Frank was far from being satisfied, but he fell in with the rest, and followed George toward the house. A few moments" walk brought them to a barn, where they again halted, and, while George stood feasting his eyes on each familiar object, the captain bound the rebel lieutenant hand and foot, and laid him away under a fence-corner; and left him, with the information that his life depended upon his observing the strictest silence. This course was the wisest that could have been adopted, under the circ.u.mstances; for it would have been very imprudent to have taken the prisoner with them, as he could easily have found means to make himself known.
George again took the lead, and, when they had almost reached the house, they heard the sound of a piano, and a female voice singing the never-failing "Bonnie Blue Flag."
"There you have it," said George, bitterly; "but don"t stop-let"s go right in. Major, you had better go up to the door, and ask them to give us something to eat. I dare not trust myself to do it. Be a bitter rebel now, and they will certainly invite us all in, and we will get whatever we ask for. Now, boys," he continued, turning to the others, "don"t watch me too closely when we get in the house, or you will betray me."
The major-after making sure that the papers, which had already been of so much service to them, were still in his pocket-ascended the broad stone steps that led up to the portico, and knocked at the door. It was opened by a servant, who, after inquiring what he wanted, led the way into a brilliantly-lighted parlor, where he saw before him George"s mother and sisters.
"Good evening, sir," said Mrs. Le Dell, rising from her seat. "Is there any way in which we can serve you?"
The major made known his wants, and a servant was at once dispatched to order supper, and to invite the remainder of the fugitives into the house. As they filed slowly into the room-George bringing up the rear-the particular orders which the major gave about the muskets caused the lady to say:
"You need have no fear, sir. The Yankees have never yet favored us with a visit."
"I know it, ma"am," replied the major, accepting a chair that one of the sisters offered him, "but I have been a soldier so long, that I never omit to make preparations for a fight."
As soon as they were fairly seated, Frank turned to look at George. "That boy must be made of iron," said he to himself, "or else he is among his friends, and we are betrayed;" for, instead of being embarra.s.sed, or wearing his habitual sorrowful look, he sat easily in his chair, and gazed carelessly about the room, as though he were a perfect stranger there, and not a muscle quivered, to show the emotion he really felt, as his eye rested on the familiar faces of his relatives. He calmly met their glances, which Frank thought were directed toward him rather suspiciously, but all attempts to draw him into the conversation that followed, about the war, and the certainty of speedily overpowering the Yankees, and driving them from the land, were unavailing. Once Frank thought he heard one of his sisters whisper, "How much he looks like George!" but he was not recognized, and the supper, which was enlivened by conversation on indifferent subjects, pa.s.sed off pleasantly.
When the meal was finished, a large bag was filled with provisions, sufficient to last them nearly a week, and given in charge of one of the soldiers; and the major, after thanking the ladies for their kindness, was about to bid them good evening, when there was a clatter of horses" hoofs on the walk, then heavy steps sounded in the hall, and the next moment, to the utter astonishment and horror of the fugitives, three rebel officers entered the room.
They were General Le Dell and his two sons.
Frank"s heart fairly came up into his mouth at this unwelcome intrusion, and his first impulse was to draw his revolver and shoot the rebels where they stood; but, on glancing at the major who always seemed to have his wits about him, he abandoned the idea. The major, with the rest, had seized his musket, but, as the rebels entered, he returned it to its place in the corner, (motioning to the others to do the same,) and, saluting the general, said, with a smile:
"I beg your pardon, sir. I did not know but that the Yankees were upon us."
"No danger of that," said the general, with a laugh; "you"ll never see them as far up in the country as this. Pray be seated, sir."
After greeting his wife and daughters, the general again turned to the major, whom, by his soldierly bearing, he at once picked out as the leader of the band, and inquired:
"May I ask what you are doing up here? Has not your command been ordered to Fort De Russy?"
"Yes, sir. But I am out on a scout, by order of General Taylor."
"You can have no objection to produce those orders?"
"O no, sir! certainly not. Here they are," answered the major, drawing from his pocket the papers which Frank had captured. The general, after hastily running his eye over them, suddenly exclaimed:
"Why, Lieutenant Somers, how do you do, sir? I am very glad to meet you again. I heard that you had been taken prisoner. I am most happy to see that you have escaped."
This was rather more than the major had been expecting, and he suddenly found himself placed in a most awkward position. But his presence of mind never forsook him; and, accepting the rebel"s proffered hand, he shook it with apparent cordiality, and replied:
"Thank you, sir. I, myself, am not sorry to know that I am a free man once more."
"You probably do not remember me," continued the general, "but I was well acquainted with your father before he moved to Georgia, and used to trot you on my knee when you were a little fellow; and I do believe you were the ugliest little brat I ever had any thing to do with. You did nothing but yell and screech from morning until night. But, by the way, your father met his death in a very singular manner, did he not?"
"Yes, sir-very singular-very singular, indeed," replied the major, promptly, as though he were perfectly familiar with all of the particulars, although in reality he was sorely puzzled to know what to say. What if the rebel should ask him to explain the affair? But the general appeared to be well enough acquainted with the matter, for he continued:
"He died like a brave man, and a soldier. I suppose you intend to take ample revenge upon the Yankees to pay for it."
"Yes, sir; and I am now on the trail of the very man who shot him." The major said this at a venture; but, fortunately, he was correct in his surmise as to the manner in which Mr. Somers departed this life.
While this conversation was going on, Frank was a good deal annoyed to see that George"s sisters, and one of his brothers, were engaged in mysterious whisperings, now and then darting suspicious glances toward his new companion. When the general entered, George had risen with the rest and saluted him, after which he had resumed his seat, and the deep blush of excitement that arose to his cheek had quickly given place to the same careless look that Frank had before noticed. George was also aware that the whispering that was going on related to himself, and it was evident that his relatives had some suspicions of who he was; but, if it caused him any uneasiness, he was very careful to conceal it.
At length, one of his brothers drew his chair to his side, and said:
"Excuse me, sir; but I believe I"ve seen you before."
"I shouldn"t be surprised if you had, sir," answered George, steadily meeting the rebel"s gaze. "I know I"ve seen you before."
His brother started back in his chair, and a gleam of triumph shot across his face as he exclaimed:
"George, I know you."
"And you will have cause to know me better before this war is over," answered George, forgetting, in his excitement, all the precautions he had before adopted to escape being recognized.
Had a thunderbolt fallen into the room, the astonishment of the general and his wife could not have been greater. They sat in their chairs as motionless as if they had been suddenly turned into stone, gazing at their son as though they could scarcely believe their eyes, while the fugitives sat with their hands on their weapons, wondering what would be the result of George"s imprudence. At length the general, who was the first to recover from his astonishment, vociferated:
"You here, you rascal-you young traitor! I thought you were safe in the prison at Tyler again by this time."
"No doubt you did," answered George, bitterly. "But I"m a free man now, and intend to remain so."
"You are free!" repeated the general; "that"s a capital joke.
Lieutenant Somers, I charge you with his safe delivery at Tyler."
The major, greatly relieved to find that the general still considered him a rebel, was about to promise that George should be well taken care of, when the latter, to the astonishment of all, boldly declared:
"That is not Lieutenant Somers. These gentlemen are all my friends-Union to the backbone."
"Eh! what?" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed the general, in surprise, scarcely believing what he heard. "These men all Yankees?"
"Yes, sir; every one of them."
"A nice-looking set, surely-a fine lot of jailbirds you are."
"So I have been feeding a lot of tyrants instead of loyal Confederate soldiers," said Mrs. Le Dell, while the sisters gazed at the young hero with contempt pictured in their faces.
"No, mother, you have not fed tyrants," answered George, with a good deal of spirit, "but true Union men. It is nothing you need be ashamed of."
"Well, we are ashamed of it," said the general, who seemed to be fairly beside himself with rage. "Didn"t I tell you never to darken my door again? Where are you traveling to, and what do you intend to do?"
"I am on my way North, and I purpose to join my vessel, if she is still afloat."
"You"ll do no such thing. Just consider yourselves prisoners-all of you."
"O no sheneral, I pelieve not," said the captain, quietly, "cause you see we six been more as you three."
"No, father, we shall never be taken prisoners again-never."
"You are very bold, young man," said the general, who, as he gazed upon the flushed countenance and flashing eyes of his son, could not but admire his courage. "This is big talk for a boy of your age."