CHAPTER XIV
IN WASHINGTON
A quarter of a mile from the forest, the wood ascended considerably,throwing him into relief. He felt some shivers here, as he did not knowwho might be watching him. Field glasses were ugly things when a manwas trying to hide. He glanced at the little group that he had seenon the hill, and he noticed now that the officer with the glasses waslooking at him. But Harry was a long distance away, and he had thecourage and prudence of mind to keep from falling into a panic. He didnot believe that they could tell the color of his uniform at that range,but if he whipped his horse into a gallop, pursuit would certainly comefrom somewhere.
He rode slowly on, letting his figure sway negligently, and he did notlook back again at the group on the hill, where the officer was watchinghim. But he looked from side to side, fearing that horsemen in bluemight appear galloping across the fields. It was a supreme test ofnerve and will. More than once he felt an almost irresistibletemptation to lash his horse and gallop for the wood as hard as hecould. That wood seemed wonderfully deep and dark, fit to hide anyfugitive. But it had acquired an extraordinary habit of moving furtherand further away. He had to exert his will so hard that his hand fairlytrembled on his bridle rein. Yet he remained master of himself, andwent on sitting the saddle in the slouchy attitude that he had adoptedwhen he knew himself to be observed.
The wood was only three or four hundred yards away, when far to his lefthe saw several horsemen appear on a slope, and he was quite sure thattheir uniforms were blue. The distance to the wood was now so shortthat the temptation to gallop was powerful, but he still resisted.Pride, too, helped him and he did not increase the pace of his horse aparticle. He saw the dark, cool shadow very near now, and he thought heheard one of the new horsemen on his left shout to him. But he wouldnot look around. Preserving appearances to the last, he rode into theforest, and its heavy shadows enveloped him.
He stopped a moment under the trees and wiped the perspiration from hisforehead. He was also seized with a violent fit of trembling, but itwas over in a half minute, and then turning his horse from the path herode into the densest part of the forest.
Harry felt an immense relief. He knew that he might be followed,but he did not consider it probable. It was more than likely that hepassed for some countryman riding homeward. Martial law had not yetcovered all the hills with a network of iron rules. So he rode onboldly, and he noticed with satisfaction that the forest seemed to beextensive and dense. Night, heavy with clouds, was coming, too, andsoon he would be so well hidden that only chance would enable an enemyto find him.
In a half hour he stopped and took his bearings as best he could.It seemed to be a wild bit of country. He judged that it was groundcropped too much in early times, and left to grow into wilderness again.He was not likely to find anything in it save a hut or two of charcoalburners. It was a lonely region, very desolate now, with the nightbirds calling. The clouds grew heavier and he would have been glad ofshelter, but he put down the wish, recalling to himself with a sort offierceness that he was a soldier and must scorn such things. Moreover,it behooved him to make most of his journey in the night, and thisforest, which ran almost to Washington, seemed to be provided for hisapproach.
He had fixed the direction of Washington firmly in his mind, and havinga good idea of location, he kept his horse going at a good walk towardhis destination. As his eyes, naturally strong, grew used to the forest,and his horse was sure of foot, they were able to go through the busheswithout much trouble. He stopped at intervals to listen for a possibleenemy--or friend--but heard nothing except the ordinary sounds of theforest.
By and by a wind rose and blew all the clouds away. A shining moon anda multitude of brilliant stars sprang out. Just then Harry came to ahillock, clear of trees, with the ground dipping down beyond. He rodeto the highest point of the hillock and looked toward the east into avast open world, lighted by the moon and stars. Off there just underthe horizon he caught a gleam of white and he knew instinctively whatit was. It was the dome of the Capitol in that city which was now thecapital of the North alone. It was miles away, but he saw it and hisheart thrilled. He forgot, for the moment, that by his own choice itwas no longer his own.
Harry sat on his horse and looked a long time at that far white glow,deep down under the horizon. There was the capital of his own country,the real capital. Somehow he could not divest himself of that idea,and he looked until mists and vapors began to float up from the lowlands,and the white gleam was lost behind them. Then he rode on slowly andthoughtfully, trying to think of a plan that would bring rich rewardsfor the cause for which he was going to fight.
He had discovered something already. He had seen the bayonets of aregiment marching to join the Northern army, and he had no doubt that hewould see others. Perhaps they would consider themselves strong enoughin a day or two to attack. It was for him to learn. He was back in theforest and he now turned his course more toward the east. By dawn hewould be well in the rear of the Northern army, and he must judge thenhow to act.
But all his calculations were upset by a very simple thing, one ofNature's commonest occurrences--rain. The heavy clouds that hadgathered early in the night were gone away merely for a time. Now theycame back in battalions, heavier and more numerous than ever. Theshining moon and the brilliant stars were blotted out as if they hadnever been. A strong wind moaned and a cold rain came pouring intohis face. The blanket that he carried on his saddle, and which henow wrapped around him, could not protect him. The fierce rain drovethrough it and he was soaked and shivering. The darkness, too, was sogreat that he could see only a few yards before him, and he let thehorse take his course.
Harry thought grimly that he was indeed well hidden in the forest.He was so well hidden that he was lost even to himself. In all thatdarkness and rain he could not retain the sense of direction, and he hadno idea where he was. He rambled about for hours, now and then tryingto find shelter behind massive tree trunks, and, after every failure,going on in the direction in which he thought Washington lay. Hisshivering became so strong that he was afraid it would turn into a realchill, and he resolved to seek a roof, if the forest should hold such athing.
It was nearly dawn when he saw dimly the outlines of a cabin standingin a tiny clearing. He believed it to be the hut of a charcoal burner,and he was resolved to take any risk for the sake of its roof. Hedismounted and beat heavily upon the door with the butt of a pistol.The answer was so long in coming that he began to believe the hut wasempty, which would serve his purpose best of all, but at last a voice,thick with sleep, called: "Who's there?"
"I'm lost and I need shelter," Harry replied.
"Wait a minute," returned the voice.
Harry, despite the beat of the rain, heard a shuffling inside, and then,through a crack in the door, he saw a light spring up. He hoped theowner of the voice would hurry. The rain seemed to be beating harderthan ever upon him and the cold was in his bones. Then the door wasthrown back suddenly and an uncommonly sharp voice shouted:
"Drop the reins! Throw up your hands an' walk in, where I kin see whatyou are!"
Harry found himself looking into the muzzle of an old-fashionedlong-barreled rifle. But the hammer was cocked, and it was held by apair of large, calloused, and steady hands, belonging to a tall, thinman with powerful shoulders and a bearded face.
There was no help for it. The boy dropped the reins, raised his handsover his head and walked into the hut, where the rain at least did notreach him. It was a rude place of a single room, with a fire-place atone end, a bed in a corner, a small pine table on which a candle burned,and clothing and dried herbs hanging from hooks on the wall. The manwore only a shirt and trousers, and he looked unkempt and wild, but hewas a resolute figure.
"Stand over thar, close to the light, whar I kin see you," he said.
Harry moved over, and the muzzle of the rifle followed him. The mancould look down the sights of his rifle and
at the same time examine hisvisitor, which he did with thoroughness.
"Now, then, Johnny Reb," he said, "what are you doin' here this time o'night an' in such weather as this, wakin' honest citizens out o' theirbeds?"
"Nothing but stand before the muzzle of your rifle."
The man grinned. The answer seemed to appeal to him, and he lowered theweapon, although he did not relax his watchfulness.
"I got the drop on you, Johnny Reb; you're boun' to admit that," hesaid. "You didn't ketch Seth Perkins nappin'."
"I admit it. But why do you call me Johnny Reb?"
"Because that's what you are. You can't tell much about the color ofa man's coat after it's been through sech a big rain, but I know yournis gray. I ain't takin' no part in this war. They've got to fight itas best they kin without me. I'm jest an innercent charcoal burner,'bout the most innercent that ever lived, I guess, but atween you an' me,Johnny Reb, my feelin's lean the way my state, Old Virginny, leans,that is, to the South, which I reckon is lucky fur you."
Harry saw that the man had blue eyes and he saw, too, that they weretwinkling. He knew with infallible instinct that he was honest andtruthful.
"It's true," he said. "I'm a Southern soldier, and I'm in your hands."
"I see that you trust me, an' I think I kin trust you. Jest you wait'til I put that hoss o' yourn in the lean-to behind the cabin."
He darted out of the door and returned in a minute shaking the waterfrom his body.
"That hoss feels better already," he said, "an' you will, too, soon.Now, I shet this door, then I kindle up the fire ag'in, then you takeoff your clothes an' put them an' yo'self afore the blaze. In time youan' your clothes are all dry."
The man's manner was all kindness, and the poor little cabin had becomea palace. He blew at the coals, threw on dry pine knots, and in a fewminutes the flames roared up the chimney.
Harry took off his wet clothing, hung it on two cane chairs before thefire and then proceeded to roast himself. Warmth poured back into hisbody and the cold left his bones. Despite his remonstrances, Perkinstook a pot out of his cupboard and made coffee. Harry drank two cups ofit, and he knew now that the danger of chill, to be followed by fever,was gone.
"Mr. Perkins," he said at length, "you are an angel."
Perkins laughed.
"Mebbe I air," he said, "but I 'low I don't look like one. Guess ef Iwent up an' tried to j'in the real angels Gabriel would say, 'Go back,Seth Perkins, an' improve yo'self fur four or five thousand years aforeyou try to keep comp'ny like ours.' But now, Johnny Reb, sence you'refeelin' a heap better you might tell what you wuz tryin' to do, prowlin'roun' in these woods at sech a time."
"I meant to go behind the Yankee army, see what reinforcements werecoming up, find out their plans, if I could, and report to our general."
Perkins whistled softly.
"Say," he said, "you look like a boy o' sense. What are you wastin'your time in little things fur? Couldn't you find somethin' bigger an'a heap more dangerous that would stir you up an' give you action?"
Harry laughed.
"I was set to do this task, Mr. Perkins," he said, "and I mean to do it."
"That shows good sperrit, but ef I wuz set to do it I wouldn't. Do youknow whar you are an' what's around you, Johnny Reb?"
"No, I don't."
"Wa'al, you're right inside o' the Union lines. The armies o' Pattersonan' McDowell hem in all this forest, an' I reckon mebbe it wuz a goodthing fur you that the storm came up an' you got past in it. Wuz youexpectin', Johnny Reb, to ride right into the Yankee pickets with thatConfedrit uniform on?"
"I don't know exactly what I intended to do. I meant to see in themorning. I didn't know I was so far inside their lines."
"You know it now, an' if you're boun' to do what you say you're settin'out to do, then you've got to change clothes. Here, I'll take these an'hide 'em."
He snatched Harry's uniform from the chair, ran up a ladder into alittle room under the eaves, and returned with some rough garments underhis arm.
"These are my Sunday clothes," he said. "You're pow'ful big fur youryears, an' they'll come purty nigh fittin' you. Leastways, they'll fitwell enough fur sech times ez these. Now you wear 'em, ef you put anyvalue on your life."
Harry hesitated. He wished to go as a scout, and not as a spy. Clothescould not change a man, but they could change his standing. Yet thewords of Perkins were obviously true. But he would not go back.He must do his task.
"I'll take your clothes on one condition, Mr. Perkins," he said, "youmust let me pay for them."
"Will it make you feel better to do so?"
"A great deal better."
"All right, then."
Harry took from his saddle bags the purse which he had removed from hiscoat pocket when he undressed, and handed a ten dollar gold piece to thecharcoal burner.
"What is it?" asked the charcoal burner.
"A gold eagle, ten dollars."
"I've heard of 'em, but it's the first I've ever seed. I'm bound to sayI regard that shinin' coin with a pow'ful sight o' respeck. But if Itake it I'm makin' three dollars. Them clothes o' mine jest cost sevendollars an' I've wore 'em four times."
"Count the three dollars in for shelter and gratitude and remember,you've made your promise."
Perkins took the coin, bit it, pitched it up two or three times,catching it as it fell, and then put it upon the hearth, where theblaze could gleam upon it.
"It's shorely a shiner," he said, "an' bein' that it's the first I'veever had, I reckon I'll take good care of it. Wait a minute."
He picked up the coin again, ran up the ladder into the dark eaves ofthe house, and came back without it.
"Now, Johnny Reb," he said, "put on my clothes and see how you feel."
Harry donned the uncouth garb, which fitted fairly well after he hadrolled up the trousers a little.
"You'd pass for a farmer," said Perkins. "I fed your hoss when I puthim up, an' as soon as the rain's over you kin start ag'in, a sightsafer than you wuz when you wore that uniform. Ef you come back thisway ag'in I'll give it to you. Now, you'd better take a nap. I'll callyou when the rain stops."
Harry felt that he had indeed fallen into the hands of a friend, andstretching himself on a pallet which the charcoal burner spread in frontof the fire, he soon fell asleep. He awoke when Perkins shook hisshoulder and found that it was dawn.
"The rain's stopped, day's come an' I guess you'd better be goin'"said the man. "I've got breakfast ready for you, an' I hope, boy,that you'll get through with a whole skin. I said that both sides wouldhave to fight this war without my help, but I don't mind givin' a boya hand when he needs it."
Harry did not say much, but he was deeply grateful. After breakfast hemounted his horse, received careful directions from Perkins and rodetoward Washington. The whole forest was fresh and green after its heavybath, and birds, rejoicing in the morning, sang in every bush. Harry'selation returned. Clothes impart a certain quality, and, dressed ina charcoal burner's Sunday best, he began to bear himself like one.He rode in a slouchy manner, and he transferred the pistols from hisbelt to the large inside pockets of his new coat. As he passed in anhour from the forest into a rolling open country, he saw that Perkinshad advised him wisely. Dressed in the Confederate uniform he wouldcertainly have had trouble before he made the first mile.
He saw the camps of troops both to right and left and he knew that thesewere the flank of the Northern army. Then from the crest of anotherhill he caught his second view of Washington. The gleam from the domeof the Capitol was much more vivid now, and he saw other white buildingsamid the foliage. Since he had become technically a spy through themere force of circumstances, Harry took a daring resolve. He wouldenter Washington itself. They were all one people, Yanks and JohnnyRebs, and no one could possibly know that he was from the Southern army.Only one question bothered him. He did not know what to do with thehorse.
But he rode briskly ahead,
trusting that the problem of the horse wouldsolve itself, and, as he turned a field, several men in blue uniformsrode forward and ordered him to halt. Harry obeyed promptly.
"Where are you going?" asked the leading man, a minor officer.
"To Washin'ton," replied the boy in the uncouth language that he thoughtfitted his role.
"And what are you going to Washington for?"
"To sell this hoss," replied Harry, on the impulse of the moment."I raised him myself, but he's too fine fur me to ride, specially whenhosses are bringin' sech good prices."
"He is a fine animal," said the officer, looking at him longingly."Do you want to sell him now?"
Harry shook his head.
"No," he replied. "I'm goin' to make one o' them big bugs in Washin'tonpay fur him an' pay fur him good."
The officer laughed.
"You're not such a simpleton as you look," he said. "You're right.They'll pay you more for him in the capital than I could. Ride on.They may pass you over Long Bridge or they may not. That part of itis not my business."
Harry went forward at a trot, glad enough to leave such dangerouscompany behind. But he saw that he was now in the very thick of mightyrisks. He would encounter a menace at every turn. Had he realizedfully the character of his undertaking when he was in the charcoalburner's hut he would have hesitated long. Now, there was nothing todo but go ahead and take his fate, whatever it might be.
Yet his tale of wishing to sell a horse served him well. After a fewquestions, it passed him by a half dozen interruptions, and he became sobold that he stopped and bought food for his noon-day meal at a littlewayside tavern kept by a woman. Three or four countrymen were loungingabout and all of them were gossips. But Harry found it worth while tolisten to their gossip. It was their business to carry vegetables andother provisions into Washington for sale and they picked up much news.They said that the Northern government was pushing all its troops to thefront. All the politicians and writers in Washington were clamoring fora battle. One blow and "Jeff Davis and Secession" would be smashed toatoms. Harry's young blood flamed at the contemptuous words, but hecould not afford to show any resentment. Yet this was valuableinformation. He could confirm Beauregard's belief that an attack wouldsoon be made in great force.
When Harry left them he turned again to the left, as he saw a stretch ofcountry rolling and apparently wooded lying in that direction. Once,when a young boy, he had come to Washington with his father for a stayof several weeks, and he had a fair acquaintance with the region aboutthe capital. He knew that forested hills lay ahead of him and beyondthem the Potomac.
In another hour he was in the hills, which he found without people.Through every opening in the leaves he saw Washington and he could alsodiscern long lines of redoubts on the Virginia side of the river.
Late in the afternoon he came to a small, abandoned log cabin. Heinferred that its owner had moved away because of the war. As nearly ashe could judge it had not been occupied for several weeks. Back of itwas a small meadow enclosed with a rail fence, but everything else wasdeep woods. He turned his horse into the meadow and left his saddle,bridle and saddle blanket in the house. He might not find anything whenhe returned, but he must take the risk.
Then he set off at a brisk pace through the woods, which opened out alittle after dusk, and disclosed a great pillared white house, withsurrounding outbuildings. He knew at once that this was Arlington,the home of one of the Southern generals, Lee, of whom he had heard hisfather speak well.
But he also saw, despite the dusk, blue uniforms and the gleam ofbayonets. And as he looked he saw, too, earthworks and the signs thatmany men were present. He lay long among the bushes until the nightthickened and darkened and he resolved to inspect the earthworksthoroughly. No very strict watch seemed to be kept, and, in truth,it did not seem to be needed here so near to Washington, and so faraway from the Southern army.
Before ten o'clock everything settled into quiet, and he cautiouslyclimbed a great beech which was in full and deep foliage. The boughswere so many and the leaves so dense that one standing directly underhim could not have seen him. But he went up as far as he could go, and,crouched there, made a comprehensive survey.
It was a fine moonlight night and he saw the earthworks stretching for along distance, thorough and impregnable to anything except a great army.Beyond that was a silver band which was the Potomac, and beyond theriver were the clustered roofs which were Washington. But he turned hiseyes back to the earthworks, and he tried to fasten firmly in his mindtheir number and location. This, too, would be important news, mostwelcome to Beauregard.
The boy's elation grew. They had given him a delicate and dangeroustask, but he was doing it. He had overcome every obstacle so far,and he would overcome them to the end. He was bound to enter thatWashington which, in the distance, seemed to lie in such a close cluster.
He felt that he had lingered long enough at Arlington, and, descending,he made a great curve around the earthworks, coming to the river northof Arlington. His next problem was the passage of the Potomac. He didnot dare to try Long Bridge, which he knew would be guarded strictly,but he thought he might find some boatman who would take him over.As the capital was so crowded, the farmers were continually crossingwith loads of provisions, and now that an uncommonly hot July had comethe night would be a favorite time for the passage.
A search up and down the bank brought its reward. A Virginian, who saidhis name was Grimes, had a heavy boat filled with vegetables, and Harrywas welcome as a helper.
"It's a dollar for you," said Grimes, who did not trouble to ask the boyhis name, "an' here are your oars."
The two, pulling strongly, shot the boat out into the stream, and thenrowed in a diagonal line for the city, which rose up brilliant and greatin the moonlight. Other boats were in the river, but they paid noattention to the barge, loaded with produce, and rowed by two innocentcountrymen. They soon reached the Washington shore, and Grimes handedHarry a silver dollar.
"You're a strong young fellow," he said, "an' I guess you've earned themoney. My farm is only four miles up the river an' thar's goin' to be abig market for all I kin raise. I need a good han' to help me work it.How'd you like to come with me an' take a good job, while them thatdon't know no better go ahead an' do the fightin'?"
"Thank you for your offer," replied Harry, "but I've got business toattend to in Washington."
He slipped the dollar into his pocket, because he had earned it honestly,and entered Washington, just as the rising sun began to gild domes androofs. Coming from the boat, his appearance aroused no suspicion.People were pouring into Washington then as they were pouring into theConfederate capital at Richmond. One dressed as he, and looking as he,could enter or depart almost as he pleased, despite the ring offortifications.
Up went the sun, and the full day came, extremely hot and clear.Harry turned into a little restaurant, and spent half of his well-earneddollar for breakfast. Neither proprietor nor waiter gave him morethan a casual glance. Evidently they were used to serving countrymen.Harry, feeling refreshed and strong again, paid for his food and wentoutside.
The streets were thronged. He had expected nothing else, but there wasa great air of excitement and expectancy as if something important weregoing to happen.
"What is it?" asked Harry of a man beside him.
"Don't you know what day this is?" asked the man.
"I've forgot," replied the boy in the slouchy speech and intonation ofthe hills. "I jest came in with dad this mornin', bringin' a wagon loadof fresh vegetables."
"You look as foolish as you talk," said the man scornfully. "Thisis the Fourth of July, and the special session of Congress called byPresident Lincoln is to meet this morning and decide how to give therebels the thrashing they need."
"I did hear somethin' about that," replied Harry, "but workin' in thefield I furgot all about it. I 'low I'll stroll that way."
He drifted on with the crowd toward t
he Capitol, which rose nobler andmore imposing than ever, a great marble building, gleaming white in thesunshine. Harry's heart throbbed. He could not yet dissociate himselffrom the idea that he, as one of the nation, was a part owner of theCapitol. But, forgetting all danger, he persisted in his errand.A great event was about to occur, and he intended to see it.
There were soldiers everywhere. The streets blazed with uniforms,but the people were allowed to gather about the Capitol and many alsoentered. A friendly sentinel passed Harry, who stood for a few momentsin the rotunda. He was careful to keep near other spectators, in orderthat he might not attract attention to himself.
All things that he saw cut sharply into his sensitive and eager mind.It was in truth an extraordinary situation for one who had come as hehad come, and he waited, calm of face, but with every pulse beating.The comments of the other spectators told him who the famous men wereas they entered. Here were Cameron and Wade of the lowering brows.There passed Taney, the venerable Chief Justice, and then dry and quietHamlin, the Vice-President, on his way to preside over the Senate,went by. A tall and magnificent figure in a general's uniform nextattracted Harry's attention. He was an old man, but he held himselfvery erect and his head was crowned with splendid snowy hair.
"Old Fuss and Feathers," said a man near Harry, and the boy knew thatthis was General Scott, the Virginian, who had led the famous andvictorious march into the City of Mexico, and who was now in name,but in name only, commander of the Northern army. His father had servedunder him in those memorable battles and Harry looked at him with acertain veneration, as the old man passed on and disappeared in anotherroom. Then came more, some famous and others destined to be so.
The atmosphere of the great building was surcharged. Harry and hiscomrades had heard that the North was discouraged, that the peoplewould not fight, that they would "let the erring sisters go in peace."It did not seem so to him here. The talk was all of war and of invadingthe South, and he seemed to feel a tenacious spirit behind it.
He managed to secure entrance to the lobbies of both Senate and House,and he listened for a while to the debates. He discovered the samespirit there. He felt that he had a right to report not only on theforts of Washington and the movements of brigades, but also on thetemper in the North. Resolution and tenacity, he now saw, were worthas much as cannon balls.
Harry did not leave the Capitol until the middle of the afternoon,when he drifted back to the restaurant at which he had obtained hisbreakfast, where he spent the other half of the dollar for luncheon.Then he resolved to escape from Washington that night. He had picked upby casual talk and observation together a fair knowledge of Washington'sdefenses. Above all he had learned that the North was pouring troops inan unbroken stream into the capital, and that the great advance on theline of Bull Run would take place very soon. He could scarcely expectto achieve more; he had already surpassed his hopes, and it was surelytime to go.
He left the restaurant. The streets were still crowded, and he sawstanding at the nearest corner a figure that seemed familiar. He took along look, and then he was shaken with alarm. It was Shepard. He hadseen him under such tense conditions that he could never forget the man.The turn of his shoulders, the movement of his head--all were familiar.And Harry had a great respect for the keenness and intelligence ofShepard. He could not forget how Shepard had talked to him that nightin Montgomery. There was something uncanny about the man, and he had asudden conviction that Shepard had seen him long since and was watchinghim. He thrust his hands into his capacious pockets. The pistols werestill there, and he resolved that he would use them if need be.
He went at first toward the Potomac, and he did not look back for along time, rambling about the streets in a manner apparently aimless.Now and then a quiver ran down his back, and he knew it was due to themental fear that Shepard was pursuing. When he did look back at last hedid not see him, and he felt immediate elation. It would not be longnow until dark, and then he would make his escape across the river.
Time was slow, but it could not keep darkness back forever, and, as soonas it had come fully, he turned toward the north. Southern troops wouldnot be looked for there, and egress would be easier in that direction.He passed on without interruption and soon was in the suburbs, whichwere then so shabby. Then he looked back, and cold fear plucked at theroots of his hair. A man was following him, and he could tell even inthe dim light that it was Shepard.
A shudder shook him now. A rope was the fate for a spy. But herecovered himself and walked on faster than ever. The cabins thinnedaway, and he saw before him bushes. His keen hearing brought to himthe soft sound of the pursuing footsteps. Now he took his resolution.There were few games at which two could not play.
He passed between two bushes, came around and returned to the open.But he returned with one of the pistols cocked and levelled, his fingeron the trigger. Shepard, pursuing swiftly, walked almost against themuzzle, and Harry laughed softly.
"Well, Mr. Shepard," he said, "you've followed me well, but as I've nomind to be hung for a spy or anything else, I must ask you to go back."
"You have the advantage at present, it is true," said Shepard, "but whatmakes you think I was going to shoot at you or have you seized?"
"Isn't it what one would naturally expect?"
"Yes--perhaps. But I could have given the alarm while you were still inthe city. I speak the truth when I say I do not know just what I hadin mind. But at all events the tables are turned. You hold me at thepistol's muzzle and I admit it."
He smiled and the boy could not keep from liking him.
"Mr. Shepard," said Harry, "what you told me at Montgomery was true.We of the South did not realize the numbers, power and spirit of theNorth. I know now the truth of what you told me, but, on the other hand,you of the North do not realize the fire, courage and devotion of theSouth."
"I understand it, but I'm afraid that not many of our people do so.Suppose we call it quits once more. Let this be Montgomery over again.You do not want to shoot me here any more than I wanted to shoot youdown there."
"I admit that also," said Harry.
"Then you are safe from me, if I'm safe from you."
"Agreed," said Harry, as he lowered the weapon.
"Good-bye," said Shepard.
"Good-bye."
But they did not offer to shake hands. Each turned his back on theother, and, when Harry stopped in the bushes, he saw only the dimoutlines of Washington. At midnight he found a colored man who, for pay,rowed him across the Potomac. At dawn he found his horse peacefullygrazing in the meadow, and at the next dawn he was once more within thesouthern lines.