Part 32 (2/2)
He waited patiently, or impatiently, for the approach of the rebel cavalry, which soon reached the road near the bushes where they were hidden.
To his consternation, they came to a dead halt; and he could see the men gazing earnestly in the direction they had retired. Then half a dozen of the troopers entered the field, and rode directly towards the covert of bushes.
”We are caught!” whispered Somers.
”That's so. Just after the battle of Palestro, when I----”
”Hus.h.!.+”
”Hush it is,” replied De Banyan, as coolly as though he had been under his shelter tent on the other side of the James.
Taking a knife from his pocket, he began to cut away at a straight bush which grew near him, and was thus busily employed when the soldiers reached the spot. Somers stretched himself on the ground, and waited the issue of the event; deciding to let his companion, who had got him into the sc.r.a.pe, extricate him from it. The coolness of the captain, and the peculiar manner he a.s.sumed, convinced him that he had some resources upon which to draw in this trying emergency.
”Hallo, there!” shouted one of the troopers savagely, as though he intended to carry consternation in the tones of his voice.
”How are you, old hoss?” inquired De Banyan, as impudently as though he had been the lord of the manor.
”What ye doin' in here?” demanded the horseman, as he forced his animal into the bushes far enough to obtain a full view of both of the fugitives.
”Well, old hoss, if Heaven gin you two eyes, what were they gin to ye fur?” replied the captain, still hacking away at the sapling.
”What d'ye run for when you saw us coming?”
”Didn't run.”
”Yes, yer did.”
”You know best, then.”
”What d'ye come in here fur?”
”Don't ye see what I came in here for?” replied De Banyan, as he finished cutting off the bush, and proceeded to trim off the branches.
”Who are you?”
”Well, old hoss, I'm the brother of my father's oldest son.”
”What's yer name?”
”Hain't got any; had a difficulty with the district attorney in our county, and lost it.”
”Come out here, and show yerself. The cap'n wants to see yer down to the road.”
”Just goin' down there. Say, you hain't got a spare hoss in your caravan, have you? I'm gettin' amazin' tired.”
”Come out, both of you. I can't stay here all day.”
”Needn't wait for me; I'm in no hurry,” answered the captain, as he slowly emerged from the bushes, followed by Somers.
<script>