The Prisoner of the Mill; or, Captain Hayward's "Body Guard"Hazelton, Harry
Philosophy
The Prisoner of the Mill; or, Captain Hayward's "Body Guard"
Hazelton, Harry
Dime novels; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Fiction
At the moment the blow was inflicted, there was, upon the other bank of
the river, and watching the Federals, a squad of rebel cavalry scouts.
The water into which Hayward was thrown soon revived the wounded man. He
was seen by this band, and carried to the house of an officer of the
Confederate army, not half a mile from the spot. Here his wound was
dressed. It was not long before an order reached them, signed by
“Colonel Brown,” to convey him to the camp of Colonel Price, at Ozark.
This order was law, and immediately after the Federals left Grand
Prairie, a boat was procured, and Hayward placed in it. But half
conscious, he reached the Ozark bridge at the critical juncture already
described in the chapter referring to the interview between Nettie
Morton and Charles Campbell, and the interruption by Colonel Price, the
rescue of Nettie by Fall-leaf, the approach of the Union forces, and the
resolve of Charles Campbell to save the wounded captain.
It was at the moment when Price was in pursuit of the Indian that
Campbell, taking advantage of his absence, and observing the approach of
the Federals, hastily penned the note previously referred to and then
pushed off with the boat, down the stream, in order to effect his escape
with the prisoner.
He began to hope that success would crown his efforts. The battle
favored his flight. All that day and the night following, he pursued his
course. It was his purpose to follow the Gasconade until he had reached
the point nearest Rolla, where he supposed he would be free from the
roving bands of rebels, who were so numerous in the vicinity of
Springfield. But his hopes were doomed to disappointment. Colonel Price,
anticipating the direction he had taken, immediately dispatched one
Lieutenant Lewis, a most tireless wretch, with a squad of ten men, to
intercept Campbell, and the prisoner captain.
Just as the morning dawned, Campbell saw the pursuing party approaching.
Pulling for the shore, he lifted Captain Hayward in his arms, and bore
him into a mill, which stood near at hand. There he quickly concealed
his charge in an upper loft, and returned to meet the rebels. He stated
he had been captured by a party of the Federals and conveyed to that
point, and that they had there released him upon his parole of honor.
This story was generally believed, although one of the band appeared to
be incredulous, and left his fellows for a pretended search. Not
observing his absence, the remainder of the rebel band returned without
him, taking care, however, that Campbell was not left behind.
When this person entered the mill, he found Hayward leaning upon his
elbow, quite conscious, but too weak to move. He paused before the
wounded man, and was silent, Hayward saw, and recognized him.
“Are friends near?” was his feeble question.
“I am the only friend you have got in these parts, and I reckon as how
‘ugly Jim’ ain’t just the man you want to see!”
“You are one of my own men!” returned Hayward.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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