United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Juvenile fiction
been overpowered, and his hands bound behind his back. In a few moments
more the prisoners were all secured, and, after a horse had been caught
and saddled, the guerrilla placed upon it, his hands still bound, and
the coxswain was ordered to take charge of him. The dead and wounded,
together with the other prisoners, were left in the house, the doors of
which were closed and fastened. They would, no doubt, soon be relieved
by their friends, for the rebel who had escaped would, of course,
procure assistance as soon as possible.
As soon as the major had satisfied himself that every thing was ready
for the start, he mounted his horse and led the way down the road. It
was now broad daylight, and their first thought was to place a safe
distance between themselves and the scene of the fight, and then halt in
the woods until night, when they would return to the vessel. But if this
plan was adopted, it would give the guerrillas, who, of course, would
hasten to the rescue of their leader, time to get between them and the
river, in which case their capture was certain. Frank, who believed that
every instant of time was valuable, and who delighted in dashing
exploits, was in favor of returning at once to the vessel. Their horses
were comparatively fresh, and, if they rode rapidly, they could make
good their retreat before a sufficient force could be collected to
pursue them. The major and Frank talked over these different plans as
they rode along side by side, and the latter course was finally adopted.
It was at once communicated to the others, and they pushed forward with
all possible speed. Frank and the major rode in front, followed by the
coxswain, who held fast to the horse which their prisoner rode, and
Archie brought up the rear. In this manner they dashed along, passing
several plantation-houses, whose inmates ran to the doors and gazed at
them in astonishment. Half a dozen miles were passed over in this way
without stopping, except to water their horses, and without seeing a
single armed rebel, and Frank began to hope that the dangerous part of
the undertaking was passed. If attacked by a superior force, the chances
were that they would not only lose their prisoner, whose capture had
been effected in so gallant a manner, but also their own liberty, and
the thought of the treatment they would receive, judging by the order
the guerrilla chief had given his men at the commencement of the fight,
was enough to nerve them to make the greatest exertions to effect their
escape. They had reloaded their pistols, the effective use of which had
gained them a victory over almost four times their number, and Frank and
Archie carried the shot-gun and carbine which they had found attached to
the saddles of their horses, ready for instant use.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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