CHAPTER VII
IN THE WAGON
He ran at first, reckless of impediments, and there was a sound ofcrashing as he sped through the bushes. He was not in the least afraidof Haskell. He had his rifle and pistols and in the woods he wasinfinitely the superior. He did not even believe that Haskell wouldpursue, but he wanted to get far beyond any possible Federal sentinelsas soon as possible.
After a flight of a few hundred yards he slackened speed, and began togo silently. The old instincts and skill of the forester returned tohim. He knew that he was safe from immediate pursuit and now he wouldapproach his own lines carefully. He was grateful for the chance orseries of chances that always took him toward Lee. It seemed now thathis enemies had merely succeeded in driving him at an increased pace inthe way he wanted to go.
He was descending a slope, thickly clothed with undergrowth. A fewhundred yards farther his knees suddenly crumpled under him and he sankdown, seized at the same time with a fit of nervous trembling. He hadpassed through so many ordeals that strong and seasoned as he was andhigh though his spirits, the collapse came all at once. He knew whatwas the matter and, quietly stretching himself out, he lay still thatthe spell might pass.
The lonesome owl, probably the same one that he had heard earlier,began to hoot, and now it was near by. Harry thought he could make outits dim figure on a branch and he was sure that the red eyes, closed byday, were watching him, doubtless with a certain contempt at hisweakness.
"Old man, if you had been chased by the fowler as often as I have,"were the words behind his teeth, addressed to the dim and fluffyfigure, "you wouldn't be sitting up there so calm and cocky. Yourtired head would sink down between your legs, your feathers would bewet with perspiration and you'd be so tired you'd hardly be able tohang on to the tree."
Came again the lonesome hoot of the owl, spreading like a sinister omenthrough the forest. It made Harry angry, and, raising himself up alittle, he shook his fist again at the figure on the branch, nowgrowing clearer in outline.
"'Bird or devil?'" he quoted.
The owl hooted once more, the strange ominous cry carrying far in thesilence of the night.
"Devil it is," said Harry, "and quoth your evil majesty 'never more.' Iwon't be scared by a big owl playing the part of the raven. It's not'nevermore' with me. I've many a good day ahead and don't you daretell me I haven't."
Came the solemn and changeless hoot of the owl in reply.
Harry's exertions and excitement had brought too much blood to his headand he was seeing red. He raised himself upon his elbows and stared atthe owl which stared back from red rimmed eyes, cold, emotionless,implacable. He had been terribly shaken, and now a superstitiousfright overcame him. The raven and the albatross were in his mind andhe murmured under his breath passages from their ominous poems. Thescholar had his raven, the mariner had his albatross and now he alonein the forest had his owl, to his mind the most terrible bird of thethree.
Came again that solemn and warning cry, the most depressing of all inthe wilderness, while the changeless and sinister eyes stared steadilyat him. Then Harry remembered that he had a rifle, and he sat up. Hewould slay this winged monster. There was light enough for him to drawa bead, and he was too good a marksman to miss.
He dropped the muzzle of the rifle in a sudden access of fear as heremembered the albatross. A shiver ran through every nerve and muscle,and so heavily was he oppressed that he felt as if he had just escapedcommitting murder. He rubbed his hand across his damp forehead and theact brought him out of that dim world in which he had been living forthe last ten or fifteen minutes.
"Bird of whatever omen you may be, I'll not shoot you. That'scertain," he said, "but I'll leave you to your melancholy predictionsjust as soon as I can."
He stood up somewhat unsteadily, and renewed the descent of the slope.Near its foot he came to a brook and bathing his face plentifully inthe cool water he felt wonderfully refreshed. All his strength wasflowing back swiftly.
Then he entered the valley, pressing straight toward the west, and soonheard the tread of horses. He knew that they must be the cavalry ofhis own army, but he withdrew into the bushes until he was assured. Adozen men riding slowly and warily came into view, and though themoonlight was wan he recognized them at once. When they were oppositehim he stepped from his ambush and said:
"A happy night to you, Colonel Talbot."
Colonel Leonidas Talbot was a brave man, but seldom in his life had hebeen so shaken.
"Good God, Hector!" he cried. "It's Harry Kenton's ghost!"
Lieutenant-Colonel Hector St. Hilaire turned pale.
"I don't believe in ghosts, Leonidas," he said, "but this one certainlylooks like that of Harry Kenton."
"Colonel Talbot," called Harry, "I'm not a ghost. I'm the real HarryKenton, hunting for our army."
"Pale but substantial," said St. Clair, who rode just behind the twocolonels. "He's our old Harry himself, and I'd know him anywhere."
"No ghost at all and the Yankee bullets can't make him one," said HappyTom.
A weakness seized Harry and a blackness came before his eyes. When herecovered St. Clair was holding him up, and Colonel Talbot was tryingto pour strong waters down his throat.
"How long have I been this way?" he asked anxiously.
"About sixty seconds," replied Colonel Talbot, "but what differencedoes it make?"
"Because I'm in a big hurry to get to General Lee! Oh! Colonel!Colonel! You must speed me on my way! I've got a message from ColonelSherburne to General Lee that means everything, and on the road Icaptured another from General Meade to General Pleasanton. Put me on ahorse, won't you, and gallop me to the commander-in-chief!"
"Are you strong enough to ride alone?"
"I'm strong enough to do anything now."
"Then up with you! Here, on Carter's horse! Carter can ride behindHubbell! St. Clair, you and Langdon ride on either side of him! Youshould reach the commander-in-chief in three-quarters of an hour,Harry!"
"And there is no Yankee cavalry in between?"
"No, they're thick on the slopes above us! You knew that, but hereyou're inside our own lines. Judging by your looks you've had quite atime, Harry. Now hurry on with him, boys!"
"So I have had, Colonel, but the appearance of you, Lieutenant-ColonelSt. Hilaire and the boys was like a light from Heaven. Good-by!"
"Good-by!" the two colonels called back, but their voices were alreadydying in the distance as Harry and his comrades were now riding rapidlydown the valley, knee to knee, because St. Clair and Langdon meant tokeep very close to him. They saw that he was a little unsteady, andthat his eyes were unnaturally bright. They knew, too, that if he saidhe had great news for General Lee he told the truth, and they meantthat he should get there with it in the least time possible.
The valley opened out before them, broadening considerably as theyadvanced. The night was far gone, there was not much moonlight, buttheir eyes had grown used to the dark, and they could see well. Theypassed sentinels and small detachments of cavalry, to whom St. Clairand Langdon gave the quick password. They saw fields of wheat stubbleand pastures and crossed two brooks. The curiosity of Langdon and St.Clair was overwhelming but they restrained it for a long time. Theycould tell by his appearance that he had passed through unimaginablehardships, but they were loath to ask questions.
An owl on their right hooted, and both of them saw Harry shiver.
"What makes an owl's cry disturb you so, Harry?" asked Langdon.
"Because one of them tried to put the hoodoo on me as they say down inyour country, Happy. I was lying back there in the forest on the hilland the biggest and reddest-eyed owl that was ever born sat on a boughover head, and kept telling me that I was finished, right at the end ofmy rope. But he was a liar, because here I am, with you fellows oneither side of me, inside our lines and riding to the camp of thecommander-in-chief."
"I think you're a bit shaky, Harry," said St. Cl
air, "and I don'twonder at it. If I had been through all I think you've been throughI'd tumble off that horse into the road and die."
"Has any messenger come from Colonel Sherburne at the river to GeneralLee?"
"Not that I've heard of. No, I'm sure that none's come," replied St.Clair.
"Then I'll get to him first. Don't think, Arthur, it's just a foolishambition of mine to lead, but the sooner some one reaches the generalthe better."
"We'll see that you're first old man," said Langdon. "It's not morethan a half-hour now."
But Harry reeled in his saddle. The singular weakness that he had felta while back returned, and the road grew dark before him. With amighty effort he steadied himself in the saddle and St. Clair heard himsay in a fierce undertone: "I will go through with it!" St. Clairlooked across at Langdon and the signaling look of Happy Tom replied.They drew in just a little closer. Now and then they talked to himsharply and briskly, rousing him again and again from the lethargy intowhich he was fast sinking.
"Look! In the woods over there, Harry!" exclaimed St. Clair. "See themen stretched asleep on the grass! They're the survivors of Pickett'sbrigades that charged at Gettysburg."
"And I was there!" said Harry. "I saw the greatest charge ever made inthe history of the world!"
He reeled a little toward St. Clair, who caught him by the shoulder andstraightened him in the saddle.
"Of course you had a pleasant, easy ride from the Potomac," said HappyTom, "but I don't understand how as good a horseman as you lost yourhorse. I suppose he ran away while you were picking berries by theroadside."
"Me pick berries by the roadside, while I'm on such a mission!"exclaimed Harry indignantly, rousing himself up until his eyes flashed,which was just what Happy wished. "I didn't see any berries! BesidesI didn't start on a horse. I left in a boat."
"A boat? Now, Harry, I know you've turned romancer. I guess yourmystic troubles with the owl--if you really saw an owl--have been asort of spur to your fancy."
"Do you mean to say, Tom Langdon, that I didn't see an owl and talkwith him? I tell you I did, and his conversation was a lot moreintelligent than yours, even if it was unpleasant."
"Of course it was," said St. Clair. "Happy's chief joy in life istalking. You know how he chatters away, Harry. He hates to sleep,because then he loses good time that he might use in talk. I'll wageryou anything against anything, Harry, that when the Angel Gabriel blowshis horn Happy will rise out of his grave, shaking his shroud andfurious with anger. He'll hold up the whole resurrection while heargues with Gabriel that he blew his horn either too late or too early,or that it was a mighty poor sort of a horn anyhow."
"I may do all that, Harry," said Happy, "but Arthur is sure to be theone who will raise the trouble about the shroud. You know how finickyhe is about his clothes. He'll find fault with the quality of hisshroud, and he'll say that it's cut either too short or too long. Thenhe'll insist, while all the billions wait, on draping the shroud in thefinest Greek or Roman toga style, before he marches up to his place onthe golden cloud and receives his harp."
Harry laughed.
"That'll be old Arthur, sure," he said. Then his head drooped again.Fatigue was overpowering him. St. Clair and Langdon put a hand oneither shoulder and held him erect, but Harry was so far sunk inlethargy that he was not conscious of their grasp. Men lookedcuriously at the three young officers riding rapidly forward, the onein the center apparently held on his horse by the other two.
St. Clair took prompt measures.
"Harry Kenton!" he called sharply.
"Here!"
"Do you know what they do with a sentinel caught asleep?"
"They shoot him!"
"What of a messenger, bearing great news who has ridden two or threedays and nights through a thousand dangers, and then becomesunconscious in his saddle within five hundred yards of his journey'send?"
"The stake wouldn't be too good for him," replied Harry as with amighty effort he shook himself, both body and mind. Once more his eyescleared and once more he sat erect in his saddle without help.
"I won't fail, Arthur," he said. "Show the way."
"There's a big tree by the roadside almost straight ahead," said St.Clair. "General Lee is asleep under that, but he'll be as wide awakeas any man can be a half-minute after you arrive."
They sprang from their horses, St. Clair spoke quickly with a watchingofficer who went at once to awaken Lee. Harry dimly saw the form ofthe general who was sleeping on a blanket, spread over small boughs.Near him a man in brilliant uniform was walking softly back and forth,and now and then impatiently striking the tops of his highyellow-topped boots with a little riding whip. Harry knew at once thatit was Stuart, but the cavalry leader had not yet noticed him.
Harry saw the officer bend over the commander-in-chief, who rose in aninstant to his feet. He was fully dressed and he showed gray in thedusky light, but he seemed as ever calm and grave. Harry feltinstantly the same swell of courage that the presence of Jackson hadalways brought to him. It was Lee, the indomitable, the man of genius,who could not be beaten. He heard him say to the officer who hadawakened him, "Bring him immediately!" and he stepped forward,strengthening himself anew and filled with pride that he should be thefirst to arrive, as he felt that he certainly now was.
"Lieutenant Kenton!" said Lee.
"Yes, sir," said Harry, lifting his cap.
"You were sent with Colonel Sherburne to see about the fords of thePotomac."
"I was, sir."
"And he has sent you back with the report?"
"He has, sir. He did not give me any written report for fear that Imight be captured. He did me the honor to say that my verbal messagewould be believed."
"It will. I know you, as I do the other members of my staff. Proceed."
"The Potomac is in great flood, sir, and the bridge is destroyed. Itcan't be crossed until it runs down to its normal depth."
Harry saw other generals of high rank drawing near. One he recognizedas Longstreet. They were all silent and eager.
"Colonel Sherburne ordered me to say to you, sir," continued Harry,"that the best fords would be between Williamsport and Hagerstown whenthe river ran down."
"When did you leave him?"
"Nearly two days ago, sir."
"You have made good speed through a country swarming with our enemy.You are entitled to rest."
"It's not all, sir?"
"What else?"
"On my way I captured a messenger with a letter from General Meade toGeneral Pleasanton. I have the message, sir."
He brought forth the paper from his blouse and extended it to GeneralLee, who took it eagerly. Some one held up a torch and he read italoud to his generals.
"And so Meade means to trap me," he said, "by coming down on our flank!"
"Since the river is unfordable he'll have plenty of time to attack usthere," said Longstreet.
"But will he dare to attack?" said Stuart defiantly. "He was able tohold his own in defense at Gettysburg, but it's another thing to takethe offensive. We hear that General Meade is cautious and that hemakes many complaints to his government. A complainer is not the kindof man who can destroy the Army of Northern Virginia."
"Sometimes it's well to be cautious, General," said Lee.
Then he turned to Harry and said:
"Again I commend you."
Harry saluted proudly, and then fell unconscious at the feet of GeneralLee.
When the young staff officer awoke, he was lying in a wagon which wasmoving slowly, with many jolts over a very rough road. It was perhapsone of these jolts that awoke him, because his eyes still felt veryheavy with sleep. His position was comfortable as he lay on a heap ofblankets, and the sides of the wagon looked familiar. Moreover thebroad back of the driver was not that of a stranger. Moving his headinto a higher place on the blankets he called.
"Hey you, Dick Jones, where are you taking me?"
Jones turned h
is rubicund and kindly face.
"Don't it beat all how things come about?" he said. "This wagon wasn'tbuilt for passengers, but I have you once and then I have you twice,sleepin' like a prince on them blankets. I guess if the road wasn't sorough you'd have slept all the way to Virginia. But I'm proud to haveyou as a passenger. They say you've been coverin' yourself with glory.I don't know about that, but I never before saw a man who was so allfired tuckered out."
"Where did you find me?"
"I didn't exactly find you myself. They say you saluted General Lee sodeep and so strong that you just fell down at his feet an' didn't move,as if you intended to stay there forever. But four of your friendsbrought you to my wagon feet foremost, with orders from General Lee ifI didn't treat you right that I'd get a thousand lashes, be tarred an'feathered, an' hung an' shot an' burned, an' then be buried alive. Forall of which there was no need, as I'm your friend and would treat youright anyway."
"I know you would," laughed Harry. "You can't afford to lose your bestpassenger. How long have I been sleeping in this rough train of yours?"
"Since about three o'clock in the morning."
"And what time might it be now."
"Well it might be ten o'clock in the morning or it might be noon, butit ain't either."
"Well, then, what time is it?"
"It's about six o'clock in the afternoon, Mr. Kenton, and I judge thatyou've slept nigh on to fifteen hours, which is mighty good for a manwho was as tired as you was."
"And what has the army been doing while I slept?"
"Oh, it's been marchin' an' marchin' an' marchin'. Can't you hear thewagons an' the cannons clinkin' an' clankin'? An' the hoofs of thehorses beatin' in the road? An the feet of forty or fifty thousand mencomin' down ker-plunk! ker-plunk! an' all them thousands talkin' offan' on? Yes, we're still marchin', Mr. Kenton, but we're retreatin'with all our teeth showin' an' our claws out, sharpened specially.Most of the boys don't care if Meade would attack us. They'd be gladof the chance to get even for Gettysburg."
There was a beat of hoofs and St. Clair rode up by the side of thewagon.
"All right again, Harry?" he said cheerfully. "I'm mighty glad of it.Other messengers have got through from Sherburne, confirming what yousaid, but you were the first to arrive and the army already was on themarch because of the news you brought. Dalton arrived about noon, deadbeat. Happy is coming with a horse for you, and you can rejoin thestaff now."
"Before I leave I'll have to thank Mr. Jones once more," said Harry."He runs the best passenger service that I know."
"Welcome to it any time, either you or your friend," said Jones,saluting with his whip.