CHAPTER XII.
_Hanging Day--The Friends--The Plot--The Attack._
There is no pang in thy sharp wedge of steel, After that parting.--_Pythias._
For some hours, Hayward and his sister were permitted to remain alone.Night was fast approaching. Nothing was heard without, but the coarselaugh and jests of the soldiers. As Hayward held his sister in his arms,he murmured:
"Would to God she could ever remain unconscious, or die to-night. I feelthat a fate far worse than death awaits her, when I am gone, andto-morrow will surely be the fatal day. Oh, may God in his mercy protectthis darling one!"
"Have I been dreaming?" she sobbed, as she returned to consciousness,and opened her eyes. "I saw my brother in chains, and I heard theirdreadful clankings upon the floor."
Her eyes met those of her brother, and with a shudder, she buried herface in his breast, as if she would shut out some terrible vision.
"Mamie--darling sister, don't you know me?" asked Hayward.
"Oh! yes," she cried, starting up. "It is my brother. He is with me, andI am safe and happy. O brother, I met such rude men here, I cannotremain. Let us go at once." She started toward the door.
"Come back, sister, I wish to talk with you, and I wish you to listencalmly."
"Calmly! What do you mean by that word? Ah! those chains! I have notbeen dreaming! It is a terrible reality. What means this, brother?"
"Come here, Mamie, come close to my heart, and let me talk with you."
She obeyed, but as Hayward placed his arms around her, she said:
"Oh! that iron is so cold--it chills my heart. Let me remove thosechains, brother."
"No, sister. Let them alone, and listen to me!"
"First answer _me_! Are these men your friends?"
Hayward could not reply. His feelings almost overcame him, and he didnot wish his sister to discover any emotion on his part.
"You are silent. These men are _not_ your friends, and you are aprisoner! Oh! my heart will break!" and she sobbed convulsively.
"Don't weep so, dear sister. Don't weep."
"I cannot help it. Oh! let me weep--let me rest upon your heart,brother, and weep my life away! It will be sweet to die here!"
"You must _not_ die, Mamie, but live for me. I hope to-morrow I shall befree. I have friends who will not forsake me!"
"And you are a prisoner!" she sobbed.
"Yes, but try and compose yourself. I have much to say to you!"
"Yes, I will be calm--I will listen, for I feel that a terrible fatehangs over you, my brother. Oh! I am glad that I am here. I'll weep nomore, but I will comfort you. There, do not look so pale, your littlesister is with you, and will share your fate, whatever it may be."
Hayward bowed his head, while a convulsive tremor shook his frame.
"Come, I'll weep no more--I'll comfort you. Think, brother, it can onlybe death, and your spirit will scarcely have taken its flight to thatbetter world, ere mine will meet you there. Oh! we shall not long beseparated."
"Mamie, we will talk no more of death. I do not believe such will be myfate. I have already been informed that friends are at work. I shall berescued from this place, and if I am not, my sentence is not immediatedeath. So weep no more, but listen. How came you here, Mamie?"
"I received a letter telling me that my brother had been wounded inbattle, and that you wished me to come direct to Springfield. I saw bythe papers that the Union army were marching for this place, and Isupposed you were with them, and that I should arrive here about thesame time you did. I did not hesitate a moment, but came forwardaccording to my directions to Rolla. I was there met by two men whobrought me to this place."
"Ah! I see it all now. That villain Branch must have taken your letterfrom my pocket while I was insensible, and thus learning your address,sent for you!"
"But to what end, brother? He is not your friend or you would not callhim villain!"
"I cannot tell, dear sister. But let me enjoin on you to be firmwhatever may occur. Even though you see me march upon the scaffold, befirm, and hope. Remember what you said; it will _only_ be death! If myenemies wish to torture me, the more keenly feel, the more they willexult. Hark! Some one approaches. We shall not long remain in ignorance.Remember, darling, let not a word or even a tear betray more thanordinary emotion."
The door was thrown open, and Branch entered. Hayward seated himselfupon a rude box and Mamie knelt by his side.
"How is your wound, captain?" asked Branch.
"It troubles me very little, sir!" was the reply.
"I do not believe you. You say that to spare your sister pain. You aresuffering, and you know it!" growled Branch.
Hayward frowned, but did not speak. His sister crept close to hisbreast.
"Do you know the federal army are within two days march of this place?"continued Branch.
"I did not know it!" answered Hayward.
"Don't you wish they would come upon us to-night? We have onlytwenty-two hundred men here, and they with forty thousand _might_ defeatus, and rescue you and your lovely sister."
Hayward made no reply.
"Oh! I will open your mouth presently. You saw the Fair-Ground as wepassed? You won't speak? Well, I will. If you could only look inside thehigh board enclosure, you might discover a platform, surrounding a largetree. From one of the limbs a rope is hanging. It is for your neck. Youare to die to-morrow at three o'clock."
Hayward did not move a muscle, but Mamie, with a groan of agony, halfsuppressed, threw her arms around her brother's neck, and clung thecloser.
"It will be interesting to die thus, noble captain, knowing that yourfriends are but a few miles distant. And those lovely arms which nowencircle you, will not wish to clasp your neck when you are cold indeath. They shall be removed to mine!"
Mamie had started to her feet, and staggering forward, she knelt beforethe wretch, and sobbed:
"Oh! spare my brother!"
"Mamie!" shrieked Hayward. "Up!"
The maiden started, and sprang into her brother's arms again.
"Forgive a moment of weakness, my brother!" she said, as she caressedhim.
"Miss Hayward," said Branch, "Your brother's life may be saved. GeneralPrice offered him a pardon, if he would accept a commission in our army.Persuade him to accept it."
Miss Hayward glanced at her brother, and then turning to Branch, shereplied:
"And become companion with such as you?"
"Is not that preferable to death?"
"I'll answer you no more!" said Mamie, turning to her brother.
"Well, I will leave you to pleasant reflections. To-morrow at oneo'clock you will leave this place, and have the pleasure of a cart rideas far as the gallows. Your sister may remain with you to-night, andenjoy the ride with you to-morrow. After that I shall take charge ofher."
Branch left the room.
"It is all over now, brother!"
Miss Hayward could no longer restrain her feelings, but sinking down,groaned in agony of soul. The tears burst forth, and long and bitterlyshe wept. She could not be consoled. Her brother assured her that hefelt confident he would be rescued, if his friends were at that time soshort a distance from him. And they might be much nearer. But she couldnot be comforted. At times her sobs became almost shrieks, and then theywould cease, as if from very exhaustion. It seemed as if her very heartwas made of tears. Nature could bear but little more. At last she sankinto a fitful slumber, resting upon her brother's bosom. Ever and anonshe would start, a wild cry would break from her lips, and she wouldcling with all the power of madness about his neck, and beg him not toleave her. Her starts, her sobs, her groans, her screams, were terrible,and thus the night wore slowly on mid dark and gloom. Hayward slept not.Occasionally he pressed his lips to his sister's forehead, which now wasicy cold, now burning with a feverish heat. Sometimes her breath wouldappear entirely to have stopped, and then her brother, in a voice ofagony, would call Upon her name; but a sob or groan would tell him sheyet liv
ed. Toward morning she grew more quiet, and her repose seemedsweet, and undisturbed by frightful dreams. At length she started up andcried "They are coming! See, brother!"
"Who are coming, dear sister?" asked Hayward.
"Oh! I have been dreaming, but it was sweet. Are you here, brother? Itis so dark I cannot see you!"
"Yes, Mamie, I am here. But, what have you been dreaming?"
"Where are we, brother? Oh! I remember that bad man. I saw him in mydream. He was hurled to destruction from a terrible precipice. He wasstanding upon a cloud, dark and massive, but the thunders broke it, andhe fell!"
"Go on!" cried Hayward.
"I saw you, brother. You were standing on a golden cloud, just by hisside. The lightnings flashed around your head, but did not harm you. Andwhen I called you, ten thousand fairy forms appeared, and bore you to myarms. And then I saw all your friends advancing, and they smiled uponyou."
"And that dream has given you hope, has it not?"
"Yes, it has, dear brother!"
"It is very strange!" said Hayward.
"That I should dream thus, brother?"
"No, but that last night I had the very same dream!"
"O brother, God is good!"
Hayward told her the particulars of his own dream.
"I shall hope to the last!" replied Miss Hayward, evidently cheered bythe vision.
The morning dawned. Hayward looked pale and haggard. The chains hadgalled him, and he was faint and weak. This he endeavored to hide fromhis sister, but she observed it, and tried to cheer him with consolingwords.
At length some coarse food was brought, and placed just within the door.But it remained untouched. As the day advanced, Hayward said:
"Mamie, what will you do in case of the worst?"
"If you die, do you mean, brother?"
"Yes, darling!"
"Don't trouble yourself as to what I will do _after_ you are dead, forif this must be so, I shall go with you."
The door was thrown open and Branch entered.
"It is twelve o'clock," he said. "Make ready!"
"We _are_ ready, sir!" answered Hayward.
"It is a pity you should die, Hayward. I tell you what I will do. Letme marry that lovely sister of yours, and I will set you free!"
"Dog!" echoed Hayward.
"What do you say, Miss Hayward?"
"I repeat my brother's word most heartily!" replied Mamie.
"Oh! you scornful little devil, you are a copy of your brother. But youwill both repent your words. What ho! guards!"
Four of the guard entered the room.
"Take them along," said Branch.
"We will walk," replied Hayward. As he led his sister from the room hesaid:
"Think of our dreams!"
Hayward walked erect, almost carrying, rather than leading his sister.When he reached the street he said:
"Branch, my sister will not be able to endure this scene. Let her remainhere!"
"No, no," begged Mamie, "let me go with you, brother--I will be verycalm--see I can walk alone." But that pale face and trembling formseemed little calculated to undergo the terrible scenes which mustfollow.
Alibamo was already seated in a rough cart which stood before the door.Hayward assisted his sister into it, and then entered himself, but stooderect, while the females were provided with seats. As they were drivenonward, Branch rode by their side upon his horse. A crowd were followingafter them, and taunts and jeers were heard on every side.
"Oh! that I had a sword within my grasp, and was free from theseshackles for a moment, I would teach those curs civility," criedHayward.
"Oh! it won't matter to you long," said Branch.
The procession had proceeded about a mile from Springfield on the roadrunning west. They were ascending the hill, upon the summit of which wasa thick wood, when Hayward said:
"Do you see those lines of infantry just within that grove. They arerebel soldiers; it is the guard _necessary_ at the execution of _one_man! Branch, don't you fear that these two half-fainting women willrescue me?"
"They might do it--they are the only ones who can!" replied Branch.
The cart had passed the wood through a line of soldiers formed on eitherside, and reaching the Fair-Ground, it was driven within the enclosure,and halted near the scaffold. Miss Hayward had been hopeful until thismoment, but her feelings gave way, and throwing her arms around herbrother, she cried:
"Oh! is there no way in which you can escape this terrible fate?"
"Yes," said Branch. "Accept my terms."
"Dog, still!" replied Hayward, his eyes flashing with indignation.
"Hayward, I will save you, if possible," said Alibamo. "Branch, you sayyou love me. Release Captain Hayward, and I will become your wife."
"Alibamo!" shrieked Hayward, "unsay those words or I will give you mydying curse! Would you kill _your_ brother? He loves you as dearly as Ilove _my_ sister. If I thought, Alibamo, that you would marry that vilewretch, with these chains I would dash your brains out!"
"Drag him upon the scaffold!" shouted Branch.
"Farewell, Mamie--farewell!"
Hayward clasped his sister, but was torn from her, and dragged upon thescaffold, where his chains were removed.
"She has fainted--thank God!" said Hayward, as they placed the fatalnoose about his neck.
"_The Body-guard! The Body-guard!_"
"What shouts are those?" yelled Branch.
At that moment a horseman dashed up, and cried:
"_The Body-guard are upon us!_"
"Quick!" yelled Branch. "String him up!"
"No, I be d----d if you do, you darn skunks!" cried Nettleton, as hesprang from among the thick branches of the tree, after having severedthe rope.
"Spring, captain, for your life," cried Nettleton.
Hayward sprang from the scaffolding. At that moment there was anexplosion just beneath it, which threw the masses in every direction,and caused such a dense smoke, that the soldiers surrounding thescaffold could not distinguish the rescuer, and consequently could notfire.
"Alibamo's brother and the Indian were under the scaffold and laid thatplot, captain," said Nettleton. "But here comes Adjutant Harry Hinton!"
The adjutant dashed forward, and seeing the captain alive, he fairlyyelled with delight He embraced his friend, and then remounting, cried:
"But come, boys, we have work to do," and off he dashed at a rapid rate.
"Come, Nettleton, I must seek my sister," said Hayward, as he started tothe point where he had last seen her. He met the brother of Alibamo, andhaving been informed by Nettleton who he was, Hayward inquired:
"Where are our sisters?"
"I cannot tell, Captain Hayward. The ground became deserted in a momentafter it was known the guard were coming. I suppose Fall-leaf, one ofour friends, has removed them to a place of safety, away from the fightThey will be found when the fate of the battle is decided."
The Border Spy; or, The Beautiful Captive of the Rebel Camp Page 12
