CHAPTER XI.
The War Scout—The Discovery.
Softly—softly as the creeping panther.—De Soto.
We left Fall-leaf, Margrave, and Johnson, as they were following the party who had recaptured Hayward and Alibamo. As they descended the mountain, the rear of the rebel army were in sight. At night-fall it halted, and upon the broad prairie, near an oak grove, the camp was soon formed.
"Can you distinguish the rebel general's headquarters?" asked Margrave.
"I was trying to do so," replied Johnson, and his eyes wandered from point to point.
"Do you remember the style of his tent?"
"Perfectly. It is of the pattern known as the wall-tent, but of large size. And near it should be about a dozen others of the same description. There it is!"
"Those in the centre—near the grove?"
"Yes—don't you see the rebel ensign waving over it?"
"Very distinctly now. But I do not believe Alibamo, or the captain, will be placed near headquarters. They are the prisoners of that fellow, Branch."
"What shall we do, Johnson?" asked Margrave.
"We must enter their lines to-night, and ascertain where our friends are, and listen to the conversation of the officers, and, if possible, learn what is to be their fate," replied Johnson.
"And we must remember that Captain Hayward is not to be forgotten. He is not dead, or he would have been left on the other side of the mountain, and the drops of blood which we frequently saw along the line of march, is evidence that some wounded person or persons are with the rebels. This brave captain risked his life for my sister, and I shall risk my life a thousand times for him."
"We must first creep near the sentinels, and when the nine o'clock relief is marched out, we can listen, and gain possession of the countersign. This will be of some assistance to us in case of challenge."
"No—no! White brother stay here! Indian go—creep—softly!" said Fall-leaf.
"No, my brother, you are suffering too severely with your wounds. We cannot permit you to do this, while we remain inactive."
"Look out for the pickets. There is one of their fires," said Margrave, as they approached the oak grove. The party verged their course, and, in a few moments, were within a hundred yards of the camp, concealed almost entirely by the thick wood through which they were passing. Here they paused.
"The darkness favors us!" remarked Margrave. "The moon which was shining so brightly last night, is now entirely obscured by thick clouds. We must wait until after tattoo, and then enter the camp in different directions."
"No—me alone!" replied Fall-leaf. "You—you—me, go—all get kill—no help Alibamo! Me go now! I get kill—you go. You get kill, you go. I no get kill, come back. I no come back, you go!"
"The Indian means to express himself to the effect, that it is more safe for one to go alone, and if he should get killed or taken, another could go the next night, and another the next? or, that, if two of us should be killed, the third could return and procure more assistance for Alibamo, when he had learned their final destination. We will let the Indian go first. I will write a few words upon a bit of paper, and he may get an opportunity to give it to my sister."
The drums had beat the tattoo, and the relief had passed its rounds. The party listened attentively, but failed to get the countersign, which was given in a whisper. The camp became quiet, and the lights were mostly extinguished.
"Me go now! softly—softly," said the Indian.
"Fall-leaf, give this paper to my sister if you can get an opportunity. If you are discovered, and compelled to fly, we will all meet at yonder rock."
The Indian, without replying, took the bit of paper, and started for the camp. Softly as the creeping panther he worked his way along. He passed the outer row of tents unperceived, and was now fairly within the rebel camp. With cat-like stealth he crept along from tent to tent, listening at each, but not a sound was heard save the deep breathing of the sleepers within. At length the Indian reached a wide avenue, which ran along before a better class of tents than those he had previously passed, and from which were streaming lights. He listened, and could plainly distinguish voices within, but there appeared here a difficulty. Directly in front of the one he wished to reach, a sentinel was stationed, and, if he attempted to cross the broad avenue at that point, it could not fail to attract the watchful guardian's attention.
Just at that moment two forms emerged from the tent, and came directly toward him. It was but the work of an instant for the Indian to conceal himself in the long prairie grass, which fortunately had not been entirely trodden down at this point. He was passed unobserved, and he distinctly heard the name of "Hayward" spoken. He watched, and saw them enter a tent, some twenty rods from that from which they had emerged.
The Indian crept cautiously along. About half-way between the two tents to which his attention had been thus especially drawn, he found the lights extinguished, and he succeeded in crossing the avenue unobserved. He was now in the rear of what he supposed to he the general commanding and his staff officers' quarters. He soon came near the tent into which he had seen the two persons enter, and bending his ear to the ground, he distinctly heard the voices of those within, but could not distinguish the words spoken. He drew nearer, but saw that a guard was stationed on every side, and that it would be impossible to approach nearer without being discovered. He could now hear the voices plainly, and was not long in discovering that both Alibamo and the captain were confined there. Some stratagem must be resorted to, in order to attract the attention of the guard in another direction. The Indian had already torn up the long prairie-grass, and wrapped it around him in such a manner that he would not easily be seen, so nearly did he resemble the earth around him. He remained perfectly quiet for a moment, as if deeply thinking. At length he commenced a search upon the ground around him. He raised a stone about the size of a large apple, and hurled it toward the woods, in the rear of the last row of tents. It struck against the tree-tops and then fell to the ground, making considerable noise. The guard instantly turned his attention in that direction. He listened, but hearing nothing more, he started with cautious steps toward the wood, his gun at a ready. The Indian at once took advantage of his absence from his post, and darted unseen, close behind the tent. He prostrated himself upon the ground, and drawing the grass around him, and the tent-flap partially over his form, he was safe from detection so long as he did not move. The guard discovering nothing, returned to his post, but the Indian remained quiet, listening to all the conversation within. He became convinced that Nettleton was a friend, and finally attracted his attention, he being seated back of the couch upon which Hayward was lying, and very near Fall-leaf. The Indian waved the paper in his hand, and then let it fall upon the ground. In an instant he sprang to his feet, and dashing the guard to the ground, darted for the woods. He leaped the fence just as the sentinel fired upon him, but the ball whistled by without harming Fall-leaf.
He made all haste to join his friends whom he found awaiting him. It was decided to make no further attempts to enter camp, but they determined to follow on, hoping the prisoners might be left at some point under a small guard, which could be attacked and overcome.
On the morning the squad under the command of Branch left the main army, our friends were well satisfied that their destination was Springfield, and Johnson determined to hasten back to the Union army, and try to procure assistance. Margrave and Fall-leaf followed on, and saw his sister Alibamo and Captain Hayward, enter the rebel hospital. As both were well known in Springfield, Margrave having escaped from that place but a short time previous, assisted by the Indian, their situation was by no means an enviable one. But they mingled with the loungers, and soon learned that a hanging was to come off the next day at three o'clock. The great event was to take place in the Fair-Ground.