his force should engage the soldiers atthe court house, the rest should disperse through the city and arrestevery Union man in the place; expressly were they ordered to find andarrest Andrew Allsman, who had made himself very obnoxious to them byacting as guide to the Union forces.

  Allsman was found in bed. He was dragged out, ordered to dress himself,and taken away.

  Porter expected to find a large quantity of arms and munitions of war inthe place. In this he was disappointed, but he succeeded in taking thejail and liberating a number of prisoners.

  One Union citizen was shot down as he stood in the door of his house.

  The soldiers, in defending the court house, had a few men wounded. Theguerrillas lost one killed and had several wounded.

  When Porter withdrew from the place he halted on the outskirts of thevillage and paroled all his prisoners except four, and one of the fourwas Allsman.

  This done he started for the appointed rendezvous at Whaley's Mill. Heexpected no immediate pursuit, for he knew McNeil was at Monticello.