Part 74 (1/2)

What was still more unfortunate to me, personally, was the fact that having followed the old soldier, I was surrounded, and made a prisoner in the same manner.

x.x.xV.

FACE TO FACE.

We had scarcely time to realize the truly disgusting fact, that we were captured at the very instant that the enemy were being driven, when the charge of the Federal cavalry was met by a hail-storm of bullets which drove them back in disorder.

For some moments the woods presented a singular spectacle. Hors.e.m.e.n flying in wild confusion; riderless animals darting madly toward the rear; the groans of wounded men tottering in the saddle as they rushed by--all this made up a wild scene of excitement, and confusion worse confounded.

General Davenant, his son, and myself had been ordered to the rear, under escort; and the old cavalier had turned his horse's head in that direction, boiling with rage at his capture, when the repulse ensued, and the Federal cavalry streamed by us toward the rear.

All at once a loud voice was heard shouting in the half darkness:--

”Halt! halt! you cursed cowards! Halt! and form column!”

The speaker rushed toward us as he spoke, mounted upon a huge black horse, and I heard the noise made by his sabre, as with the flat of it, he struck blows upon the brawny shoulders of the fugitives.

At his summons, and the blows of his sabre, the men halted, and again fell into column. Under the shadowy boughs of the woods, and in the gathering darkness, the long line of hors.e.m.e.n resembled phantoms rather than men. Near them glimmered some bivouac fires; and the flickering light illumined their persons, gleamed on their scabbards, and lit up the rough bearded faces.

”Cowardly scoundrels!” exclaimed their leader, in fierce accents, ”where are the prisoners that ran into us?”

”Here, colonel. One is a general!” said a man.

”Let me see them!”

General Davenant struck the spur violently into his horse, and rode close to the Federal officer, in whom I had recognized Colonel Darke.

”Here I am, wretch!--look at me!” exclaimed General Davenant, foaming with rage. ”Accursed be the day when I begat a murderer and a renegade!”

x.x.xVI.

THE CURSE.

Darke's hand unconsciously drew the rein, and man and horse both seemed to stagger back before the furious old soldier.

”General--Davenant!” muttered Darke, turning pale.

”Yes, General Davenant!--a gentleman, an honest man; not a traitor and a murderer!”

”Good G.o.d!” muttered Darke, ”it is my father, truly--and my little brother! The proud face, the eyes, the mouth--and yet they told me you were killed.”

”Ah! 'Killed!' Killing is a favorite topic with you!” exclaimed General Davenant, furiously; ”well, kill _me_, now!--Strike your dastardly sword, or _your knife_ if you have one, straight into my breast! Murder me, I say, as you murdered George Conway!--I have a purse in my pocket, and you can rob me when I am dead. Strike! strike!--but not with the sword! That is the weapon of a gentleman. Draw your knife, and stab me in the back--the knife is the weapon of the a.s.sa.s.sin!”

And crossing his arms upon his breast, the fiery old cavalier confronted his son, with eyes full of bitter wrath and disdain--eyes which I shall never forget; for their fire burnt them into my memory.

Darke did not dare to meet them. I had listened with amazement to those words, which indicated that the Federal officer was General Davenant's son; then this sentiment of astonishment, profound as it was, had yielded to one of expectation, if I may so express myself. What I expected was a furious outbreak from the man of fierce and violent pa.s.sions, thus taunted and driven to bay by the repeated insults of the general. No outburst came, however. On the contrary, the Federal officer bowed his head, and listened in silence, while a mortal pallor diffused itself over his swarthy face. His gaze was bent upon the ground, and his brows so closely knit that they extended in an unbroken ridge of black and s.h.a.ggy hair above his bloodshot eyes. He sat his horse, in the light of the camp-fire,--a huge cavalier upon an animal as powerful and forbidding in appearance as himself,--and for more than a minute after the scornful outburst from General Davenant, Darke remained silent and motionless, with his eyes still fixed upon the ground: