The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-12-31
CHAPTER XVII.
ONE WAY TO SWAP HORSES.

T..
Lieut. Morgan had gone to intercede with
PleasontOn, and had taken Squire with
him. Then, without beating the bush, he
advised Mr.. West of his plan to abet the
Confederates in the matter of setting
Hawley against Usher. Mr.. West at once
rode away; he knew not where Mosby
was holding himself, but he had little
doubt that he should find members of the
band at their homes, and even before Ju-
niOr reached PleasOntOn. Mr.. West was
in Mosby's presence and had told his
purpose.
Serg't Morgan had already recognized
Hawley, and that prisoner was not happy;
but Mr.. West himself was the first to
bring tidings of Usher's condition and
of Freeman's threats. The matter de-
veloped into Morgan's going alone to bear
a message from Mosby to the effect that
Hawley, for violation of parole, would
summarily be shot in case Freeman's
threat should be carried out.
For all answer, Morgan, after having
been held by the sentinel for full hour.
was informed that Capt. Freeman had no
communication to make to bushwhackers.
Mr.. West had waited until Morgan's
return.
How is my brother now?" the Sergeant
asked, spite of the formers cruel sus-
pense, indeed with desire to defect his
thought.
.Gone to Gen. Pleasonton to intercede
for Usher. Oh, Dan, that's a noble fel-
low; do you know what he told me? He
says that his grandfather's will was in
favor of Daniel Morgan. and that you
shall have every cent Of the property"
''Tell him I'll share mine with him!
I'm rich enough for both if he ever wants
anything. l won't touch it,
'Just what l told him." said West.
"Gone to Plea asonton! He'll succeed,
do pray and hope. But can he stand it:"
He took Squire. / hope he can make
it, but-and Mr.. West cut his speech short
through fear Of losing self-control.
DIR. Lacy had returned to Freeman's
camp, but was holding himself alo0f from
the Captain. The day was wearing on,
the little camp more and more gloomy;
every sound man was on duty. guarding
the roads, the entire company always IN
der arms. Freeman's excited condition
caused much talk; and as it became cur
rent that Hawley was prisoner under
threat of retaliating upon him the penalty
which Freeman seemed resolved to in
hict upon West, murmurs of deep dis
pleasure began to run; while it was true
that Freeman's orders must be obeyed, yet
1t was clear that in this matter he was
franscending his own powers, and more
than one man swOre loudly not to serve
il ordered on the detail of execution. The
Sergeants endeavored to quiet such talk.
but their efforts were vain. and at length
one OF them informed the Captain that il
would be dangerous to proceed; but the
warning had no seeming effect, and in the
afternoon the Orderly Sergeant notified
each man of the. detail for execution.
But now, MOsby, who, had he known
OF the condition, tantamonnt to mutiny,
of Freeman's camp, might have refrained
from the act, sent Morgan with q second
message, which seemed to increase the vio-
lence Of Capt. Freeman's rage; for Mosby
served notice that, if West suffered, then
Is
should thereafter be captured by the par
tisan would be shot down without delay.
To this message, Serg't Morgan, after
waiting long, returned without answer.
Freeman, however, had been staggered
by Mosby's threats, and it was nothing
but pride that still held him TO his reso-
lution-he wished himself well out of the
trouble. But his men, hearing Of the las:
threat, turned about, also through PRIDE
and declared that they would not bend an
inch for Mosby and his high talk-they
would meet death with death.
Lacy's uneasiness had never been shown
SO great, and toward the middle of the
afternoon he rode out of the camp, taking
the way to Haymarket. up which he ex-
pectec Lieut.. Morgan to come, his ner-
y0usness such that he felt the need Of end
ing it at the earliest possible moment.
He had ridden at slow walk more
than a mile when, from q hight, he saw
far at the south a moving spot in the road; !;
he halted, for he knew at once that here
was something greater than a horseman,
or even than two. The object was NOV
ing northward and rapidly, but soon
turn of the road hid the thing from view,
and when 1t next appeared the Doctor
saw some half a dozen cayalrymen coming
at gallOp, and close behind them an am
bulance drawn by four horses.
Lacy had already sent his wounded to
Fairfax, and he wondered why this ambu-
lance from the direction of Warrenton was
coming to his help; but almost at once he
conceived the truth-Gen. Pleasonton had
sent his exhausted Aid back in this degree
OF comfort, and it meant that Morgan had
succeeded; he put spurs to his horse.
The Doctor found Morgan propped with
mattresses. and incapable OF continuous
speech. Old Squire was curled up asleep
The tired horses they had ridden had been
left behind to be sent on later. In a
minute Lacy had the situation. The squad
were to go on without Morgan in case tho
Lieutenant should be forced to halt
Feeling it better that Freeman should
not yet learn of Morgans appeal to Pleas
Onton, Lacy now commanded the deiec-
tiOn of the ambulance to Mr.. Vests, and
with half of the squad he rode back to
camp. where he remained until he knew
that the Generals instructions had been
delivered, and that the Orderly Sergeant
had notified the detailed men that they
and overlook his patient.
Juniors hopeful condition had been
greatly impaired; he had brought joy in
regard to Usher, but extreme anxiety con-
cerning himself, and not only Jennie was
oppressed by fears for his life, but even
her father failed TO conceal his emotion as
he assisted in bearing the Federal to his
bed.
In the meanwhile Maj. Mosby had made
his arrangements for sending his prison
ers and most valuable captures to- the
army under Gen. Lee, and had distrib-
uted TO his men whatever would be too
cumbrous for such a journey, which must
be made with exceeding caution and rapid
ity. BY means of his scouts, he learned
that the threatened execution Of Wes:
had not been carried into effect, and a
messenger sent to Mr.. Vests returned af-
ter nightfall with complete information.
Then Mosby put his train in motion; all
the night he moved southwest through
Loudoun Valley, and when the sun rose
he was at Orleans. and almost in safety.
Here he disbanded his men except bHt
few, with whom he brought his prizes
to Stuarfs cavalry. This journey took