The War Library: Phil, the Scout — page 21: what you’re looking at

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He handed the girl a pistol. es) ‘Thus equipped, Laura took her station in ‘ront of the man who had descried her. t was a novel situation. Ina moment Phil was gone. Ten minutes afterward he was at the _ quarters of the Confederate general demand- ng admittance. This was quickly granted upon the produc- tion of the letter of Colonel Fon'neroy. Late though the hour was, and flushed as _ was General Beauregard with the victory he had gained, he was deeply buried in work. _ Summoned by the members of his staff he was briskly planning to press the contest, so guspiciously begun, to a successfulfend. * ow and then messengers were Summoned — and dispatched with orders. Standing quietly for a few minutes Phil _ watched the face of the general closely. He could discern upon his features at times a _ look of the deepest anxiety, becoming at in- tervals even the expression of alarm. . Nota single trace of these varying indices _ ofemotion escaped the sharp eyes of the spy. From them he was making up his esti- - mate of the actual condition ot thingson the _ Confederate side. When at ead a@ propitious opportunity ' presented itself Phil handed the general Colo- ‘ . ~ nel Fontneroy’s letter, still keeping his gaze riveted upon his countenance. He saw a shadow fall over Beauregard’s face—a shadow which deepened till it be- came avery cloud. . ‘Ah!’ thought our hero, ‘‘ after all, then, youtremble! Ay! and well you may; for ere the morning sun lights up these hills, the victory will be wrested from you.” “Your letter of introduction entitles you _ tomy fullest confidence, sir,’”’ said the gen- @ral, motioning aside several officers who were pressing to his table. ‘* Fortneroy would ask nothing unreasonable, and I will state the situation frankly. It is desperate. Yes, desperate.” He paused for an iustant, and his hands moved restlessly amoug the papers before him, while his eyes were staring into space. ** Don’t speak discouragingly, I beg of you, general,’’ responded Phil. ‘* All Richmond, nay, the entire South, looks toward you at this hour, with intense hope. Upon Shiloh depends the issue of this war. You must know it.” “IT do know it. But what more can be done? IfIhad a few more men [ could crush Grant forever, and that would end the matter; but we have lost heavily to-day, iow heavily no one but we ourselves know. If Granthad buta suspicion how weak we By are at this moment—but I fear it would make little difference. While we have seen our forees decimated, and know full well that there can be no way of strengthening them, he is being hourly reinforced.” “Ah! By whom?’ ‘*Buellis here; Wallace also. They were on the way yesterday. You must see how dangerous is our position. Still Ihave hope. Lam doing allin my power to create the im- pression that I am stronger than the facts will warrant. It ismy only hope.’’ ‘Must I then convey such tidings as these back to Richmond? I had hoped differ- ently.” ““When do you return? A day may de- cide matters, beyond a doubt.” _ “tT leave you to-night,’’ replied the young - man, consulting his watch. ‘In facet, I should this moment be on the way. Let me thank you, general, for your kindness. You have helved me wonderfully in obtaining the true state of affairs, which is hard to dis- cover afte. a battle. I must bid you good- night.”’ e leaned toward Beauregard ashe con- eluded, and whispered : ‘““When pext 2 man comes to you witha letter from Fontneroy, take time to ascer- tain the facts under which it was obtained.”’ Leaving Beauregard lost in wonder at the meaning of these strange words, Phil darted out into the night, and made his way back toward the quarters of Fontneroy, where he had left Laura Doane Keeping her watch over the man she hated, Time was flying. It lacked not more than two hours of the time for the appointed sig- nal. He must relieve Laura of her task, then he would prepare to send the promised news to General Grant. Bounding into the tent he looked hurriedly about him. The place was vacant. ond met his ear. ’ THE WAR LIBRARY. Turnuing to leave the tent he heard a hur- ried whisper just outside. ‘We have the rascal now, boys! Sur- round thetent, Let him not escape ulive!”’ Before Philcould spring through the open- ing two meu met him face to face, The scout then mounted his horse, and, though closely pursued, managed to reach ene felt of battle in time to take an active part. CHAPTER XXII. STILL DEEPER INTO DANGER. ‘*Don’t make a move to draw your weap- onus. At your peril youstir from your tracks till we command you.” The officer who spoke these words, thrust close upinto the face of the Union scout the cold muzzle of a revolver. There was no mistaking thetone. It be- spoke no appeal. ‘‘This is, indeed, a surprise, gentlemen,”’ said Phil, with an expression of well-feigued astonishment. ‘‘Canit be you made a mis- take in this matter? Certainly it would seem so. What is the charge against me? I cannot conceive.” ‘**Come, now, this isuseless. Weknow you. You are no Confederate. Your uniform is but adisguise. You area Yankee spy.” ‘Why do you say that?’’ ‘“We have our orders from Colonel Fontne- roy himself.” ‘Krom Fontneroy? You must be mista- ken. Why, 1 hold here a letter written in the colonel’s own hand, introducing me to General Beauregard himself. See, here it 1s”? He held the letter up. ‘* Let me read it,”’ said the officer. up, gentlemen, and listen.”’ Throwing the light of a lantern upon the letter, the officer read it aloud. ‘“ What does that sound like to you? The words of a man who has no confidence in another? I tell you, you have made a mis- take. Why does not the colonel come here and confront me, otherwise? You see how absurd this thing is. I am surprised.’’ ‘* Your question shall be answered,”’ said a voice not far distant. ‘‘I am here, and charge you with being just what I said—a Yankee spy. Men, do your duty; I com- mandit!’’ Every eye was at that moment turned to- ward the colonel, as he made his way through the crowd. Taking advantage of the moment, Phil struck the lantern from the hands of the Confederate, plunging the place in darkness. Then springing to therear of the tent, quick as lightning he cleft the heavy canvas with his knife from top to bottom, and disap- peared through the rent thus made. A yell of rage run around the mob of cheated soldiers. In their eagerness to hear the information which the letter, ostensibly written by Colo- nel Fontneroy conveyed, they had left the tent unguarded, save in the very front. ‘After him!’’ yelled Colonel Fontneroy, madly. ‘‘Hemust notslip through our fin- gers now. Shoot him, if you must, but stop his flight.”’ Thus inspired, the crowd gave chase—some on foot, some on horse, all shouting, howl- ing, cursing. As if wings had been lent him, our hero leaped over the ground, bending his steps to- wird the Tennessee, which was sweeping leisurely along a short distance from the Con- federate camp and through the heavy forest. Soon he knew by the crashing of bushes in the rear that the Confederates had entered the forest; and he again nerved himself for the contest. So tangled were the low thickets, however, that his flight was seriously impeded, and he knew by the sounds which came, borne on the air from behind, that he was rapidly be- ing overtaken. ‘*T'll make an effort to throw them off the track for a short time, at least,’’ muttered Phil, reaching up and grasping the branches of a thick tree, under which he was at that moment standing. Drawing himself quickly up, he ascended high into the top of the cypress,and with pistols in hand, waited the coming of the crowd. Not an instant too soou had he resolved upon this action, for the Confederates came tearing down through the thickets, and went rushing past, ‘*The whole Confederate army seems to be out after me,’’ smiled the young man, as he stealthily lowered himself to the ground. ‘‘Well, they’ll have something to do before they catch me. I’m sure of that.’’ ‘Come —— ---- 21 So'silently did Phil move that no one, ten feetaway, would have dreamed what was going on in the brauches of the cypress. As soonas he wasou the ground, the scout, halting fora brief period to take his bear- ings, hastened away, taking a course about atright angles from that which his pursuers were following. ‘**They willsoon be doubling on the trail, for the edge of the forest in that direetion lies not far ahead,” thought Phil. ‘* What J do, must be done quickly.” In this our hero was fully right. It was not Jong before the rebels, reaehin the clearing which lay beyond the road, an not finding the object of their seareh, turned back and began a systematic hunt, leaving no spot or corner unexplored. They had sprexd out also, so that Phil re- alized with considerable anxiety that they were likely to cut off his retreat even now. He could not play the ruse which had suc- ceeded so well a few minutes before. These thoughts now awoke in the breast of the daring scout no little apprehension lest he should not reach the open space by the riverin time to send up the signal to the Union general. Wondering thus, he sought in his poekets fora match, and lighting it, looked at his watch. Hait-past three. Only thirty minutes left. Hastily extinguishing the match, he pre- pared to advance once more. The light had searcely ceased to flicker when a voice so near to him that he started back in surprise, said: ‘Thank you for that illumination, my dear sir,’’ said the voice. ‘‘ Now, just stand where youare. Don’t move. Iam coverin you with a weapon that has never fail me.”’ Without a word in reply, the scout crouched low in his tracks, and waited. From the sound made by this unseen foe he knew that he was mounted. He could hear the steady tramp eoming through the darkness. Suddenly, with the bound of a tiger, Phil sprung upon the horse which the Confeder- ate rode, and seizing his hands, fastened them to his sides. Alarmed by this unexpected act, the sol- dier uttered a wild cry, which rung through the forest. Knocking his weapon from his hand, the scout snatched the sword which he saw hanging at the belt of his antagonist, and hurling him, stunned and breathless, to the ground, dashed away from the place. It was a bold move, yet so far, it had proved a safe one. He now had an advantage which led him to hope for the speedy accomplishment of his plans. Toward the Tennessee he guided the eap- tured horse. But the forest seemed alive with his ene- mies. His face wore the look of a man whoun- derstands that he confronts death, but who has determined to meet it, if need be, with- out flinching. A few seconds longer and he knew by the shout which went up that he had been dis- covered. “ Halt!" The tones were those of Colonel Fortneroy. Instead of obeying the command, the 1n- trepid scout lashed his steed furiously, and plunged madly against the sea of death. Right and left he struck with his saber, and wherever the blows descended, the yells which followed told what execution he had done, Crack! crack! rung out his revolver at intervals, and he saw the body of soldiers melt away like dew under the sun of a s8um- mer day. A few feet further. On, brave youth! Strike again, and once again ! At last, thank fortune, the line was piereed, the knot cut, and our hero stood clear on the outside. But, hark! #4 perfect rain of leaden messengers sung through the leaves. Was he safe yet? Not a thread of his garments had been cut. And now, forward to the river. ‘‘Away! brave steed, away!’ shouted Phil. ‘*‘God bless you, my noble horse, for bringing me through that fearful struggle! I never will part with you till death. On, on, faster, on !”’ As if fully understanding the words of praise which its new-found master spoke, im (E(0) iGcbooks (E(0)