The Young Sharpshooter at Antietam Part 22

Dere's one white man dere now, but she done say she can always find room fo' one mo'."

When the two men approached the humble cabin, which Sam explained was Aunt Katie's abode, there were no lights to be seen, and consequently, when the black woman whispered to the guide, Noel was unable to distinguish her face.

The whispering between the two continued several minutes, and then Sam once more turned to Noel, who had been bidden to enter the cabin and seat himself on a rude bench near the rear door, and said, "Is yo' all hongry."

"Yes, I'm hungry," whispered Noel. "But never mind that. What I want is to find some place where I shall be safe; that is, if you 're not going to take me with you to--"

Noel abruptly ceased when he felt the grip of his companion on his arm and was aware that he must not speak aloud concerning any of the men or places he was seeking.

"Aunt Katie will feed yo' all an' then show yo' whar yo' kin stay 'til mo'nin'. Yo' do des' what she done tells yo' toe do."

"I shall," whispered Noel; for his confidence in his dusky friends had now been fully restored. He could not explain the change in his feelings, but it had been manifest by the very tones of Aunt Katie's voice that she was one upon whom he might depend.

"Yas, suh," continued Sam. "Maybe I'll done see yo' all some time soon."

Unaware of the direction in which Sam had departed, Noel's attention and efforts were soon devoted to the corn-bread and mola.s.ses which his sable hostess speedily provided.

Watchful as Noel was, his hunger nevertheless was so keen and he was so busily engaged in the task of disposing of Aunt Katie's viands, that the occasional chuckle of the black woman was wonderfully comforting. She seldom spoke, but the young soldier was aware that his hostess was a woman of ample proportions and capable of exerting herself physically if occasion should require in a manner that would portend no good for her enemies.

"Yo' all come 'long wid me and I'll take yo' toe de gues' room," said Aunt Katie calmly, when her visitor's hunger had been appeased.

Puzzled by her words, Noel nevertheless followed the woman as she led the way outside the little cabin. He was mystified by her actions and was wondering where the "gues' room" might be. However, he wisely held his peace, and cautiously following Aunt Katie soon was conducted to a large stack of cornstalks standing near a corner of the barn.

Here the black woman stopped and, keenly peering about her to make sure that their actions were not observed, turned to Noel and whispered, "Inside dat er stack is whar yo' all is toe go. Dere am plenty ob room in dere. Yo' all will find another sojer in dere, too, I reckon. I'll show yo' all how yo' git in. Come er 'long."

Near the ground on the farther side of the stack Noel crawled into the opening which Aunt Katie disclosed. In spite of the darkness he was aware that the ground within was covered with cornstalks and that it was possible for him to stand erect. Instantly he concluded that the stack was more or less of a deception and was designed merely to cover and conceal a small room.

His thoughts, however, were speedily interrupted by the voice of the other occupant. In amazement Noel listened, scarcely daring to credit the evidence of his own ears, and then convinced that he was not mistaken, he instantly crawled toward the place from which the voice had come.

CHAPTER XVIII

THE FIRE

"Dennis! Dennis! Is that you?" whispered the young soldier, as he gained the place where the other occupant of the hiding-place was seated.

"Shure, and it's Noel! It's Noel, me lad!" exclaimed Dennis in high glee.

"Hus.h.!.+ Don't talk so loud, Dennis! Somebody will hear us. What are you doing here? Where did you come from? Are you going to try to go on to the army to-night? Who brought you here? How long have you been here?"

"Listen to the lad!" exclaimed Dennis, delightedly, in one of his loudest whispers.

Noel was more afraid of Dennis when he whispered than he was when he spoke in a low tone. Accordingly he grasped his comrade's arm and said, "Don't make so much noise, Dennis."

"Noel's the lad for me! He can ask more questions in a minute than any man from the old sod could ask in five. Well, lad, I have been here about two hours."

"Where did you come from?"

"You'll have to ask the people what brought me. I can't tell you, I'm shure. I niver was in such a country and I hope I'll niver be again. I wasn't so troubled about mesilf as I was about you, Noel, me lad. Tell me about yoursilf."

"Hus.h.!.+" repeated Noel. "Be still!" he whispered excitedly. "Do you hear those voices?"

"Shure, I hear them."

"Well, keep still and see if we can find out what they are saying."

It was plain to both the listening young soldiers that a man, who, from his tones and speech was undoubtedly white, was talking to a negro lad standing near the stack within which the two young soldiers were hiding.

In a moment Noel recognized the voice of the little negro lad as that of the son of Aunt Katie. The little urchin, not more than ten years of age, had impressed the young soldier by the intensity with which he had looked at him from the time of his arrival until he was conducted by Aunt Katie to the place of his concealment.

Noel grasped fiercely the arm of Dennis as he heard the man outside ask, "Have you seen any Yanks around here?"

"No, suh! No, suh!" said the small negro. "I ain't seen no Yankees aroun' hyer."

"You are sure, are you?" repeated the man, not ill-naturedly.

"Yas, suh. Yas, suh."

"Do you think you would know a Yank if you should see one?"

"I sh.o.r.e would," replied the dusky child confidently. "Yo' all done tole us dat de Yanks hab hawns. I ain't seen nary a man wif hawns 'round yere."

"Have you looked for them?" laughed the man.

"Yas, suh."

"Well, if you find any you must be sure to report to me. Sometimes you have to look right smart to find the horns on some of the Yankees."

"Does dey grow right out of dere haid like dis?"

"That's what they do, and their horns are sharp, too."

"Glory!" exclaimed the little negro. "I reck'n I don't want to see no Yanks wif hawns. Is yo' all thinkin' dat dey is comin' yere sometime?"

"I think some of them have been here."

"What dey wan' hyer?"

"You ask Aunt Katie about that. I reckon she knows more about it than I do. Are you sure, Little Jake, you haven't seen any Yankees that didn't have any horns?"

"How would I know dey was Yankees if dey didn't hab any hawns? Yo' all don' tole us dat de Yankees hab hawns, so when I sees a man what I don'

know I allus looks to see if he hab any hawns."

"If he does have horns, then you make up your mind he is a Yankee, do you?"

"Yas, suh. Dat's what yo' all don' tole us, so I looks fo' de hawns."