The War Library: Phil, the Scout — page 18: what you’re looking at

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18 re men they have. You seeitis empty. Great Heaveu! What is that?” Oglethorpe had thrown open one of the heels as he exclaimed: It was crammed full of paper! ‘“‘This looks suspicions, to say the least,”’ said Captain Drury, pulling the papers from their place of security. te. ‘It’s aplot against me. I know this charge against me is false!’”’ cried Oglethorpe wild- ly. ‘‘ Read the papers. They are all right,” he continued, more hopefully. ‘It must be so.”’ , » See The Confederate. captain straightened out the wrinkled papers and began to read. “They ape addressed to General Grant,” he said, ‘‘and give him a full account of the intended attack upon him at Pittsburg Landing. I must do my duty, Oglethorpe, and take you back tothe general. This is alla mystery to me, but there is nothing else to do.”’ The young man was dumfounded at tke discovery, and again and again protested his innocence. ‘Yes; take meat once to Colonel Fontne- roy,’ he said. ‘‘He knows the secret of these boots, and that not a breath can be raised against my loyalty. I am willing to go with you.”’ But upon reaching Corinth the colonel was not to be found. He had not been seen since morning. General Beauregard, having learned that the suspected mau had been arrested, com- manded an immediate trial. Upon the earnest appeal of Oglethorpe, however, he was imprisoned to wait the re- turn of the colonel. Chafing sorely, and lamenting his fate, the pemoner paced up and down his cellall night ong, hoping hourly that Fontneroy would ap peat and secure his immediate release. e did not come. CHAPTER XVIII. IN A PERILOUS POSITION. With a splash, Phil Lamonte struck the water of the stream into which he had leap- ed from the rocky clit! when so closely pur- sued by the Confederates. Sinking beneath the surface he did not re- appear for some time, and when he did he was in such adazed condition that he hardly Know where he was or what to do save to him- self. His scattered senses began to come to him after awhile, however, and he at once struck out for the shore. So rapidly was the current running at that point that 1t was with the greatest difficulty that he made the slightest progress. Several times he was almost within reach of the bushes growing along shore, when the current would draw him almost breath- less back, where he swam panting and near- ly exhausted for some time. Meantime he was driftiug down the stream more rapidly than his benumbed faculties led him to believe; and after thespace, per- haps, of ten minutes, he found himself float- ing in still water, under a high, sheltering bank, which rose almost perpendicularly above his head. Exerting himself to the utmost, he suc- ceeded in swimming near enough to the edge of thestream to clutch the branch of a tree which grew low down to the water and draw himself up to the dry ground. Lying quietly there for some time he re- gained sufficient strength to enable him to rise and look about him. The situation was not an encouraging one certainly, and in the darkness he could see no way out of if. Thesky had become overcast, and afew heavy drops of rain fell upon the branches of the trees along the stream, heralds of the coming storm. This helped to make Phil’s position far from enviable, though he was already soaked through and through by reason of his recent voyage in the water. But our hero knew no such thing as inac- tion. Much was dependent upon him. He feared, and the fear lent wings to his feet, that already he would be too late in de- livering the message from General Buell. He must go on—must reach the Union lines before he rested. These thoughts aroused him fully, and with his old-time activity hestarted on a run back up the stream. Not far had he progressed when the mouth of a dismal cave yawned before him. With no other thought than that of curi- osity, the young man walked a few paces into the cave and listened. For a time naught but the ceaseless drip of | M4 THE WAR LIBRARY. water trickling from the roof of the cavern was to be heard. But suddenly from some point far within there came the sound of human voices. Here was something which might be worth investigating; and fearlessly the scout ad- vanced, pausing every few paces to listen for a repetition of the sound. The cave, widening the further it extended under the bank, was becoming lower and lower; overhead he could almost touch his hands. The floor began to rise by degrees. A few steps more and he heard the voices again. Running as rapidly as he could in the di- rection indicated by the noise, he again waited breathlessly. Aftera moment he heard a voice which sent a thrill through his whole being. It was that of Molly Grame. Halfin terror and half in astonishment Phil made his way onward. What was the meaning of this new rey- elation ? How had Molly come in that cave? Had he not left her in safety in the heart of the hollow tree? A singular event indeed had befallen St. Clair and Molly, whom we last saw in the hollow tree. They had caught the cry of Oglethorpe as he discovered Phil Lamonte, but they heard little else from the outside world. As they stood thus listening, St. Clair bending his head out of the opening sv that he could see the position of the two rivals outside, ready to leap down should his help be needed, and Molly, waiting with clasped hands the result of the struggle, all at once something beneath their feet seemed to give way, and they felt themselves slowly sinking below the surface of the earth. Frantically Molly clutched the arm of her companion, but uttered no cry of alarm. HKven under these thrilling circumstances her bravery did not forsake her. Deeper and still deeper sunk the mass of wood, rotten and damp, which had formed the inside of the tree, carrying with ita thin shell of earth which alone had sustained it before the added weight of the couple had been placed upon it. Faster and Faster now became their speed. Would there be no end to this awful jour- ney in the dark ? ‘he air rushed swiftly by them, and there was a dull roaring somewhere iu the dis- tance. In Heaven's name, what was this mystery ? Had the earth swallowed them up forever? Suddenly witha crash that hurled them stunned together on the ground their ride through space came to an end. Struggling to nis feet, St. Clair called out: ‘*Molly, Miss Grame, are you hurt? Quick, tell me,”’ The girl, slowly raising herself on one el- bow, replied: ‘‘T don't think lam. I think no bones are broken. But do you suppose this trip is over, or are we liable to go on again pretty soon ?”’ The dazed manner in which she spoke made the young man tremble lest she might be really more seriously injured than he had hoped; yet despite bis anxiety there was something ludicrous in the words she used. Groping to the spot where she lay, St. Clair gently lifted Molly to asitting post- ure, “‘T fear you are not unhurt,’’ he said. ‘‘Are you sure you are not?’ ‘*Assureas I can be of anything here,”’ was the answer. ‘I half expect to start out again on this wonderful trip into the bowels of the earth.”’ ‘““No; we have, I think, reached bottom,”’ said St. Clair. ‘‘ And what will be the out- come of our adventure is what troubles me at present. As soonas you are able to travel we had better set out on a tour of explora- tion.” “Tam ready, then,’’ said Molly, rising in- stantly, with all her former vigor. ‘‘Iam anxious to solvethis problem as soon as pos- sible. What do you think became of Phil?" Her own surroundings were not so grave that she had not a thought for the daring young man she loved so well. ‘“‘That is more than I can say. Ican only hope for the best. He was in a desperate strait; but heis able to cope with keener men than Oliver Oglethorpe. Are you sure you are able to go on now ?”’ ‘‘Tam strong again; the fall did give me uite a shock, I admit. I will soon be en- tirely over it. But you—are you uninjured ?"' ‘*My good fortune has not forsaken me. I am all right; take my arm and we will pro- ceed.” Setting out thus they wandered aimlessly about under ground for some time, without | > b making auy apparent progress toward find- — ing a wayout from this dungeon. ¢; The horrible thought would ever and anon force itself upon the minds of both that they were entombed forever. The tancy was fur trom pleasant. 5 Still, on and on they walked, now and then — stumbling heavily in the almost palpable Garkness. Despair was beginning to fasien itself upon their hearts, when from some place out in the black space before them there cume the the sound of a voice. “* Hello!’ Thank Goa! it was a human voice. ‘Hello!’ answered St. Clair. ‘‘ Who are you? Come this way; help us ?”’ There was a moment of silence. lt seemed an age. Then footsteps came crunching the sandy floor of the cave. ‘‘Am I mistaken?’ questioned the voice now quite close; *‘oram 1 near St. Clair and Molly Grame?”’ ‘You are right,’’ respouded the strangt man, not yet recognizing the tone of the ap- proaching man, while Molly exclaimed, her heart bounding to her mouth: ee we're lost. Cun you ‘* Phil, itis you; I know it. Come this way — and tell us how in the name of all that is wonderful you came in this terrible place.” ‘““T might as well ask you the same ques- tion,” said Phil, a great feeling of relief springing up within him; and coming for- ward he clasped the hands of both his friend# in a grasp that spoke volumes, He now had companions, That meaus much to a man in misfortune. We pass the explanations that ensued, and follow our friends to the entrance of the cave which Phil, having carefully noted the di- rection he took on going in, was able to find readily enough. With asigh which told how great a load had been taken from her mind, Molly said: ‘‘T hope never to have such an adveuture again. | would much rather face this drizzling storm than grope about in such an awful place as that.”’ ‘*T must go on,”’ said Phil. ‘‘I am not sure that you had not better remain beneath the shelter of this cave till morning; the way is so dark aud gloomy.” “Tam ready to share it with you,” said Molly, quickly. And Phil, leaninvg down in the darkness, found a pair of ruby lips ready to meet his. **T surely shall notremain herealone,”’ said St. Clair. ‘‘Soit seems we are fated to go on together fora time at least. But can you tell which way to turn?” ‘Tf you are ready, follow me,’* was Phil's” only answer. Inashort time they were once more on the road to Pittsburg Landing. CHAPTER XIX. PITTSBURG LANDING. April 6, 1862. Although it was the Sabbath day, Ge1.eral Graut, the stern Union commander, sat amoue his papers, hard at work. Notwitustanding it was yet long before daybreak, and through camp uaught was to be heard but the tread of sentinels pacing up and down their lonely beats, this man, who never worried, who never knew the beginuiug nor end ofa day, toiledon. As be sat thus, an attendaut thrust his head through a crack in the door and said, in a quiet tone, as if afraid to disturb the gen- eral. ‘Pardon me, general, but there is a wo- man here who says she must see you at once. Wecan'’t getrid of her. What shall we do?’ ‘A woman. Wauts to see me,’’ repeated General Grant, looking up for a moment from his table. ‘‘ Let hercomein. The best way te get along with women is to give them theirown way. Show her in.” OV es. si 7? Preseutly the door opened again, and a beautiful girl stood before the general. Giant started slightly as his eyes rested von this unexpected sight. He had looked simply for some half-crazed creature, such as, constantly followed the army. ‘** Well?” ‘*T am Laura Doane,” said the new-comer. ‘*T have just come from near Corinth.”’ *Cormth! Ah! Beauregard is there.” Aud he gazed sharply upon his visitor now. His interest was awakened. ‘* But he will not long be there.”’ Eomichbooks m (E(@) —