CHAPTER X.
_The Departure--The Meeting--The Sister--The Breaking Hearts._
This is the heaviest blow of all.--_Bulwer._
The morning dawned, and still Captain Hayward slept. Alibamo was seatedby his side, gazing intently upon him. Nettleton was standing in theentrance of the tent. The reveille was beating, and all without gaveevidence of preparation to continue the march. As the maiden gazed uponHayward, she said in saddened tones:
"Would to God I knew the fate hanging over this poor man, or that,whatever it is, I might be permitted to share it with him. But, I fearwe shall be separated to-day. That villain Branch will show no mercywhen he is under no restraint. Nettleton!"
"Here, Miss Alibamo."
"Have you discovered nothing--no signs of friends?"
"Nothing, but I will not give up yet. We may expect aid at Springfield."
"I fear all is lost. Branch will not permit the captain to remain longin Springfield, as I am told the Union army is advancing. He will behurried off South, and I suppose we shall be separated to-day. Verylikely neither of us will be permitted to go with him."
"You will, miss."
"How do you know this?"
"I'll tell you. Last night I crept close to the tent of Branch andlistened. I heard him giving directions to some one he was about to sendforward. I heard him say you were to go with him, and that your roomwould be in the hotel at Springfield which is now used as the rebelhospital. And the captain is to be imprisoned in the cellar of the samebuilding."
"Are you to go with us?"
"I shall go, but as soon as I find out what is to be done, I shall gosomewhere else."
"You don't intend to leave the captain?"
"Yes, I do!"
"What! Forsake him now!"
"Who the devil said anything about forsaking him? There's a good deal ofdifference between leaving and forsaking, I take it."
"I know you will act for the best, my good fellow!"
"Strike tents!" echoed through the camp from without.
"Had we not better wake the captain, Miss Alibamo? It may be the onlychance he will get to say anything."
"He is moving--he wakes!"
Captain Hayward opened his eyes, and gazed around. His face whilesleeping had worn a smile, but it had faded.
"Good morning, dear friends," said Hayward. "You have been watching withme all night, I fear."
"We have slept, however--that is, I have slept," answered Alibamo.
"I fear but little. You must not do this, Alibamo; you will sink underthe fatigues you impose upon yourself. You will require all yourstrength. And have you slept, Nettleton?"
"Do you think I'd be such a darn skunk as to sleep when I might be doingsomething? No, I ain't quite so mean as that."
"What have you been doing?"
"Making up my mind--that's all."
"And I have been dreaming, Alibamo. Oh! It was a heavenly vision!"
"What were you dreaming, captain?"
"I was standing upon the margin of the lake near my own dear home. Farout on the waters I heard a sound, low and musical as angels'whisperings. I could not catch the words; still its melody enchanted me,and filled my soul with rapture. Nearer and nearer it approached, andlouder and louder became those strains, until the mingling of tenthousand angel voices seemed to make the very waters dance withrapturous delight. My brain grew dizzy, and I sank upon the ground. Iraised my eyes, and gazing through the mist, tinted with rainbow huesreflected from the rays of the golden sunset, I saw a thousand fairyforms gliding from point to point, and trilling forth their lays. And onthe brow of each I saw emblazoned forth the magic word of _Liberty_! Thesight revived me, and springing up, I cried: 'Who are those lovelybeings who come forth with my country's jewel glittering on their brow?'A voice replied: 'They are Columbia's daughters--their fetters have beenbroken--they are free again!' 'Let me embrace them--they are mysisters!' I cried, but at that moment I was seized by an iron hand, andborne from the spot. So rapidly was I whirled along that my senses fled.When I returned to consciousness, I found myself enveloped in a dismalcloud, while at my feet a thousand hissing serpents, which resembledlightning, coiled around, but could not harm me. I heard the dreadfulthunders, as they burst over me, but still I feared not. I raised myeyes, and as a cloud rolled by it revealed to my astonished gaze theform of a man standing upon the very edge of a dark cloud, while belowhim was a precipice, millions of feet. My blood was chilled within melest he should fall. I heard his cursings, and I saw him reachingforward. I looked farther, and upon another cloud I saw _my_ sisterstanding. She was clothed in white, and on her brow a golden wreath wasshining. The clouds were rolling fast together, and he, that fiend-likeform upon the other side, was reaching forward, and exulting in thethought how soon he would have her in his grasp, and hurl her down thatawful chasm. My brain was reeling, and my heart bursting within me as Igazed upon this scene. I tried to speak, but terror held me dumb. Shewas almost in his grasp, when my sister raised a dagger, I heard a voiceexclaim, 'Hold fast that steel!' I looked, and emblazoned on itspolished blade, read the word _virtue_! The villain saw it, and sprangback with a cry of terror. I saw the cloud on which he stood turning toblood, while that upon the other side was tinged with glorious beauty.The thunder rent the dismal pall, and breaking it in pieces, I saw thevillain hurled into the depths below, while hideous fiends held theirorgies around him. And then commenced the strains I heard upon the lake.My sister joined the chorus, and gazing on me, smiled. Columbia'sdaughters came and bore that loved one to my heart, and as I clasped herclose, I woke, suffocating with excessive joy!"
"O captain! _that_ dream should make you happy--very happy. It fills_my_ heart with joy!"
"Why so, Alibamo?"
"Because your troubles will end in the same manner. I feel sure theywill."
"It cannot be!"
"And why not?"
"Because my sister was prominent in my vision, she can be in no mannerconnected with me here!"
"She may hear of your misfortune and visit you here."
"God forbid. No! she has no means of hearing from me. And, if she had, Iwould rather die a thousand deaths than have that angel sister gaze uponmy sufferings. It would add to them a thousand fold, and that woulddrive me mad."
"Are you ready to depart?" asked Branch, who entered the tent at thatmoment.
"Quite ready. Am I to walk?" asked Hayward.
"No, you are to ride. Do you prefer a horse or a carriage?"
"It matters very little, as the distance is not far," answered Hayward.
"Then I will send a horse around to your tent. I intend also to grantyou a great favor!"
"I shall decline any favors at your hands!" replied Hayward.
"You did not hear what that favor is to be!"
"Well, sir!"
"I intend to permit Alibamo to accompany you as far as Springfield. Butto-morrow you are to take your last farewell of her. I have my plans forboth you and her arranged."
Branch left the tent. In a few moments horses were brought, and Hayward,with some difficulty gained the saddle. Nettleton helped Alibamo intoher seat. By this time Branch came up in company with some twentyhorsemen, who were to act as the guard, and the party prepared todepart.
"Is not this young man to accompany us? He has attended to the captain'swounds, and appears familiar with the business. He is a poor, foolishfellow, and will be of little service as a soldier!" said Alibamo,pointing to Nettleton.
"Yes, he can go, if he will walk!" replied Branch.
"Will you go?" asked Alibamo.
"Well, I don't care much about it one way or t'other. But if _you_ wantme to go with _you_ very much, I will, Miss Alibamo," replied Nettleton.
The party set off, and Nettleton trudged along after them, with hisusual rickety and unsteady motion, whistling as he proceeded.
They had proceeded about two miles from camp upon the Springfield road,when Branch ordered a halt.
"Where ar
e those hand-cuffs?" he asked.
"Here, sir!" replied one of the soldiers.
"Place them on his hands. No! not that way. Chain his hands behind him!But wait. I will reserve them for future use. Leave his hands free."
Hayward spoke not. In the course of three or four hours they reachedSpringfield, and halted in front of the hotel building which had beenused as a rebel hospital since the battle at Wilson's creek.
"Dismount!" said Branch, in a voice of excitement, mingled with hatred.
Hayward obeyed.
"Is Davis here?" asked Branch.
"Here, sir!" replied a soldier, stepping forward.
"Has the person I wrote for arrived?"
"Yes, she is in a room above!" was the reply.
"O my God!" groaned Alibamo.
"Take that woman away," said Branch, pointing toward Alibamo. Then headded, as she was being led away,
"You shall see your captain to-morrow. And I will show you an amusingsight. You know _it is Friday_, hangman's day." Then turning to Hayward,he added:
"Now will I bend your proud heart. I will show you a pretty sight,presently, _and to-morrow, at three o'clock, we will have a grand reviewin the fair ground_! Come, follow me."
Hayward turned to speak with Nettleton, who had been standing beside himbut a moment before, but he had disappeared.
"Why do you delay?" asked Branch.
"Because it pleases me to do so," replied Hayward.
"Bring a set of chains. Put them on his ankles!" The order was obeyed.
"Drag him along!"
"I will follow you, sir," replied Hayward.
He soon reached the main hall of the building, and, as Hayward followedhis captor, the chains clanked heavily upon the floor, and echoed dimlythroughout the building.
"You shall behold a friend now, and you will think better of mygenerosity!" said Branch, as he threw open a side-door. Hayward entered.
A wild scream rang through the room, and a lovely female sprang forward,into the arms of Hayward.
"_My brother! O my brother!_" were the only words spoken, and she becameunconscious.
"Mamie--Mamie--Great God! why are you here? Mamie--sister, lookup--speak to me--speak, or I shall die--Mamie--O God! she isdead--dead!"
And Hayward sank to the floor, still holding his sister to his heart,and burst into tears.
"Ah! ha! ha! ha! Humbled at last!" cried Branch, as he left the room.