# My Lady of the South/Chapter 22

CHAPTER XXII
A RECONNAISSANCE
MY own exhaustion, complete as it was temporarily, was not lasting. I held the lantern before Donald's face, bending down to make certain he still breathed, and then began searching for the door of the cabin. There was a variety of articles piled within, but a comparatively clear lane had been left between them leading to the single entrance, which was secured by a simple latch. The night remained exceedingly dark without, but I hid the lantern within a box, and endeavored to make something of the immediate surroundings. We were directly to the rear of the house, another small cabin standing between us and the kitchen ell. Some ten or fifteen feet away I made out the black outlines of a well-curb, with a sweep above it, and beyond that rose the trunk of a large tree. This comprised about all I could distinguish with any certainty, while the intense quietness of the night seemed more like a dream than a reality. Could it be possible those silent shadows hid fighting men within their sombre depths, men with guns in their hands, and the desire to kill in their hearts? I called to O'Brien in a whisper, and the lad came to me instantly.
"See if you can fill your canteen there at the well ​without making a noise," and I pointed toward the vague outline. "You had better creep, and keep your eyes wide open."
He was not absent more than ﬁve minutes, clinging close to the darker shadows in his passage, moving more like a snake than a man. Donald stirred and groaned, but I clung watchfully to the doorway until the boy came safe back.
"There was wather in the pail, sor." he explained, letting me feel the wet canteen, "an' there's two or three fellows sittin' there on the back porch."
"Were those all you saw? "
"I heard a noise by the head of the arbor, but it was too black in there to see anything."
"Well, you go inside and remain with Colonel Donald. Don't permit him any opportunity to get away or sound an alarm. Keep fresh water on his wound, but don't venture to leave him a minute. I am going to take a look around, but will not be gone more than twenty minutes. You understand?"
"I do, sor."
I waited in the doorway until he had vanished, and then crept cautiously forth, moving slowly backward down the short line of negro cabins, until I attained the edge of a small grove. Under this concealment I circled to the right, purposing to advance through the weeds along the east of the grape arbor. I remembered the lay of the land in this direction fairly well, and felt convinced the force of attacking Confederates would be drawn as close in to the house as the shelter would permit. I had no ​reason to suppose the number of men opposing us was very considerable; their apparent unwillingness in assault—for they must have known we were a small party—bespoke weakness, and the probable waiting tor reinforcements. Every rifle under such circumstances would be on the firing line, and they would anticipate no approach from the rear. Confident in this respect I crept well around, and then began worming my way in toward the grape arbor, discovering nothing to obstruct progress. The thickness of the vines finally prevented further advance in this direction, and I consequently turned more toward the front of the house, heading directly toward a great tree, at the north end of the arbor. The spreading branches cast so black a shadow that I was almost within arm's length of the trunk before becoming aware that two men were standing there together, their backs toward me. It was the sound of a voice which first awaken me to the peril of the position in which I had unwittingly placed myself.
"Theilen will certainly be here by daylight, and then we shall have enough men to turn the trick. That was his messenger who just left."
"How much of a force will he bring?" It was Calvert Dunn who asked the question.
"He should have a hundred men, with my fellows picked up on the way. He was sent over to Bitter Creek to waylay a Yankee foraging party."
There was a pause; Dunn kicked restlessly at the root of the tree.
"Well, it can't be more than an hour now until ​daylight," he said, at last, "and altogether that will give us about one hundred and sixty-five, won't it?"
"That or more; my fellows have been dropping in here all night, and you brought five with you."
"I did n't expect to fall into this sort of an affair," in a tone of evident disgust. "I merely came over to take back that Yankee prisoner to camp. Did you count the blue-bellies?"
"No; but there are about twenty of them, I reckon, and they must have bottled up the Colonel, or he'd have been out here with us before this. Those fellars can shoot, too, better'n any troopers I ever come up against before." He paused, thinking. "Didn't you say a while ago. Lieutenant, that you knew a way leadin' into the house that would let us take 'em in the ra'ar?"
"Yes, I did, Dodd; but there's no use trying to turn that trick until we get more men. If Theilen reaches here by daylight we'll gobble up that whole Yankee outfit easy, but it's better to wait and make a clean job. As things are they can't possibly get away."
"Some of 'em will sure get hurt if they ever try it. Well, I'm goin' 'round the lines again, Lieutenant. Maybe you better wait here, where I can find you easy. Besides, this is about where Theilen will strike for when he comes. He'll follow that path up from the creek, most likely."
The guerilla sauntered off, gun across his shoulder, and I crouched low behind the grape arbor until he passed, his footsteps noiseless on the soft earth. Dunn remained quiet a moment, and then sauntered slowly round ​behind the tree trunk, and I heard him scratching a match. It blazed into a tiny flame, and he attempted to light a cigar, the slight glow illumining his face. A window of the house spit flame to the sharp crack of a carbine, the ball tearing along the bark of the tree. My rascals within were evidently awake, and the startled Lieutenant dropped the blazing match as though it had burnt his fingers. Another carbine spoke from a window further to the left, the missile whistling through the air between us. Then everything became silent and black again.
So Dunn intended to resort to the secret passage, as soon as he had gathered men enough to safely risk the attempt; and he was the only one in the party who was aware of its existence. Then my work was cut out for me—I must take care of Dunn. Yet how was this to be accomplished? I felt no personal fear of the fellow, merely of the alarm he might raise, thus cutting off my retreat, and overturning all my plans. Besides, there was brief time in which to arrange the play, with both daylight and Theilen already so close at hand. Theilen! Why, of course a report of his approach would throw Dunn off his guard, and I might inveigle the fellow far enough back from the lines to make an open attack possible. Here, at least, was the only course which seemed to promise success. I tore off my jacket, turning it inside out to hide the gleam of buttons; ripped off the insignia from the front of my slouch hat, and pulled the wide brim low over my eyes. There would be nothing natty about Theilen's irregulars, and the color of my clothes could not be ​easily guessed at in the gloom. All else was sheer luck and audacity. I was within five feet of the fellow before he even saw me, and the ludicrous manner in which he leaped backward, clawing for the revolver in his belt almost caused me to laugh outright. Yet, before he could draw the weapon, I asked hurriedly,
"Is this Captain Dodd?"
"N—no; I am an officer of Johnston's staff," peering forward in a vain endeavor to decipher my face. "Who are you? What do you want?"
"I have been sent forward by Captain Theilen. He wants to know where he is to bring his men."
The Lieutenant stiffened up, the slight faltering of his voice vanished in an effort at command.
"Oh, I see. Well, I am technically in command here, being of the regular service. Where is Theilen?"
"Back yonder on the creek; he's waitin' for orders, an' a guide."
"Well, hurry back and bring him up—you know the way, don't you?"
I stared off into the black night, as though it hid a thousand mysteries.
"Well, I don't exactly know," I confessed unwillingly. "I got here all right because the firing from the house sorter guided me; but them weeds is mighty confusin', an' I reckon it will take me a right smart while to find my way back again. You could n't go along, could you?"
There was nothing in the request to arouse suspicion, yet he hesitated, apparently at first inclined to refuse, perhaps considering such a service beneath his dignity.
​" Maybe if you got me as far as the head of that path I might make the rest all right," I suggested doubtfully. It was plain enough he would prefer remaining where he was, but anxiety to have these welcome reinforcements hurried forward caused him grudgingly to consent.
"How large a force have you?"
"A few over a hundred, I reckon."
"Well, come on; I'll show you to the path. You could follow that with your eyes blindfolded."
I had forgotten the way myself, or rather the night confused me as to the points of compass, yet as he started off to the right I followed, perfectly satisfied so long as every step took us farther away from the immediate vicinity of the house. We were not challenged, evidence enough that no guards had been stationed to prevent possible approach from this direction, and my guide pushed ahead rapidly, familiar with every inch of the route. We had traversed the orchard, and were upon the edge of the weed patch, when he came to a sharp halt.
"Here's where the path begins leading down to the creek. It's not very straight, but you can't lose it, for the growth is solid on both sides."
"It all looks the same to me," staring beyond him. "Where did you say the entrance was?"
"Right here in front," half angrily. "What is the matter with your eyes? I'll lead you into it, and then, perhaps, you can follow your nose."
He gripped my sleeve, forcing me forward. The next instant I had my leg twined about his, my hand on his throat, and he went to the ground as though felled by a ​blow, the breath squeezed out of him, too thoroughly astounded to struggle. I never had an easier job at taming a man, and before he got his scattered senses together I pressed a revolver barrel against his temple, threatening instant death if he so much as moved. Whatever other ambitions Lieutenant Calvert Dunn may have possessed, departure from life was surely not included, and I doubt If he winked an eyelash while I stripped him of weapons, and tightly buckled his waistbelt about his arms, binding them helplessly against the body.
"Sorry to be compelled to treat you in this manner," I remarked coolly, "but it seems to be your luck to get in my way constantly. Besides, I believe you advocated hanging me only a few hours ago."
He recognized me then, and the sudden gust of anger overcame his prudence, yielding him voice. He burst forth into a volley of oaths.
"Stop that!" the words like bullets, the grip of my hand shutting off his wind. "I hold your life in this one finger and you either obey me, or die. How many men are about this house?"
He squirmed under the pressure of the gun barrel, but comprehended the necessity for an immediate answer.
"About sixty."
"All Donald's guerillas?"
"Except the small squad I brought with me."
"How are they posted?"
"Thirty or so in front of the house; perhaps a dozen at the rear; the others scattered so as to watch the side windows."
​"No patrols thrown out to protect the rear?"
"Not so far as I know: there may be a picket on the main road. We had no reason to expect any Yanks from this direction."
There was no occasion to doubt the truth of his replies, and they coincided exactly with my own conception of the situation. These were irregulars, and not disciplined soldiers, trained merely as raiders, and naturally careless as to guard lines. Besides, they had every reason to suppose the small body of Federal cavalry opposing them were without supports, and securely bottled up within the house. All they had to do was to await reinforcements, and then force surrender. Any thought of a rear attack had not once occurred to them. The situation was certainly to my liking, but what could I do with Dunn? I possessed no efficient means of binding and gagging the fellow so as to leave him safely behind, and, if Theilen was really expected by daylight, every minute was of value, the smallness of my force making it necessary that I keep the enemy separated, fighting a detachment at a time. Delay meant daylight, and an enemy outnumbering us five to one. The only feasible method was to take the Lieutenant with me back to the hut, where O'Brien could stand guard over him; while I gathered together our men for a sortie. With this in view I gripped him by the collar, hauling him roughly to his feet.
"Now, Dunn, keep exactly one step ahead of me along the edge of these weeds until you reach the orchard. Yes, I know where we are going, and any effort to break ​away or any noise, will put you beyond rescue. Step out lively now, only be quiet about it."
I can sincerely say this for him, he was a good prisoner, although I heard him swearing fiercely under his breath, doubtless because of suspicions of me, expecting every moment to have his throat cut. Anyway, he pushed on exactly as I ordered, and, no one intercepting us, we reached the rear of the hut in good order. I could hear the voices of the guard conversing on the back porch of the house, but they caught no glimpse of our stealthy movements, and we slipped within the shelter of the cabin, where O'Brien promptly held us up with levelled carbine.