Part 10 (1/2)

They came where two men sat on horses in the way. ”Sorry, Judge, but them's orders, seh; only enrolled men can pa.s.s.”

But the speakers presently concluded that it could never have been intended to shut out such a personage as Judge March, and on pledge to report to Captain Shotwell, at the Swanee Hotel, or else to Captain Champion at the court-house, father and son proceeded. Montrose Academy showed no sign of life as they went by.

Yet John had never seen the town so populous. Saddled horses were tied everywhere. Men rode here or there in the yellow dust, idly or importantly, mounted, dismounted, or stood on the broken sidewalks in groups, some sober, some not, all armed and spurred, and more arriving from all directions. Handsome Captain Shotwell, sitting in civil dress, a sword belted on him and lying across his lap, explained to the Judge.

”Why, you know, Judge, how ow young men ah; always up to some ridiculous praank, jest in mere plaay, you know, seh. Yeste'd'y some of 'em taken a boyish notion to put some maasks on an' ride through Leggettstown in 'slo-ow p'ocession, with a sawt o' banneh marked, 'SEE YOU AGAIN TO-NIGHT.' They had guns--mo' f'om fo'ce o' habit, I reckon, than anything else--you know how ow young men ah, seh--one of 'em carry a gun a yeah, an' nevah so much as hahm a floweh, you know. Well, seh, unfawtunately, the niggehs had no mo' sense than to take it all in dead earnest. They put they women an' child'en into the church an' ahmed theyse'ves, some thirty of 'em, with shotguns an' old muskets--yondeh's some of 'em in the cawneh. Then they taken up a position in the road just this side the village, an' sent to Sherman an' Libbetyville fo'

reinfo'cements.

”Well, of co'se, you know, seh, what was jes' boun' to happm. Some of ow ve'y best young men mounted an' moved to dislodge an' scatteh them befo'

they could gatheh numbehs enough to take the offensive an' begin they fiendish work. Well, seh, about daay-break, while sawt o' reconnoiterin'

in fo'ce, they come suddenly upon the niggehs' position, an' the niggehs, without the slightes' p'ovocation, up an' fi-ud!

P'ovidentially, they shot too high, an' only one man was inju'ed--by fallin' from his hawss. Well, seh, ow boys fi-ud an' cha'ged, an' the niggehs, of co'se, run, leavin' three dead an' fo' wounded; aw, accawdin' to latest accounts, seven dead an' no wounded. The niggehs taken shelteh in the church, ow boys fallen back fo' reinfo'cements, an'

about a' hour by sun comes word that the niggehs, frenzied with raage an' liquo', a-comin' this way to the numbeh o' three hund'ed, an'

increasin' as they come.--No, seh, I don't know that it is unfawtunate.

It's just as well faw this thing to happm, an' to happm now. It'll teach both sides, as Garnet said awhile ago addressin' the crowd, that the gov'ment o' Dixie's simply got to paa.s.s, this time, away f'om a raace that can't p'eserve awdeh, an' be undividedly transfehed oveh to the raace G.o.d-A'mighty appointed to gov'n!”

Judge March's voice was full of meek distress. ”Captain Shotwell, where is Major Garnet, sir?”

”Garnet? Oh, he's over in the Courier office, consultin' with Haggard an' Jeff-Jack.”

”Do you know whether Gen'l Halliday's in town, sir?”

The Captain smiled. ”He's in the next room, seh. He's been undeh my--p'otection, as you might say, since daylight.”

”Gen'l Halliday could stop all this, Captain.”

”Stop it? He could stop it in two hours, seh! If he'd just consent to go under parole to Leggettstown an' tell them niggehs that if they'll simply lay down they ahms an' stay quietly at home--jest faw a day aw two--all 'll be freely fo'givm an' fo'gotten, seh! Instead o' that, he sits there, ca'mly smilin'--you know his way--an' threatenin' us with the ahm of the United States Gov'ment. He fo'gets that by a wise p'ovision o' that Gov'ment's foundehs it's got sev'l ahms, an' one holds down anotheh. The S'preme Cote--Judge March, you go in an' see him; you jest the man to do it, seh!”

John waited without. Presently father and son were seen to leave Captain Shotwell's headquarters and cross the square to the Courier office.

There a crowd was reading a bulletin which stated that scouting parties reported no negro force ma.s.sed anywhere. At the top of a narrow staircase the Judge and his son were let into the presence of Major Garnet and his advisers.

Here John had one more good gaze at Ravenel. He was in the physical perfection of twenty-six, his eyes less playful than once, but his smile less cynical. His dress was faultlessly neat. Haggard was almost as noticeable, though less interesting; a slender, high-strung man, with a pale face seamed by a long scar got in a duel. One could see that he had been trying to offset the fatigues of the night with a popular remedy.

Garnet was dictating, Haggard writing.

”Captains Shotwell and Champion will move their forces at once in opposite circuits--through the disturbed villages--and a.s.sure all persons--of whatever race or party--that the right of the people peaceably to bear arms--is vindicated--and that order is restored--and will be maintained.” A courier waited.

”At the same time,” said Ravenel, indolently, ”they can ask if the rumor is true that Mr. Leggett and about ten others are going to be absent from this part of the country until after the election, and say we hope it's so.”

Haggard cast a glance at Garnet, Garnet looked away, the postscript was made, and the missive sent.

”Brother March, good-morning, sir.” The Major kept the Judge's hand as they moved aside. But presently the whole room could hear--”Why, Brother March, the trouble's all over!--Oh, of course, if Halliday feels any real _need_ to confer with us he can do so; we'll be right here.--Oh--Haggard!”

The editor, in the doorway, said he would be back, and went out. He was evidently avoiding Halliday. Judge March felt belittled and began to go.

”If you're bound for home, Brother March, I'll be riding that way myself, presently. You see, in a few minutes Suez'll be as quiet as it ever was, and I sent word to General Halliday just before you came in, that no one designs, or has designed, to abridge any personal liberty of his he may think safe to exercise.” The speaker suddenly ceased.