Red Rock: A Chronicle of Reconstruction

by Thomas Nelson Page

  CHAPTER XXXIX

  CAPTAIN ALLEN CLAIMS THE REWARD LEECH OFFERED

  Leech had a bad half-hour; but when he left his office his spirits wererising again. He had weathered many a storm before. It would be hardif he could not weather this little trouble. He was satisfied that hiswife would keep her word not to divulge his secret to anyone, and ifhe could but get her away everything would go all right. He would befree to marry a handsome and wealthy woman; and this alliance wouldgive him complete control of the State. With this, what might he nothave—wealth unlimited, position, unmeasured power—there was no end toit! It all stretched before him a shining track with, at the end—itappeared before him for only one brief moment—a dazzling point: at thefar end of that long track a great white house, with the broad avenuesreaching in every direction. Why not? Why should he not be——? Thevision made his head swim. He wiped his hand across his mouth as thoughhe tasted something actually material.

  He returned to earth, and, locking his office-door, strolled up thehill. The village was all quiet except for the sentries pacing theirbeats.

  As Leech walked up under the clear stars, the thought came into hismind once more; and this time he tried to follow it step by step.Yes, it was possible. He was rich, powerful, fortunate. He would beGovernor. What might he not be! His enemies had fallen before him—allbut one, and that one could not escape. He would find him, alive ordead; and then—wealth—power—revenge! He raised his clenched handand brought it down in the intensity of his feeling.

  “Yes, by G—d! I’ll have him, alive or dead!” he exclaimed. He wasalmost at his gate. Two steps brought him to it; and before him in thedarkness, waiting for him, tall and silent, stood the man he wanted.

  “I hear you are hunting for me,” said Steve Allen, quietly. “I am here.”

  The blood rushed back and forth in Leech’s veins as cold as ice, as hotas fire. What would he not have given for his guards! Why had he beensuch a fool as to dismiss them! He thought of his pistol; but he knewSteve was quicker with a pistol than he. So he resorted to craft. Hewould keep him until the guards arrived.

  “How are you, Captain? Won’t you walk in?” he said, with a show ofease, though his voice quavered. He thought about offering his hand,but feared to do so. If he could only detain him!

  “Thank you. I will.” Steve indicated with a wave of his hand thatLeech should precede him; and Leech walked before him, knowing that hewas his prisoner. Still he hoped help would come. They went into hislibrary. Steve took a seat.

  “What did you want with me?”

  “I was only fooling,” said Leech, feebly. Steve looked so placid thathe began to feel reassured. “You know there’s a warrant out for yourarrest; and the best thing for you to do is to surrender quietly. Youcan clear yourself easy enough, and it’s just a form. You come with me,and I’ll do all I can for you.” His voice was cajoling, and he lookedat Steve almost tenderly. “You know I was only fooling about what Isaid.”

  Steve looked at him with cold contempt. “You’ll find it ill foolingwith a desperate man. Let’s drop our masks. You have made a mistake topush us so far. You have offered a reward for me, alive or dead. I amhere to claim it. You are my prisoner, and you know it.” He gave Leecha glance that made him shiver.”Sit there, and write what I tell you.”He indicated Leech’s desk. Leech, with blanched face, took his seat. Ashe did so he glanced furtively at the clock. Secret as the glance was,Steve saw it.

  “Be quick about it, and don’t waste a word. I have no time to spare.Remember, it was alive or dead you wanted me.” He dictated the words ofa safe-conduct:

  “To the Commandant of United States troops in District No. —. Passthe bearer and companions, and render them all the aid possible. Forreasons of State,” added Steve, with a twinkle in his eye, as heglanced over it. “Now sign it.”

  Leech signed slowly. He was listening with all his ears.

  “Now another.” Steve dictated the following to the commanding officerin the village: “I have been called away unexpectedly on businessconnected with the man I want, Captain Allen. Take no steps in myabsence, and credit no reports not signed by me personally.” Nowsign it, and add this postscript: “I have decided to pursue a moreconciliatory policy toward the prisoners. Please make them entirelycomfortable, and give their friends access to them.” Sign that, andmark it to be delivered in the morning, and leave it on your table.

  “Leave it on my table?” Leech’s face blanched.

  “Yes, you are going with me.”

  Just then steps were heard on the walk outside, and the murmur of lowvoices reached them. A gleam of hope stole into Leech’s face. SteveAllen heard too, and he listened intently. As he turned his eyes againon Leech, a new light appeared in the latter’s eyes; fear had suddenlychanged to joy.

  “Aha! Captain Allen, our positions are reversed again. Let us drop ourmasks indeed! You are my prisoner now. Those are my sentries. The houseis surrounded by soldiers. Ah! ha-ha-ha!” he laughed, leaning back inhis chair, eying Steve, and rubbing his hands in glee.

  Steve shifted his seat a little, displaying the butt of a revolver.

  “You fool!” he said, with that coolness which was Leech’s envy anddespair, and which made him in a way admire Steve more than any otherman he knew. “Suppose they are your men? You are going with me allthe same. If they come in here, you are still my prisoner; and oneword—one look from you—one bare suspicion on their part that I am notgoing on your invitation; that it is not voluntary on your part—andyou are a dead man.” He loosened his pistol, and, while he listened,sat looking at Leech with a cool assurance on his face that made Leechgasp.

  There was a sharp knock at the outer door. As Steve listened hisexpression changed to one of amusement.

  “Call to them to come in, and remember you were never in greater perilthan at this moment.”

  Leech called, and there was the slow tramp of several men in thepassageway.

  “Call them in here.”

  Leech was becoming puzzled. But he could not keep down the hope thatwas dawning on his countenance. He called, and they approached thedoor. Steve did not even turn. He was keeping his eyes on a big giltmirror that hung in front of him and showed both the door and Leech.

  The men reached the door and knocked again; then opened it, and threemen in United States uniform stood in the doorway. Steve’s hand lefthis pistol, and the eyes in the mirror were filled with a more amusedsmile as he glanced from them to Leech. A radiant joy sprang intoLeech’s face. He gave a dive behind his desk, shouting, “Seize thatman. Shoot him if he lifts his hand!”

  Nothing of the kind, however, occurred. At a sign from Steve, the threemen came inside the room and closed the door behind them.

  “Come out, Leech. These are my men, not yours,” said Steve. “You aretoo big a coward to fool with; come out. Pull him out, one of you.” Andthe man nearest Leech caught him by the arm and dragged him up on hisfeet, gasping and white with returning terror as he saw the trick thathad been played him.

  “Did you think I was such a fool as that?” Steve asked, contemptuously.“Come, we have no more time to lose. Fetch him along, men.” He turnedto the door, and the next moment Leech was seized and hustled out ata trot. The sight of a pistol in the hand of one of the men kept himquiet. At the door a gag was put into his mouth, a cap was pulled downover his eyes, and his arms were pinioned to his side. He was consciousthat the lamps were extinguished, and the key turned in the lock behindhim. Then he was borne to his gate, set on a horse, and carried offthrough the darkness at a gallop. He gave a groan of terror. “RememberAndy Stamper,” said one of the men, and Leech remembered well enough.How far they went the prisoner had no means of knowing. After awhilethe gag was taken from his mouth; but he was told that the least outcrywould mean his death. They travelled at a brisk gait all night, and heknew that he had several men in his escort; but though they at timestalked together in undertones, they did not address him and were deafto his speeches. Much of the journe
y was through woods, and severaltimes they forded rivers, and toward the end they must have left allbeaten tracks, for they rode through bushes so dense as almost to sweephim from his horse; then they descended a steep hill, forded a stream,and, a little later, Leech was lifted from his horse, borne, half-deadwith fright and fatigue, into a house, down a flight of steps, and laidon a bed. One of the men who brought him in lighted a candle and gavehim a drink of whiskey, which revived him; and Leech found that he wasin a large room with stone walls, furnished simply, like a bedroom, andventilated from the top.

  The man who was left with him was a stranger to him, and, as he turnedto go, Leech asked him to tell him where he was and what they weregoing to do with him. He felt that it was his last chance.

  “Maybe keep you as a hostage, maybe not.”

  “As a hostage?”

  “That’s the Commander’s idea. As a hostage for those you’ve arrested,and I reckon what the Capt’n says will prevail. Good-by.” He shut thedoor and bolted it behind him, leaving Leech alone.

  This, then, explained what Steve Allen meant by what he said. He was aprisoner, to be held as a hostage for those he had arrested. There wasa bed in the room; and Leech was so fatigued that he fell asleep, andslept until he was awakened by the guard bringing him something to eat.This man, like the others, was masked, and he refused to talk at all.

  “What will they do with me?” asked Leech.

  “Depends on what orders you’ve given about those you’ve arrested,” saidthe man in a voice which Leech knew was feigned. He was going. Leechdetermined to make one more effort.

  “Wait, please. I’m rich. No, I’m not rich; but I have friends who arewho would pay well if you—if I were to get back to them.” His voicehad grown confidential.

  “Shouldn’t be surprised.” The tone was rather dry; but that might havebeen due to the fact that the voice was disguised. And as he appearedacquiescent, Leech took courage. He moved a little nearer to him. “Icould make it worth your while to let me go,” he said, insinuatingly.The man waited. Leech’s hopes revived. McRaffle had sold out; why notbuy this man? He was plainer. “Why not let me out?” The guard wasconsidering. “Help me, and help me get hold of—just help me, and Iwill see that you and your friends receive full pardon, and will makeyou rich.”

  The guard pulled off his mask. It was Steve Allen himself.“Good-night;” and he was gone, leaving Leech with his heart in hismouth.

  There was great excitement in the County over the disappearance ofMajor Leech; but it was suppressed excitement, and, curious as it mayseem, his absence had the immediate effect of quieting the negroes.They were struck with awe at either the boldness or the mystery of hisabduction, and almost within a night after he disappeared they hadsubsided. One who had seen them parading and yelling with defiance anddelight the day that Leech led his handcuffed prisoners to the stationto ship them off to prison, would not have recognized the awe-struckand civil people who now went back and forth so quietly to their work.It seemed almost a miracle.

  All sorts of tales were published in the public press as to this latestoutrage, and there was much denunciation; but no action was takenimmediately, and for a time, at least, the old County was once moreunder the rule of its own citizens.

  Owing partly to the letter Leech had written just before hisdisappearance, and partly to the request of the Captain of thecompany, who was heartily tired of his work, an order had been issuedtransferring that officer’s company to another post; and he had leftwith his company before the fact of Leech’s abduction became known. Anappeal was made to the Governor to declare the County under martiallaw; but though he talked about it loudly enough, and made manythreats, he did not carry out his threats immediately. Perhaps theGovernor was not too anxious to go into an investigation that might,instead of proving Leech to have been murdered, result in bringing backinto the field his most formidable rival.

  It, however, was deemed by the higher authorities that something mustbe done to vindicate the majesty of the law, and it was decided tosend other troops to the County. The selection of troops, however,had been proved by the history of the County to be a matter of morethan ordinary delicacy. Several different bodies had been sent therewithout accomplishing what had been hoped for.

  It happened that Thurston’s command had just returned from theNorthwest and was awaiting some disposal. It was remembered thatthis same troop had once quieted things in the disturbed region,and had given, at least, more of a show of peace than any of theirnumerous successors had done. This was one view of the case. There wasperhaps another view which may have influenced some. So Thurston wasunexpectedly dispatched with his command to the place from which hehad been ordered several years before. His appearance was a completesurprise to the old residents, and the effect was immediately apparent.

  It was not known what it signified. Some thought it meant theimmediate placing of the County under martial law, and the arrest ofthe remaining citizens. Others held differently. Whatever it meant,the excitement quieted down. The whites had had experience with thiscompany, and felt that they could be relied on. The blacks recognizedthat a stronger power had come among them, and that it meant order andobedience.

  When Captain Thurston dismounted from his horse on the very ground onwhich he had dismounted a number of years before, he had a curiousfeeling of mingled pleasure and dissatisfaction. There, amid the bigtrees, stood the old court-house, massive and imposing as it had lookedthat day when he had guyed old Mr. Dockett about its architecture, andtold him that it was finer than anything in Athens; there, were thesame great trees; there the same rows of old offices, only a littlemore dilapidated; there the same moody faces of the few whites, andthe same crowd of idling negroes lagging about his troop. He turnedand looked at the clerk’s office, almost expecting to see the samerosy, girlish face looking out at him defiantly. Instead, a brawnynegro in black clothes, with a beaver hat cocked on the side of hishead, was lounging in the door smoking a cigar. It gave the captain anunpleasant shock; and as he made arrangements about placing his camp hewondered where old Mr. Dockett was now, and how his pretty daughter wascoming on. He had not heard from her since his last campaign. She wasprobably married. The idea gave him an unpleasant sensation, he alwayshated to hear of any pretty girl marrying. It seemed to make the worldlonelier. The negro in the door sauntered across toward the camp andspoke to some of the soldiers familiarly, his silk hat on the side ofhis head, his cigar rolling in his mouth.

  “What company is this, men?”

  The words reached the Captain. One of the men who was working told himshortly.

  “Who’s your Captain?”

  “There he is.”

  Thurston had grown stouter, and the negro did not recognize him.

  “That little man? What’s his name?”

  Thurston caught the speech and, before the soldier could answer, bawledat the negro, “Come here and take hold of these things, and don’t standthere interfering with the men.” The darky looked at him in blankamazement.

  “Who? Me?”

  “Yes, you.”

  “Not me; you don’t know who I am!” He reared himself back and stuck histhumbs in his armholes.

  “No, and I don’t care a hang either,” said the little Captain.“Sergeant, make that man take hold of those things and put them inplace.”

  “I’m Senator Ash,” declared the man, surlily, swelling with importance,and turning to walk away.

  “Halt, there,” said the soldier, coldly.

  Nicholas Ash turned at the tone, to find the sergeant quietly takinghis pistol from the holster.

  “You come back here.”

  “I’m Senator Ash.”

  “Well, I don’t give a —— who you are; if you are Captain Jackhimself, you catch hold there, as the Captain says, or ’twill be theworse for you. He won’t stand no foolishness. I’ve seen him string aman up for less than you have said already.” And the weather-beatensoldier looked so coldly on the senator that the latter deemed
it bestto go through the form of obeying, and, swallowing his rage as best hemight, took hold and did his first manual labor in some years.

  This was the first official act of Captain Thurston on his return, and,though it was an accident, it, perhaps, saved him trouble in the future.

  The Captain availed himself of the earliest opportunity to hunt up hisold friends. When he had pitched his camp and got settled, he saunteredup to Mr. Dockett’s. As he walked along he noted the changes that hadoccurred since he went away. The yards were more uncared for, thehouses more dilapidated, and the fences more broken. As he entered theDockett yard, he was pleased to observe that it was kept in its oldtrim order. The breath of flowers that he remembered so well, and hadalways associated with the place, met him as of old. When he openedthe gate he saw that there were several persons on the porch; but ashe approached they all rose and disappeared in the house. There wereone or two white dresses in the party. He had not long to wait. At hisknock Mrs. Dockett herself appeared, and he thought he could see thefirm set of her mouth and the glint in her eyes as she bore down uponhim. She looked much older. She did not appear surprised to see him.She invited him in, but did not say anything about her daughter; and atlength the Captain had to ask after her. She was very well, she thankedhim. She had some young friends with her.

  In this condition of affairs, Captain Thurston had recourse tostratagem. He adroitly turned the conversation to Rupert Gray, andbegan to tell of his success in the West, and of the incident whenhe had showed such bravery while acting as a scout with him. He wasconscious at once of the change in the good lady’s manner, and of theincreased interest she betrayed; so he dilated on it at some length.No one ever had a warmer historian. He made Rupert out a hero, and wascongratulating himself secretly on his success, when, with a sniff,Mrs. Dockett declared that she was not surprised at Rupert’s actingso. It was only what she should have expected from one of their youngmen, and she was not surprised that the Yankees should have beenobliged to call on him to help them. But she was surprised that CaptainThurston should have exposed a boy like Rupert, hardly more than achild, to such danger. Why had he not gone himself to rescue his men?Thurston could not help laughing at the turn she gave his story. Thisshot appeared, however, to have somewhat cleared the atmosphere. Mrs.Dockett began to unbend. She “would see her daughter; perhaps, shewould come in; she would like to hear of Rupert.” Just then, whetherfor this reason or one in which the visitor had a more personalconcern, the door opened and Miss Dockett walked in unbidden. She, too,had grown older since Thurston went away; but the change was not to herdisadvantage. The plump little figure had developed; the round facehad in it more force; and she had become, if not a very pretty woman,at least a very comely one. She greeted the Captain distantly, but notcoldly. She began by making war at once, and that the little officerwas used to. It was only indifference that he could not stand.

  “Well, and so you have come back, and I suppose you will expect us allto get down on our knees to you?” she said, her chin a little elevated.

  “No, not you. I’ll make a treaty with you, if you won’t insist on mygetting down on mine to you,” he laughed.

  “To me? I supposed Miss Welch was the only one you did that to.”

  This was encouraging, and the little Captain was instantly at his ease.

  “Miss Welch? Who is Miss Welch?”

  “Come, now, don’t be trying that with me; I know all about it, so youmight as well tell me. Perhaps, you’ll need my assistance. All thegentlemen seem to be victims to her charms. Captain Allen thinks thereis no one like her. Some men, when they are discarded, take to drink,but here they seem to take to Miss Welch.”

  “Well, some men need one kind of stimulant, and some another; now, Ilike mine with a proper mixture of spirit and sweetening.” The littleCaptain’s eyes were helping him all they could.

  “I don’t know what you mean, I’m sure.” She looked down coyly.

  “Say, a sort of peach and honey?”

  “You men have such vulgar similes.” The little nose was turning up.

  “Well, I’ll be literary, and say ‘a snow and rose-bloom maiden,’” saidthe Captain, who had been reading Carlyle. “I always think of you inconnection with roses and snow.”

  The little nose came down, and the Captain’s peace was made. He beganto tell of Indian fights and long marches over parched or snow-sweptplains, where men and horses dropped. Miss Elizabeth, like Desdemona,to hear did seriously incline, and the Captain was invited to supper.