“Don’t stand staring at me as if I had two heads, man! Go and set the parson free. He is a Christian hero, he is! and by that time I shall recover my breath and be able to talk to you,” said Elfie, with something of her old snappishness. And truly the poor girl had had enough to make her feel cross and nervous.
“I beg your pardon, Elfie,” said Justin, smiling, as he turned to obey her.
He cut the cords that bound the minister, who immediately stretched his arms, and then dropped upon the ground with a fervent:
“Thank goodness!”
At that moment Wing and Hay came up from different points. On seeing Elfie, Wing started and withdrew a little into the shade.
Justin went up to him said:
“I suppose you were led here by the cries, as I was?”
“Yes, sir, they resounded through every part of the grove, I assure you.”
“Well, I hope there has been no great harm done. We found a parson and the young lady whom you met as a captive among the guerrillas, bound here to a couple of trees. I do not quite understand the affair yet; but they are apparently uninjured. Now go, Wing—take Hay with you, and ride back to the field. Tell Lieutenant-Colonel Wedgewood that we shall encamp in and around this grove to-night. Tell him to send all the men here who are not engaged in looking after the wounded and the dead, or in guarding the prisoners.”
Wing bowed, beckoned Hay to follow him and left the scene.