"Father," said Archie, "you can never walk to Ion; let me bring my pony and help you to mount him; then I will lead him to Ion and bring him back again."
"That is a bright thought; we will do so, if you can saddle him in the dark and bring him here very quietly."
"I"ll try, father," and the boy hastened away in the direction of the stables.
He returned sooner than they dared hope, with the pony saddled and bridled. Husband and wife bade a mournful adieu. Mr. Leland mounted with his son"s a.s.sistance, and silently they threaded their way through the woods to Ion.
"Hoo! hoo! hoo!" the cry came in loud and clear through the open windows of the bedroom of the master and mistress of Ion, and startled them both from their slumbers.
"Hoo, hoo! hoo!" it came again, and with a light laugh, Elsie said, "Ah it is only an owl; but to my sleeping ear it seemed like a human cry of distress. But Edward--"
He had sprung from the bed and was hurrying on his clothes. "I doubt if it is not, little wife," he said. "It is the signal of distress Leland and I had agreed upon, and he may be in sore need of aid."
"Let me go with you!" she cried tremulously, hastening to don dressing-gown and slippers. "Shall I strike a light?"
"No, not till we go down below where the shutters are closed. There is no knowing what foe may be lurking near."
Seizing his revolvers, he left the room as he spoke, she following close behind, a pistol in one hand, a lamp and match-box in the other.
Silently they groped their way over the stairs, through the halls and corridors, till they reached a side door, which Mr. Travilla cautiously unbarred.
"Who is there?" he asked scarcely above his breath.
"I, sir," and Mr. Leland stepped in and fell fainting to the floor.
Elsie had set her lamp upon a table, and laid her pistol beside it, and while her husband carefully secured the door again, she struck a light and brought it near.
Together they stooped over the prostrate form.
"He is not dead?" she asked with a shudder.
"No, no: only a faint; but, see, he is wounded! Your keys, wife!"
"Here," she said, taking them from her pocket, where, with rare presence of mind, she had thrust them ere leaving her room.
They hastened to apply restoratives, and bind up the wound more thoroughly than Mrs. Leland had been able to do it.
Restored to consciousness, Leland gave a brief account of the affair, refreshed himself with food and drink set before him by Elsie"s fair hands, and then was conducted by Mr. Travilla to an upper room in a wing of the building, dating back to the old days of Indian warfare. It was distant from the apartments in use by the family, and had a large closet entered by a concealed door in the wainscoting.
"Here I think you will be safe," remarked his host. "No one but my wife and myself yet knows of your coming, and it shall be kept secret from all but Aunt Chloe and Uncle Joe, two tried and faithful servants.
Except Dr. Barton; he is safe and will be needed to extract the ball."
"Yes; and my wife and boy and the Dinsmores," added Leland with a faint smile. "Travilla, my good friend, I can never thank you enough for this kindness."
"Tut, man! "tis nothing! are we not told to lay down our lives for the brethren? Let me help you to bed; I fear that leg will keep you there for some days."
"I fear so indeed, but am sincerely thankful to have gotten off so well," replied Leland, accepting the offered a.s.sistance.
"A most comfortable, nay luxurious prison cell," he remarked cheerily, glancing about upon the elegant and tasteful furniture, "truly the lines have fallen to me in pleasant places."
Mr. Travilla smiled. "We will do what we can to make amends for the loss of liberty. It can not be far from daybreak now: I will remove the light, throw open the shutters and leave you to rest. You must of course be anxious about your family. I will ride over to Fairview and bring you news of them within the hour."
Chapter Fifteenth.
"It gives me wonder, great is my content, To see you here before me."
--SHAKESPEARE"S OTh.e.l.lO.
"Sir, you are very welcome to our house."
--SHAKESPEARE
Day had fully dawned when Mr. Travilla re-entered his sleeping apartment to find Elsie in bed again, but lying there with wide open eyes.
"How very quietly you came in; careful not to disturb me I suppose, my good, kind husband," she said greeting him with a loving look and smile, as he drew near her couch.
"Yes," he answered, bending over her and fondly stroking her hair. "I hoped you were taking another nap."
"No, I feel as if I should never be sleepy again. I"m thinking of poor Mrs. Leland. How troubled, anxious and distressed she must feel."
"Yes; I shall ride over there directly."
"And take me with you?"
"Gladly, if you like to go. You will do her more good than I."
"I doubt it; but perhaps both together may be better than either one alone. Didn"t she act bravely?"
"Yes; she"s a n.o.ble woman."
They spent some moments in consulting together how to make their guest comfortable and at the same time effectually conceal his presence in the house.
They rejoiced in the fact that no one but themselves--his own son excepted--had been cognizant of his arrival, and Elsie agreed with her husband that it should be kept secret from the children; servants also save Aunt Chloe and Uncle Joe, whose services would be needed, and who could be trusted not to divulge the matter.
"Mammy will manage about his meals, I know," said Elsie, "and Dr.
Barton"s visits may be supposed to be paid to Violet. The darling! how glad and thankful I am that she seems to be losing her inclination to sleep-walking."
"And I," said her husband; "thankful to G.o.d for his blessing on the means used, and to Barton, who is certainly an excellent physician."
Their talk ended, husband and wife separated to their different dressing-rooms.
Elsie rang for her maid and Aunt Chloe appeared in answer to the summons.
Aunt Chloe was no longer young, or even elderly, but had attained to a healthy and vigorous old age and still so delighted in her old pleasant task of busying herself about the person of her young mistress, that she would only occasionally resign it to other hands. She was a household dignitary, head tire-woman, and head nurse, and much looked up to by the younger servants.
She came in quietly and dropping a courtesy said, "Good mornin", Miss Elsie, I hope you"s well, honey, but you"s up so mighty early."