XXXIII.
A FRIEND IN NEED.
At Roanoke Island, a certain tall, lank, athletic private had beendetailed for fatigue duty at the landing, when the steamer from the inletarrived.
Being at leisure, he was watching with an expression of drollery andinquisitiveness for somebody to tell him the news, when he saw twobewildered, anxious women come ashore, and look about them, as if waitingfor assistance.
Prompted by his naturally accommodating disposition, and no less byhonest curiosity, the soldier stepped up to them.
"Ye don't seem over'n above familiar in these parts, ladies," he said,with his politest grin.
"We are looking for an officer who promised to aid us in finding ourfriends in the hospital--or at least in getting news from them," said theelder of the two,--a fine-looking, though distressed and careworn womanof forty.
"Sho! wal. I s'pose he's got other things to look after, like as not!"And the soldier, in his sympathy, cast his eyes around in search of theofficer. "Got friends in the hospital, hev ye?" Then peering curiouslyunder the bonnet of the young female, "Ain't you the gal that merriedAtwater?"
"O! do you know him? Is he--is he alive?" By which eager interrogativeshe perceived that she was "the gal."
The droll countenance grew solemn. "I ain't edzac'ly prepared to answerthat last question, Miss--Miss Atwater!" he said, with some embarrassment."But the fust I can respond to with right good will. Did I knowhim!"--Tears came into his eyes as he added, "Abe Atwater, ma'am, was myfriend; and a braver soldier or a better man don't at this moment exist!"
"Then you must know my boy, too!" cried the elder female,--"Frank Manly,drummer."
The soldier brightened at once.
"Frank Manly! 'Whom not to know argues one's self unknown.' Your mostobedient, ma'am,"--bowing and scraping. "Your son has attracted theattention of the officers, and made himself pop'lar with every body.Mabby ye haven't heerd----"
"I've heard," interrupted the anxious mother. "But how is he? Tell methat!"
"Wal, he was a little grain more chirk last night, I was told. He has hada fever, and been delirious, and all that--perty nigh losing his chanceo' bein' promoted, he was, one spell! But now I guess his life's about assure's his commission, which Cap'n Edney says there ain't no doubtabout."
"So young!" said Mrs. Manly, trembling with interest.
"He's young, but he's got what we want in officers--that is, sperit; he'schock full of that. I take some little pride in him myself," added theprivate. "We was almost like brothers, me and Frank was! 'In the desert,in the battle, in the ocean-tempest's wrath, we stood together, side byside; one hope was ours, one path!'"
"This, then, is Seth Tucket!" exclaimed Mrs. Manly, who knew him by hispoetry.
"That's my name, ma'am, at your service!" And Seth made anothertremendous bow. "But I see," he said, "you're anxious; ye want to git tothe hospital. I tell ye, Frank'll be glad to see ye; he used to raveabout you in his delirium; he would call '_mother! mother!_' sometimeshalf the night."
"Poor child! poor, dear child!" said Mrs. Manly. "I can't wait! help me,sir,--show me the way to him, if nothing more!"
"Hello!" shouted Seth. "Whose cart is this? Where's the driver of thiscart? It's been standin' here this hour, and nobody owns it." He jumpedinto it. "Who claims this vehicle? 'Who so base as would not help awoman? If any, speak! for him have I offended!' Nobody? Then I take theresponsibility--and the cart too! Hop in, ladies. Here's a board for youto set on. I'll drive ye to the hospital, and bring back the kerridgebefore Uncle Sam misses it."
The women were only too glad to accept the invitation, and they were soonseated on the board. Seth adjusted his anatomy to the edge of thecart-box, and drove off. But he soon stood up, declaring that a hungryfellow like him couldn't stand that board,--he was too sharp set.
Mrs. Manly did not venture to ask again about Atwater,--what he hadalready said of him having gone so heavily to the poor wife's heart. Butshe could inquire about the old drum-major, who, she had heard, waswounded.
"Old Sinjin? Wal! I'm in jest the same dilemmy consarning him as Atwater.They've both been sick and at the pint of death ever sence the fight. Nowone of 'em's dead, and t'other's alive. A chap that was at the hospitaltold me this morning, 'One of them sickest fellers in your regiment diedlast night," says he; 'I don't know which of 'em,' says he. And I haven'thad a chance yet to find out."
"O, haste then!" cried the young wife. "May be my husband is livingstill!"
"Shouldn't wonder the least might if he is," said Seth, willing toencourage her. "For he has hung on to life wonderfully; he said hebelieved you was coming, and he couldn't bear the idee of dying before hecould see you once more. Old Buckley's bullet has been found, you'll bepleased to know."
"Old Buckley? Who is old Buckley?"
"The Maryland secessionist that shot your husband, and that I broughtdown from the tree to pay for it. He never'll git into another tree,without his soul goes into a gobble-turkey, as I should think it might,and flies up in one to roost!"
"And the bullet!----"
"As I was going to tell ye, it's been found. It went through the Biblethat you gave him (and that Frank's preserving for you now, I believe),and lodged in his body, the doctor couldn't tell where. But one night Mr.Egglestone,--the fighting minister, you know, that merried you,--he wasbathing Abe's back, and what did he find but a bunch, that Abe said wassore. 'Doctor!' says he, 'I've found the bullet!' And, sure enough! thedoctor come and cut out the lead. It had gone clean through the poorfeller,--into his breast, and out under his side!--Hello!" said Seth, "Ishall hev to turn out and wait for that company to march by. I swan toman ef 'tain't my company,--or a part on't, at least! They're drummingout a coward, to the tune of the _Rogue's March_!"
The women were all impatience to get on; and Mrs. Manly felt but thefaintest gleam of interest in the procession, until, as it drew near, ina wretched figure, wearing, in place of the regimental uniform, a suit ofrags that might have been taken from some contraband, with drummersbefore and fixed bayonets behind, she recognized--Jack Winch!
"Wal!" said Seth, "I'd ruther go into a fight and be shot dead than goout of camp in that style! See that label, 'COWARD,' on his back? But hedeserves it, ef ever a chap did!"
And Seth, as he drove on, related the story of Jack's miserable boastingand poltroonery. Much as she pitied the wretch, Mrs. Manly could not helpremembering his treachery towards her son, and feeling that Frank was nowamply avenged.