+-------------------------------------------------+ |Transcriber's note: | | | |Obvious typographic errors have been corrected. | | | +-------------------------------------------------+ THE BORDER SPY; OR, THE BEAUTIFUL CAPTIVE OF THE REBEL CAMP. A STORY OF THE WAR. BY LIEUT. COL. HAZELTINE, FORMERLY CAPT. COMPANY A, FREMONT'S BODY GUARD. _NEW-YORK_: SINCLAIR TOUSEY, PUBLISHERS' AGENT, No. 121 NASSAU STREET. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the Year 1863, by SINCLAIR TOUSEY, Publisher's Agent, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. THE BORDER SPY; OR THE BEAUTIFUL CAPTIVE OF THE REBEL CAMP. CHAPTER I. _The Rebel General Price--Determination to Fight--The Sleeping Indian--Price Suspects him--He is Bound--Surprise--Escape._ Let those who fear the spray the torrent flings Retrace their steps--I'll cross the stream, howe'er Its brawlings may disturb me.--_Mrs. Hale._ "By my soul, it shall be done! Yes, safety, honor, fame, fortune, all require it!" It was a wild spot. The towering rocks reached to the height of several hundred feet above the valley below, where rolled the rapid waters of the Osage. Upon one of these jutting turrets, stood the speaker. His large form rose above the mountain oaks, standing as he was upon its most elevated point. But a close observer could not fail to notice that he was ill at ease. His eyes were restless, and as they wandered from mountain crag to the valley below, and thence to the far-reaching prairie in the distance, his frame trembled, and his fingers convulsively clutched his long iron-gray locks, as they were streaming in the morning wind. There was nothing remarkable in his dress, except that at such a time and place he should have worn an elegant sword, which could be seen beneath a large, dark cloak, thrown carelessly over his shoulders. In other respects he was without uniform, or any mark indicating the military chieftain. After gazing for some time upon the surrounding country, he again spoke: "Yes, by heavens, it is a land worth fighting for, and I will--" The speaker paused, and turning, beheld the approach of the person who had interrupted his soliloquy. A frown covered his face as he asked: "What do you want, Johnson?" The answer came, rough and fiercely. "Want? revenge!" "On whom?" asked the first speaker, as he grasped the hilt of his sword. "Not on you, General Price; so don't fear." "Fear!" echoed Price, "I fear no man--nothing." "Then why do you clutch your sword as I approach?" "Because I believe you are treacherous," replied Price. "Treacherous! ha! ha! ha! Can I be else, and serve _you_?" "But are you faithful to me and my cause?" "_Your_ cause!" echoed Johnson. "Why _I_ thought it was your country's cause!"