XXV
To Harry and Dave, Dane Grey's absence was merely a mystery--to Erskineit brought foreboding and sickening fear. General Dale's wound havingopened afresh, made travelling impossible, and Harry had a slightbayonet-thrust in the shoulder. Erskine determined to save them all theworry possible and to act now as the head of the family himself. Heannounced that he must go straight back at once to Kentucky and CaptainClark. Harry stormed unavailingly and General Dale pleaded with him tostay, but gave reluctant leave. To Dave he told his fears and Davevehemently declared he, too, would go along, but Erskine would not hearof it and set forth alone.
Slowly enough he started, but with every mile suspicion and fear grewthe faster and he quickened Firefly's pace. The distance to Williamsburgwas soon covered, and skirting the town, he went on swiftly for RedOaks.
Suppose he were too late, but even if he were not too late, what shouldhe do, what could he do? Firefly was sweeping into a little hollow now,and above the beating of her hoofs in the sandy road, a clink of metalreached his ears beyond the low hill ahead, and Erskine swerved asideinto the bushes. Some one was coming, and apparently out of the red ballof the sun hanging over that hill sprang a horseman at a dead run--blackEphraim on the horse he had saved from Tarleton's men. Erskine pushedquickly out into the road.
"Stop!" he cried, but the negro came thundering blindly on, as though hemeant to ride down anything in his way. Firefly swerved aside, andEphraim shot by, pulling in with both hands and shouting:
"Marse Erskine! Yassuh, yassuh! Thank Gawd you'se come." When he wheeledhe came back at a gallop--nor did he stop.
"Come on, Marse Erskine!" he cried. "No time to waste. Come on, suh!"
With a few leaps Firefly was abreast, and neck and neck they ran, whilethe darky's every word confirmed the instinct and reason that had ledErskine where he was.
"Yassuh, Miss Barbary gwine to run away wid dat mean white man. Yassuh,dis very night."
"When did he get here?"
"Dis mawnin'. He been pesterin' her an' pleadin' wid her all day an' shebeen cryin' her heart out, but Mammy say she's gwine wid him. 'Pearslike she can't he'p herse'f."
"Is he alone?"
"No, suh, he got an orficer an' four sojers wid him."
"How did they get away?"
"He say as how dey was on a scoutin' party an' 'scaped."
"Does he know that Cornwallis has surrendered?"
"Oh, yassuh, he tol' Miss Barbary dat. Dat's why he says he got to gitaway right now an' she got to go wid him right now."
"Did he say anything about General Dale and Mr. Harry?"
"Yassuh, he say dat dey's all right an' dat dey an' you will be hot onhis tracks. Dat's why Mammy tol' me to ride like de debbil an' hurry youon, suh." And Ephraim had ridden like the devil, for his horse waslathered with foam and both were riding that way now, for the negro wasno mean horseman and the horse he had saved was a thoroughbred.
"Dis arternoon," the negro went on, "he went ovah to dat cabin I tol'you 'bout an' got dat American uniform. He gwine to tell folks on de waydat dem udders is his prisoners an' he takin' dem to Richmond. Den deygwine to sep'rate an' he an' Miss Barbary gwine to git married somewhuron de way an' dey goin' on an' sail fer England, fer he say if he gitcaptured folks'll won't let him be prisoner o' war--dey'll jes up an'shoot him. An' dat skeer Miss Barbary mos' to death an' he'p make her gowid him. Mammy heah'd ever' word dey say."
Erskine's brain was working fast, but no plan would come. They would besix against him, but no matter--he urged Firefly on. The red ball fromwhich Ephraim had leaped had gone down now. The chill autumn darknesswas settling, but the moon was rising full and glorious over the blackexpanse of trees when the lights of Red Oaks first twinkled ahead.Erskine pulled in.
"Ephraim!"
"Yassuh. You lemme go ahead. You jest wait in dat thicket next to decorner o' de big gyarden. I'll ride aroun' through de fields an' comeinto the barnyard by de back gate. Dey won't know I been gone. Den I'llcome to de thicket an' tell you de whole lay o' de land."
Erskine nodded.
"Hurry!"
"Yassuh."
The negro turned from the road through a gate, and Erskine heard thethud of his horse's hoofs across the meadow turf. He rode on slowly,hitched Firefly as close to the edge of the road as was safe, and creptto the edge of the garden, where he could peer through the hedge. Thehall-door was open and the hallway lighted; so was the dining-room; andthere were lights in Barbara's room. There were no noises, not even ofanimal life, and no figures moving about or in the house. What could hedo? One thing at least, no matter what happened to him--he could numberDane Grey's days and make this night his last on earth. It wouldprobably be his own last night, too. Impatiently he crawled back to theedge of the road. More quickly than he expected, he saw Ephraim's figureslipping through the shadows toward him.
"Dey's jus' through supper," he reported. "Miss Barbary didn't eat wid'em. She's up in her room. Dat udder orficer been stormin' at Marse Greyan' hurryin' him up. Mammy been holdin' de little Missus back all shecan. She say she got to make like she heppin' her pack. De sojers downdar by de wharf playin' cards an' drinkin'. Dat udder man been drinkin'hard. He got his head on de table now an' look like he gone to sleep."
"Ephraim," said Erskine quickly, "go tell Mr. Grey that one of his menwants to see him right away at the sun-dial. Tell him the man wouldn'tcome to the house because he didn't want the others to know--that he hassomething important to tell him. When he starts down the path you runaround the hedge and be on hand in the bushes."
"Yassuh," and the boy showed his teeth in a comprehending smile. It wasnot long before he saw Grey's tall figure easily emerge from thehall-door and stop full in the light. He saw Ephraim slip around thecorner and Grey move to the end of the porch, doubtless in answer to theblack boy's whispered summons. For a moment the two figures weremotionless and then Erskine began to tingle acutely from head to foot.Grey came swiftly down the great path, which was radiant with moonlight.As Grey neared the dial Erskine moved toward him, keeping in a darkshadow, but Grey saw him and called in a low tone but sharply:
"Well, what is it?" With two paces more Erskine stepped out into themoonlight with his cocked pistol at Grey's breast.
"This," he said quietly. "Make no noise--and don't move." Grey wasstartled, but he caught his control instantly and without fear.
"You are a brave man, Mr. Grey, and so, for that matter, is--BenedictArnold."
"Captain Grey," corrected Grey insolently.
"I do not recognize your rank. To me you are merely Traitor Grey."
"You are entitled to unusual freedom of speech--under the circumstances."
"Make no noise, and don't move"]
"I shall grant you the same freedom," Erskine replied quickly--"in amoment. You are my prisoner, Mr. Grey. I could lead you to your properplace at the end of a rope, but I have in mind another fate for youwhich perhaps will be preferable to you and maybe one or two others. Mr.Grey, I tried once to stab you--I knew no better and have been sorry eversince. You once tried to murder me in the duel and you did know better.Doubtless you have been sorry ever since--that you didn't succeed. Twiceyou have said that you would fight me with anything, any time, anyplace." Grey bowed slightly. "I shall ask you to make those words goodand I shall accordingly choose the weapons." Grey bowed again."Ephraim!" The boy stepped from the thicket.
"Ah," breathed Grey, "that black devil!"
"Ain' you gwine to shoot him, Marse Erskine?"
"Ephraim!" said Erskine, "slip into the hall very quietly and bring methe two rapiers on the wall." Grey's face lighted up.
"And, Ephraim," he called, "slip into the dining-room and fill CaptainKilburn's glass." He turned with a wicked smile.
"Another glass and he will be less likely to interrupt. Believe me,Captain Dale, I shall take even more care now than you that we shall notbe disturbed. I am delighted." And now Erskine bowed.
"I know more of your career than you think,
Grey. You have been a spy aswell as a traitor. And now you are crowning your infamy by weaving somespell over my cousin and trying to carry her away in the absence of herfather and brother, to what unhappiness God only can know. I can hardlyhope that you appreciate the honor I am doing you."
"Not as much as I appreciate your courage and the risk you are taking."
Erskine smiled.
"The risk is perhaps less than you think."
"You have not been idle?"
"I have learned more of my father's swords than I knew when we used themlast."
"I am glad--it will be more interesting." Erskine looked toward the houseand moved impatiently.
"My brother officer has dined too well," noted Grey placidly, "and therest of my--er--retinue are gambling. We are quite secure."
"Ah!" Erskine breathed--he had seen the black boy run down the steps withsomething under one arm and presently Ephraim was in the shadow of thethicket:
"Give one to Mr. Grey, Ephraim, and the other to me. I believe you saidon that other occasion that there was no choice of blades?"
"Quite right," Grey answered, skilfully testing his bit of steel.
"Keep well out of the way, Ephraim," warned Erskine, "and take thispistol. You may need it, if I am worsted, to protect yourself."
"Indeed, yes," returned Grey, "and kindly instruct him not to use it toprotect _you_." For answer Erskine sprang from the shadow--discardingformal courtesies.
"_En garde!_" he called sternly.
The two shining blades clashed lightly and quivered against each otherin the moonlight like running drops of quicksilver.
Grey was cautious at first, trying out his opponent's increase in skill:
"You have made marked improvement."
"Thank you," smiled Erskine.
"Your wrist is much stronger."
"Naturally." Grey leaped backward and parried just in time a viciousthrust that was like a dart of lightning.
"Ah! A Frenchman taught you that."
"A Frenchman taught me all the little I know."
"I wonder if he taught you how to meet this."
"He did," answered Erskine, parrying easily and with an answering thrustthat turned Grey suddenly anxious. Constantly Grey manoeuvred to keep hisback to the moon, and just as constantly Erskine easily kept him wherethe light shone fairly on both. Grey began to breathe heavily.
"I think, too," said Erskine, "that my wind is a little better thanyours--would you like a short resting-spell?"
From the shadow Ephraim chuckled, and Grey snapped:
"Make that black devil----"
"Keep quiet, Ephraim!" broke in Erskine sternly. Again Grey manoeuvredfor the moon, to no avail, and Erskine gave warning:
"Try that again and I will put that moon in your eyes and keep itthere." Grey was getting angry now and was beginning to pant.
"Your wind _is_ short," said Erskine with mock compassion. "I will giveyou a little breathing-spell presently."
Grey was not wasting his precious breath now and he made no answer.
"Now!" said Erskine sharply, and Grey's blade flew from his hand and laylike a streak of silver on the dewy grass. Grey rushed for it.
"Damn you!" he raged, and wheeled furiously--patience, humor, and cautionquite gone--and they fought now in deadly silence. Ephraim saw theBritish officer appear in the hall and walk unsteadily down the steps asthough he were coming down the path, but he dared not open his lips.There was the sound of voices, and it was evident that the game hadended in a quarrel and the players were coming up the river-bank towardthem. Erskine heard, but if Grey did he at first gave no sign--he was toomuch concerned with the death that faced him. Suddenly Erskine knew thatGrey had heard, for the fear in his face gave way to a diabolic grin oftriumph and he lashed suddenly into defense--if he could protect himselfonly a little longer! Erskine had delayed the finishing-stroke too longand he must make it now. Grey gave way step by step--parrying only. Theblades flashed like tiny bits of lightning. Erskine's face, grim andinexorable, brought the sick fear back into Grey's, and Erskine saw hisenemy's lips open. He lunged then, his blade went true, sank to thehilt, and Grey's warped soul started on its way with a craven cry forhelp. Erskine sprang back into the shadows and snatched his pistol fromEphraim's hand:
"Get out of the way now. Tell them I did it."
Once he looked back. He saw Barbara at the hall-door with old Mammybehind her. With a running leap he vaulted the hedge, and, hidden in thebushes, Ephraim heard Firefly's hoofs beating ever more faintly thesandy road.