Chapter 7 No.7

The Brother-The War Scout-The Union Camp-The Trail.

Find them-bring them back-then ask for millions.

Old Play.

When William Margrave, the brother of Alibamo, had been discovered, and fired upon by the guard, after having seen his sister, and heard her voice, he knew that his assistance would be of no avail. He at once started for the cabin where were his friends Johnson and Fall-leaf, but not until he had seen Alibamo mount her horse, and, with her friend, dash forward from the camp. He saw the soldiers as they fired after the retreating form of his sister and her friend, and also saw that they were unhurt.

"It is a rescue; still, I cannot understand it-I cannot conceive how she came to meet friends from the Union army, or how they became aware of her presence in the rebel camp."

He pursued his course to the river, and crossing, soon reached the cabin. As he entered, Johnson rose to receive him.

"Your return is sudden. What has happened?" he asked.

"All for the best!"

"Explain."

"It was my sister's voice that I heard I saw her-I spoke to her."

"Could you not save her?"

"I would have done so, or died by her side. But she had other friends with her. I saw her with two men, one of them disguised as a rebel officer. Or, at least, so I suppose, for he led her to a horse, helped her to mount, and rode rapidly away, while the guard who had just come up, fired after them. She is on her way to the Union camp, and will reach it in a short time, if nothing happens."

"Are you sure those who rescued her were Union soldiers?"

"I can only judge by what I saw."

"What do you intend doing?"

"How is Fall-leaf?" asked Margrave.

"Me well-well!" answered the Indian.

"Why, how is this? I thought Fall-leaf was badly wounded."

"No! his wounds are slight. That in his breast or side, is merely a flesh-wound. The shot struck a rib, and glanced off. A second shot struck him near the temple, and stunned him. But he is not seriously injured."

"Can he walk?"

"Me walk-well!" replied Fall-leaf, as he arose and strode across the room.

"Then we must go at once to the federal camp. Can you walk so far, Fall-leaf?"

"Me go down-horse-there!"

"He has a horse concealed among the trees, but a short distance down the river, and on this side," replied Johnson.

"Have you never entertained any suspicion that my sister was with Price?"

"Oh, yes. But Price has never placed any confidence in me, and never, except at this last visit, have I been permitted to enter, or leave camp, without the presence of a guard."

"Well, let us be off. We must keep on this side of the river to avoid scouts."

The party walked down to the bank of the Osage, and striking a narrow path, took their course toward Warsaw. The Indian secured his horse, and mounting, rode by the side of his friends.

It was late in the afternoon when they reached the Union camp. The first thing Margrave did upon his arrival was to acquaint the general with all the particulars, and requested to be shown those officers or soldiers who had that day returned from the rebel camp, in the hope of finding his sister. He was directed to Adjutant Hinton, and with a beating heart he sought his presence. He found the adjutant in deep grief, but he arose to receive him.

"Why, you are the officer whom I saw standing upon the rock with my sister," said Margrave.

"Then you are the brother of Alibamo?"

"I am."

"Do you know where she is?"

"Where she is?" echoed Margrave, with surprise. "Why, I came here to learn where she is!"

"Ah! yes. Well, my friend, I am deeply distressed with regard to your sister. She should have been here before this."

"Why, did she not leave with you?"

"She started with myself and friends, but we were met by overwhelming numbers about ten miles from this place, and a terrible fight ensued. Our captain was killed, or very badly wounded, and our party scattered. I saw Alibamo riding for the river, intending to swim her horse across it. The captain fell, and I turned to rescue him. He was nearly gone, but told me to save myself and Alibamo. That name acted like a magic, and, coward that I was, I left my captain, and sought her. But, I could not find her-neither any of my friends. I returned to camp alone! Oh! my God, if I had only remained, and died with them!"

George, the negro, now entered the tent. His countenance was the very index of terror.

"George, are they alive?" almost shrieked the adjutant.

"Oh! yes-yes-Gor a mighty, massa adjutump-day's fifty ob em!"

The adjutant saw the negro was too much frightened to give any correct account, and he tried to reassure him.

"You are safe now. Nothing can harm you here."

"Sartin shuah ob dat, massa adjutump?"

"Sure, George. But now tell me what you know of our friends."

"Oh! golly massa adjutump, dis chile neber was so skeered. Dar was fifty."

"Where is Captain Hayward!"

"Killed-dead-shuah pop-oh! golly!"

"Where is Captain Young?"

"He's here, massa adjutump."

Captain Young entered the tent.

"You are alive; but where are our friends?" asked the adjutant.

"I know not, I lost sight of them, and supposed them all killed but myself."

"George, where is Nettleton?"

"I dun know. De las time dis chile see Cap'n Nettletum he jump his hos in the riber after de gal, O Lord!"

"What became of the lady, George?"

"Oh! golly! massa adjutump, she's safe wid de rebels!"

"What do you mean?"

"Why, ye see, massa adjutump, when dis chile see de cap'n fall down dead, he was so skeered he tumble rite off his horse. So I creep into de bushes, and just as de gal she got to de riber, a big black debil he cotch hold on her an say, 'Ha! ha! now I got hold on you, my booty,' and den he tuck her off an dis chile didn't see her no more."

"She is again in the hands of the rebels, and we must again rescue her, even if it costs a thousand lives. Oh! wretch-wretch that I am-I have murdered my captain, and have not saved her!"

"Please don't, massa adjutump!"

"Don't what?"

"Why, don't take dis chile wid you any more. He get killed, shuah."

"Don't be alarmed. I don't want you."

"Me go see-me follow," said the Indian.

"Go where?"

"After pale-face!"

"How can you ascertain which way they have taken her?"

The Indian made the motion of creeping on the ground. Then he stamped it with his foot, and pointed to the mark. Johnson said:

"He means he will go to the river where Alibamo was seized, take the measure of the horse's shoe, from its impression in the sand, and follow the trail. We will go with him-that is myself and Alibamo's brother."

"I must go. But stay. Nettleton has not yet returned, I have great confidence in that fellow. He may bring us intelligence."

"You had better remain here in the event of his return," said Margrave. "We will follow the trail, and when we have gained the information we require, we will let you know, and you may be able to assist us."

"We are to march to-morrow for Springfield. Price moves to-day for Cassville, and if Alibamo is again in the hands of that wretch, Branch, she will probably be removed to that place. But go, and success attend you."

The two friends, together with Fall-leaf, left the camp, and proceeded in the direction of the place where the skirmish occurred. In the course of two hours they reached the spot. Several of the dead still were upon the field, unburied, but no sign of any human being was visible, excepting these. The Indian sought for traces upon the river's bank, and discovering a spot where an evident struggle had taken place-where two horses had been turned around, and had proceeded on their way from the river at a much slower pace than toward it, judging from the length of the steps. These tracks were closely followed, and it was observed that they soon merged into others, and could no longer be distinguished. The course of the entire squadron of cavalry was toward the camp of Price, and it was decided, that the reason the first discovered marks of the horse's shoe could no longer be seen was, that they were in the lead, and those which followed obliterated the impression. And it was reasonable to suppose that Branch and Alibamo would ride at the head of the column.

The friends followed the trail until it turned to the left, and took its direction across the mountain. Upon the other side it was lost to view in the main road, among the thousand tracks which appeared in the mud. But they had seen sufficient to satisfy them that not only this squad, but the entire army under Price were on their retreat. They determined to follow on, and, if possible, to rescue Alibamo, and if this could not be done, to get exact information as to where she was kept, and then to return for assistance.

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