A Little Union Scout

probability; and that fact stung me. She had aided me to escape, even though she had had a hand in my capture, and I fe

astride his horse and leading mine. "Dey er gwine on a ride now terr

strikes me as curious, even yet, that the darkness should have fallen so suddenly on that particular day. When Goodrum spoke to me I supposed that the sun was still shining; when I turned into the road that led to the house it was dark. I reached the pl

air of surprise. "You would make it very hard for her if she were here, but I think she is gone. You'll

for him." The woman had no need to call him, however, for the inner door opene

ife. In a perfectly easy and natural manner-the manner of a young man-she came up and held out her hand. "I

d do for Miss Ryder would be amiss. "As it happens," I went

ation held her, and then her woman's curi

go with him," she declared with some bluntness. "You don't

eared it would. "Don't you suppose

e woman, sullenly, "and it would

with it," I exclaimed. "Only a very few minutes lie between thi

, but they'll not fool me again. You know mo

trust me or not, just as you please. If he is afraid to come with me let him say so, and I will bid him fare

She came nearer, but

me!" I cried. She obeyed my ge

?" wailed the mother

her, but I mad

o the door and stood wailing while I tried to persuade Jane Ryder to mount my horse. She hesitated, but I fairly lifted her into the saddle. The stirrup-straps were too short, but that made no difference. I sprang on the horse behind

taking me?" inq

to-night, and I decided to bring you away. You save

istaken; it was that fo

e her dearest friend, and I

. I'm in no danger of falling

When she found that her strength was not equal to the task of removing my arms or lifting them so sh

h, you traitor! I wish I had

nsisted. "You will see, and then you

Oh, if hate could kill you you would fall dead from this horse. W

you, you would fall

rm-"and it is easy for you to use it. If you think so

m?" she asked with a

"Do you think I'd be taking

hy, I hope your savage General

y go there if captured by the Forty Thieves. I am taking one chance in a thousand. But better for you to be in prison, where you w

ar? You-gentleman!" she hissed. "Can't you see that I desp

st compose yourself; you can be brave enough when you

; but you are an arrant coward: you, th

pose yourself

possible. I don't know, but I think you will be safe. It was our only chance." The nearer we drew to headq

re by running ahead of his ruffians and capturing her himself! This is Southern manliness-this is Southern chivalry! I am glad I know i

of hers and I knew what she would say and how hurt she was; "co

her from the saddle, "Don't touch me!" she exclaimed. She jumped from the saddle to the ground and stood before me, and for the first time I w

informality. I rapped at the inner door, and heard the

ye wandered over me and rested on my companion. Then, after

the young fellow who, you will remember, was wounded in our last affair at the river-you saw him in the cabin. He was carried away

o end. "I thought Herndon was mighty keen to go," he remarked with a laugh. "You say this young fellow fixed it so you coul

Shannon, that is a matter that I won't tolerate. I've a great mind to--" He paused, hearing the voice of his wife, who was visiting him. "Go back in there and tell Mrs. Forre

her. I must have had a queer expression on my face, f

. She regarded me very seriously for a moment, and then smiled. She was a handsome lady, and this smile of hers, full of p

. "It is all right; I'm glad I was called; I think I have made the General understand everything as I do. There are some things that men d

nd I could but stand before her mumbling with my head bent. "I know what you would

at do you mean by going on in this way?" He spoke with some severity, but there was a humorous twinkle in hi

er to be kind to

I'll have to let you off this time. Oh, you needn't look so smiling; you are to be punished, and that heavily. You are to be responsible for this young woman. You are to take charge of

at his words meant. "The lady is as safe with m

talk, and I believe yo

es. She spoke presently, while General Forrest was looking through a large morocco memorandum-book that was a little the worse for wear. "If you please," she sai

I don't make war on them. I'm letting you off on a technicality, Miss Ryder. You are not a spy; you have never been inside m

know," she replied; "and since he came b

ith a slip of paper in his hand. "You'll have to change your nam

uthorized to pass in and out the Federal lines, night or day, without let or hindrance

me," said Jane Ryder;

ate," said the General, smil

one away until she solved the mystery of this passport it would have been there yet,

I'll fix it up for you." He went into the next room and dictated to an orderly

a different man from what I thought you," said Jane Ryder to General

orrest. I have thought of this homely saying hundreds of times, and it rings truer e

about what I mean. You are responsible to me for the safety of that young lady. I believe in you, bu

Jim was holding the horses. I dismissed him then and there, and told him to put his horse in the stable and have plenty of feed for mine.

s not at all elated over the narrow escape she had had, and preferred to make light of it, but I knew that, under different circ

for me to make some reply, but none was forthcoming. "I hope you don't think you have won

you to come wit

he house. I didn't want her to hear you bluster and threaten; and, besides, I wanted to tell you what I thi

a man is no match for a woman: he cannot cope with her in a war of words. Nor will silence discomfit them. At least, it had no s

a young fellow who turned out to be a woman-how you compelled her to go with you to

u through a thousand disguises, as

me to-night? You won't answer, or if you do you'll say you knew me by my swagger. Anything to insult a woman. I'd like to be a man for a few hou

insist on goin

me. If you had known I was a woman, you wouldn't have called me a little devil-Yes, you would!" she quickly

hem fairly I said to myself, 'Here's Jane

er so. "Are my eyes so peculiar that you would know them anywhere? Are they positively hideous, as the young women say?" I hesitated, and she went on, "But why do I ask? No matter what you think, i

n," I replied. "You know very well that I am obliged to carry out the

dark. "Do you really mean that?" and then, without waiting for