CHAPTER VIII.
_The Prisoners--Brutality--The Attendant--The Letter--Discovery._
What bloody man is that? He can report As seemeth by his plight, of the revolt The newest state.--_Shakespeare._
As Branch saw the prostrate form of Hayward upon the ground, he cried:
"By heavens, it is the very man we want--it is Captain Hayward!"
"Ride over his body--trample him into the earth!" shouted one of theinfuriated soldiers.
"No! no!" shrieked Branch. "If he yet lives he must be reserved fortorture! It is our general's command. Let no one dare to disobey it. Ah!the fiends befriend me! There is Alibamo, and her horse has fallen!"
This was indeed true. In her haste as she dashed down the steep towardthe river, the horse of Alibamo had missed his footing, and fallen,throwing its fair rider violently to the ground. It was but an instantbefore he was again upon his feet, but before Alibamo could regain herseat, her persecutor had seized her.
"Ah! my fair beauty," he cried, "I have you once more in my grasp. Andnow revenge will be a thousand times sweeter. Look there!" he cried, ashe dragged the helpless girl forward. "Look upon your would-be rescuer!It is a glorious spectacle, is it not?"
"Dead! dead!" sobbed the maiden.
"Ah! you weep for him, do you? No doubt you love him very dearly! But heis _not_ dead, and I would not have him dead for millions! It was a gamewell played, and worthy of your lover, the gallant Captain Hayward. Buthe did not win the game. _I_ held the trump card, and I will show himhow I won, and _why_ I won, when he recovers!"
"What would you do?"
"What would I do? _You_ shall see. First I will let him return toconsciousness, and then I'll tear him limb from limb--hack him topieces--tear out that heart you love so much, and give it to you stillbeating with life, and dripping with his blood. You shall wear it everbefore you, and it will be a reminder of my generosity!"
"Oh! fiend! fiend!" groaned Alibamo.
"Oh! yes! You have called me fiend a hundred times, and now you shalllearn that I am one, indeed. Shout, boys! shout! We are victorious!Dance--dance--hold your revels over that form! But do not harm it morenow. I would have him _all_ to myself. And I'll pray that he may have athousand lives!"
The rebels readily obeyed the command of Branch, and commenced theirhowlings.
"Hark to that music, Alibamo. It is our notes of victory. Do you notlove those sounds?"
"They become only such as you. The most barbarous savage would scorn toexult thus over a single fallen foe!" said Alibamo, her eyes flashingwith indignation.
"Oh! taunt! I love to hear it. It makes my hatred for your captaindeeper. And for every word of insult you have spoken, or do speak to me,I'll revenge myself on him. And you shall see it all. See, he moves--heopens his eyes! Let him gaze around."
"Harry! Harry!" called Hayward in a faint voice.
"Oh! my beauty, he does not speak your name first! But perhaps he hopesfor assistance. He shall have it soon!"
"Mamie--Mamie--sister--closer to my heart. I'm cold--co----" The sounddied upon his lips.
"And hark, yours is not the second name he speaks. He has a sister whomhe loves. And I will have _her_ too! _She_ shall be in my power--oh! Iwill wring his heart. Oh! I cannot speak my exultant joy. My very heartis burning within me as I see before me this glorious prospect forrevenge."
"You are foiled in that, villain that you are. His sister is far beyondyour reach, in the bosom of her Northern home."
"But I'll find her--I'll have her in my power merely to torture him ifit costs ma millions. Don't let him die. Tear open his vest--see wherehe is wounded, and wash it with liquor--it will prolong his life."
Some of the soldiers did as they were bid.
"There is a letter. Give it me. Ah! by the Eternal! 'tis signed, '_yourloving sister, Mamie!_' And here is the name of her home. Now, Alibamo,what say you? Is she not in my power? And not only she, but all hisfamily shall suffer. I hate the tribe. You said I could not find her.I'll write to-night and tell her that her brother is wounded and wishesher presence at once. She will come, and she shall see me torture him!"
"What benefit or gratification will that afford you, Branch?" askedAlibamo.
"Why, this is a tender epistle. This Hayward loves his sister, and ifshe is gazing upon his pangs, it will be doubly keen to him, knowing shesees it. He will feel all her sufferings and his own. Ah! Hayward speaksagain!"
"Alibamo! Alibamo!"
"Stop his mouth--tear his tongue out. He shall not speak your name."
Branch struck the fallen man across his face with his heavy ironscabbard. The blood spirted from his mouth and nostrils, but he movednot. As the soldiers applied the fluid to his wounds, Hayward showedevidence of pain, but did not speak.
"The ball has passed directly under the right arm, and must have enteredthe lungs. He will not live," said one of the soldiers.
"He shall live!" cried Branch. "He _must_ live. Tie him on one of thehorses and let us be off."
This order was obeyed promptly. It seemed as if the fiend which urged onthe actions of that bad man, had, from very shame, left his breast, andhe silently took the lead, and with Alibamo by his side, the squadronset off at a rapid rate.
For many miles they kept on their course toward the camp of the rebels.At length they turned their direction across the mountain. As theyascended to the summit, Alibamo asked:
"Whither are you going, Branch?"
"Look yonder. Don't you see the army moving. It is our army. We aregoing to Springfield."
"You are retreating like cowards as you are!" replied Alibamo, with asneer.
The only reply from Branch was a blow upon the head of the senselesscaptain.
"Thus will I revenge every word of insult you speak to me!"
"You will revenge but little more, for he is nearly gone. But you aremistaken if you deem him my lover. I never saw him until to-day."
"I do not believe you," replied Branch.
"Did you not hear him speak the name of Harry Hinton?"
"I did."
"Harry is the one I love. Captain Hayward spoke that name that I mightrecognize him as a friend. Harry was with the captain, and has escaped,and wo to you, Branch, when he returns!"
"Bah! Think you that I can be frightened from my purpose? No! Besides, Ido not believe one word you have said. Has Hayward spoken recently?"asked Branch.
"Yes, several times. But he is evidently suffering great pain fromriding in this manner, and he faints in an instant after the return ofhis reason," replied one of the soldiers.
"O Branch! in mercy do not torture this poor man in this manner," saidAlibamo, imploringly.
"We will overtake an ambulance in an hour, and then I will transfer himto one of them."
"May I be permitted to attend upon him?" asked Alibamo.
"Would it be a great gratification to you?"
"Oh! yes; very great!"
"Then you shan't. Now speak of him no more."
In a short time an ambulance was overtaken, and Branch said:
"Place Hayward in that ambulance. If he is carried on horseback, he willdie, and I shall lose my revenge!"
"Let me handle the _darn skunk_!" said one of the party, as he advancedthrough the crowd. "I'm used to handlin' just such darned skunks as heis!"
"Be careful!" said Branch, as this peculiar looking object liftedHayward from the horse.
"Oh! guess there's no occasion to be too careful. Such dam skunks as himain't so easy killed."
Hayward was placed in the ambulance.
"Who will volunteer to remain with him?" asked Branch.
No one replied.
"Will you?" asked Branch, turning to the person who had volunteered toassist Hayward from his horse.
"Well, yes--that is if nobody else won't. But I don't like such workvery much."
"And let six mounted guard march behind. I will go forward and report tothe general. Here, Peters, take charge of Alibamo until
I return."
Matters thus arranged, Branch rode forward. The army proceeded but a fewmiles farther. In a short time after the halt, Branch returned andriding up to the ambulance, he asked of the attendant:
"How is the captain?"
"He is asleep, and seems to breathe much easier, the darn skunk!"
"Has he spoken at all?"
"No; I did not wake him!"
"Take him around to the tent of the general," said Branch, addressingthe driver.
"Ay, ay, sir!"
"Shall I go along?" asked the attendant.
"Yes, you may attend upon him for the present. Treat him well, as I wishhim to recover."
"Oh! I'm a kind o' doctor, and I'll do the best I can by him," was thereply.
In a short time Hayward was brought to the tent of Price.
"Is he conscious?" asked the general.
"No!"
"Place him in that vacant tent, and let a surgeon attend him. It ishighly important that he should live. Have you searched him for papers?"
"Not yet!"
"Let him be searched, and bring me whatever you find!" said Price.
The search was made, but nothing of the character desired by Price wasfound upon his person.
Hayward was removed to the tent indicated by Price. A surgeon was soonin attendance, and after dressing his wounds, announced that with theproper attention, Hayward would recover.
"If he becomes thoroughly conscious before morning, and is able toconverse, let me know it. I wish to question him," said Price, as heleft the wounded captain in charge of the guard.
As Price was entering his tent, an orderly presented him with a letter.The general tore it open, and glanced over its contents. He said:
"The lady asks the privilege of attending upon the wounded captain. Lether do so, but give instructions that if Hayward returns toconsciousness, not one word is to pass between him and the lady, exceptin presence of the guard. And to prevent any conversation which may beunderstood by themselves, and not by the guard, let every word spoken bythem be noted. Place four sentinels outside the tent, and one willremain within."
"Your orders shall be strictly carried out, general."
"If he again escape, those guarding him shall answer for it with theirlives."
"I will answer for his safety with mine," replied the orderly, as hedeparted.
He proceeded at once to the tent of Alibamo, and informed her that shewas at liberty to attend upon Hayward for the present, but that everyword spoken between them was to be reported. Branch was with her, andwhen he heard this, he tore his hair from very rage.
"This general is too soft-hearted!" muttered Branch to himself. "Butcome, Alibamo, I will go with you to Hayward's tent!"
"I prefer to go without you, sir!" was the reply.
"No doubt--and for that very reason I am going with you!"
They soon reached the tent, and Alibamo seated herself beside thewounded man. Branch took his seat opposite.
"Do you intend to remain here?" asked Alibamo.
"I am not welcome, I suppose?" replied Branch with sarcasm.
"I would prefer the tent should be filled with serpents?"
Branch frowned terribly, and bit his lips, but did not reply.
"Why don't you strike this senseless man, and thus revenge that honest,truthful answer?" asked Alibamo.
"If you speak thus again, I will do so!"
"Not while I am here. Soldier, hand me that knife!" But before she hadfinished the sentence, she had snatched the knife alluded to, from thebelt of the attendant.
"You know, Branch, I used a weapon of this sort to some purpose, once,and if you dare approach me, or this helpless officer, I will drive itto your heart."
"Recover your knife!" cried Branch, who was now fairly foaming withrage, to the attendant.
"Just you hand over that tool, you darn skunk, you!" said the soldier,as he arose, and advanced toward Alibamo.
"Stand back, sir. Stand back. I do not wish to harm you, soldier, but ifyou attempt to take this weapon from me, you will feel its point."
"Captain," said the soldier, "there ain't no use in trying to make_women_ mind you. They're darn skunks any way--better let 'em alone."
"Hayward is awake!" said Branch. "Speak to him--see if he will reply."
"Captain, do you know me?" asked Alibamo.
A faint smile overspread the captain's face, but he did not reply.
"Can you not speak? Oh! let me hear your voice once more! Say at least,that you forgive me--for I have brought all this upon you!" Alibamo bentover the wounded man, weeping as if her heart would break. Haywardclosed his eyes, and did not reply.
"What the devil are _you_ blubbering about?" growled Branch addressinghimself to the attendant soldier.
"Cos I'm a darn skunk," sobbed the attendant, scarcely able to speak.
"My good friend, do you sympathize with this noble captain?"
"Yes--yes--ma'am," sobbed the soldier. "I don't believe he's half somuch of a darn skunk as some other folks!"
"There, don't weep," said Alibamo, in a soothing manner, as she laid herhand gently upon his arm. "I am glad to meet one good heart here!"
"Don't--don't, Miss Alibamo. There's something inside of me that'sswelling up, and if you talk that way, I know it will burst, and I shallbellow like a bull. Oh! I wish I wasn't such a darn skunk! But I ain'tno account, no way, so don't call me a good heart, cos nobody ever saidthat to me afore, only cap---- only you, and I ain't nothing but acowardly skunk!"
"Why have you so much sympathy for your enemy?" asked Branch.
"Because I don't think it's fair to strike a man when he's down!"
"I'll tell you, Branch," said Alibamo, "why he has so much sympathy forthe captain--a feeling you cannot understand. God has given him a nobleheart, and he can feel for the unfortunate, even though it be an enemy."
"Did you ever see Hayward before!" asked Branch of the soldier, eyinghim sharply.
"I seed him in the fight. Lord didn't he make his sword fly. More than adozen sojers lay down when he hit 'em. It made my hair stand up, I tellyou. By thunder, _wasn't_ he brave! I'll bet if there had been six justlike him, he'd licked our crowd. If he is a dam skunk of a federal, heis a trump card it'll do to go a big pile on."
"Give me--water!" said Hayward, in a feeble voice, opening his eyes.
"Quick, some water," said Alibamo. She placed the cup to his lips, andhe drank.
"I have been dreaming!" said Hayward. "Oh! it was sweet!"
"Of what did you dream?" asked Alibamo.
"Of home--Mamie--Mamie!"
"He is conscious. His answer was direct," said Branch.
"Do you know me, captain?" asked Alibamo.
"Yes--where is Harry?"
"He is not here!"
"I want him--I feel sick! Call him. William Nettleton!" called Hayward,in a low tone.
"Here, captain!----Won't--won't I do just as well? I'll do anything Ican for you," said the attendant, springing forward. Had the rebelofficer been less absorbed in the prisoner's state he must surely haveobserved the agitation of the attendant.
"Do you know where you are?" asked Branch of Hayward.
The captain had closed his eyes, but upon hearing the voice of Branch,he opened them, and looked upon the speaker--a look so full of scorn anddisgust as to betray the lion heart still beating in his breast.
"Why is that man in my tent?" he asked. "Take him away--his presence ishateful to me."
"It will be before I am through with you. What is that?"
"One of the sentinels in the rear of this tent has discharged hispiece!"
"Some of your friends are after us, very likely, Alibamo. I will callupon them, perhaps I shall be able to bring you company." Branch leftthe tent, hurriedly and not without trepidation.
A gleam of light lit up the face of the attendant. He became at onceuneasy. Then he sprang suddenly to the ground, exclaiming, but notloudly:
"There was a hand there. It held a
bit of paper!"
Alibamo sprang forward, and seized the paper which was lying on theground. She held it to the light, and then exclaimed aloud, as ifunconscious of what she said:
"It is my brother's writing--friends are near!" Then, as if suddenlyrecollecting herself, she turned to the attendant and said:
"Oh! do not betray me, I beg--I implore!"
"I ain't no such darn skunk. Let me tell you something."
The attendant spoke in a whisper. Alibamo started, clasped his hand,kissed it convulsively. "Dear, good fellow!" she said through her tears.
"There--oh! don't--O Christopher!--I shall have to blubber, and then allwill be up with us!" cried the fellow, as he twisted and hopped aroundthe tent like one suffering pain.