Part 43 (2/2)

”You are my prisoner, if he comes up-stairs,” whispered De Banyan.

Somers pressed the hand of his companion to a.s.sure him that he understood his plan; and they held their breath, in the intense anxiety of the moment, for further developments. The present seemed to be the turning point in the career of the adventurers; and, if they could once escape from the horns of this dilemma, skill and prudence would conduct them in safety to the Union lines.

The officer below, after he had politely informed ”Jenny” of the early movement, seemed to be in no hurry to get into the saddle. He went out at the door of the stable, and all was silent again, except the voice of Jenny, who seemed to be protesting against any movement before she had received her customary feed of corn.

”Peters!” shouted the officer from the door, ”hurry up! The Yankees will get to the James River before you get the saddle on my horse. Where have you been?”

”I was looking for my boots.”

”An orderly ought to wear his boots to bed with him, if he can't put them where he can find them,” replied the officer, as the heavy step of another man was heard in the stable below.

”What news did you hear?” asked the officer, as the orderly led the horse from the stall.

”The sergeant said some officer that had been took as a deserter done runned away,” replied Peters, as the fugitives heard the rattle of the saddle-gear.

”Hurry up, then!”

”He done took a Yankee prisoner from the depot with him,” added Peters, who, if he had not been called an orderly, the listeners would have taken for a negro.

”You may take a peck of corn in a bag for Jenny, Peters. We may have a long ride of it,” added the officer, as he left the stable.

A peck of corn! De Banyan and Somers were sitting on the grain chest! It was impossible to avoid discovery; and De Banyan threw off his cloak, ready for the emergency.

”Somers, my boy, we must change our tactics. They have heard the whole story, and we can't blind them. We must make the best of it. Have you a pistol?” whispered the captain.

”No; all I had was taken from me,” replied Somers.

”I have only one. No matter; it would never do to fire up here,” added De Banyan, as he picked up a short pitch-fork which lay near him.

”Are you going to kill him?” asked Somers.

”It's life or death for you and me! We can't stop for trifles,” answered the captain in hurried tones, but still in a whisper.

They listened for a moment longer to the quick movements of Peters in the stable below. It was evident that Jenny was duly caparisoned for service; and then another horse was led out, which belonged to the orderly. He was prepared for service in less time than Jenny had required; and, a moment later, the step of Peters was heard on the stairs. With the bag in his hand, he was coming up for the corn, as he had been ordered by the officer. He did not see the fugitives till he had reached the last step; when, as he was on the point of opening his mouth to speak, De Banyan leveled a blow at his head with the handle of the pitch-fork, which felled him to the floor.

He sank down upon the stairs stunned or dead; and the captain, as though he had carefully matured his plan beforehand, dragged the body to one corner of the loft, where he covered it with hay.

”Not a word, Somers,” said he in an excited whisper, as he crouched down behind the grain chest.

”Are you going to stay here?” demanded Somers, astonished at this singular disposition of the forces.

”Hush--the officer is close by.”

With beating heart, Somers waited for the further action of his resolute companion. It was the most critical period of his life, it seemed to him, especially as he did not fully comprehend the purpose of De Banyan. Only a moment elapsed, but it was long enough to be a week, before the owner of Jenny returned to the stable.

”Peters! What are you about?” shouted he angrily. ”I shall never get off at this rate. Peters!”

Peters was not in condition to answer the summons at that moment. Somers hoped he was not dead; but he might as well have been dead, so far as speaking was concerned.

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