My Lady of the South/Chapter 23
CHAPTER XXIII
WE ORGANIZE A SORTIE
O'BRIEN was very clearly in a mood to shoot first, and make inquiries afterwards, yet even in that darkness he recognized my voice, and consented to lower the gun which was jammed against my breast. A hasty word of explanation served to make him comprehend who my companion was, and, with Dunn safely held between us, we wormed our way back to where Donald was lying breathing heavily, and occasionally moaning as if in delirium. He had not recovered consciousness, according to the lad's account, and I began to suspect concussion of the brain. I paused long enough to feel his pulse, which appeared rapid and strong, yet there was nothing we could do to relieve his condition beyond the application of water. I used O'Brien's belt to strap the Lieutenant's feet together, placed him in as comfortable a position as possible, and then, with strict injunction to the trooper to remain close beside both men, took up the extinguished lantern, and groped my way down the short ladder to the dismal tunnel, closing the trap behind me.
While the brisk action of the past half-hour had served somewhat to steady my nerves, yet the memory of that ghostly woman's face still haunted me, and I felt no inclination to attempt that passage alone in the darkness. The possibilities of murder lurked at every step, and while I was not truly afraid, I felt my flesh creep at the thought, and took precaution to light the lantern the instant I was safe at the foot of the ladder. Holding it well in advance yet not so as to blind my eyes, I hurried forward, watchful of the shadows, but with mind busy with details of the coming attempt at escape. Here certainly lay our only chance of getting away. If we delayed until after daylight, and Theilen's command arrived meanwhile we would be caught like rats in a trap. But if we could manage to strike Dodd's scattered followers from the rear, surprising them by suddenness of attack, we might succeed in breaking away, and, by swift marching, attain our own lines in safety. This plan offered a fighting chance, at least, and the more I studied it, the stronger became its appeal. I knew fairly well the physical surroundings without, where Dodd's men were posted, the points for concealment, and the straight road leading out of the valley. If my little band of troopers would only fight—and I had small doubt as to that—there could be little question as to results, provided only we struck before reinforcements arrived.
My passage was unobstructed, and I arrived at the bottom of the ladder stairs, having seen nothing but the bare stone walls, and the hard-packed earth floor, reflected by the yellow glow of the lantern. But at the top I met with a surprise which left me staring blindly, for the moment distrusting my own eyes: there was no opening into the hall! The mantel had been swung back into place, leaving me fronting an apparently solid wall. Everything on the inside was, seemingly, as we had left it; the revolving door must have been operated from within the house, and, as I searched in vain for any sign of a secret spring, I swore at myself for a fool for not having posted a guard in protection. Who could have done this? Surely that heavy mantel would never have swung back into position without human assistance. Who in the house would have any reason to operate it except Jean Denslow? The possibility of her escaping from that room in which I had locked her had not before seriously occurred to me, yet hers was a nature to dare much, and achieve. Besides, she would have an object in such an act, and sufficient spirit to carry it out. If she had done the trick, then she would be on guard within. I had no hope she would open to me, but the knowledge of Donald's serious condition might appeal to her. Partisan as she was, loyal to her cause, yet the woman in her would conquer. I rapped against the front of the chimney, pausing to listen, but hearing no sound in response. Then I put my lips close and spoke loud enough so I felt certain my voice would carry to the hall without.
"Miss Denslow, are you there?"
Nothing beyond the dim echo rewarded this effort; yet so convinced was I of her presence that I persevered, determined to say something which should arouse her to betrayal.
"I am Lieutenant King; we found Colonel Donald seriously wounded, in the tunnel, and I have come back after help. For the sake of his life open this door."
I heard her then distinctly, her voice sounding so clearly as to startle me by its nearness; apparently there was nothing between us but the thin steel of the fire-screen.
"Are—are you telling me the truth?"
"As God is my witness, yes; I am alone, and O'Brien is with Donald. If you care to save his life you must let me through."
"But I cannot! I do not know how the door opens."
"Pull straight upward on the andiron farthest to the north."
She obeyed without the slightest hesitation, and the mantel swung so suddenly I barely escaped being struck. The next instant, lantern still in hand, I was beside her, noting how she shrank back, half frightened, at my quick appearance from out the black recess.
"Don't be alarmed," I exclaimed hastily, feeling nothing must longer delay my plans. "No, you are not to go into that hole alone. There is something mysterious about the passage; we found Donald with his throat slashed, exactly as those others were, only he still lives, and I believe will recover. I mean to take you to him in a moment, but you must wait here until I come back. You will, will you not? I can trust you?"
Her face was white, her eyes full of appeal.
Yes, yes, but—out are you certain he will live?"
Even then these words, the deep feeling in the voice, hurt, almost angered me. There had been a time, a few brief hours only, when she actually seemed mine, not only through the formality of that strange marriage ceremony, but by reason of the awakening of her own heart. I recognized now how utterly foolish this dream was, yet I could not entirely banish the memory, or look into her face, and feel content. I felt like fronting and combating this fate which so completely separated us; this love born to her life before I had ever entered into it at all. Yet the uselessness of such an endeavor was so plainly apparent, the very bitterness made me smile. She was not thinking of me at all, merely of him; but for his wound, his danger, I should be still locked helplessly in that tunnel; for my sake alone she would never have answered any plea for release.
"There is no apparent reason why he should not," I answered, not altogether pleasantly. "There is nothing particularly serious about his injuries so far as I could discover. A surgeon and a nurse could bring him around in short order. The important matter is to get back to him just as soon as possible. No, Miss Denslow," and I caught her by the arm in restraint, "you are not to venture into that passage alone. I shall be back here in a moment to accompany you."
"But why cannot I go? You say he is hurt and suffering, and yet order me not to go to him."
"I merely request you to remain here for a moment until we can guard you through the tunnel."
"Guard me?" her eyes searching the dark opening. "From what? Is there any peril there?"
"Honestly, I do not know, but it is no place for you to attempt to traverse alone. I will not permit it. See, I am going to trust you fully to wait my return. Take this revolver, and watch that opening until I come back."
She accepted it, our hands touching for an instant, before before a vague suspicion of my real purpose dawned upon her.
"What—what are you planning to do? Take your men through here?"
"Yes," I acknowledged, already at the head of the stairs. "This is our opportunity for escape."
"And you believe I will be an accomplice? You intend to use me for the defeat of my own people?"
"No, Miss Denslow," and I came back, looking directly into her indignant eyes. "There is no manner in which you can possibly prevent our escape in this way unless you deliberately choose to kill me. You can do that, for you have my weapon in your hand, and I stand here unarmed. Are you willing to do that for the Confederacy?"
I saw the flush sweep into her cheeks, the gray-blue eyes falling before mine.
"No—no," she faltered, "not that."
"Then you are helpless to interfere. We are going out this way. I desire to take you with us to the assistance of Colonel Donald; but if it is your intention to make trouble, then we shall have to lock you up again. and leave you behind. Which is your choice?"
She could not doubt my sincerity, for the earnestness with which I spoke was convincing. Her eyes uplifted to mine for one single questioning instant.
"I will wait," she said slowly, "but—but I believe I hate you."
I bowed, holding my hat in hand.
"I would far rather you felt thus, Miss Denslow," I returned quietly, "than to be utterly indifferent toward me."
I caught her sudden look of surprise, the quick uplift of her face, but before she could find expression in words, I had slipped down the stairs to the hall. Masterson was in the doorway of the parlor, and stepped out into the hall as I came down.
"I did n't know where you could have gone, sir," he said, evidently pleased to see me again. "I went up stairs there once, but didn't see no signs of you anywhere."
"You were on the second story?"
"Yes; one of those women was makin' such a racket, I went up to see what the trouble might be. Seems she'd got locked in somehow, and I had to bust the latch to get her out. Blame pretty girl, too, but Reb clean through, I guess, for she hardly give me a word o' thanks, an' would n't come downstairs."
So that was the manner in which she had achieved her release! Simple enough, and all because I had forgotten the first principles of a soldier, the protection of the rear.
"Yes, she's Rebel, Masterson, and, as it happens, I locked her in there myself. However, there's no great harm done. But we've got business before us now. Leave two troopers at each of those front windows, and assemble all the others in the hall here at once."
They came straggling forth from the various doorways, blackened with powder smoke and sleepy-eyed from the long night vigil, yet a fairly tough-looking bunch of fighting men, and ranged themselves before me. They had scarcely had opportunity to observe me before in the rush of that first attack, but the cavalry officer's uniform I wore had an immediate effect, and they remained respectfully silent, leaning on their carbines, waiting for me to speak. I stood on the first stair, looking them over, waiting until Masterson was ready to report.
"All here, sir, except four at the front windows."
"Good enough, Corporal; sixteen I make the number, counting yourself."
"Yes, sir," running his eyes along the faces. "There was thirty-four of us left camp on this rampage, got a dead an’ wounded list o' ten so far. It was that first volley that dropped so many."
"Well, men,” I said soberly, "we're going out of this, but we are liable to have a bit of stiff fighting before we get away. I'll explain the situation, because you will have to operate in the dark, and each man must use his own judgment to some extent. although we will try to keep together. Those fellows out yonder are part of Donald's band of guerillas, with a small squad of regular cavalry. They'll outnumber us a little over three to one, but are scattered around the house, the main force bunched in front. I've been out and looked them over, and if we can strike them suddenly in the rear we ought to have them on the run in five minutes. They have n't any guards out, and I have found a secret passage leading underground to a negro cabin a hundred feet west of the house kitchen. But we've got to act at once, and before daylight, for another bunch of those fellowt are marching this way, and may show up at any minute. Are you lads ready for a scrap?"
Their faces, as well as voices, answered.
"You could count on the Third Ohio, sir, if you was goin' ter charge hell," said the Corporal, hit eyes blazing. "Was you goin' to leave the four at the windows?"
"Yes; order them to stay there and keep up their fire, until we come around and attack the bunch in front. Then have them throw open the door and join us. Are you boys ready?"
"All ready, sir; all ready," the tones eager and expectant, the grimy hands hard on the brown carbine barrels.
"Then come on by twos; Masterson, take the rear."
As I turned to step upon the stair above, two shots suddenly rang out in the upper hall, the sharp reports those of a revolver. Jean! It must be Jean! I leaped forward, the men racing at my heels.