"Here they come!" yelled Paul, as the first of the Unionists came into view at the head of the street. "Hurry, girls!"
Out they rushed, down the steps of the mansion, fleeing before the mounted Union soldiers, who laughed and jeered, firing at the Confederates, who were retreating.
Ruth and Estelle, with some of the other women, were in the lead. Alice had lingered behind, for the cat showed a disposition to wiggle out of her arms, and she wanted to keep it to make an effective picture.
Finally the creature did make its escape, but Alice was not going to give up so easily. She started in pursuit, and then one of the Union soldiers, Maurice Whitlow, spurred his horse forward. He wanted to get in the foreground of the picture and took this chance.
"Get back where you belong!" yelled the director angrily. "Who told you to get in the spotlight? Get back!"
But it was too late. Alice, in pursuit of the cat, was running straight toward Whitlow's horse, and the next moment she slipped and went down, almost under the feet of the prancing animal.
CHAPTER IX
MISS DIXON'S LOSS
"Look out!" shouted Paul, and, dropping what he was carrying, he made a leap toward the animal Whitlow was riding.