CHAPTER XXI
WE CAPTURE THE HOUSE
If she was startled and frightened before, she was doubly so now at thissudden revolt on my part. But I had no time then for explanation, onlyfor the stern exercising of authority. If I was right, if deep down inthe girl's heart there was love for me, she would forgive this action assoon as she realized its purpose--aye! she would respect me the more fordaring the deed.
"Don't attempt to interfere now, my girl; go over to the big chair andsit down."
My revolver was in my hand, and she saw it, her eyes wide open.
"You--you are not going to hurt them?"
"No, not if they use any sense, but this is not going to be boys' play.Will you do as I say?"
She sat down, gripping the arms of the chair, and leaning forward, halfinclined to scream, yet afraid to utter a sound. Without taking my eyesfrom her, I slipped across the room to where I would be partiallyconcealed as the door opened. I knew what I was going to do, or, atleast, attempt to do, and realized fully the risk I ran, and the chanceof failure. It would require daring and coolness to capture those in thehouse, without raising any alarm, and likewise the prompt cooperation ofmy men. If they had seen my signal, and if I could disarm these firsttwo, the rest should be comparatively easy. There were steps in thehall, and the jingle of spurs. Hardy entered first, his head turnedbackward as though he spoke to Le Gaire. I saw the girl rise to herfeet, but my whole attention was concentrated upon the two men. Theinstant the space was sufficient, I forced the door shut, and stood withmy back against it, the black muzzle of my Colt staring them inthe eyes.
"Hands up, gentlemen!" I said sternly, "a movement means death."
They presented two astounded faces, Hardy's absolutely blank, socomplete his surprise, but Le Gaire recognized me instantly, his mouthflying open, his eyes glaring.
"Good God!--you!"
"Yes; hands up, Le Gaire! Don't be a fool."
His dark complexion was yellow with pallor, and I knew him for a cowardat heart, yet his very hatred of me made him dangerous. Hardy wasdifferent, realizing his helplessness, but eying me coolly, his handsheld over his head.
"What does all this mean?" he asked quietly. "Who the devil are you?"
"He's that damned Yank Billie's been so interested in," broke out thecaptain, "the same fellow who knocked me off my horse at Jonesboro."
Major Hardy glanced toward his daughter inquiringly, but before shecould utter a word in explanation I cut in:
"This has nothing to do with Miss Hardy. She is as much a prisoner asyou are. Now, Captain, hand me your revolver--butt first, please. MajorHardy, I will also trouble you. Now both of you back up slowly againstthe wall."
Their faces were a study, Hardy rather seeming to enjoy the experience,his thin lips smiling grimly, but Le Gaire was mad, his jaw set, hiseyes glaring at me.
"I should rather like to know what all this means, young man," said theformer. "Do you expect to capture the house single-handed?"
"Hardly, but I've made a good start," now fully at ease, with a revolverin each hand, the third thrust in my belt. "However I've no time nowto explain."
Without turning my face from them I sidled over to the window, speakingquietly into the darkness without:
"Come in, men, one at a time."
Almost to my surprise they came over the rail like so many monkeys,scarcely a sound revealing the movements. I saw the smile fade from offthe major's lips, and my eyes caught Billie's wide open in astonishment.The fellows hustled in behind me, not knowing what was expected of them,but ready enough for anything. I glanced at them, beckoning to Miles.
"All here, Sergeant? Then draw down the shade. Wilson, you and Carneycome over here, and keep an eye on these two men. Miles, let me speak toyou a moment."
I led him into one corner, outlining the situation in a dozen words.
"There may be half a dozen in the dining-room--yes, just across thehall--including a preacher--armed, of course, but they don't suspectthere is a Blue-coat within ten miles. They're out for a good time, andhave been having it. If you can get the bunch covered first, there needbe no fight. Don't fire a shot; just lay the iron down on them. Take allthe men along, except the two I need here. You know your business."
"Sure," grinning, "and what then?"
"Scout around the house. I don't believe there are any guards set, butit will be safer to make sure."
"There's some cavalrymen at the stable, sir; we heard 'em singin' outthere."
"A few officers' servants; you can attend to them easily enough afteryou are certain about the house. By the way, who is the best man tosend back?"
"Into our lines, sir? Young Ross would be all right."
There was a desk in one corner, with writing materials on it, but I wasmost anxious just then to be assured we controlled the situation. Someof those fellows across the hall might become restless, and stroll inhere at any moment, to discover the cause for delay.
"Very well, Miles; leave Ross here, and carry out your orders; thatshould give you seven men--why, no, it doesn't! Where is the negro?"
"He said you told him he didn't need go beyond the head of the ravine,sir," explained the sergeant, "and as one of the men heard you say so, Ididn't feel like making him come along. He started back for camp."
"I believe I did promise something like that," I admitted, "and hewouldn't have been much assistance anyway. Well, six men and yourselfought to do the business. Watch the windows, so none get away."
Perhaps I should have gone myself, but I was disinclined to leave theroom, desirous of getting off my despatch without delay, and possessedimplicit confidence in the promptness and discretion of the sergeant. Hedrew his revolver, the men silently following his example, and thelittle party slipped quietly out into the hall, the last man closing thedoor behind him. Evidently they encountered no one in the passageway.Listening intently I heard the dining-room door thrown back violently, aconfused noise of feet, of chairs hurriedly pushed aside, a voiceuttering a stern order, the sound of a brief struggle, ended by a blowand the thud of a body striking the floor, then numerous voices speakingexcitedly, followed by silence. Convinced the work had beenaccomplished, and that the house was now entirely in our possession, Iwalked across the room to the desk. Miss Hardy still sat where I hadordered, and I was compelled to pass her chair. Her eyes metmine coldly.
"Would you permit me to go across to my father?" she asked.
"Most certainly; you are in no sense a prisoner, except I shall have toask you to remain in the room for the present."
She inclined her head ever so slightly.
"I shall ask no further favor, and thank you for granting this."
I sank into the chair at the desk, and watched her cross the room. Herwords and actions hurt me, and yet it was scarcely to be expected thatshe would be pleased with the sudden change in affairs. To see me thusin complete control of the situation, her father and Le Gaire prisoners,all their plans frustrated, was maddening, particularly so as sherealized that this result came largely through her own indiscretion. Ibegan myself to doubt the complete success of my scheme. Withoutquestion I had the power now to prevent her marriage, yet I might havegone too far, and caused a revulsion of feeling. She had been interestedin me before--for it had been her part to help me in times of danger,and sympathy lies very close to love--but now the conditions werechanged, and she might feel very different toward my interference.Perhaps I was destined to lose rather than gain, yet it was too late nowto draw back--I must play the game out to its ending. I wrote rapidly,utterly ignoring her conversation with Hardy, yet someway conscious thatLe Gaire sought to join in, and was answered in a single swift sentence,the girl not even turning to glance at him. The simple action caused myheart to leap to my throat--could it be the lady played a part, hercoldness to me intended to deceive others? It was a hope, at least, andI went to my task with fresh courage. I told it all in a dozensentences--Johnston's plans for the morrow; the withdrawal ofConfederate troops
from our left, and their concentration in reserve ofthe enemy's centre; our capture of the Hardy house, and my hope toretain possession until the right of our line could be flung forward.Then I called Ross, and he came across the room, looking scarcely morethan a boy, but with a serious face.
"Can you find your way back down the ravine to our lines, my lad?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then don't lose any time. The Confederate troops have been withdrawn,but you must watch out for stragglers. Give this to Colonel Cochran, andtell him it must be forwarded to headquarters at once. Explain to himthe situation here. Now be off."
He saluted, wheeled sharply about, and went out the window. I heard himstrike the ground. Then I sat silently looking at the others in theroom, wondering how the sergeant was getting along, and slowly realizingthat I had a white elephant on my hands. I was endeavoring to play twogames at once, love and war, and the various moves were confusing. Itmight be possible even for my little squad to hold this advanceposition until reinforcements arrived, but what could be done with theprisoners? Billie might forgive me--realizing the motive--for all whichhad occurred thus far, but if I were to turn her father and Le Gaireover to the hardships of a Northern prison, I could expect no mercy. Icared little as to the fate of the others, they had taken the chances ofwar, but these two must be liberated before our troops came up. I couldnot catch the girl's eyes; she sat with averted face, talking earnestlyto her father. Uneasy, and puzzled how best to straighten out thetangle, I went out into the hall, and glanced in at the room opposite. Abunch of gray-clad men were against the wall, disarmed and helpless,even their tongues silent, and three watchful troopers guarded them,revolvers in hand. All stared at me as I stepped forward.
"Where is the sergeant?"
"At the stable, sir."
"Oh, yes; hope he has as good luck there--got them all?"
"Every bloomin' one of 'em, sir. They was quite nice about it."
An indignant voice spoke from the gray line.
"Blamed if it ain't Atherton! Say, Major, what does all this mean?"
I laughed, stepping forward so as to see the speaker's face.
"Captain Bell, isn't it? Thought I recognized your voice. I'm notAtherton, although I believe I was introduced to you under that nameonce. I have wanted to thank you ever since for bearing testimony inmy favor."
His jaw fell, his eyes staring.
"Who the devil are you then?"
"A Federal officer; my name is Galesworth."
"And this is no joke?"
"Well, hardly, Captain. I shouldn't advise you to take the affair thatway. These fellows here might not appreciate the humor of it."
I turned back, and met Miles in the hall, just as he came in through thefront door. He grinned at sight of me, evidently well pleased.
"Got every mother's son of 'em, sir," he reported. "Easy job too; neverhad to fire a shot, and only hit one fellow; he started a shindy inthere," with a glance toward the dining-room. "There were fivegray-jacks out in the stable, all asleep, an' they was like lambs. Theblamed fools never had a guard set."
"They felt safe enough, no doubt, back here," I returned. "The lastthing they thought about was any Yankees getting this far. Do you knowwhat they were gathered here for?"
He shook his head.
"It was intended for a wedding party, until we butted in."
"Hell! not that pretty girl back in there?"
"Yes," for somehow I felt I had better tell him enough of the truth tomake the situation clear. He was an honest, clear-headed fellow, and Ineeded help. "And that Confederate Captain--Le Gaire--was to be thebridegroom. I am going to tell you the whole story, Sergeant, and thenyou'll see what sort of a fix I'm in."
I went over it hastily, yet with sufficient detail so as to make it allclear to his mind. He listened soberly at first, and then his eyes beganto twinkle, and he interrupted with numerous questions. Apparently hefound the tale most amusing.
"Well, if that ain't the rummest story ever I heard! It beats a novel by'bout a mile. I never was married myself, sir, but I've got a blamedpretty girl waitin' for me back in ol' Illinoy, an' I reckon I know whatshe'd want me to do in a case like this. Sure, I'm with you until thecows come home, and so are the rest o' the boys. Lord, this is the kindo' sojerin' I like; somethin' happenin' every minute. What'snext, sir?"
"Perhaps I better look over the house first," I said thoughtfully, "andsee where we can stow away these prisoners without needing all our mento guard them. You take charge in there while I am gone, Miles, and letthe girl go anywhere she pleases so she promises not to leavethe house."
"All right, sir," and the sergeant saluted, his eyes shining, as Istarted for the stairs.
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