CHAPTER XIV.
The Conclusion
I have no words—my voice is in my sword.
Thou bloodier villain than terms can give thee out.
Shakespeare.
After finding themselves so thoroughly vanquished at every hand, the panic-stricken rebels fled in every direction, with the utmost precipitation. Their infantry fled into the thick adjoining woods, and thus made their way to the wide spreading prairie beyond, while their cavalry, taking advantage of a moment when the Body-guard were most busily engaged with the infantry lines, sped across an adjoining field, and were soon beyond the reach of danger.
It was in consequence of the general confusion which ensued, that many of the most guilty and cowardly were enabled to effect their escape. This was especially the case with Branch.
At the moment of the explosion under the gallows, he determined not to fight, but to effect his escape with his victims. He urged forward the frightened cattle attached to the cart which contained Alibamo and the inanimate form of Miss Hayward. He proceeded to the western side of the enclosure, and tearing away the high board fence, emerged into the street. Here he beheld the battle raging in the distance, but was too far from the scene to anticipate any particular danger. He opened the fence opposite the place from that which he had left the Fair-Ground, and, driving into a thick wood beyond, soon struck a narrow path, just large enough to admit the passage of the cart. Now for the first time he turned to Alibamo, and said:
"What think you now, my fair one? Is Captain Branch foiled so easily?"
Alibamo did not reply. She held the insensible form of Miss Hayward in her arms, and was striving in every possible way to restore her to consciousness. At length she said:
"Branch, will you not pass me some water from that stream?"
"Will you have it in my cap? It is the only thing in which I can convey it to you!" replied Branch.
"No!" answered Alibamo. "Let us pause for a moment, and you can assist me in removing this dying maiden to the side of the stream. Perhaps the water, dripping cool and fresh upon her forehead will bring her back to consciousness."
"I shall not pause," replied Branch, as he reached the maiden his cap, which he had filled with water.
"You are a vile coward!" replied Alibamo. At this moment her eyes caught the glimpse of something moving among the thick brush near her. Alibamo gazed eagerly forward, as if endeavoring to satisfy herself, and then raising her voice so as to be distinctly heard by any person who might happen to be within several rods of her, she said:
"It is true that you are alone, Branch. Here are only two women to oppose you, and one of them is entirely helpless! And yet you fear!"
These words were scarcely spoken, when there was a rustling among the brush, and a dark form appeared.
"No, I am not alone," replied Branch. "Look!"
At that instant six of the frightened horsemen, who were riding for their lives, came flashing up, and, reaching the cart, they halted. The dark form which had so suddenly appeared, had as suddenly vanished. It had been distinctly seen by Alibamo, although not by Branch.
As the party rode up, one of them said:
"Why, Branch, what are you doing with these beauties? And one of them unconscious, too."
"Taking them to a place of safety," was the crusty reply.
"You had better take them back to Springfield. The federals will not harm females."
"No—no! that is not my purpose. They are relatives of Union officers, and I intend to keep them as hostages for the safety of our friends."
"Where do you purpose taking them!"
"To the dwelling of Captain Rogers, on the edge of the prairie, just west of the Wilson's creek battle-ground."
Another slight noise was heard among the underbrush, and Alibamo made a significant motion to some person, or to some imaginary object, and then all was silent.
Miss Hayward had partially recovered under the cooling effects of the water with which Alibamo had been bathing her brow. She opened her eyes, and then, with a shudder, closed them again. At length she said in a feeble tone:
"O brother! press me closer to your heart; I am cold—very cold!"
"Miss Hayward, your brother yet lives, and will be with you soon!" whispered Alibamo, as she bent over the fast recovering maiden.
"Oh! yes, my brother must live—he does live!" cried Mamie, starting up.
"Who is your brother?" asked one of the party.
Miss Hayward gazed upon the questioner, but turning away, she hid her face in the bosom of Alibamo and wept.
"I will answer for her!" replied Alibamo. "He is an officer in the Union army. He was taken prisoner while endeavoring to rescue me, who also have been kept as a hostage by that villain, Branch. It was the intention of Gen. Price to release or exchange this young lady's brother, but, he, to gratify his own fiend-like propensities, was about to disobey the express orders of the general, and hang young Hayward."
A groan broke from Miss Hayward, but Alibamo quickly replied:
"Don't fear, darling, the Body-guard came just in time to rescue him, and he will soon be with us!"
"Are you sure of that?" asked one of the party.
"I know it will be so. There will be large parties sent in every direction, and you will be surely overtaken!" answered Alibamo.
"Let us forward, then," replied one of the rebels, his cheeks blenching with fear.
"Stay one moment," answered another. "Branch," he continued, "you have the reputation of a bad man. I shall not permit you to keep these ladies, if I can prevent it. Let me accompany them back to Springfield, and restore them to the arms of their friends!"
"Indeed!" replied Branch with bitterness. "You are very kind, and I have no doubt the ladies will thank you. But I do not understand exactly how you are going to prevent me from doing as I please. Pray be good enough to explain."
"I will! Men, you are enemies to the federal soldiers only, not innocent women. Seize that cowardly captain, and I will return with the ladies, and restore them to their friends. It will benefit all those of our friends who——"
A ball, fired from the pistol of Branch, went crashing through the brain of the speaker, and he rolled from his horse a corpse.
"You see how far his interference has benefited him," said Branch, pointing to the dead body. "Are there any more who wish to share his fate?"
The party were silent. They were now ascending the sharp hill, or range of hills, which skirts the creek upon the north. Turning to the right, he proceeded onward, but observing he was not followed, he asked:
"Why do you halt?"
"Because we go in another direction."
"I command you to follow me," yelled Branch.
"We do not recognize your authority."
"You shall see it here," replied the infuriated captain, as he drew forth his revolver.
In an instant the five horsemen had leveled their rifles at his breast, and one of them said:
"Go your way, sir, and we will not molest you. Be careful how you interfere with us."
"Do as you please, cowards," replied Branch. He started on his way, while the horsemen proceeded down the hill at a rapid rate.
Alibamo bent forward, and whispered words to Mamie, which seemed to be those of hope, as the countenance of the latter brightened very much. Then, starting to her feet, while her frame quivered with excitement, she cried:
"I knew it would be so! Look there, Miss Hayward! Look there!"
"What do you mean?" yelled Branch.
"That you are foiled at last, fiend of darkness, that you are."
Let us return to Springfield.
The excitement endured by Hayward, together with the pain he suffered from the constant irritation of his wounds, and his loss of blood, were more than he could bear, and he sank to the earth, although he still retained his consciousness. Nettleton remained by his side, although Hayward urged him to join his brothers in the unequal contest.
"There ain't no occasion to do that!" said the brave fellow. "Them Body-guard will whip them darn skunks in less than three minutes, and besides some on 'em might come around you, and I calculate if they do, to make them smell brimstone."
The fight was over. Nettleton and William Margrave assisted Captain Hayward to the city, and secured a room for him in one of the houses occupied by a Union family. In a short time both Johnson and Adjutant Hinton joined him. The Indian was absent.
"Have you received any intelligence of my sister?" asked Hayward, in a trembling voice.
"Not yet, but Fall-leaf is absent, and I feel satisfied that he is with or near both your sister and mine," replied Margrave. "He will return with them very soon, I believe."
"Did you see or hear anything of Branch?" asked Hayward.
"After the smoke from the explosion had cleared away, I went in search of the ladies, but they had disappeared. The cart had been removed, and my opinion is that Branch has driven off with our sisters. He cannot advance very rapidly with his ox-team, and, if Fall-leaf is on his track, he will return and inform us as soon as he has ascertained the direction they have taken."
"Have the horses saddled, and at the door. If possible get fresh ones," said Hayward. "I shall follow my sister."
"You cannot do it, captain, you are too ill!"
"Who talks of being ill, at such a time as this? My sister is in the hands of that ruffian Branch, and yours too, Margrave! I should go forward if I was dying!"
At this moment Fall-leaf rushed into the room, and cried:
"Follow—come!"
"Come—no questions," cried Hayward.
In an instant Hayward, Hinton, Johnson, Nettleton, Margrave, and the Indian, were in their saddles, and darted off at their utmost speed, on the road toward the famous Wilson's creek battle-ground. The Indian took the lead.
They ascended the sharp hill which borders Wilson's creek, and when on its summit, could plainly see all the surrounding objects in the valley below. After a moment's inspection they turned to the right, and struck off through a narrow path which ran along the mountain ridge. They had proceeded about two miles, when the Indian paused and said:
"Hark!"
The party listened attentively, and distinctly heard the sound of the rumbling cart.
"Quick! Forward!" cried Hayward, as he dashed onward. In a few moments they came in sight of the cart, and there, sure enough, were seated the sister of Hayward and the maiden, Alibamo.
A cry of joy broke from the lips of Margrave. It was heard by Branch. The villain for a moment was confused, but it was no time for delay. He seized Miss Hayward in his arms, and, springing from the cart, ran along with her as easily as if she had been an infant.
Alibamo sprang into her brother's arms, with a cry of rapture, but he only paused a moment. Branch ran directly toward a narrow pathway, which was the only passage to the valley below, and which wound down the steep by the side of a sharp, rocky ledge. Beneath this ledge was a frightful chasm, at the bottom of which were a hundred sharp rocks, which had been broken off the height, and fallen into the depths below.
"Ah! I will triumph yet!" cried Branch, as he reached the ledge, and was about to spring down the narrow pathway. But, Fall-leaf confronted him, and Branch sprang back.
"Ah! the rock—the precipice!" he cried, and darting for the ledge he stood upon its very verge.
As Hayward and his friends approached, Branch raised the helpless maiden high over his head, and leaning forward he cried:
"If you advance another step, Hayward, or permit any of your party to do so, I will hurl your sister into the depths below, and thus dash her to pieces!"
Hayward was within a few feet of Branch, but he stopped instantly.
"What is to be done?" asked Hinton, as he shuddered at the scene before him.
"I will tell you what is to be done, Hayward," cried Branch. "I hold you in my power, and I shall dictate my own terms."
"What are they?" asked Hayward.
"Let the entire party, excepting yourself withdraw some distance to the rear, and then swear by your honor that I shall not be molested, and shall be permitted to go as I please, and I will restore your sister. If you do not, she shall perish, even if I go with her!"
The villain, who supposed his proposition would be readily accepted, had been partially thrown off his guard. With a cry of
"Brother!" Mamie sprang suddenly to the ground. In doing so, she had collected all her strength, and, as she sprang, the concussion had thrown Branch backward, and he was falling over the ledge. He caught a small sapling in his fall, and there the villain hung, suspended over this dreadful gulf, only by the frail twig. He turned upward an imploring glance, but did not speak. He gazed below, and a thrill of terror shook his frame.
"Your hour has come!" cried Hayward, as he approached the edge of the cliff.
"No! no! me—me!" cried the Indian, stepping forward.
"Oh! save me!" groaned Branch.
"Pray," said Hayward, as he saw the tomahawk of the Indian raised high in the air.
"Save me—save—" Branch spoke no more.
The tomahawk had descended and severed the frail twig, to which Branch was clinging. A yell of terror rose upon the air, as Branch went whirling down, and then a dull, heavy thump was heard and all was still.
Hayward pressed his lips upon his sister's forehead, and murmured,
"The dream, darling—the dream!"
"O brother," she sobbed, "I cannot speak—I am so happy!"
Margrave had not been idle. He had taken a full share of embraces, and had handed Alibamo over to Adjutant Hinton, who appeared rather to relish that luxury, himself. Johnson was a silent spectator, but Nettleton was dancing with perfect ecstacy, as he exclaimed:
"Well, I'm about the happiest darn skunk that ever did live!"
"Fall-leaf, have you nothing to say?" asked Hayward.
"Me kill—ugh!" he pointed toward the rocks below, and seemed perfectly satisfied.
"Bad man—much bad!" and he strode away up the path.
Night was fast approaching, and the happily united friends set out for Springfield, which they reached in safety.
Captain Hayward recovered from his wounds, and is still engaged in fighting his country's battles, while his lovely sister is happy in her home upon the lake.
Adjutant Hinton is in the same regiment with Hayward, while Alibamo—not Alibamo Margrave, but Alibamo Hinton, is adorning her husband's elegant home in New York, where she is its light and joy. She only awaits the return of Harry to render her perfectly happy.
Nettleton thinks he is becoming less of a "skunk" every day, but still insists on remaining with Haywood, as his "body-guard." Fall-leaf still serves the army.
AU REVOIR.