The Young Sharpshooter at Antietam Part 20

His confident approach, too, for he was waving his hand as he drew nearer, seemed to confuse the band of Confederates. Instead of forming across the road and stopping his flight, they divided and did not even question him, although his appearance must have been such as to arouse their curiosity at least.

Only partly checking the speed of his horse, Noel leaned low on his neck and as he drew near the men, he shouted, "Don't stop me, boys! How far ahead is the captain?"

Even as he asked the question Noel was aware that his own apparent confidence had had its effect, for the men drew back from the roadside, and one of them in reply to his query, shouted, "I reckon he's about three miles up the road, sir."

"Good! That's fine!" shouted Noel in response. "There's some men coming behind me and they'll stop to give you their message. They have a word for you."

The ruse had succeeded, and the young soldier had accomplished more than in his excitement he had dared to hope. He knew that his pursuers in a very short time would be informed of his bold trick and perhaps would be more determined than ever to secure him. But for a time, at least, he had not been checked in his flight and he was not without hope also that the two mounted men might be delayed long enough by the band, through which he had successfully made his way, to enable him to gain still more.

Noel had not advanced far beyond the sight of the bridge before his sudden feeling of exhilaration vanished. He had been astonished at the very success of the trick he had played. It was his first lesson that if a man is to succeed he must be bold.

His rejoicing now abruptly departed, when, running and breathing heavily, his horse suddenly stumbled and fell in the road. The young soldier had been riding with too loose a rein and his moment of elation had made him somewhat careless of the need of constant attention to his steed.

Fortunately Noel was able to free his feet from the stirrups and was not caught by the body of the horse as he fell. He was thrown to one side of the road, but although he was bruised and for a moment almost stunned by the sudden fall, he quickly rose.

Quick as his action was, however, that of his horse had been quicker.

After two efforts the fallen animal at last succeeded in leaping to his feet, and, disregarding the frantic calls of its recent rider, started forward, running even more swiftly than when he had been carrying the young soldier.

In the midst of the fresh trouble which had arisen, Noel was aware that his pursuers in a brief time would be upon him. Instantly turning to one side of the road where some large trees were growing he darted into their midst and soon discovered one tree sufficiently large to enable him to hide behind it.

Scarcely had Noel succeeded in gaining his hiding-place before he heard the sound of the approaching hors.e.m.e.n. Instead of two horses now, however, there were five. The ruse which he had used upon the men at the bridge had been discovered, and doubtless chagrin was added to the natural desire to retake the daring man who had escaped through their midst.

Would they pa.s.s the place or would they discover the mark in the road left by his horse when it fell? Upon the decision of this question much of his success depended. Breathlessly Noel watched the pursuing soldiers, and a great sigh of relief escaped his lips when he saw that they had not even glanced at the spot where the accident had befallen him.

He deemed it unwise now to resume his flight in the road. He decided that he would make his way from tree to tree, and as he peered out at the road, which he could see extended far in the distance, he was rejoiced to discover that the woods also spread out far on either side.

His plan was not to reenter the road until he had gone a distance which would be sufficient to insure his safety from discovery by the men who had recently pa.s.sed him in their wild chase.

By this time the afternoon sun was low in the western sky. Not a mouthful of food had pa.s.sed the lips of the young soldier since his early breakfast at the house of Jim and Sairy Ann. His strenuous efforts also had wearied him, and thirst, as well as hunger, was now making its demands felt.

An hour had elapsed when Noel, from another hiding-place far up the road, saw the band of five returning. He was positive that he recognized them as his recent pursuers from the fact that one of the horses was strangely marked, a fact which he had noticed when he had first discovered the animals tied to the rail in the rear of the house to which the treacherous Levi had conducted him.

When at last the band had pa.s.sed beyond his sight, and Noel, with fresh courage, was about to reenter the road, he was startled when he saw a young colored man approaching from the direction in which the riders had disappeared.

Loud and long sang the negro and repeated the same stanza of the song until Noel, who was interested as the black man came nearer, almost felt that in spite of his difficulties he would join in the tune,--

"Then I sot right down and felt very blue-- Glory hallelujah, bress de Lord!

Says I, O Lord, what shall I do?

Glory hallelujah, bress de Lord!"

When the young black man came opposite the place where Noel was hiding, the latter suddenly decided to hail him.

"h.e.l.lo!" called the young soldier.

The negro stopped abruptly and peered about him in a manner which betrayed to Noel that in intelligence he seemed to be far above the most of his race.

"Who dat callin' me?" inquired the negro.

"I am," said Noel, as he stepped forth from his hiding-place.

The young soldier now was in his s.h.i.+rtsleeves, his coat having been lost when he had been thrown from his horse. His uniform was so discolored by mud that it was impossible for an observer to determine to which side he belonged. However, convinced that his plight was so distressing that he must trust some one, Noel had decided that he would cast in his lot with the negro, and trust him to provide some way of escape.

"Have you seen any Union soldiers around here?" he called as he came nearer.

Before he replied, the negro looked quickly into the face of Noel, and then with a smile said, "No, suh. I wish I had. I would like toe be inside the Union lines at dis bery minute. I reckon, too, yo' all would like toe be in there, too."

"That's what I would!" said Noel enthusiastically. "And you'll have to show me how to get there."

The black man hesitated a moment, and then said cordially, "The bes'

thing fo' yo' will be fo' me toe take yo' all toe Aunt Katie."

"'Aunt Katie'?" inquired Noel, as he glanced once more apprehensively up and down the road. "Aunt Katie? Who is she?"

"Yo' come er long wif me and I'll done show yo'," replied the negro.

CHAPTER XVII

THE GUEST ROOM

The young negro at once led the way from the road, evidently fearing more for the safety of his companion than for his own.

Noel followed obediently and did not speak until his guide had led him far within the sheltering woods that were growing on each side of the road.

The young soldier was not yet altogether convinced that his companion was to be relied upon. His experience with Long John had made him suspicious of the blacks. Throughout his boyhood he had never seen a colored man, and it had not been long before the time of his enlistment when he had beheld one for the first time.

The action of the powerful young negro with whom he was journeying, however, in a measure relieved his fears, and his plight was so desperate that he was aware that he must trust somebody for help. Night would soon be at hand and in the darkness his perils might be greatly increased.

At last, when a quarter of a mile or more had been covered by Noel and his companion, the young soldier stopped, and said, "What's your name?"

"n.i.g.g.e.r Sam."

"Did you ever hear of Long John?"

"Yas, suh!" replied Sam, glancing suspiciously at his companion as he spoke. "What fo' yo' ask 'bout Long John?"

"I saw him back yonder."

"What fo' yo' see him?"

"Why, he led me into a trap. I thought I could trust him, but he took me along a corduroy road to the very place where a lot of the rebel soldiers were stationed."

"Yas, suh! Yas, suh!" said Sam, manifestly relieved. "Dat's des' what Long John is er doin'. He's playing tricks on the Yankee soldiers all de time. Little Ben Fowler des' used him lak I use de decoy when I shoots ducks."

"How do I know you are not another one like Long John?"