Love under Fire

by Randall Parrish

  CHAPTER XXXIII

  MISS BILLIE REAPPEARS

  I was leaning against the side wall, aware I had been wounded yetscarcely feeling the pain of it, an empty revolver in each hand, bluesmoke curling from the muzzles. For the moment I could not comprehendwhat had actually occurred--that, for the second time, we had driventhem; that we still held the house, now fairly encircled by dead bodies.Then the truth dawned, and I gazed almost blindly about on the ruck, andinto the faces of the men nearest me. I hardly recognized them,blackened by powder, with here and there a blood stain showing ghastly.The door was crushed in, splintered by the heavy log, the end of whichstill projected through, and beneath it three men lay motionless. I sawothers between where I stood and the stairs, one leaning against thewall, his blood dyeing the carpet, another outstretched upon the steps.All this came to me in a glance, my head reeling; I felt no power tomove, no ability to think. Then Miles' voice at my very ear aroused me.

  "Are you hurt, Lieutenant? Here, let me see."

  I stared at him, and seemed to come back to life again with a start.

  "No, nothing serious, Sergeant. The door must have struck me as itfell--my whole left side and arm are numb. We drove them, didn't we?"

  "You can bet we did, sir, but my fellows got here just in time. Theydidn't make much of a fight along my side, so when I heard that doorcrash we come a-runnin'."

  "Oh, it was you then. That's about the last I remember. Where is theirreserve? Didn't they come in?"

  "I guess not," peering out through the opening. "There's no signs of'em, so far as I can see, but there ain't no air, an' the smoke hangsclose to the ground."

  As he said, it was useless endeavoring to perceive what was happeningwithout, the powder smoke clinging to the earth, and hiding everythingfrom view. Yet I realized what must have occurred; the dead bodies insight proved how severely the assaulting column had suffered, and nodoubt the entire force had been disorganized, and sent helter-skelterfor safety. Yet they would come back--either they or others. This mussmust be cleaned up; this opening closed. After that we could attend ourdead and wounded. I gave a dozen swift orders, and Miles instantly tookcommand. The imprisoned bodies were dragged out from underneath thedoor, the heavy log taken into the hall, the door itself torn from itsremaining hinges and forced back into position, the log, one end restingagainst the stairs, being utilized as a brace. If anything it was nowstronger than before for purposes of defence. We had barely completedthis work when Mahoney came out into the hall, his head bound up with ablood-soaked rag.

  "A foine, lively shindy, Leftenant," he said, grinning amiably. "Bedad,but Oi thought they had us that last toime--Oi did that." He glancedabout curiously. "An' ye must hav' had it hot in here too."

  "It was hand to hand, Sergeant, and we lost some men--four dead. How didyou fare along your side of the house?"

  "Three kilt, an' maybe a dozen wounded. Oi got chipped up myself, butonly the skin av me. Those lads come up fierce, sorr, an' they'd 'a'made it too, only fer our ravolvers. We must have shot a dozen of 'emright in the winders."

  "And the rest of the house--do you know how they came out?"

  "Oi do, sorr; Oi've made the rounds. There's one man shot in thekitchen, but nobody got hurted up stairs."

  "And our men?" I asked eagerly. "From those upper windows did you seeany sign of troops down in the ravine?"

  He shook his head.

  "Not a domn thing, sorr."

  I looked into the faces clustered around us--blackened, savage faces,still marked by the fierce animalism of battle--feeling to the full thedesperation of our position.

  "Well, lads," I said soberly, "there is no use hiding the truth fromyou. I know you'll fight to the end, and that won't be long coming,unless help gets here. We can never repulse another assault; we've goteight men killed, and more than that wounded now--the next time we'llall go. What do you say--shall we hold on, hoping?"

  "Oi'm fer doin' it, sorr," broke in Mahoney, "an' Oi'm spakin' fer iveryIrishmon in H troop."

  "And you, Miles?"

  "I'm not so bloomin' fond of a fight, Lieutenant," he said, scratchinghis head, "but I like to stay fighting after I once get started. Ain'tthat about the size of it, boys?"

  Several heads nodded, and one fellow growled,

  "Hell! we kin giv' 'em the same dose a third time."

  "I don't expect that, Sims," I returned. "But those other fellows oughtto be up any minute now. Anyway we'll have a breathing spell, for theJohnnies must have had enough to last them a few minutes. How is theammunition?"

  "'Bout twenty rounds apiece left."

  "Then get to work, men; load up and strengthen every weak spot. We'llput up the best show we can. What did you want, Foster?"

  The man addressed, a slim, awkward fellow, his spindle legs conspicuousunder the short cavalry jacket, jerked off his cap in embarrassment.

  "Why nuthin' much, sir," he stammered. "I ain't no objections to goin'on with the fightin', only if we're so sartain to catch hell it don'tseem exactly right fer us to keep that thar young gal here in the house.She ain't no combatant, sir, an' dern me if I don't think she ought tobe got outside first."

  "Girl! What girl?" I cried, believing I must have misunderstood. "Whatis it you are trying to say, man?"

  The soldier jerked his thumb back over his shoulder.

  "The one in thar behind the stairs," he explained slowly. "Tom Ragan hemade her go thar when the rumpus begun, an' then Tom he got killed.Ain't that the way of it, Talbot?"

  "Sure," chimed in the other. "It is the same one that was in the parlorlast night, sir. She don't seem scared, ner nuthin' like that, onlyRagan told her she'd got to stay thar. I heard 'em talkin', an' she saidshe wanted you."

  "What did Ragan answer?" now thoroughly aroused to the knowledge thismust be Billie.

  "He only told her to git right back in thar, an' keep still. It was justas that whole caboodle come tearin' up this las' time, sir. It wan't nosafe place fer a girl whar you was. Ragan he promised to tell you, onlyhe got hit 'fore the fracas was done. That's why Foster chirked up, an'that's all of it."

  The man had made it clear as far as he understood. There were no morequestions to ask him, and I could only hope to uncover the mystery ofher presence through the confession of her own lips. She had not goneover to the enemy then; had never left the house; instead, was seekingme. It was all so strange that I stood a moment bewildered, striving toreason the affair out, before attempting to approach the girl. Whatcould have occurred? Where could she have hidden? Why, indeed, had shethus endeavored to conceal herself from both her father and myself? Thetroopers had scattered in obedience to orders, a few remaining at theopenings watchful for any hostile movement without, before I ventureddown the hall. It was dark behind the stairs, but she saw me instantly,greeting me with a little cry of delight and a quick outstretching ofthe hands.

  "I am so glad you have come! I--I haven't known what to do."

  "If I had supposed you still in the house," I explained, "I should havebeen with you before."

  "But I sent word; I told the soldier it was most important."

  "That was Ragan, Miss Billie--a big fellow, with red moustache?--he waskilled."

  "Killed! Oh, in the attack; yet--yet you still hold the house, do younot?"

  "Yes, or I certainly should not be here with you. We have repulsed twoassaults, but have lost heavily, and can scarcely hope to come safelythrough another. Before it is made I must get you away."

  "Out of the house, you mean?"

  "Yes, and at once. We have made such a spirited defence that when we arefinally overpowered there will be little mercy shown. Not even your sexwould protect you, even if you were fortunate enough to escape flyingbullets. Your father is with Chambers, and, no doubt, the Confederatecommander out yonder will forward you to his care. I will take you tohim under a flag of truce."

  We were out where the light shown upon us dimly, yet sufficiently toreveal expressions. Her face was colorless, but her
eyes exhibitedno fear.

  "Wait, Lieutenant Galesworth," she insisted, still clinging to my hand."I must understand better, and you must hear first what I have to tell.Why did father leave the house without me?"

  "We both believed you had already gone."

  "I? That was a strange supposition."

  "Not at all; you had disappeared; we could discover no trace of youanywhere. Your father reported that you had overheard all that occurredin the hall below--the arrival of reinforcements, my orders to defendthe house, the Federal plan of attack. Major Hardy told you his paroleprevented him from reporting this discovery, yet no pledge of honorbound you. What else could I think, but that you had escaped into theConfederate lines with the news?"

  She stared into my face, breathing heavily, yet without speaking. Thenshe released the clasp of my hand, and leaned back against the wall,shading her eyes.

  "Do not misunderstand me, Billie," I urged anxiously. "I could neverhave blamed you. I sent that word to you through your father. You are adaughter of the South, and I honored your loyalty. There was no reasonwhy you should not sacrifice me for the sake of the cause."

  "Are you sorry I did not?"

  "No, far from it, and--and, Billie, it is not the first time; does itmean--"

  "It means nothing," she broke in, "except a strange combination ofcircumstances. I did think of all this; it came to me in a flash. Irealized that it was undoubtedly my duty, and--and, perhaps I shouldhave found courage to attempt the task. I went to my room tempted, mypurpose swayed by the call of the South, and--and my friendship for you.I had to be disloyal somewhere, and--and it was so hard to choose. I amglad you do not blame me, but I believe I should have gone, just as youthought I did, except for what happened."

  A shell exploded near the corner of the house, shaking the wholestructure, the fragments tearing into the wood. She caught me by thearm, and I held her tightly, with face buried on my shoulder.

  "We must be quick," I urged. "Those are Federal shells overshootingtheir mark, but one may strike the house at any moment. Tell me what itwas that happened."

  "It seems so unreal now," she faltered, her whole form trembling, "thatI hardly know how to tell it--yet every word is true. I--I have capturedthe murderer of Captain Le Gaire."

  "You have! Who was he?"

  "I cannot tell; I--I haven't even seen the man's face, but--but he isone of your soldiers."

  "Impossible! There is not one of our men unaccounted for. I could callevery trooper of our first company here now to confront you, except twowho have been killed. The fellow does not belong to us."

  "Well, he wears your uniform," and she drew back indignantly, "even tohaving the buttons removed. You must believe me, for I can prove it; Ican take you to where he is."

  "Where?"

  "Down cellar, in the place where you had the Confederate prisonersconfined. He--he is locked in there; I held the door against him, anddropped the bar."

  I looked at her in speechless wonder, a wonder not untinged byadmiration and love. She was standing now, erect, facing me, her cheeksreddening under my direct gaze.

  "I am going to make you believe," she insisted. "I will tell you how ithappened, and then you shall take some men with you, and go down there,and bring the man up. No, I want to tell you about it first--- please,please listen."

  "Would you mind if I call Miles, and then you can tell your story toboth of us?" I asked. "The fellow is armed, is he not; and I shall needto take some one along with me?"

  "Yes, the man has a revolver. You mean the sergeant? I do not mindtelling him."

  I hurried back to the front of the house, more anxious to be assured asto what was going on outside than to discover Miles. Yet there wasnothing alarming, even the cavalry regiment having been withdrawn acrossthe pike. Without a question the sergeant followed me back to where thegirl waited.