The Young Lieutenant Part 45

"How many soldiers did you meet?"

"Four, sar."

"This won't do, Somers. How is your arm?"

"It begins to ache. We may as well go forward as back," said Somers, who was now suffering severely from his wound, which had not been improved by the hard gallop of the horse he rode.

"Who lives in that house?" demanded De Banyan of the negro, pointing to a splendid dwelling a short distance ahead.

"Dr. Scoville, ma.s.sa."

"Doctor?" replied the captain, glancing at Somers.

"Yes, sar; Dr. Scoville. Dat's a mighty fine mar you rides, ma.s.sa. I reckon dat's Captain Sheffield's mar."

"Very likely."

"Don't mind me, ma.s.sa; dis chile's a Union man for sh.o.r.e," grinned the negro.

"All the negroes are Union men," replied Somers faintly.

"Dat's so, ma.s.sa!"

"What's Dr. Scoville?" asked De Banyan hopefully.

"Secesh, ma.s.sa--drefful secesh. He done been in de army fur a surgeon."

"He is a dangerous man, then."

"Dar, ma.s.sa, dar!" shouted the negro suddenly, as he pointed down the road over which the fugitives had just come. "Dey's some more arter you."

De Banyan started his horse again, followed by Somers; but it was evident from the appearance of the latter that the chase was nearly finished for him. He was beginning to feel very faint from the loss of blood, while the pain of his wounded arm was almost unsupportable. The gait of the horse seemed to wrench the bones asunder, and cause the shattered parts to grate against each other.

"Hurry up, Somers, my dear boy," said his companion, as he glanced back at the pale face of his friend.

"I am afraid I can't go much farther, De Banyan," replied Somers. "I am very faint. I feel sick."

"Cheer up, and make one effort more. The rebels are upon us!"

"I cannot. I shall fall from the horse, I am afraid."

"Don't do that."

"I won't if I can help it; but the motion of the horse almost kills me.

Leave me, De Banyan; save yourself if you can."

"Leave you? I haven't the remotest idea of doing anything of the sort."

"Better go on, and save yourself. It is all up with me."

"A mother would sooner leave her baby than I would leave you," replied De Banyan in tones as tender as a woman's. "I'll never leave you, Somers. If you go to Richmond, I shall go with you."

"You cannot do me any good. Save yourself before it is too late."

"Not I."

"I beg you----"

"Cease your blarney, my dear boy! We are one flesh; and we will hang together to the end of life, or _at_ the end of it, as the case may be.

Here, Somers, stick to your horse a moment more, and we will call and see the doctor."

"Dr. Scoville!" exclaimed Somers, alarmed at the idea.

"Very likely he is a good surgeon. You are on the sick-list now; mind what I say, and do just what I tell you."

De Banyan, without stating what he intended to do, dashed up the roadway leading to Dr. Scoville's house. It was evident that he was about to resort to some desperate expedient to retrieve the shattered fortunes of his party; but he kept his own counsel; and Somers yielded himself to the master will of his companion like a child, as indeed he was in his exhausted and suffering condition. The roadway led to the rear of the house where the stable was located; and De Banyan reined up his foaming steed as soon as he reached the corner of the building.

"Keep still a moment, Somers, and I'll have you taken care of," said De Banyan, as he rode back to a point where he could see the road without being seen.

It was evident that they had been observed by the party of hors.e.m.e.n which had just come out of the city; and he wished to ascertain whether they had seen him turn in at the doctor's premises. The pursuers (for every mounted man was a pursuer on that eventful morning) were riding in every direction in search of the fugitives. He hoped they would pa.s.s by, satisfied that any person who should boldly call upon Dr. Scoville must be a rebel.

He was disappointed. When the party reached the road, they reined up their horses; and De Banyan, without losing a moment, dismounted, fastened Jenny to a post in the yard, and ran down to intercept the troopers. The captain walked with the quick, sharp, consequential tramp of a military commander; and, when the soldiers saw him, they involuntarily saluted him.

"What are you doing up here?" he demanded in tones of authority.

"We are looking for the prisoners that runned away," replied a corporal.

"Well, do you expect to find them in the dwelling-house of Dr. Scoville?

Ride down the road as fast as you can, and turn to the first left. If you meet the major, report Captain Sheffield badly wounded--shot by one of the prisoners."

"Then the prisoners have gone down this way?"

"Certainly they have. Off with you as fast as you can!"

The corporal saluted, wheeled his horse, and dashed off, followed by the rest of the party. De Banyan wiped away the cold sweat from his brow, and returned to his suffering companion. He helped him to dismount and seated him on a block while he secured the horse. By this time, a couple of negro women came out of the house. They were the early risers of the family, and at once manifested the most abundant sympathy for the sufferer. The doors of the house were thrown wide open to him; and Captain de Banyan, supporting Somers, followed the servants into the sitting-room, where the patient was laid upon the sofa in a fainting condition.

"Now call your master," said De Banyan, with as much a.s.surance as though he had been the lord of the manor.

"Yes, ma.s.sa," replied one of the women as she hastened to obey the order.

"How do you feel, my dear boy?" said De Banyan, bending over his charge.

But Somers was past answering. He had fainted from loss of blood and the agony of his wound. The resolute captain did not wait for Dr. Scoville in this emergency; but, taking a bottle of cologne from the mantel, he applied himself with skill and vigor to the restoration of his patient.

While he was thus engaged, the doctor made his appearance. He was a man of fifty, of forbidding aspect and rough exterior.

"Who are you, sir?" demanded he in brusk tones, placing himself in front of the captain, and without bestowing more than a glance at the patient on the sofa.

"Captain Sheffield," replied De Banyan as sharply as the question had been put.