The Lieutenant sighed. "She is the most beautiful creature I ever saw," he murmured. "G.o.ds! I shall never forget how she looked when she sprang in between me and that Pennington when he had his revolver levelled at my head."
"Forget her," was the sage advice of the Sergeant; but the Lieutenant did not take it.
CHAPTER III.
RECRUITING IN KENTUCKY.
It did not take Calhoun long after he had plunged into the wood to ascertain that he was not pursued; so he slackened his headlong pace, then stopped that he might catch his breath.
"Whew!" he panted, "here is a go. Horse gone-arms, except this small revolver, gone-baggage gone-letters gone. Thank G.o.d the dispatches are safe," and he tapped his breast, where they lay hidden. "That is about as tight a place as I care to be in," he continued, as he began to work his way through the woods. "I call this blamed tough luck. Here I am nearly three hundred miles from my destination. A horse I must and will have, and that quickly. Surely the planters in this section are too loyal to the South not to let me have a horse when they know the predicament I am in. I will try my luck at the very first opportunity. If worse come to worst, I will steal one; that is, I will confiscate one."
With this resolve he pushed rapidly on, and after going a half mile or more, he came out of the woods, and beyond lay a fine plantation. "I wonder if those pesky Yankees will trouble me if I try to make that house," he thought. "I will risk it anyway, for if I can reach it, it means a horse."
Making his way cautiously he soon reached the road in safety. He listened intently, but could hear nothing of the enemy; but from the opposite direction there came the measured beat of a horse"s hoofs. Looking up he saw, not a Yankee, but a lady approaching, at a swift gallop. Calhoun"s heart gave a great bound, for he knew that no Southern woman would betray him, and he stepped out from his place of concealment and stood in plain view by the side of the road.
When the rider saw him she gave a start of surprise, and then reined in her horse with such ease and grace as to charm him. He saw at a glance she was young and exceedingly beautiful.
"Pardon me," he exclaimed, reaching for his hat, and then he remembered he had none, having lost it when his horse fell. "Excuse my appearance," he laughed. "I find I have no hat to take off. Probably some Yankee has it as a trophy by this time. I am a Confederate officer in distress, and as a daughter of the South, I know I can appeal to you, and not in vain."
"You can," she replied, quickly. "I thought I heard firing and I rode down to see what it meant, as I knew of no party of Confederates in the vicinity."
"A company of Federal cavalry were firing at me," answered Calhoun. "My horse fell, and I had to run, or be captured."
"Were you all alone?" she queried.
"Yes, all alone."
"Then I forgive you for running," she answered, with a ringing laugh, "otherwise I should not. But how came you here, and all alone?"
In a few words Calhoun told her who he was and his business.
"Come with me," she cried, quickly. "Let us gain the house before the Yankees come, as no doubt they will. Father will let you have a horse. If no other be forthcoming, I will give you my Firefly here, although it would almost break my heart to part with him," and she lovingly patted the neck of her gallant steed.
"I sincerely hope such a sacrifice will never be called for," replied Calhoun.
"No sacrifice is too great to aid our beloved cause," she answered; "but come, we are losing time, the Yankees may be here any moment."
If Lieutenant Haines had not stopped to read the captured letters, Calhoun and his fair guide would not have reached the house undiscovered. As it was, they had hardly entered it when the Federals hove in sight.
"There is that Yankee officer riding my horse!" exclaimed Calhoun. "How I should like to meet him alone."
"They are going to stop," gasped the girl. "They may search the house, but they will not if I can outwit them. Mother," she said, to an elderly lady who had just entered and was gazing at Calhoun in surprise, "take this officer upstairs and conceal him. There is now no time for explanations.
The Yankees are in the yard."
The mother, without a word, motioned Calhoun to follow her, and led him upstairs. Hardly had they disappeared when her father entered.
"There is that Lieutenant Haines and his company visiting us again," he said, with some anxiety. "I wonder what they want."
"Father," said the girl, "go and meet Lieutenant Haines, use him nicely.
Invite him to dinner."
Mr. Osborne looked at his daughter in surprise. "I never expected to see the time you would want me to invite a Yankee officer to dinner," he said.
"Never mind now, I will explain afterwards. Go quick, for I see he is throwing a guard around the house," was her answer.
Mr. Osborne went, wondering what had come over his daughter, and was entirely successful in carrying out her scheme, although it was unknown to him. Before his return, Mrs. Osborne came downstairs, her face denoting her anxiety.
"Mother," said the girl, "do not let father know we have any one concealed. It will enable him to say truly he knows of no Confederate around. And, mother, I have told him to invite the Federal commander-it"s that odious Lieutenant Haines-to dinner. Be nice to him. Use him like a welcome, honored guest. We must disarm all suspicion, and keep them from searching the house, if possible."
We have seen how well her plan worked, and how completely Lieutenant Haines was thrown off his guard. Little did he think that while he was enjoying his dinner downstairs, the Confederate officer who had escaped him was feasting like a king upstairs.
It soon became evident to Calhoun that there was no danger of the house being searched, and from a window he observed all that was pa.s.sing without. When he saw the troop ride away, and his own horse led up to the house for the Federal commander, that spirit of recklessness for which he was noted came over him, and without thinking of what the effect might be on those who had, at great risk, so kindly befriended him, he resolved to try to capture his own. With satisfaction he saw the last Yankee depart, leaving the commander behind.
"Now is my time!" he exclaimed, exultingly, and looking to see that his revolver was in perfect condition, he crept softly downstairs, and as has been noted, was perfectly successful. So sudden was his appearance, so swift were his movements, that the little company could only gaze after him in astonishment until he had disappeared.
For a few minutes Calhoun was hilarious over the success of his bold dash; then came to him the thought that he had cruelly wronged the Osbornes in what he had done. He suddenly checked his horse, and then turned as if he would ride back, hesitated, then turned once more, and rode on his way, but more slowly.
"It is too late now," he sighed, to himself, "to undo the wrong I may have done. To think I may have brought trouble on the head of that glorious girl, who even would give me her own horse! It"s the meanest trick you ever did, Calhoun Pennington, and it would serve you right if the Yankees captured you."
It was in no enviable frame of mind that Calhoun continued his journey. It was not long before he noticed that his horse was lame. The fall that he had had, had evidently strained his shoulder. Calhoun more bitterly than ever regretted that he had not restrained himself. If he had, he might now have been riding a good fresh horse, given him by Mr. Osborne.
"Serves me right," he groaned. "Oh, what a fool, and not only a fool, but a brute, I have been. That girl! I can"t help thinking that I may have got her into serious trouble."
A few miles more and his horse became so lame that Calhoun had to come down to a walk. He dismounted with a ruthful face.
"It"s no use," he said; "I shall have to leave him. Where can I get another horse?"
The opportunity came sooner than he expected. He had dismounted in a wood, a thick growth of cedars screening him from the observation of any one pa.s.sing along the road. Hearing the sound of an approaching horseman, he crept to the side of the road, and to his surprise saw a Federal officer approaching unattended. He was riding leisurely along unsuspicious of danger, and whistling merrily. With Calhoun to think was to act.
"Halt! Surrender!" were the words which saluted the startled officer, as Calhoun sprang into the road by his side, and levelled a revolver at his breast.
The officer was a brave man, and he reached for his revolver.
"Touch that weapon, and you are a dead man," said Calhoun, in a low, firm voice. "Fool, don"t you see I have the drop on you?"
The set features of the Federal relaxed, he even smiled as he replied: "I guess you are right. No use kicking. What is your pleasure?"
"Dismount. No, on this side."
The officer did as he was bidden. Calhoun took hold of the horse"s bridle, still keeping the man covered with his revolver.
"Now," continued Calhoun, "your name, rank, and regiment."