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Read Ebook: The Prisoner of the Mill; or Captain Hayward's Body Guard by Hazelton Harry
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Ebook has 782 lines and 37511 words, and 16 pages
"William! William Nettleton!"
"Sir!" answered a voice but a few feet from the captain.
"Why did you follow me, William?"
The person speaking was before him. In an instant Hayward sprung to his feet, but, with a cry of agony exclaimed: "Great God, Nettleton--why have you--oh God, save me--you've killed me--I die!" And, falling heavily forward, the words died upon his tongue.
The murderer bent over the murdered for a moment; then, with some haste, rolled the body into the water, and turned from the spot. He paused under the shade of a tree, and listened for the tread of a sentry, that he might enter the camp unobserved. With a half-suppressed laugh he uttered his thoughts:
"I have done it, sure; and now that it is done, I must progress--no retreating now. I think I'll win. Good-by, captain, and give my respects to my friends as you float downstream."
He proceeded with caution toward the camp, and was soon lost in the city of canvas.
The tattoo soon sounded. Lights were extinguished, and all was quiet, save in a few tents, which appeared to be those of officers. Yet, there were aching hearts within that camp, and, as the night progressed, many were the anxious inquiries as to why Captain Hayward did not return.
"I fear something has befallen my brother. He does not return, and it is now twelve o'clock!"
"Don't be alarmed," said Alibamo, in a soothing voice; "your brother is most likely at the head-quarters of General Sigel. He may be detained on business. Come, let us retire."
"No, not while my brother is absent."
At this moment the guard came to the tent entrance and said:
"Ladies, if you have not yet retired Captain Walker requests the pleasure of a few words with Miss Hayward."
"Oh, Alibamo, I fear that man; he looks at me so strangely. But perhaps he brings news of my brother. I will see him. Bid the captain enter."
As Walker entered he appeared agitated, but controlling his emotions, he said:
"Do you bring news of my brother?" asked Miss Hayward.
"No! His disappearance is very strange. But I came to speak of myself."
"What would you say?"
"This, Miss Hayward. I have loved you long and dearly. To-morrow we may be parted, and I would ask you, should the fortunes, or rather the misfortunes, of war deprive you of a brother's love and protection, will you not permit me to seek you out and become your future protector?"
"Captain Walker, these words surprise me, and I think propriety demanded that they should have been spoken in the presence of my brother."
"Pardon me, dear lady. I have waited until this hour for your brother's return, and at last, fearing I should have no other opportunity, I ventured to visit you now. You have a friend and sister in Alibamo, and surely you will not fear to speak before her."
"I can not answer your question--it refers to the future."
The timid girl turned toward Alibamo, and in an inaudible voice, spoke a word.
Miss Hayward did not reply.
"Is the favored one Lieutenant Wells?" again asked Walker.
"You are impertinent, Captain Walker," replied Alibamo. "I must request you to retire. How can you thus, in her brother's absence, address her in this manner?"
At this moment there was a commotion in the tent of Nettleton. The voice of the negro was heard, exclaiming:
"Is the nigger crazy? What is the darn skunk talking about?"
"Oh, you needn't make b'lieve ignoramus on dis 'ere question. I he'rd ye."
"Now, look a here, you unconscionable dark; if you have got any thing to say, spit it out. Don't make a darn skunk of yourself."
"Oh! won't I fotch ye up in de morning? Yes, sah!"
"Are you going to speak, and say what you mean?"
"Oh, golly! You go back on de cap'n dat way!"
"What cap'n? Out with it, or I'll break your head and every bone in your body," exclaimed Nettleton, in a state of undisguised excitement.
"Serve dis nigger as ye did de cap'n, and den put his body in de riber!"
The negro had scarcely uttered these words when Nettleton seized him. He set up a terrible howl, which brought Captain Walker to their tent.
"What is all this fuss about?" asked Walker.
The negro went on to explain as follows:
"Why, ye see, massa cap'n, I went ober to dat yar house across de riber, to see Miss Julia, a col'd gal dat used to be my sweetheart. Well, I see'd de Johnnies comin', and I ran down to de riber to come on dis side, but dey come so close to me dat dis chile hid behind a big log. Den dey stop right by me, and say, 'Golly, we can't cotch nobody.' Den I he'rd some one on de oder side ob de riber say, "Oh, Nettleton, you--"
"Silence this stuff! You have been drunk. If you speak upon this subject again, I'll cut your black throat."
"I'se dumb, massa cap'n."
Quiet had now been restored, and all parties retired for the few hours that intervened before morning. But it was evident all were not asleep. Several times a stealthy step was heard, and a shadow flitted past the white canvas tent, dimly seen by the pale starlight.
Morning came at last, and all was astir. Captain Hayward had not yet returned. The inquiry was made if any one had seen him.
"I have not seen him since last evening at twilight," replied Walker, "at which time he acted very strangely, and talked about the injustice of war. I am inclined to think he has deserted and joined the enemy."
"If you would save yourself trouble you had better remain quiet, Nettleton," replied Walker, as he fixed his eyes significantly upon him.
"Where is he?" sobbed Miss Hayward, pressing forward, in her eagerness.
"He is--"
"Silence!" yelled Walker.
"Let him speak," said the colonel. "Go on, George. Where is the captain?"
"Down dar!" The negro trembled violently, and glanced at Nettleton.
"What do you mean?"
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