Humorous stories, American; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Fiction; War stories, American
We approached the tavern stealthily and reconnoitred. A light was
burning in the small bar-room, the rest of the house was dark. I tried
the front door; it yielded, and we softly entered, closing the door
behind us. Then we removed our shoes, and I led the way to the bar-room.
The German landlord sat there, asleep in his chair. I woke him gently,
and told him to take off his boots and precede us; warning him at the
same time to utter no sound. He obeyed without a murmur, but evidently
he was badly frightened. I ordered him to lead the way to 166. We
ascended two or three flights of stairs as softly as a file of cats; and
then, having arrived near the farther end of a long hall, we came to a
door through the glazed transom of which we could discern the glow of a
dim light from within. The landlord felt for me in the dark and
whispered me that that was 166. I tried the door—it was locked on the
inside. I whispered an order to one of my biggest soldiers; we set our
ample shoulders to the door and with one heave we burst it from its
hinges. I caught a half-glimpse of a figure in a bed—saw its head dart
toward the candle; out went the light, and we were in pitch darkness.
With one big bound I lit on that bed and pinned its occupant down with
my knees. My prisoner struggled fiercely, but I got a grip on his throat
with my left hand, and that was a good assistance to my knees in holding
him down. Then straightway I snatched out my revolver, cocked it, and
laid the cold barrel warningly against his cheek.
“Now somebody strike a light!” said I. “I’ve got him safe.”
It was done. The flame of the match burst up. I looked at my captive,
and, by George, it was a young woman!
I let go and got off the bed, feeling pretty sheepish. Everybody stared
stupidly at his neighbor. Nobody had any wit or sense left, so sudden
and overwhelming had been the surprise. The young woman began to cry,
and covered her face with the sheet. The landlord said, meekly,—
“My daughter, she has been doing something that is not right, _nicht
wahr_?”
“Your daughter? Is she your daughter?”
“Oh, yes, she is my daughter. She is just to-night come home from
Cincinnati a little bit sick.”
“Confound it, that boy has lied again. This is not the right 166; this
is not B. B. Now, Wicklow, you will find the correct 166 for us,
or—hello! where is that boy?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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