The War Library: Phil, the Scout — page 11: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

; anes _ ‘Sy h “Only this: that if the dispatches are still _ safe, you must inake all possible haste to get — them betore Buell. There’s inischief afloat, Gee Loununot tell its exact character, but _ Ifear disaster lurks very near to the Union ~~ Yoeanse,"’ _ *T share your belief in that respect,’’ said _ Phil, gravely. “I hardly needed the inoen- _ tive you give; yet,it shall warm me to _ greater exertions than ever. Unless I die _ before midnight, Buell will have all the _ knowledge the Confederate dispatches can impart.” “Good! mS | Now we are nearing the city _ limits. I think I must leave you. I have r work to do elsewhere, andI think you are a out of danger for the present from Ogle- _ thorpe; but I advise you to keep a sharp eye out for him. He is tricky, and desperate, for he thinks you stand in his way.” “Stay!"’ exclaimed Phil, to whom this short conversation had been a startling, as well as pleasing revelation; ‘‘I must know further about Molly Grame. Are you posi- tive——”’ “Learn all you would know from her lips. Lam away.” ~The next moment Phil stood alone in the dusk, listening to the clatter of the hoofs of >< ial horse as he hastened into the ark. What would not our hero have given at that moment to have been placed face to face with pretty Molly Grame! But how impossible! Here he stood, miles away, on a mission of dangerous moment. The future was brighter, however, for this little gleam of sunshine. There wasno time for delay ; onward must be his watchword. In the light of history we know what im- portance attached to every movement of the great opposing forces at the time of which we write. Let us look for a moment at the situation. Here, at Pittsburg Landing lay General Grant, who, with that remarkable foresight which ever characterized him, had been pushing toward Corinth, well knowing the importance of that point, but who was now awaiting the arrival of General Buell, from Nashville. At the same moment, and also fully ap- preciating the fact that Corinth was an ob- jective point of highest value, Beauregard had hastened thither. He had already been reinforced by the troops of General Johnston and was only resting till Price and Van Dorne came up to strikea blow, from which it was intended the Unionists never should recover. _.Totally unaware of the peril of Grant’s position, Buell was slowly making prepara- tions to move southward. Hence, it becomes plain that it was of the greatest importance that General Buell should recognize that Grant was in immi- nent danger, and hasten to his rescue. Phil Lamonte, even yet ignorant of the real value of the papers in his care, never- theless, felt that not an instant should be lost in delivering them. This impression had been made more vivid by the words of the strange man who had been of such use to him that night. To us they now seem almost prophetic. Danger did at that moment lurk near the Union cause. Pausing not an instant in the spot where St. Clair had left him, Phil Lamonte struck out at arapid pace for the city. Already there were numerous houses along the road, and he expected every mo- ment to hear the welcome challenge of the pickets. Not yet was he out of danger, however. Nothing was to beseen of the Union picket line, when, suddenly, and without warning, Phil heard the thunder cf approaching horse- men. Had he seen the dari, evil face of Ogle thorpe riding at the head of that band, our hero would not have been more certain that he it was who led the flying troopers. And he knew the object of their seurch. Springing into thesbadow of an old house, now apparently deserted and tumbling into ruin, Phil waited with hushed breath the coming of his pursuers. Not long had he to wait, for he had barely left the highway when the troop came in sight. The presence of Phil must have been dis- covered, as when just opposite the building where he had attempted tv conceal himself the band drew up and came to a dead halt. A crisis was at hand. In the hope that @ close search of the old house would not be made, Phil dodged &4 THE WAR LIBRARY. around the corner, taking care to keep in the shadow, and finding a window in the rear which had been broken in, he swung himself lightly through the opening. Landing on the floor inside he crept noise- lessly along a dark passage till he reached a point where he could hear what was going on without. ‘“‘T know my eyes didn t deceive me,” a voice said. ‘‘ He was just here, not two min- utes ago, and Ireckon he can’t be far off now.”’ * Well,’’ said a man whose language re- vealed to Phil the presence of his rival, Ogle- thorpe, ‘‘to make sure about the matter we had better take a look in this vicinity. That old house vonder would make an excellent hiding place for thefellow. Half a dozen of you come with me, and we’ll go through the ou scour the grounds, ‘ll reward the man who place. The rest of and remember that ‘ captures him or shoots him as he stands!’’ Phil’s hands clinvhed hard together as he listened to this cold-blooded remark. Ogle- thorpe’s case must be desperate indeed to urge him to measures so severe. ‘‘A reward on my head, eh? Iam to be shot in my tracksif worst comes to worst. But Iam not so sure, my dear sir, that any man will claim the reward you a ae l - rather think not. Now let me see. ing-place is what I want for the present.”’ Darting hither and thither in the hope that he would find either a door leading up stairs ordownward into the cellar, he was startled by the sound ofa hand upon the latch in front of the house. Not a moment was to be lost. Feeling along the wall Phil discovered an old-fashioned fire-place, and above yawned a wide-throated chimney. Quicker than a flash he stooped and crawled under the mantel up into the chim- ney. Placing his hands against its sides, he drew himself upward far enough to be out of sight from below. Bracing his feetin front of him with his back resting: upon the wall behind, he wait- ed. His place of hiding had not been found an instant too soon, for hardly had he reached it when the Confederates burst in a body into the building. Lights soon flashed hither and thither through every room from cellar to garret. Each nook and corner, each closet and out- of-the-way place was explored with the thoroughness which desperation alone gives. ‘* You see, gentlemen, be is not here.”’ The speaker was Oglethorpe. ‘* Bill, your eyes must be getting poor, cer- tainly.”’ ‘‘Treckon I wasn’t mistaken. I tell you again he is very near here. He may not be in this house; 1didn’t say he was; but you'll seelamright. They may be having better luck outside.”’ ‘* Ve’ll make sure he never gets out of this place alive at any rate,’’ said Oglethorpe, ‘‘if he is hidden away in some hole we haven't stumbled on. Here, boys, apply the torch to this infernal old shell in a dozen different places. We'll let the Yanks know we're near, if nothing more.”’ Phil heard these words with a feeling somewhat akin to despair, but there was mingled with it a stern resolve not to yield till fate compelled. Only a brief space of time elapsed before the crackling of flames fell upon his ears. The command of Oglethorpe was being carried out. Fiendish though the scheme was, and worthy none but the most cruel and inhuman brain, Oglethorpe laughed wildly as he saw the fiery demon leap from point to point of the deserted house. ‘If the cursed Union spy is in there, and I hope he is, that'll be the last of him! On. boys. He’s safe now!’’ Phil heard the sound of the retreating horsemen, then he leaped to the floor. Now for escape! He must show Oliver Oglethorpe that it was not so easy to shake him off. He would reappear to him when least he expected it and avenge this insult. Escape! But how? Look where he might, his eyes rested on sheets of flame,, growing more and more in- tense and becoming blinding in their inten- sity. Hotter and hotter grew the air. Heaven! must he suffocate here ? He ran from place to place in the great house, Everywhere it was the samg¢. He tried again and again to reach the cel- lar, but was met by a cloud of smoke which sent him back almost stifled. 11 It was of no use te attempt to mount the rickety stairs which, at length, he found In fact, the danger wculd be great there. Must he then fold his hands and submit to death! Was this 1:ate? The dispatches! He had failed to earry out his purpose. For once in his life he was forced to udmit defeat. It was a sore trial for him to make this ad- mission; yet was it not best to look the mat- ter square in the face, All this was due to Oglethorpe. Would Molly Grame now accept his rival for a suitor? He could not believe it. She was too true a woman, too pure in heart to haveanything to do with such a miscreant. Beams began to tumble about him, sparks burned the floor near the spot where he stood. How hot it was! Hark! Like the wing of a rescuing angel some- thing fell over the head and shoulders of Phil Lamonte. He felt himself half dragged, half led, through a sea of biinding smoke and flame, by a passage he had not aituavercae a singu- lar faintness came over him. When it was over, he was in the pure air of heaven, and a hand was upon his brow. Could it be ——? It was the hand of a woman! CHAPTER XI. A BLOW IN THE DARK, Phil Lamonte, revived by the fresh air, feeling the gentle hand of the unknown be- ing upon his brow, lay still for several min- utes, unwilling to move lest the sweet dream might vanish and leave him naught but the stern reality of that burning house. He felt the woman—for such he believed his rescuer to be—bend down and watch for his breathing, and the soft touch of her fin- gers upon his wrist sent his blood coursing like the mountain rivulet through his veins. He wished this might go on forever; but suddenly he noticed all was silent about him. Looking up quickly he saw that he was alone. The angel had flown. Phil started up, and put his hand to his pee: Was this indeed all a dream ? Oo. There was the blazing tenement which had so recently imprisoned him. The timbers had fallen in one after another, leaving nothing but a red skeleton. There was no doubt about it. _ Some one, a woman, had saved him from imminent peril. Who was that woman? He knew of only one in all the world who would risk so much for his sake, and he had no right to suppose that she would do it. Must the question remain unanswered ? He tried to pierce the gray curtain of night which now hung heavy about him, hoping to catch some glimpse of the woman who had just retreated from his side. It was in vain. Nothing but impenetrable gloom met his eyes save where the old house was crackling into ruins. Several times he fancied he heard foot- steps ‘n the highway beyond, butafter listen- ing earnestly for some further signs of an animate object he decided that he must have been mistaken. ‘‘Tam certain that time will reveal to me tbe truth of this matter which is now little more than mystery,”’ said Phil, as he ped his way toward theroaa. ‘‘l would like to know whether I am right or notin thinking it might possibly have been her! Wouldn’t I like to know that. Pshaw! Phil Lamonte, you're getting sentimental, and it’s no time for sentiment. On to Nashville, must be my watchword, so here I go.”’ Bounding over the low fence which ran along the highway, the young man started on arun toward the city. In half an hour he met the pickets, and in a short time thereafter he had the pleasure of standing in the presence of General Buell. “General,” our hero said, tossing down a package upon the table at which Buell sat, *‘ here are some papers that were not intend- ed for Union eyes. As you willsee, they are addressed to Price and Van Dorn, now on their way from Arkansas.” Buell took a glance at the blood-stained and crumpled packet, and then turned his eyes upon the young man, who spoke so calmly about this matter. ‘‘ But how did you come into possession of these documents? I judge they have been Eomichbooksscom