Part 27 (2/2)
”Wait!” ordered Tom. ”How about these clothes? Where're mine? If I'm caught in these things....” The negroes collected his clothes, which had been spread out to dry, and he changed rapidly. ”Take everything and get back as quickly as you can. Come just as soon as it's daylight to be sure you haven't left anything. Tell Miss Marjorie that I've gone....”
They jumped at the crackling of some underbrush near them. It was Marjorie.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
THE LAST DASH
”Here we are, Marjorie.” He went forward to meet her. ”Thanks a thousand times for all you've done. You must go back now. I'm going on-so that they won't catch me here.”
”No, Tom, you can't go this way,” she answered, crying. ”I won't let you. Here!-Joe and Sam-put those things down and stay here. Oh, Tom, they'll surely catch you if you try it.” She clutched his arm as though to hold him from running into the woods.
”But, Marjorie, there's nothing we can do,” he protested. ”Please go back. Don't you see what it'll mean if I'm found near here? If I had my horse, the one I sent back from the ferry that day....”
”It's in the far pasture-three miles away,” she answered. ”Kirby'll have the whole country looking for you by the time we could get it. You'll have to stay here, Tom. I'll hide you in the house-Matty'll hide you over the kitchen. Let me do that for you-let me take the risk. Please!”
”No! If they get me, they'll get me in the open. No, Marjorie. Go on back.”
”Then take a horse from the stable. Take my horse.”
”Yours?”
”Yes. Uncle gave him to me, and I give him to you. You must....”
”But they'll know....”
”No, they won't....”
”But tomorrow when they find....”
She was facing him squarely, holding to his arms and shaking him. ”Matty's husband is the stableman. He knows about you. He'll say that he turned the horse into the pasture. You must.... Joe! Sam! Go up to the stable and saddle my horse and bring him here. Run!”
”Ya.s.sum,” replied the negroes in a breath. They disappeared into the darkness. Tom's protest was smothered under Marjorie's hand. The wave of excitement which had kept him on his feet pa.s.sed, and it was as though he had been caught in a powerful undertow which swept his legs from under him. He sank down on the fallen log where they had been sitting together earlier in the day.
”Can you ride? Are you strong enough?” she asked anxiously.
”Yes-if I once get my legs wrapped around him I can stick there. Marjorie, if you're caught at this, all the raid will seem like an immense failure.”
”But I won't be caught, and I will always be proud that you came to me when you needed me, when I could help you.”
”You're worth a dozen soldiers!” he exclaimed.
There was a moment of silence. ”Poor Tom!” she said softly. ”It's all so terrible, isn't it? And so wonderful! You men have left the whole South gasping at your bravery. Even Uncle-and he hates everything from the North-says it's the most daring thing he's ever heard of.”
”But you-you're from the North.”
”Yes,” she answered. ”We don't talk about the war. He just takes it for granted that I believe everything he believes. I've been here two years now. When mother and father were alive I lived in Albany. I'm going back just as soon as I can. Listen!”
There were more horses on the road.
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