"That"s all right," said the little corporal, kindly. "We were just a-foolin" a bit with you, Johnny."
"We never meant to hurt you," said the other. "You feel better now?"
"Yes, where"s w.i.l.l.y?" He was too tired to move.
"He"s all right. We"ll take you to him."
"Am I shot?" asked Frank.
"No! Do you think we"d have touched a hair of your head--and you such a brave little fellow? We were just trying to scare you a bit and carried it too far, and you got a little faint,--that"s all."
The voice was so kindly that Frank was encouraged to sit up.
"Can you walk now?" asked the corporal, helping him and steadying him as he rose to his feet.
"I"ll take him," said the big fellow, and before the boy could move, he had stooped, taken Frank in his arms, and was carrying him back toward the place where they had left w.i.l.l.y, while the others followed after with the horses.
"I can walk," said Frank.
"No, I"ll carry you, b-bless your heart!"
The boy did not know that the big dragoon was looking down at the light hair resting on his arm, and that while he trod the Virginia wood-path, in fancy he was home in Delaware; or that the pressure the boy felt from his strong arms, was a caress given for the sake of another boy far away on the Brandywine. A little while before they came in sight Frank asked to be put down.
The soldier gently set him on his feet, and before he let him go kissed him.
"I"ve got a curly-headed fellow at home, just the size of you," he said softly.
Frank saw that his eyes were moist. "I hope you"ll get safe back to him," he said.
"G.o.d grant it!" said the soldier.
When they reached the squad at the gate, they found w.i.l.l.y still in much distress on Frank"s account; but he wiped his eyes when his brother reappeared, and listened with pride to the soldiers" praise of Frank"s "grit," as they called it. When they let the boys go, the little corporal wished Frank to accept a five-dollar gold piece; but he politely declined it.
CHAPTER XVII.
The story of Frank"s adventure and courage was the talk of all the Oakland plantation. His mother and Cousin Belle both kissed him, and called him their little hero. w.i.l.l.y also received a full share of praise for his courage.
About noon there was great commotion among the troops. They were far more numerous than they had been in the morning, and instead of riding about the woods in small bodies, hunting for the concealed soldiers, they were collecting together and preparing to move.
It was learned that a considerable body of cavalry was pa.s.sing down the road by Trinity Church, and that the depot had been burnt again the night before. Somehow, a rumor got about that the Confederates were following up the raiders.
In an hour most of the soldiers went away, but a number still stayed on. Their horses were picketed about the yard feeding; and they themselves lounged around, making themselves at home in the house, and pulling to pieces the things that were left. They were not, however, as wanton in their destruction as the first set, who had pa.s.sed by the year before.
Among those who yet remained were the little corporal, and the big young soldier who had been so kind to Frank. They were in the rear-guard. At length the last man rode off.
The boys had gone in and out among them, without being molested. Now and then some rough fellow would swear at them, but for the most part their intercourse with the boys was friendly. When, therefore, they rode off, the boys were allowed by their mother to go and see the main body.
Peter and Cole were with them. They took the main road and followed along, picking up straps, and cartridges, and all those miscellaneous things dropped by a large body of troops as they pa.s.s along.
Cartridges were very valuable, as they furnished the only powder and shot the boys could get for hunting, and their supply was out. These were found in unusual numbers. The boys filled their pockets, and finally filled their sleeves, tying them tightly at the wrist with strings, so that the contents would not spill out. One of the boys found even an old pistol, which was considered a great treasure. He bore it proudly in his belt, and was envied by all the others.
It was quite late in the afternoon when they thought of turning toward home, their pockets and sleeves bagging down with the heavy musket-cartridges. They left the Federal rear-guard feeding their horses at a great white pile of corn which had been thrown out of the corn-house of a neighbor, and was scattered all over the ground.
They crossed a field, descended a hill, and took the main road at its foot, just as a body of cavalry came in sight. A small squad, riding some little distance in advance of the main body, had already pa.s.sed by. These were Confederates. The first man they saw, at the head of the column by the colonel, was the General, and a little behind him was none other than Hugh on a gray roan; while not far down the column rode their friend Tim Mills, looking rusty and sleepy as usual.
"Goodness! Why, here are the General and Hugh! How in the world did you get away?" exclaimed the boys.
They learned that it was a column of cavalry following the line of the raid, and that the General and Hugh had met them and volunteered. The soldiers greeted the boys cordially.
"The Yankees are right up there," said the youngsters.
"Where? How many? What are they doing?" asked the General.
"A whole pack of "em--right up there at the stables, and all about, feeding their horses and sitting all around, and ever so many more have gone along down the road."
"Fling the fence down there!" The boys pitched down the rails in two or three places. An order was pa.s.sed back, and in an instant a stir of preparation was noticed all down the line of hors.e.m.e.n.
A courier galloped up the road to recall the advance-guard. The head of the column pa.s.sed through the gap, and, without waiting for the others, dashed up the hill at a gallop--the General and the colonel a score of yards ahead of any of the others.
"Let"s go and see the fight!" cried the boys; and the whole set started back up the hill as fast as their legs could carry them.
"S"pose they shoot! Won"t they shoot us?" asked one of the negro boys, in some apprehension. This, though before unthought of, was a possibility, and for a moment brought them down to a slower pace.
"We can lie flat and peep over the top of the hill." This was Frank"s happy thought, and the party started ahead again. "Let"s go around that way." They made a little detour.
Just before they reached the crest they heard a shot, "bang!"
immediately followed by another, "bang!" and in a second more a regular volley began, and was kept up.
They reached the crest of the hill in time to see the Confederates gallop up the slope toward the stables, firing their pistols at the blue-coats, who were forming in the edge of a little wood, over beyond a fence, from the other side of which the smoke of their carbines was rolling. They had evidently started on just as the boys left, and before the Confederates came in sight.
The boys saw their friends dash at this fence, and could distinguish the General and Hugh, who were still in the lead. Their horses took the fence, going over like birds, and others followed,--Tim Mills among them,--while yet more went through a gate a few yards to one side.
"Look at Hugh! Look at Hugh!"
"Look! That horse has fallen down!" cried one of the boys, as a horse went down just at the entrance of the wood, rolling over his rider.
"He"s shot!" exclaimed Frank, for neither horse nor rider attempted to rise.
"See; they are running!"
The little squad of blue-coats were retiring into the woods, with the grays closely pressing them.
"Let"s cut across and see "em run "em over the bridge."
"Come on!"