"Don"t look so alarmed," he said, rea.s.suringly, to his betrothed. "It is only this. News reached Columbus to-day that Baywater"s gang is near Villula, and as usual their progress is marked by bloodshed and outrage.
The feature that concerns me most is that if I am detailed for duty, it will of necessity postpone our marriage."
Various expressions broke from the ladies, and Netta exclaimed in terror:
"But you will be in danger, Richard. Can no one else go?" and she clung to him as though her frail clasp could keep him in safety at her side.
"I fear not. The state militia must do its duty. You would not have me skulk in the hour of danger. But there really is no danger for me, Netta. The sole trouble is in the change of our plans."
But they remembered too distinctly Baywater"s last visit to derive the comfort conveyed in his words.
"And where must you go? What must you do?" tearfully asked Netta.
"I can scarcely tell. We shall be required to watch the premises of the citizens, and to convey all valuables to places of safety. The policy is not to provoke a battle, but to entrap them nearer and nearer the city by holding out baits till they can be apprehended in a body. To do this, we shall be divided into small squads, perhaps only two persons allotted to a station."
It was apparent to the elder lady that the plans had already been arranged, and Temple"s duties mapped out.
The man at the window strained his ears to catch the topic which evidently excited profound interest. A word or two reached him, and he saw Temple point to the box of jewels. Then, as the door opened, he heard him say:
"Remember--the first thing to-morrow--Dry Thicket."
Ere the departing visitor could come upon him, the straggler bounded over the fence and hurried away. But he had learned enough.
A sound, real or fancied, caused Richard Temple to glance down the starlit highway, in time to see the fleeing human figure. In newborn apprehension he returned to the parlor door, and was admitted in some wonder by the ladies, who were still discussing the situation.
"Is Lawrence at home?" he asked.
"Yes--why?"
"I think I"ll turn in with him to-night, if he will give me half a bed.
I fear you are not safe with those jewels in the house."
"Certainly," responded Mrs. Lee with ready hospitality. "You may have a whole bed and room, too, if you like."
"Thanks, madam, I prefer to concentrate forces. Give me the box, and you ladies go to rest. We"ll protect you;" he valiantly added, as the young son of the house now appeared.
Richard Temple was not mistaken. A little after midnight the watchers heard a noise as of sawing, or filing. Peering from an upper window they located the sound at the parlor shutter, and soon discerned the figure of a man in a crouching att.i.tude. Swiftly and noiselessly the young men stole down and out by a back door, and were creeping upon the burglar to capture him, when a short, quick bark from the house dog startled the man, who fled precipitately. The pursuers fired, but it was too dark to see beyond a few yards.
The ladies, aroused and alarmed, were soon rea.s.sured, but persisted in sharing the remainder of the vigil.
Early next morning, leaving the servants to infer that they were bound upon a berry excursion, the little party set out, Richard bearing the mosaic box, the girls carrying other valuables, and Lawrence armed with a larger wooden box and a pick. Their destination was Dry Thicket, so called from the exceeding dryness of the earth beneath the almost impenetrable trees of native growth. These trees were so closely interlaced by a tough vine peculiar to the soil, that it was necessary to cut one"s way, or force it by dint of strength.
In order to accomplish this feat the ladies had donned homespun dresses kept for such excursions, and the gentlemen were suitably provided.
Winding through an arable field they descended the narrow path that led into the thicket, and were soon pushing and cutting their way against the stout lattice of vines. When far into the interior they found themselves in a natural arbor free from undergrowth and utterly secluded. A fallen log afforded a seat for the ladies, and the custodians of the box at once proceeded to bury their treasures of gold and plate, silver and jewels. An hour sufficed for the task. When scattering, dry leaves over the fresh earth the party returned to Lee Villa somewhat the worse for wear.
"Until these dangerous invaders shall have left the community, or are arrested, I think we should arm the negro men on the plantation and be prepared for possible surprises," were Richard Temple"s parting words, as he took leave for Columbus, twenty miles distant.
Villula was altogether inland, and hence an easy prey to outlaws. The nearest railway station was at Silver Run, two miles away. The first down train brought a hasty letter from Temple, stating that he and Lawrence Lee were detailed to convey four fine horses belonging to Major Lester, to a place of safety, and that the threatened section had been well picketed.
There was at once a general hiding out of valuables, live stock and provisions, the numerous swamps and thickets affording secure harbors all over the section. A reign of terror existed during the next two weeks. The dreaded marauders were at work, and stories were rife of insult to women, and outrages upon men whom they hung by the neck till almost dead unless they revealed the whereabouts of their treasures.
Thus far they had baffled the vigilance of the authorities. The country was thinly settled, and the peculiar features of the landscape afforded facilities both for concealment and escape.
One evening the ladies of Lee Villa sat watching the resplendent sunset from the front piazza, when a ragged, barefoot urchin came up the road turning somersaults with surprising agility. He righted himself up at the gate, then entered and sidled rather doubtfully toward the group.
"Here"s somethin" fur Miss Lee. Be you her?"
"Yes," said Netta, receiving a dirty note from the boy"s dusty fingers.
"Where did you get this?"
"He gave it to me--he did," nodding his head down the road, "an" he gimme this, too!" he added triumphantly, holding up a shining coin, as he darted away again at his evolutions.
Netta deciphered the following lines from Richard:
"We are encamped in Dry Thicket with the horses, all safe thus far.
Do not attempt to come; you could not find us. Keep a brave heart.
We will soon entrap the rascals. (Messenger best I can find).
"Faithfully,
"R.T."
About nine o"clock one morning a party of ten men, headed by the notorious Baywater, rode up the single street of Villula, sending terror to the hearts of unprotected women. Not apprehending an attack in daytime, the two young men were on duty elsewhere, and the negroes were in the cotton fields.
Pa.s.sing through the town amid a great dust and clatter, they drew rein at the villa. The ladies came to the door in response to the captain"s imperious halloo.
"We"ve come to find out where the Lester horses are, madam--and what"s more," he added with a brutal oath, "we intend to know!"
"I have no information to give you," calmly returned Mrs. Lee.
"Perhaps you won"t tell us where that box of diamonds is, either,"
he sneered.
To this there was no reply. The three girls were pallid from apprehension of the next move. Apparently a proposition was made. The leader shook his head. After a brief parley he dismounted, and with five of his men, strode across the lawn to the negro quarters. An old negress sat at the door, smoking her pipe, and knitting a coa.r.s.e yarn sock.
A bright mulatto boy was crossing the back yard with a water bucket.
In vain the outlaws sought to extract from the old woman the whereabouts of her master with the horses and jewels. She was in reality as ignorant as they.
"Come now, Auntie," said the captain in wheedling tones, "tell us and we will make you free. You won"t have to work any more."
"Oh, go "long!" was her contemptuous rejoinder, "I"se free as I want to be."
"Why, you old fool!" he roughly retorted, "you don"t know what freedom means. You shall wear a silk dress and ride in a carriage and have a gold chain."
"I speaks gold chain!" echoed the woman tossing her grey head, "you po"
white trash can"t come it ober dis chile wid yer crick-cracks. Jes you go "long. I"se got my bacon and greens, an" a good cotton coat. Yer can"t fool dis chile wid yer fine talk!"
"Curse the old hag! Let"s try the boy. You! Sirrah! Come here."
With ashen cheeks the boy followed them into an outhouse, while the Captain flourished a stout whip.