CHAPTER XIV.
_The Conclusion_
I have no words--my voice is in my sword. Thou bloodier villain than terms can give thee out.
_Shakespeare._
After finding themselves so thoroughly vanquished at every hand, thepanic-stricken rebels fled in every direction, with the utmostprecipitation. Their infantry fled into the thick adjoining woods, andthus made their way to the wide spreading prairie beyond, while theircavalry, taking advantage of a moment when the Body-guard were mostbusily engaged with the infantry lines, sped across an adjoining field,and were soon beyond the reach of danger.
It was in consequence of the general confusion which ensued, that manyof the most guilty and cowardly were enabled to effect their escape.This was especially the case with Branch.
At the moment of the explosion under the gallows, he determined not tofight, but to effect his escape with his victims. He urged forward thefrightened cattle attached to the cart which contained Alibamo and theinanimate form of Miss Hayward. He proceeded to the western side of theenclosure, and tearing away the high board fence, emerged into thestreet. Here he beheld the battle raging in the distance, but was toofar from the scene to anticipate any particular danger. He opened thefence opposite the place from that which he had left the Fair-Ground,and, driving into a thick wood beyond, soon struck a narrow path, justlarge enough to admit the passage of the cart. Now for the first time heturned to Alibamo, and said:
"What think you now, my fair one? Is Captain Branch foiled so easily?"
Alibamo did not reply. She held the insensible form of Miss Hayward inher arms, and was striving in every possible way to restore her toconsciousness. At length she said:
"Branch, will you not pass me some water from that stream?"
"Will you have it in my cap? It is the only thing in which I can conveyit to you!" replied Branch.
"No!" answered Alibamo. "Let us pause for a moment, and you can assistme in removing this dying maiden to the side of the stream. Perhaps thewater, dripping cool and fresh upon her forehead will bring her back toconsciousness."
"I shall not pause," replied Branch, as he reached the maiden his cap,which he had filled with water.
"You are a vile coward!" replied Alibamo. At this moment her eyes caughtthe glimpse of something moving among the thick brush near her. Alibamogazed eagerly forward, as if endeavoring to satisfy herself, and thenraising her voice so as to be distinctly heard by any person who mighthappen to be within several rods of her, she said:
"It is true that you are _alone_, Branch. Here are only two women tooppose you, and one of them is entirely helpless! And yet you fear!"
These words were scarcely spoken, when there was a rustling among thebrush, and a dark form appeared.
"No, I am _not_ alone," replied Branch. "Look!"
At that instant six of the frightened horsemen, who were riding fortheir lives, came flashing up, and, reaching the cart, they halted. Thedark form which had so suddenly appeared, had as suddenly vanished. Ithad been distinctly seen by Alibamo, although not by Branch.
As the party rode up, one of them said:
"Why, Branch, what are you doing with these beauties? And one of themunconscious, too."
"Taking them to a place of safety," was the crusty reply.
"You had better take them back to Springfield. The federals will notharm females."
"No--no! that is not my purpose. They are relatives of Union officers,and I intend to keep them as hostages for the safety of our friends."
"Where do you purpose taking them!"
"To the dwelling of Captain Rogers, on the edge of the prairie, justwest of the Wilson's creek battle-ground."
Another slight noise was heard among the underbrush, and Alibamo made asignificant motion to some person, or to some imaginary object, and thenall was silent.
Miss Hayward had partially recovered under the cooling effects of thewater with which Alibamo had been bathing her brow. She opened her eyes,and then, with a shudder, closed them again. At length she said in afeeble tone:
"O brother! press me closer to your heart; I am cold--very cold!"
"Miss Hayward, your brother yet lives, and will be with you soon!"whispered Alibamo, as she bent over the fast recovering maiden.
"Oh! yes, my brother must live--he does live!" cried Mamie, starting up.
"Who is your brother?" asked one of the party.
Miss Hayward gazed upon the questioner, but turning away, she hid herface in the bosom of Alibamo and wept.
"I will answer for her!" replied Alibamo. "He is an officer in the Unionarmy. He was taken prisoner while endeavoring to rescue me, who alsohave been kept as a _hostage_ by that villain, Branch. It was theintention of Gen. Price to release or exchange this young lady'sbrother, but, he, to gratify his own fiend-like propensities, was aboutto disobey the express orders of the general, and hang young Hayward."
A groan broke from Miss Hayward, but Alibamo quickly replied:
"Don't fear, darling, the Body-guard came just in time to rescue him,and he will soon be with us!"
"Are you _sure_ of that?" asked one of the party.
"I _know_ it will be so. There will be large parties sent in everydirection, and you will be surely overtaken!" answered Alibamo.
"Let us forward, then," replied one of the rebels, his cheeks blenchingwith fear.
"Stay one moment," answered another. "Branch," he continued, "you havethe reputation of a bad man. I shall not permit you to keep theseladies, if I can prevent it. Let me accompany them back to Springfield,and restore them to the arms of their friends!"
"Indeed!" replied Branch with bitterness. "You are very kind, and I haveno doubt the ladies will thank you. But I do not understand exactly_how_ you are going to prevent me from doing as I please. Pray be goodenough to explain."
"I will! Men, you are enemies to the federal soldiers only, not innocentwomen. Seize that cowardly captain, and I will return with the ladies,and restore them to their friends. It will benefit all those of ourfriends who----"
A ball, fired from the pistol of Branch, went crashing through the brainof the speaker, and he rolled from his horse a corpse.
"You see how far his interference has benefited him," said Branch,pointing to the dead body. "Are there any more who wish to share hisfate?"
The party were silent. They were now ascending the sharp hill, or rangeof hills, which skirts the creek upon the north. Turning to the right,he proceeded onward, but observing he was not followed, he asked:
"Why do you halt?"
"Because we go in another direction."
"I command you to follow me," yelled Branch.
"We do not recognize your authority."
"You shall see it here," replied the infuriated captain, as he drewforth his revolver.
In an instant the five horsemen had leveled their rifles at his breast,and one of them said:
"Go your way, sir, and we will not molest you. Be careful how youinterfere with us."
"Do as you please, cowards," replied Branch. He started on his way,while the horsemen proceeded down the hill at a rapid rate.
Alibamo bent forward, and whispered words to Mamie, which seemed to bethose of hope, as the countenance of the latter brightened very much.Then, starting to her feet, while her frame quivered with excitement,she cried:
"I knew it would be so! Look there, Miss Hayward! Look there!"
"What do you mean?" yelled Branch.
"That you are foiled at last, fiend of darkness, that you are."
Let us return to Springfield.
The excitement endured by Hayward, together with the pain he sufferedfrom the constant irritation of his wounds, and his loss of blood, weremore than he could bear, and he sank to the earth, although he stillretained his consciousness. Nettleton remained by his side, althoughHayward urged him to join his brothers in the unequal contest.
"There ain't no occasion to do that!" said the brave fellow. "ThemBody-guard will whi
p them darn skunks in less than three minutes, andbesides some on 'em might come around you, and I calculate if they do,to make them smell brimstone."
The fight was over. Nettleton and William Margrave assisted CaptainHayward to the city, and secured a room for him in one of the housesoccupied by a Union family. In a short time both Johnson and AdjutantHinton joined him. The Indian was absent.
"Have you received any intelligence of my sister?" asked Hayward, in atrembling voice.
"Not yet, but Fall-leaf is absent, and I feel satisfied that he is withor near both your sister and mine," replied Margrave. "He will returnwith them very soon, I believe."
"Did you see or hear anything of Branch?" asked Hayward.
"After the smoke from the explosion had cleared away, I went in searchof the ladies, but they had disappeared. The cart had been removed, andmy opinion is that Branch has driven off with our sisters. He cannotadvance very rapidly with his ox-team, and, if Fall-leaf is on histrack, he will return and inform us as soon as he has ascertained thedirection they have taken."
"Have the horses saddled, and at the door. If possible get fresh ones,"said Hayward. "I shall follow my sister."
"You cannot do it, captain, you are too ill!"
"Who talks of being ill, at such a time as this? My sister is in thehands of that ruffian Branch, and yours too, Margrave! _I_ should goforward if I was dying!"
At this moment Fall-leaf rushed into the room, and cried:
"Follow--come!"
"Come--no questions," cried Hayward.
In an instant Hayward, Hinton, Johnson, Nettleton, Margrave, and theIndian, were in their saddles, and darted off at their utmost speed, onthe road toward the famous Wilson's creek battle-ground. The Indian tookthe lead.
They ascended the sharp hill which borders Wilson's creek, and when onits summit, could plainly see all the surrounding objects in the valleybelow. After a moment's inspection they turned to the right, and struckoff through a narrow path which ran along the mountain ridge. They hadproceeded about two miles, when the Indian paused and said:
"Hark!"
The party listened attentively, and distinctly heard the sound of therumbling cart.
"Quick! Forward!" cried Hayward, as he dashed onward. In a few momentsthey came in sight of the cart, and there, sure enough, were seated thesister of Hayward and the maiden, Alibamo.
A cry of joy broke from the lips of Margrave. It was heard by Branch.The villain for a moment was confused, but it was no time for delay. Heseized Miss Hayward in his arms, and, springing from the cart, ran alongwith her as easily as if she had been an infant.
Alibamo sprang into her brother's arms, with a cry of rapture, but heonly paused a moment. Branch ran directly toward a narrow pathway, whichwas the only passage to the valley below, and which wound down the steepby the side of a sharp, rocky ledge. Beneath this ledge was a frightfulchasm, at the bottom of which were a hundred sharp rocks, which had beenbroken off the height, and fallen into the depths below.
"Ah! I will triumph yet!" cried Branch, as he reached the ledge, and wasabout to spring down the narrow pathway. But, Fall-leaf confronted him,and Branch sprang back.
"Ah! the rock--the precipice!" he cried, and darting for the ledge hestood upon its very verge.
As Hayward and his friends approached, Branch raised the helpless maidenhigh over his head, and leaning forward he cried:
"If you advance another step, Hayward, or permit any of your party to doso, I will hurl your sister into the depths below, and thus dash her topieces!"
Hayward was within a few feet of Branch, but he stopped instantly.
"What is to be done?" asked Hinton, as he shuddered at the scene beforehim.
"I will tell _you_ what is to be done, Hayward," cried Branch. "I hold_you_ in my power, and I shall dictate my own terms."
"What are they?" asked Hayward.
"Let the entire party, excepting yourself withdraw some distance to therear, and then swear by your honor that I shall not be molested, andshall be permitted to go as I please, and I will restore your sister. Ifyou do not, she shall perish, even if I go with her!"
The villain, who supposed his proposition would be readily accepted, hadbeen partially thrown off his guard. With a cry of
"Brother!" Mamie sprang suddenly to the ground. In doing so, she hadcollected all her strength, and, as she sprang, the concussion hadthrown Branch backward, and he was falling over the ledge. He caught asmall sapling in his fall, and there the villain hung, suspended overthis dreadful gulf, only by the frail twig. He turned upward animploring glance, but did not speak. He gazed below, and a thrill ofterror shook his frame.
"Your hour has come!" cried Hayward, as he approached the edge of thecliff.
"No! no! me--me!" cried the Indian, stepping forward.
"Oh! save me!" groaned Branch.
"Pray," said Hayward, as he saw the tomahawk of the Indian raised highin the air.
"Save me--save--" Branch spoke no more.
The tomahawk had descended and severed the frail twig, to which Branchwas clinging. A yell of terror rose upon the air, as Branch wentwhirling down, and then a dull, heavy thump was heard and all was still.
Hayward pressed his lips upon his sister's forehead, and murmured,
"The dream, darling--the dream!"
"O brother," she sobbed, "I cannot speak--I am so happy!"
Margrave had not been idle. He had taken a full share of embraces, andhad handed Alibamo over to Adjutant Hinton, who appeared rather torelish that luxury, himself. Johnson was a silent spectator, butNettleton was dancing with perfect ecstacy, as he exclaimed:
"Well, I'm about the happiest darn skunk that ever did live!"
"Fall-leaf, have you nothing to say?" asked Hayward.
"Me kill--ugh!" he pointed toward the rocks below, and seemed perfectlysatisfied.
"Bad man--_much_ bad!" and he strode away up the path.
Night was fast approaching, and the happily united friends set out forSpringfield, which they reached in safety.
Captain Hayward recovered from his wounds, and is still engaged infighting his country's battles, while his lovely sister is happy in herhome upon the lake.
Adjutant Hinton is in the same regiment with Hayward, whileAlibamo--_not_ Alibamo Margrave, but Alibamo _Hinton_, is adorning herhusband's elegant home in New York, where she is its light and joy. Sheonly awaits the return of Harry to render her perfectly happy.
Nettleton thinks he is becoming less of a "skunk" every day, but stillinsists on remaining with Haywood, as his "body-guard." Fall-leaf stillserves the army.
AU REVOIR.