CHAPTER XVII.
The Scene at the Plantation.
Next evening, George took the lead, and conducted them through thewoods, with a certainty that showed that he was well acquainted withthe ground over which they were passing. Not a word did he speak untilthey emerged from the woods, and found before them a large plantation,with the huge, old-fashioned farm-house, surrounded by its negroquarters and out-buildings, looming up in the distance.
George gazed upon the scene long and earnestly, until his feelingsovercame him, when he leaned his head upon his hand, and gave fullvent to his sorrow. He did not weep, but the heaving of his chest, andthe quivering of his whole frame, showed how severe was the strugglethat was going on within him. His companions, who well knew what waspassing in his mind, leaned on their weapons, and silently waiteduntil the burst of grief had subsided. At length, George recovered hiscomposure, and said, slowly:
"It looks natural, boys; every thing is just as I left it five yearsago. Let us go up to the house. I _must_ see my mother and sistersonce more. We will say that we are rebel soldiers, and want somethingto eat. My father and brothers are at Fort De Russy with theircommands, so there will be no danger."
"But your uniform," said Frank, anxiously, "that will certainly betrayus."
"No danger of that," answered George; "a great many soldiers in therebel army wear the Federal uniform. There's no danger."
Frank was far from being satisfied, but he fell in with the rest, andfollowed George toward the house. A few moments' walk brought them toa barn, where they again halted, and, while George stood feasting hiseyes on each familiar object, the captain bound the rebel lieutenanthand and foot, and laid him away under a fence-corner; and left him,with the information that his life depended upon his observing thestrictest silence. This course was the wisest that could havebeen adopted, under the circumstances; for it would have been veryimprudent to have taken the prisoner with them, as he could easilyhave found means to make himself known.
George again took the lead, and, when they had almost reached thehouse, they heard the sound of a piano, and a female voice singing thenever-failing "Bonnie Blue Flag."
"There you have it," said George, bitterly; "but don't stop--let'sgo right in. Major, you had better go up to the door, and ask themto give us something to eat. I dare not trust myself to do it. Be abitter rebel now, and they will certainly invite us all in, and wewill get whatever we ask for. Now, boys," he continued, turning to theothers, "don't watch me too closely when we get in the house, or youwill betray me."
The major--after making sure that the papers, which had already beenof so much service to them, were still in his pocket--ascended thebroad stone steps that led up to the portico, and knocked at the door.It was opened by a servant, who, after inquiring what he wanted, ledthe way into a brilliantly-lighted parlor, where he saw before himGeorge's mother and sisters.
"Good evening, sir," said Mrs. Le Dell, rising from her seat. "Isthere any way in which we can serve you?"
The major made known his wants, and a servant was at once dispatchedto order supper, and to invite the remainder of the fugitives intothe house. As they filed slowly into the room--George bringing up therear--the particular orders which the major gave about the musketscaused the lady to say:
"You need have no fear, sir. The Yankees have never yet favored uswith a visit."
"I know it, ma'am," replied the major, accepting a chair that one ofthe sisters offered him, "but I have been a soldier so long, that Inever omit to make preparations for a fight."
As soon as they were fairly seated, Frank turned to look at George."That boy must be made of iron," said he to himself, "or else heis among his friends, and we are betrayed;" for, instead of beingembarrassed, or wearing his habitual sorrowful look, he sat easily inhis chair, and gazed carelessly about the room, as though he were aperfect stranger there, and not a muscle quivered, to show theemotion he really felt, as his eye rested on the familiar faces ofhis relatives. He calmly met their glances, which Frank thought weredirected toward him rather suspiciously, but all attempts to draw himinto the conversation that followed, about the war, and the certaintyof speedily overpowering the Yankees, and driving them from theland, were unavailing. Once Frank thought he heard one of his sisterswhisper, "How much he looks like George!" but he was not recognized,and the supper, which was enlivened by conversation on indifferentsubjects, passed off pleasantly.
When the meal was finished, a large bag was filled with provisions,sufficient to last them nearly a week, and given in charge of oneof the soldiers; and the major, after thanking the ladies for theirkindness, was about to bid them good evening, when there was a clatterof horses' hoofs on the walk, then heavy steps sounded in the hall,and the next moment, to the utter astonishment and horror of thefugitives, three rebel officers entered the room.
They were General Le Dell and his two sons.
Frank's heart fairly came up into his mouth at this unwelcomeintrusion, and his first impulse was to draw his revolver and shootthe rebels where they stood; but, on glancing at the major who alwaysseemed to have his wits about him, he abandoned the idea. The major,with the rest, had seized his musket, but, as the rebels entered, hereturned it to its place in the corner, (motioning to the others to dothe same,) and, saluting the general, said, with a smile:
"I beg your pardon, sir. I did not know but that the Yankees were uponus."
"No danger of that," said the general, with a laugh; "you'll never seethem as far up in the country as this. Pray be seated, sir."
After greeting his wife and daughters, the general again turned to themajor, whom, by his soldierly bearing, he at once picked out as theleader of the band, and inquired:
"May I ask what you are doing up here? Has not your command beenordered to Fort De Russy?"
"Yes, sir. But I am out on a scout, by order of General Taylor."
"You can have no objection to produce those orders?"
"O no, sir! certainly not. Here they are," answered the major, drawingfrom his pocket the papers which Frank had captured. The general,after hastily running his eye over them, suddenly exclaimed:
"Why, Lieutenant Somers, how do you do, sir? I am very glad to meetyou again. I heard that you had been taken prisoner. I am most happyto see that you have escaped."
This was rather more than the major had been expecting, and hesuddenly found himself placed in a most awkward position. But hispresence of mind never forsook him; and, accepting the rebel'sproffered hand, he shook it with apparent cordiality, and replied:
"Thank you, sir. I, myself, am not sorry to know that I am a free manonce more."
"You probably do not remember me," continued the general, "but I waswell acquainted with your father before he moved to Georgia, and usedto trot you on my knee when you were a little fellow; and I do believeyou were the ugliest little brat I ever had any thing to do with. Youdid nothing but yell and screech from morning until night. But, by theway, your father met his death in a very singular manner, did he not?"
"Yes, sir--very singular--very singular, indeed," replied the major,promptly, as though he were perfectly familiar with all of theparticulars, although in reality he was sorely puzzled to know what tosay. What if the rebel should ask him to explain the affair? But thegeneral appeared to be well enough acquainted with the matter, for hecontinued:
"He died like a brave man, and a soldier. I suppose you intend to takeample revenge upon the Yankees to pay for it."
"Yes, sir; and I am now on the trail of the very man who shot him."The major said this at a venture; but, fortunately, he was correct inhis surmise as to the manner in which Mr. Somers departed this life.
While this conversation was going on, Frank was a good deal annoyedto see that George's sisters, and one of his brothers, were engaged inmysterious whisperings, now and then darting suspicious glances towardhis new companion. When the general entered, George had risen withthe rest and saluted him, after which he had resumed his seat, andthe deep blush of ex
citement that arose to his cheek had quickly givenplace to the same careless look that Frank had before noticed. Georgewas also aware that the whispering that was going on related tohimself, and it was evident that his relatives had some suspicions ofwho he was; but, if it caused him any uneasiness, he was very carefulto conceal it.
At length, one of his brothers drew his chair to his side, and said:
"Excuse me, sir; but I believe I've seen you before."
"I shouldn't be surprised if you had, sir," answered George, steadilymeeting the rebel's gaze. "I _know_ I've seen you before."
His brother started back in his chair, and a gleam of triumph shotacross his face as he exclaimed:
"George, I know you."
"And you will have cause to know me better before this war is over,"answered George, forgetting, in his excitement, all the precautions hehad before adopted to escape being recognized.
Had a thunderbolt fallen into the room, the astonishment of thegeneral and his wife could not have been greater. They sat in theirchairs as motionless as if they had been suddenly turned into stone,gazing at their son as though they could scarcely believe their eyes,while the fugitives sat with their hands on their weapons, wonderingwhat would be the result of George's imprudence. At length thegeneral, who was the first to recover from his astonishment,vociferated:
"You here, you rascal--you young traitor! I thought you were safe inthe prison at Tyler again by this time."
"No doubt you did," answered George, bitterly. "But I'm a free mannow, and intend to remain so."
"You are free!" repeated the general; "that's a capital joke.Lieutenant Somers, I charge you with his safe delivery at Tyler."
The major, greatly relieved to find that the general still consideredhim a rebel, was about to promise that George should be well takencare of, when the latter, to the astonishment of all, boldly declared:
"That is not Lieutenant Somers. These gentlemen are all myfriends--Union to the backbone."
"Eh! what?" ejaculated the general, in surprise, scarcely believingwhat he heard. "These men all Yankees?"
"Yes, sir; every one of them."
"A nice-looking set, surely--a fine lot of jailbirds you are."
"So I have been feeding a lot of tyrants instead of loyal Confederatesoldiers," said Mrs. Le Dell, while the sisters gazed at the younghero with contempt pictured in their faces.
"No, mother, you have _not_ fed tyrants," answered George, with a gooddeal of spirit, "but true Union men. It is nothing you need be ashamedof."
"Well, we _are_ ashamed of it," said the general, who seemed to befairly beside himself with rage. "Didn't I tell you never to darken mydoor again? Where are you traveling to, and what do you intend to do?"
"I am on my way North, and I purpose to join my vessel, if she isstill afloat."
"You'll do no such thing. Just consider yourselves prisoners--all ofyou."
"O no sheneral, I pelieve not," said the captain, quietly, "cause yousee we six been more as you three."
"No, father, we shall never be taken prisoners again--never."
"You are very bold, young man," said the general, who, as he gazedupon the flushed countenance and flashing eyes of his son, could notbut admire his courage. "This is big talk for a boy of your age."
"We have already wasted time enough," said the major, growingimpatient. "Captain, relieve those gentlemen of their weapons."
The order was promptly obeyed, the rebels offering no resistance.
"Now," resumed the major, "we shall take our leave. Good evening."
"You'll all be in Fort De Russy in less than forty-eight hours,"shouted the general, "or I am very much mistaken."
"We'll be dead men, then," answered George. "You will never take usthere alive."
The fugitives did not linger to converse, but made all haste to getinto the open air. The horses belonging to the rebels, which werefound fastened in front of the house, were immediately turned loose,and a thrust from the captain's bayonet sent them galloping up theroad.
George silently led the way to the place where they had left theirprisoner, and, as soon as he was set at liberty, they bent their stepsacross the plantation, toward the woods at the rear. Although Georgehad borne up bravely while in the presence of his rebel parents,he could control himself no longer, and tears, which he could notrepress, coursed down his cheeks, as ever and anon he turned to take along, lingering look at the place he could no longer call home. Everyemotion he experienced found an echo in the generous heart of Frank,who was scarcely less affected than himself. He could not believe thatthe scene through which they had just passed was a reality. It did notseem possible that parents could address a son in the language that hehad heard used toward George.
The unexpected denouement at the house had rendered the major andcaptain doubly anxious; for now nothing but the most consummate skilland daring could save them from recapture; and, while the former keptclose watch on the house to catch the first sign of pursuit thatshould be made, the latter gave vent to his feelings by railing, inhis broken English, first at George for proposing such an expedition,and then by deprecating his own folly for yielding his consent toit. But there was no help now; regrets could not mend the matter, andnothing but rapid flight could save them.
When they reached the end of the field, George became suddenlyaroused. Brushing away the tears that dimmed his eyes, he placedhimself at the head of the party, and started on at a rapid pacethrough the woods.