He handed her the knife and then turned his back full upon the prisoners.
"Quick," whispered Jeanne. "Cut your brother"s bonds first, and then let me have the knife."
She ran to her brother"s side as she spoke and threw her arms about him.
"d.i.c.k, d.i.c.k," she said kissing him repeatedly. "I am going to cut the cords that bind you. Then you must run for your life."
"Jeanne," came the amazed voice of the lad, "how in the name of all that"s wonderful, did you come here?"
"I am well and happy," cried Jeanne hurriedly. "I cannot tell you more now, but I am going home soon. Don"t mind about me. Bob, hurry, hurry, before Johnson turns."
"There!" said Bob flinging her the knife. Rising to her feet triumphantly she called to her friend. "Be quick, Jeanne! Johnson is looking at his watch."
"Run, boys," panted Jeanne as the keen edge of the blade severed the cord that bound her brother"s feet. "If you value your lives, run like the wind."
Frank Peyton needed no second bidding. He was off but d.i.c.k Vance hesitated as he glanced at his sister.
"She is safe," cried Bob, reading his glance aright. "I will answer for her with my life. Go! Go! Don"t look yet, Johnson. One minute more in pity!"
"No;" and Johnson wheeled round. "Your brother is gone, but not another prisoner goes. I am not beholden to any Federal." He swung his gun to his shoulder just as d.i.c.k darted away.
With a scream of terror Jeanne threw herself upon him while Bob caught hold of the musket.
"It"s my brother," shrieked Jeanne. "You must not, you shall not shoot!"
"Well, I"ll be switched," growled Johnson in disgusted tones. "Does the whole Federal army happen to be related to you two girls? This is a pretty affair! But that Yank doesn"t get away if the Colonel"s son does."
Shaking himself free from their clinging hands he fired two shots in the direction that d.i.c.k Vance had taken. As other men came running up they gave chase to the fugitives.
"They dare not follow far," comforted Bob, as Jeanne gave vent to a flood of tears. "They won"t dare to leave the camp long."
"Come then," and Jeanne dashed away her tears as an idea flashed into her mind. "Let"s call them back."
She took Bob"s hand and ran with her to another part of the camp.
CHAPTER XXII
d.i.c.k TO THE FORE
Jeanne uttered an exclamation of joy as she stumbled upon a musket that for some reason had been thrown aside.
"This is the very thing," she cried.
"What are you going to do?" asked Bob.
"I am going to make the guards think that we are attacked," answered Jeanne, swinging the gun to her shoulder as she had seen the men do.
Before the other could stop her she had pulled the trigger. There was a flash followed by a loud report, and with a groan Jeanne fell p.r.o.ne upon the earth.
"Jeanne," shrieked Bob, falling beside her. "Jeanne, are you hurt? Oh, she"s shot! She"s shot!"
"Miss Bob! Miss Bob, where are you?" shouted the voices of the soldiers, and a number of those who had been left to guard the camp ran hither and thither in confusion.
"To arms!" came the hoa.r.s.e command of an officer. "We are attacked."
"Here! Oh, come here!" called Bob as Jeanne lay groaning upon the ground.
"Captain Dallas, come here!"
In a few moments the soldiers were about them. Captain Dallas raised the fallen girl carefully.
"Where are you hurt?" he asked gently. "Which way did the shot come?"
"It was the gun," moaned Jeanne, feebly finding herself able to talk. "It went off at the wrong end."
"Well, by George," cried the Captain bursting into a laugh, "we"re nicely fooled, boys. The girl isn"t shot. She fired the gun herself. The musket kicked. That"s all. Now you girls go to bed," he ordered sternly, "and let"s have no more nonsense."
"But d.i.c.k," said Jeanne, getting upon her feet. "You haven"t caught d.i.c.k, have you?"
"If you mean the fellow that left with the Colonel"s son, no," answered the Captain. "We can"t spare the men to give chase, but there will be a reckoning for somebody when Colonel Peyton gets back. Now go to bed.
You"ll let us keep the rest of our prisoners, I reckon," he added with sarcasm.
"Oh, yes," said Bob, laughing a little hysterically. "It was just our brothers that we were after."
"Better go to the surgeon and get something for that shoulder," called the Captain as they started off. "It"s liable to be pretty lame for a few days."
Bob profited by his advice and sought the surgeon who gave her some liniment to rub on it, but the morning found it still so lame that Jeanne retained her bed.
On the morning of the third day the Colonel and his men returned, worn and jaded looking. There were no prisoners, and from the spiritless condition of the soldiers it looked as though they had been on a fruitless enterprise.
"And if that is the case," remarked Bob to Jeanne, "dad will be in an awful humor, and we"ll catch it."
It was afternoon before Colonel Peyton sought their presence. Bob"s face blanched as her father entered the tent, but Jeanne, strong in the belief that d.i.c.k was safe, faced him boldly.
"I want to hear the whole of this affair," said Colonel Peyton quietly ignoring his daughter"s greeting. "Barbara, tell me just what happened."
Briefly Bob related the facts of the night"s occurrence. Her father listened attentively.
"And you threw up to Johnson the benefits conferred upon him," he said as Bob finished her narrative. "I would not have believed it of you, Barbara. Johnson has been court-martialed and sentenced to the guard house for one month. The officers were merciful because that unhappy boy was my son. But I cannot risk a second offense of this nature.
Hereafter, you will occupy quarters next to my own. I did not dream that my daughter would so far forget what was due to herself as to aid in the escape of the enemies of her country. I cannot but think it owing to the companionship of the past few weeks. That you may not be influenced further I forbid you to have any further communication with this girl. As for you," turning to Jeanne and speaking sternly, "as I have pa.s.sed my word to you that you shall be sent to the Federal lines it shall be done. We leave for Jackson to-morrow. At the first opportunity I will send you to your people. Meantime, may I ask that you refrain from any intercourse whatever with my daughter? It is the smallest return that you can make, in view of your conduct of the last few days."
"I have no desire to do other than you wish, Colonel Peyton," said Jeanne proudly. "I am not sorry for anything I have done. Were it to do over, I would not hesitate for a moment to do anything I could to restore either my brother or your son to liberty. I am very sorry if my conduct has not pleased you. I should think that you would be glad to be saved from being the slayer of your son."
"We will not discuss the matter," said the Colonel coldly. "Come, Barbara, I will take you to your quarters, and under pain of my severest displeasure, I expect that you will have no more to say to this young person."
Bob gave Jeanne a long sad look, and then silently gathering up her belongings, left the tent.