CHAPTER XXVI
MISS WILLIFRED SURPRISES US
The butt struck me fairly, and I went down as though felled by an ax. IfI lost consciousness it could have been for scarcely more than a moment,but blood streamed into my eyes, and my head reeled giddily. Yet I knewsomething of what occurred, heard voices, caught dimly the movement offigures. Le Gaire ran, rounding the end of the stable, and Hardy,swearing like a trooper, clutching at his empty belt for a weapon, madean effort to follow. Bell sprang to me, lifting my head, and his facelooked as white as a woman's. He appeared so frightened I endeavored tosmile at him, and it must have been a ghastly effort. My voice, however,proved more reassuring.
"I'm all right," I insisted thickly. "Just tapped a little. I--I wasn'tlooking for anything like that."
"I should say not. Here, can you sit up? By Heavens! I hope Hardycatches him."
"He hardly will," I answered, struggling into sitting posture, a visionof the chase recurring to mind. "He was too mad to run."
Bell laughed nervously.
"I never supposed Le Gaire was that kind of a cur," he said regretfully."I never liked the fellow, or had much to do with him. Blamed if I couldunderstand why Miss Hardy--"
"Oh, he played nice enough with her up until the last week at least," Ibroke in, aroused by the name. "Le Gaire is good looking, and pleasantalso when things are going his way. It's when luck is against him thathe gets ugly. Besides, he had the major on his side."
"I happen to know something about that," returned Bell dryly. "It wastalked over at headquarters. Le Gaire is rich, and Hardy hasn't muchleft, I reckon, and the captain filled him up with fairy tales. Some ofthem drifted about among the boys. There were others told also not quiteso pleasant, which Hardy did not hear. You see, none of us cared torepeat them, after we realized Miss Willifred was interested inthe man."
"You mean duelling?"
"No, that was rather mild; fellows in his regiment mostly cut him dead,and say he is yellow; generally in the hospital when there's a battleon. But Forsdyke tells the worst story--he heard it in New Orleans. Itseems Le Gaire owned a young girl--a quadroon--whom he took for amistress; then he tired of the woman, they quarrelled, and the cowardlybrute turned her back into the fields, and had her whipped by hisoverseer. She died in three months."
"I guess it's all true, Bell," I said, and I told him of the boy. "Hewas our guide here last night, and it is just as well for Le Gaire thelad did not know he was present. Help me up, will you?"
I leaned on his arm heavily, but, except for the throbbing of my head,appeared to be in good enough condition. With slight assistance I walkedwithout difficulty, and together we started for the house. At the edgeof the garden Hardy appeared, still breathing heavily from his run. Hestared at me, evidently relieved to find me on my feet.
"Broke the skin, my lad--a little water will make that all right. Gladit was no worse. The fellow out-ran me."
"He got away?"
"Well, the fact is, Galesworth, I do not really know where he went. Thelast glimpse I had he was dodging into that clump of bushes, but when Igot there he was gone."
"Ran along the fence," broke in Bell, pointing. "You couldn't see himfor the vines. See, here's his tracks--sprinting some, too."
We traced them easily as long as we found soft ground, but the turfbeyond left no sign. Yet he could not have turned to the left, or Belland I would have seen him. The fellow evidently knew this, yet if he ranto the right it would take him to the house. It hardly seemed possiblehe would go there, but he had been a guest there for some time, andprobably knew the place well; perhaps realized he would be saferwithin--where no one would expect him to be--than on the road. This wasthe conception which gradually came to me, but the others believed hehad gone straight ahead, seeking the nearest Confederate outpost. Ableto walk alone by this time, I went in through the back door, and bathedmy face at the sink, leaving Hardy and Bell to search for further signsof the fugitive.
As I washed I thought rapidly over the situation. Le Gaire knew thatChambers' force would be along the pike within a few hours--probablylong before the appearance of any Federal advance in the neighborhood,as he was unaware that I had sent back a courier. The house was the verylast place in which we would seek for him, and the easiest place toattain. Once inside, stowed away in some unused room, he could wait theapproach of Chambers' troops, escape easily, and become a hero. Thewhole trick fitted in with the man's type of mind. And he could havecome in the same way I had, sneaking through the unguardedkitchen--why, in the name of Heaven, had Miles neglected to place aguard there?--and then up the servants' stairs. I dried my face on atowel, rejoicing that the derringer blow had left little damage, andopened the door leading to the upper story. It was a narrow stairway,rather dark, but the first thing to catch my eye was a small clod ofyellow dirt on the second step, and this was still damp--the foot fromwhich it had fallen must have passed within a very short time. I had thefellow--had him like a rat in a trap. Oh, well, there was time enough,and I closed the door and locked it.
I talked with the sergeant, and had him send Foster to watch the kitchendoor, and detail a couple of men for cooks, with orders to hurry upbreakfast. Miles had seen nothing of Le Gaire, and when Hardy and Bellreturned, they acknowledged having discovered no trace of the fugitive.I let them talk, saying little myself, endeavoring to think out thepeculiar situation, and determine what I had better do. Already therewas heavy cannonading off to the right, but at considerable distance.The battle was on, and might sweep this way before many hours, yet Icould no longer doubt the complete withdrawal of Confederate troops fromthe neighborhood. Not a gray-jacket or flash of steel was visible, andeverything about was a scene of peace. Yet when Chambers came this housewould hardly escape without an overhauling. Of course he might not comethis way, for Johnston could easily despatch a courier to advise anotherroad, yet probably the line of march would not be changed. Should Iwait, or withdraw my little force, at least as far as the shelter of theravine? I cared nothing about retaining the prisoners, indeed wasanxious to release both Hardy and Bell. Nor was I any longer worriedabout Le Gaire--especially his relations with Miss Willifred. I couldtrust the major to relate the story of the past hour to his daughter,and the captain would scarcely venture to face her again. It seemed tome we ought to go, as it would be no service to our cause to retain thehouse. However there was no hurry; we had ample time in which tobreakfast, and--and, well I wanted to see Billie again, to leave behindme a better impression. I gave the major the key to her room, and askedhim to call her for the morning meal, already nearly ready. She camedown a few moments later, freshly dressed, and looking as though she hadenjoyed some sleep. Her father must have given her some inkling of thesituation, for she greeted me pleasantly, although with a certainconstraint in manner which left me ill at ease.
Our breakfast passed off very nicely, the food abundant and wellcooked, although we were compelled to wait upon ourselves. I asked Milesto join us, but he preferred messing with the men, and so the four of ussat at table alone. As though by mutual consent we avoided all referenceto the war, or our present situation, conversation drifting into adiscussion of art and literature. I realized later that Miss Willifredhad adroitly steered it that way, but if it was done to test me, shecould scarcely have chosen a better topic. I had come from the seniorclass of a great college into the army, and was only too delighted totake part again in cultured conversation. Bell had taken an art course,and Miss Hardy had apparently read widely, and the discussion becameanimated, with frequent clashes of opinion. I was happy to know that Isurprised the lady by the extent of my information, and her flushedcheeks and brightening eyes were ample reward. The major said little,yet when he occasionally spoke it was to reveal that he was a man ofunusual learning.
I shall recall the details of that meal as long as I live--the peculiarconditions, and the faces of those present. It was all so little likewar, the only suggestion of conflict the uniforms we wore, and the dullreverberation of
that distant cannonading. For the time, at least, weforgot we were upon the very verge of a battle, and that we werepolitically enemies. Prisoners were in the basement beneath, guards werepatrolling the hall without, yet we laughed and joked, with never areference to the great conflict in which all present bore part. Ofcourse much of this was but veneer, and back of repartee and well-toldstory, we were intent upon our own problems. With me, now that I haddecided upon my plans, everything centred upon Miss Willifred. I wouldsearch the house for Le Gaire, endeavor to have one word with her alone,and then retire to a place of greater safety with my men. The quicker Imight complete these arrangements the better, and I could trust thosepresent with some knowledge of my intention.
"Gentlemen," I said, as the party was preparing to rise, "just a moment.I am going to ask you to respect your parole for only a very short timelonger. Of course this does not include Miss Hardy as she has refusedall pledges to me. So soon as my men complete their breakfast, and a fewdetails are looked after, we shall withdraw in the direction of our ownlines. Naturally I have no desire to be captured by Chambers. I ammerely going to request that you remain within doors until we depart.After that you may release the prisoners, and rejoin your commands."
The eyes of the two men met, and the major replied:
"Certainly, Lieutenant, we have no reason to complain."
"And Miss Hardy?"
"Oh, I will answer for her."
"That is hardly necessary, papa, as I will answer for myself," and hereyes met mine across the table. "I was angry last night, LieutenantGalesworth, and unreasonable. If you will accept my parole now I giveit gladly."
I bowed with a sudden choking of the throat, and Hardy chuckled.
"A very graceful surrender--hey, Bell? By Gad, this has been quite anight for adventure. Fact of it is, Galesworth, I'm mighty grateful toyou for the whole affair, and, I reckon, Billie is also."
She arose to her feet, pausing an instant with her hand upon the back ofthe chair.
"Lieutenant Galesworth has merely made apparent to you what I haddiscovered some time ago," she said quietly. "I am sure he needs nothanks from me--perhaps might not appreciate them. I am going to myroom, papa, until--until the Yankees leave."
"An unreconstructed Rebel," he exclaimed, yet clearly surprised. "Why,I thought you and Galesworth were great friends."
"Has he made that claim?"
"Why--eh--no. It was what Le Gaire said."
"Oh! I should suppose that by this time you would rather doubt thestatements of that individual. Lieutenant Galesworth probablyunderstands that we are acquaintances, and--enemies."
She left the room, without so much as glancing at me, Hardy callingafter her,
"I'll come up as soon as I smoke a cigar with Bell."
The door closed, and his eyes met mine.
"What the devil is the trouble, my boy? That wasn't like Billie; I neverknew her to harbor an unkind thought in her life. Have you donesomething to anger her?"
"Not to my knowledge, Major," I answered honestly. "Perhaps I was harshlast night, but I merely intended to be firm. This is all a greatsurprise to me."
He shook his head, and the two men left the room. I waited until certainthey were safely out of the way. I was perplexed, hurt, by the girl'swords and action. What cause had I given her for treating me with suchopen contempt? Surely not my avowal of love, however inopportune thatmight have been, nor my holding her prisoner. Could something haveoccurred of which I knew nothing? Could Le Gaire have poisoned her mindagainst me with some ingenious lie? It was all too hazy, too improbable,for me to consider seriously--but she must explain before we went away.With this in mind I passed into the hall, and began to ascendthe stairs.