Part 13 (2/2)
A soldier brought a rope; one end was thrown over the limb of a tree, and the other made into a slip-noose, and put round his neck; but he did not flinch. To confess that he was a spy was sure death. He was calm.
For a moment his thoughts went back to his home. He thought of his mother and Azalia; but there was little time for such reflection. He did not feel that his work was done. ”Wal, Sergeant, what be you gwine to do?” he asked.
”Hang you as a spy,” said the Sergeant.
”What sort of a report will you make to the General? What do ye think he will do to you when he finds that you have hung one of his scouts?” Paul asked.
”See here, Sergeant, I reckon your are a leetle too fast in this matter,” said one of the soldiers.
Paul saw that the time had come for a bold course on his part. He had already ascertained what regiment of cavalry they belonged to. He had seen their Colonel at Dover. ”What do you suppose Colonel Forrest will say, when he hears of this proceeding of yours?” he asked.
The Sergeant started at the mention of the name of his commander, and began to see the proceeding in a new light. Paul threw the noose from his neck and said, in a tone of authority: ”I will report you, sir. I will have you arrested. I'll teach you to do your duty better than this.
I am an officer. I know General Pillow, General Floyd, General Buckner, and Colonel Forrest. I am out on important business. You found me asleep, and instead of taking me to your superior officer, as you ought to have done, you proceed to hang me. You are drunk, sir, and I'll have you punished.”
The Sergeant was very much frightened. He saw how n.o.ble a countenance Paul had, and felt his tone of authority. ”I didn't mean any harm, sir; I wanted to do my duty,” said the Sergeant, taking off his hat, and holding down his head.
”Because you are a sergeant, you wanted to show your authority,” said Paul. ”Now go about your business, all of you, and when I get to General Pillow's head-quarters I will see to your case.”
The soldiers who had gathered round started off at once to their work, while Paul walked towards Fort Donelson. He had gone but a few steps, when the Sergeant followed him, and, taking off his hat, said, ”Please, Colonel, don't be too hard on me, I won't do so again.”
”It will be my duty to report you; but if you will promise to be more careful in the future I will tell the General when I make my report not to be too hard,” said Paul.
”I'll be more _keerful_ next time, and won't get drunk again, Colonel, never.”
”Very well,” said Paul, walking on till he reached a piece of woods; then, turning from the path, he made his way towards the river again, wondering at his escape. He had a long walk through the woods, but when he reached the gunboats lying in the stream, how his heart leaped for joy!
He kept all he had seen so well in memory, that when he reached Cairo he was able to draw an accurate plan of the forts and country around them.
General Grant listened to his story with great interest, and when Paul had finished said, ”You have performed your work acceptably; you understand topography; I wish to keep you at my head-quarters, and therefore appoint you a Lieutenant of Engineers.”
It was so unexpected a promotion, and such an expression of confidence, that Paul was very much confused, and could only say, while blus.h.i.+ng very red, ”I thank you, sir.”
CHAPTER XII.
MISSED FROM HOME.
How lonesome it was in New Hope through all these days! Everybody missed Paul. He was missed by the school-children, for the teacher who succeeded him was cross and harsh, while Paul was always kind and pleasant. He was missed by the congregation on Sunday, for although Hans did his best as leader of the choir, he could not fill Paul's place. He was missed by his mother, who, through the long, wearisome days and lonely nights, thought only of him, her pride, her joy, her hope. How good Azalia was to visit the Post-office every morning to get the letters which Paul wrote to his mother, often finding one for herself!
How pleasant to read what he wrote of life in camp! How thrilling the narrative of his adventures, his visit to the forts, his narrow escapes!
As she read it, her heart stood still while the letter was wet with tears. What if the rebels had hung him! It was terrible to think of.
What could she do to comfort him? How help him,--how relieve his sufferings and hards.h.i.+ps? She would knit him a pair of gloves and stockings. But his comrades needed them as well as he. Why not ask Daphne to help? Why not ask all the girls to do something? So she thought the matter over through the long winter nights, planning a soldiers' sewing and knitting society.
Pleasant gatherings they had in the vestry of the church on Wednesday afternoons working for the soldiers. Azalia's cheeks were flushed with rare beauty when she read Paul's letters to them with trembling voice.
There were many moist eyes, for all felt that, if he and his comrades were undergoing such hards.h.i.+ps and dangers for them, that they might have a home and a united country, they ought to do all they could in return; and so, while knitting stockings for the soldiers, their hearts were knit in deeper love and devotion to their country.
But they had something besides Paul's adventures to talk about; for one Monday morning when Mr. Bond, the town treasurer, opened his office, he found that it had been entered by robbers, who had stolen all the money,--several thousand dollars. It was soon discovered that Philip Funk was missing. The sheriffs and constables set themselves to hunt him up. They got upon his track, followed him to the Ohio River, and across into Kentucky; but he was too swift for them, and succeeded in getting into the Rebel lines with the stolen money. Notwithstanding he was a robber, his sister f.a.n.n.y held her head as high as ever. She did not attend the soldiers' aid society. She hoped that the South would succeed in establis.h.i.+ng its independence, and was glad that Philip had gone to help the Southern soldiers. ”I hope he will come across Paul,”
said f.a.n.n.y to Daphne Dare one day.
<script>