CHAPTER XX.
THE MEETING OF FRIENDS.
Mara uttered a low cry at the scout’s startling announcement.
“Cannot we go some other way and thus escape them?” she asked, tremulously.
“Not without turning back,” replied the Wizard Scout, “and that would cost us hours of valuable time without throwing them off our track. No; I see no better course for us than to keep on. Ha! I have a plan.”
Landaff, whose countenance had brightened at the sound of the approaching horsemen, turned to his captor with a look of surprise.
“I should like to know what all this means, old man,” he exclaimed, speaking for the first time.
“Hey,” said the scout, “ye see my darter and I hev been turned outen house and home by ’em cursed grays. We ain’t got nowhar to lay an ear. So ye see we kem over the mountins to go to my t’other darter’s, Ann Mayhesters. Mebbe ye know her. She’s a rebel. So’s my darter, Mollie, here. Their ma was a Southern woman. I am a Union man twenty-four hours every day and not afeerd o’ Stonewall Jackson an’ all his army. Mebbe my mulishness got us inter this difficulty. ’Tain’t fer myself I keer. It’s the gal.”
“But ye’re trapped at last, old man,” retorted the Confederate, smiling triumphantly.
“I’m not so sure o’ thet.”
“But those troops coming beyond no doubt belong to Johnston’s forces. Hark! they will soon be here. You had better free me, old man. It is for your interest.”