CHAPTER VI
LONG JOHN
Startled by the change in the attitude of the band of Confederates, Noelin a loud whisper said to Dennis, "Come, we must get out of this rightaway!"
"Not yit, sor," said Dennis.
"But we must!"
"Not before I drop one of the Johnnies."
"Don't do that!" cried Noel, as he grasped the barrel of his companion'sgun. "Don't do it! We must n't let them know any more about us than theydo now. We've got to take our chances and run down the hill to thewoods! I don't believe they will follow us if we once can get inside theborder. It's going to be a hard chase for us, though, to cover thoseyards ahead of us. I would give every dollar I own if I was only there."
"Niver you fear me, lad. 'Fortune favors the brave.' Have you niverheard that?"
"I have," answered Noel, as he glanced again at the men who were seen inthe distance. "The sooner we start the better. Come on, Dennis!"
Acting upon his own suggestion, the young soldier led the way, andcrouching low ran swiftly toward the shelter of the woods. His heartseemed to be beating so loudly and rapidly as almost to interfere withhis efforts. He was afraid, but his fear only served to increase hisspeed.
Part of the distance had been covered before the flight of the two youngsoldiers was discovered by their enemies. At the sight there was a loudcry which served to increase the speed of both fugitives.
"Spread out!" whispered Dennis hoarsely. "Spread out!"
Instantly acting upon the suggestion, as far as it was possible for twoto "spread out," Noel ran swiftly toward a low oak tree, which stood onthe border of the woods, while his companion with equal speed wasstriving to gain the shelter of another tree, the name of which Noel didnot know, which stood conspicuously about twenty yards distant from theone that he was seeking.
Before the boys could gain the shelter, the report of guns was heard,but fortunately neither of the young soldiers was hurt.
To Noel it seemed as if the few intervening yards were almost endless.His feet seemed to be held back, as if heavy weights were attached tothem. His feeling was not unlike that which he had experienced when hehad suffered from an attack of nightmare.
In spite of these things, however, both young soldiers were makingexcellent time, and in a brief interval successfully gained the refugethey were so eagerly seeking.
Instantly dodging behind the protecting tree, Noel peered out at theapproaching men. The dusk was rapidly deepening, and the outlines of theapproaching band could be only indistinctly seen.
He was tempted to act upon the suggestion which Dennis had made and fireat his enemies, but his fears for his own safety were so strong that hehesitated. In a brief time he decided to abandon the attempt, in ordernot to reveal his exact hiding-place.
Strong in the hope that the men would not venture to follow within thewoods, Dennis crept speedily toward the tree which his comrade hadgained, and for a moment was startled when he beheld a man alsoapproaching him. It proved, however, to be Noel, and then, acting upon acommon impulse, both turned and ran farther within the shelteringwoods.
As they advanced, their progress became more difficult. The groundbeneath their feet was soft and yielding. It was manifest that they wereapproaching a swamp.
Noel wondered if his enemies were aware of the character of the land. Ifthey were the pursuit might be continued, as they would be certain tocatch the fugitives between the swampy ground and the border where theyhad entered.
"Here!" suddenly called Dennis; "here's a road." As he spoke the youngIrishman ran swiftly toward what seemed to be a road, as he had said,and as Noel followed him he soon discovered that Dennis was correct. Arough and partly decayed corduroy road had been made years before, butnow it provided no very secure footing. Though they were unaware wherethe road might lead, both entered upon it and even increased the speedat which they were running.
Not a word was spoken until several minutes had elapsed, and then to theconsternation of both, a man was seen not far before them, who plainlywas approaching.
Abruptly leaping from the road into the swampy ground at its side bothboys strove to hide themselves behind the protecting vines and trees.Only a few moments had passed, however, before they were aware that theapproaching stranger was a negro. He was of unusual height and his longstrides were indicative of his haste. As the black man came stillnearer, Noel thought he never had seen a taller man. In the dusk hislong figure appeared to rise almost to the lower branches of theoverhanging trees.
Lost as they were, or at least ignorant of the region, Noel suddenlydecided to hail the approaching negro.
"Sambo, is that you?" he said as the negro came opposite the place wherehe was hiding.
Instantly the negro halted, and even in the dim light his terror wasmanifest to the young soldier.
"No, suh! No, suh! I isn't Sambo. I'se Long John."
"Is there anybody with you?"
"No, suh! No, suh! I'se all alone."
Confident that he might rely upon the statement, Noel instantly returnedto the corduroy road and approached the waiting black man. To Noel theeyes of the startled negro seemed almost to protrude like saucers. Foran instant it was plain that he was tempted to flee from the spot,but as he glanced behind him, Noel suspected that he was in greater fearof what threatened from that direction than he was at the discovery ofthe strangers who had hailed him.
"Who's yo'? Who is yo' all?" he asked, unable to prevent his teeth fromchattering as he spoke.
"We are a couple of Union soldiers, Long John, and we want your help."
"Yas, suh! Yas, suh! Bress de Lor'! I'se heerd a heap 'bout yo' all. Deysay yo' hab hawns. Ole mass' done say dat yo' be'rd com' clar down toheer." As he spoke the negro placed one of his big hands upon his righthip. "Dey shorely is so feared o' yo' dat if dey heer yo' name erhundred miles away, dey's scared des' de same."
"DEY SAY YO' HAB HAWNS"]
In his dilemma Noel turned once more to the colored man and hastilysaid, "Where are you going?"
"Noware. Noware, suh."
"But the rebel soldiers are ahead of you."
"Dey's mo' o' 'em behind me," declared Long John promptly.
"Do you know the way out of this swamp?"
For a moment the tall negro gazed intently down at Noel. In spite of hisindifference, Long John was possessed of more intelligence than a firstimpression warranted. Noel was made somewhat uneasy by the intentness ofthe negro's inspection.
Apparently satisfied by what he had discovered in his own way, Long Johnsaid, "Yas, suh! I reckon I knows dis yeah swamp."
"Do you know where this corduroy road leads?" Noel inquired, as hepointed in the direction from which the negro had come.
"Yas, suh!"
"How long is it? How far shall we have to go before we can be out on thefirm road again?"
"I reckon it's a right sma't way," replied Long John slowly. "And ifdere's some ob the rebel sojers up ahead, dere's certainly mo' ob demback yonder," he added, nodding his head to emphasize the strength ofhis conviction as he spoke.
"Have you seen any?" inquired Noel, as he once more glanced behind himto discover whether or not there were any signs of continued pursuit.
"Yas, suh! I'se done seen some."
"How many are there?"
"I recken dere's a right sma't lot ob dem."
"Are they infantry or cavalry?"
"Yas, suh."
"Which are they?" demanded Noel.
"Dere's some sojers on horseback. I see Massa Little Ben Fowler--"
"Are there twenty of them?" broke in Noel impatiently.
"Yas, suh."
"Where are they?"
"Dey's right by de end on de cord'roy road. I recken dey was goin' toefollow me, but dey all des' shouted and laughed. Dey say I can beat deYanks at runnin'."
"Dennis," said Noel, turning to his companion, "don't you believe thatthese men have been stationed there to cut off anybody who might comethrough here on this road?"
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"That's it, me lad! Yis, sor! That's it," replied Dennis.
"Then we can't go ahead and we can't turn back. We're caught right herebetween these two bodies. What can we do, Dennis?"
"I recken I know what yo' all 'll have to do," spoke up Long John in awhisper, as he spoke peering intently in the direction from which thetwo young soldiers had recently come.
Noel glanced in the direction indicated by the negro and in a brieftime he, too, was convinced that some men were approaching. Even LongJohn was alarmed, and for a moment appeared to be on the point ofdarting into the swamp.