"You say there are no men there?"
"Der men vas all gone mid der army."
"Which army?"
"How should I know?" demanded the peddler irritably. "I sells to der vimmin."
"Do you want me to go with you?"
"Yes. You come. It vill interest der vimmins. You come mit me and I vill go on mit you and show you der way to Frederick City."
Noel was unarmed, but he saw no reason to doubt the words of his companion. If the place was deserted by the men he would be in no danger, and, on the other hand, he might be able to obtain some food, even if the women were sympathizers with the Southern cause. He was aware that from many such people the sight of a man clad in the uniform of the Union army was not likely to bring a cordial response. On the other hand, he was unknown, and it might be that he could obtain food and supplies that would help him through the day. He was confident that if he went much farther on his way, he might have experiences that would compel him to remain in hiding part of the time.
Slowly the two young men approached the great house. The house itself was not so large, but the expression was one which was applied to many homes, perhaps to distinguish the dwelling-place of the master from the quarters of the negroes.
As he drew near, Noel saw in the rear of the house the quarters of the servants. There were little huts that had been whitewashed, and about the place were several little pickaninnies, whose presence indicated that some of the blacks at least were at home.
The approach of the boys was apparently un.o.bserved, and even when they followed the winding pathway toward the rear of the house no one greeted them.
Suddenly, however, Noel stopped, and looked in consternation at the sight before him. Tied to the hitching-rail in the rear of the house he saw a half-dozen horses.
Every horse was saddled and bridled, and in an instant Noel was aware that he had come upon a small band of cavalry.
Startled as he was by his discovery he instantly stopped and, after listening intently, turned back over the road which he and Levi had come. As he did so, Levi suddenly dropped his pack and seizing the young soldier by his coat began to shout in his loudest tones.
Frightened by the unexpected attack, Noel struck desperately at his tormentor, and did his utmost to free himself. The little Jew, however, apparently unmindful of the blows, clung desperately to his coat, and before Noel was able to escape he saw a half-dozen men run out of the house and start swiftly toward him.
One glance was sufficient to convince the desperate boy that he was in the presence of some of the rebel cavalry. The men were armed, while he himself was powerless to make any defense.
"What"s this, Levi?" demanded the leader.
"Who is this man with you? Didn"t I tell you not to let any one come here?"
"Dis man is von Union soldier. He helps tear mine tent. He vas von vat steals mine goots. He vas bad. I d.i.n.ks dat you vill be glad to haf a Yankee soldier here, maybe?"
"We"ll take all the Yanks we can lay our hands upon," said the man with a laugh.
It was plain that he was relieved by the discovery that there was only one soldier near and he only a boy. The impression, however, produced on Noel"s mind by the action of the man was that there were Union soldiers not far away. And yet, he thought bitterly, what advantage would that be to him now? He was here, helpless to defend himself and really a prisoner in the hands of the rebel cavalry. There were momentary visions of Libby Prison, which he knew was the destination of most of the Union soldiers taken by the Confederates in their recent campaigns.
The leader now turned to one of his men and good-naturedly said, "Tom, we don"t want to take this fellow into the house. I am afraid he would scare the babies. I"ll leave him out here with you. Don"t let him get away from you."
It was useless to protest, and Noel obediently followed his guard as he led the way to the rear of the house near the place where the horses were tied. The young soldier looked hastily about him to discover what had become of the little sutler, but could not see him anywhere. Levi must have entered the house, he concluded.
Noel"s thoughts were bitter as he recalled how easily he had been trapped. The sutler, without doubt, was in the employ of the Confederates. Whether or not he had been, at the time when he held his place in the Union camp at Harper"s Ferry, Noel had no means of knowing; but it was plain that he himself had been led by his guide into a place from which apparently there was no escape.
When the soldiers reentered the house Noel seated himself on the ground with his back against the post that upheld the rail to which three of the horses were tied. In spite of his fear he looked with interest at the mounts of the men. Every horse manifestly was fleet-footed, and in better condition than one naturally would expect such horses to be at such a time.
Little black faces began to appear, as the pickaninnies, led on by their curiosity, slowly and cautiously advanced from their quarters to discover for themselves what the meaning of the excitement was. At another time Noel would have been interested, but now he gave slight heed to his approaching visitors.
About fifteen feet from the place where he was seated there was a row of beehives. The warmth of the September day had caused the busy little creatures to resume their labors of the summer.
The sight of them recalled to the mind of the troubled boy the beehives near his father"s house and his thoughts naturally wandered from bees to the people who were in the far-away home. He wondered if Frank had yet returned to the army. He had been a.s.signed to a different corps, and it might be that he already was with McClellan. Would he see him at Frederick City? The question received its own answer when Noel glanced about him and saw the guard and the horses waiting for their riders.
There was slight prospect that he would see his brother very soon. Libby Prison doubtless was to be his destination.
A half-hour had elapsed since Noel"s arrival, and in spite of his fear the droning of the bees sounded so monotonously in his ears that it would not have been difficult for him to close his eyes and fall asleep.
Abruptly he sat erect and, facing his guard said, "How long are these men going to be here?"
"I reckon yo" "ll have to ask the lieutenant, sir."
"How long have they been here?"
"I can"t just say, sir."
"Do you know where they are going?"
"No, sir, I don"t."
"Do you know what they will do with me?"
"I reckon I might suspect, sir. There have been a right sma"t lot of Yanks who have had free transpo"tation to Richmond. I reckon there will be some mo", and it may be yo" will have a chance to ride along with them, sir. It won"t cost you a cent, sir. No, sir, not one cent."
"Do you belong to Stuart"s cavalry?" asked Noel.
"I wonder what"s the matter with the Yanks. They seem to be so full of questions that the minute one of them opens his mouth they begin to pop out the way corn pops in a popper."
Noel abruptly ceased his questioning, but, as he glanced once more about the quarters, suddenly a scheme suggested itself to him, by which he might be able to escape from his captors. If the plan was to be tried, he must act at once, he decided, and, striving not to arouse the suspicions of the guard, he slowly arose.
CHAPTER XV
WARLIKE BEES
Slowly, and striving to appear indifferent, although he was keenly observant of every action of his guard, Noel began to pace back and forth behind the row of horses. He was well aware that, in spite of the apparent carelessness of his guard, he was watching his every action.
Any attempt on the part of the young prisoner to escape would at once bring a shot from the soldier.
However, the guard did not interfere with the actions of his prisoner, and a half-dozen or more times Noel slowly paced back and forth as if he was simply striving to relax his muscles and was ignoring his surroundings.
Not more than twenty feet away from the rail was the row of beehives to which reference has been made. Several times the young prisoner stopped and watched the busy little insects that were buzzing about the hives.
Glancing each time at the guard, he was convinced that any suspicions of any plan his charge might have in mind as yet had not been aroused.
Apparently the soldier was so confident in his ability to meet any sudden act that some of the time he was not even looking at the young prisoner.
Noel"s excitement became keener. He glanced toward the house to see whether or not any of the Confederates who had entered were now to be seen. Slowly he turned his head and looked once more at his guard. The man was seated on the gra.s.s, and still to all appearances was indifferent to the actions of his charge.
Suddenly Noel stumbled over the projecting root of a huge magnolia tree and fell directly against the nearest hive in the row. With both hands he struck and with such force that it was thrown against the hive next to it.