The Shades of the Wilderness: A Story of Lee's Great StandAltsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander)
History
The Shades of the Wilderness: A Story of Lee's Great Stand
Altsheler, Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Juvenile fiction
"So they do. Awfully funny. Now my brother's name is John Haskell,
and you happen to be carrying his canteen, but you've changed looks a
lot in the last few days, Brother John."
Haskell's voice had been growing more menacing, and Harry, with native
quickness, was ready to act. When he saw the man's pistol flash from
his belt he went over the side of his horse and the bullet whistled
where his body had been. His own rifle cracked in reply, but Haskell's
horse, not he, took the bullet, and, screaming with pain and fright,
ran into the woods as the rider slipped from his back.
Harry, realizing that his peril was imminent and deadly, fired one of
his pistols at the second man, who fell from his horse, too badly
wounded in the shoulder to take any further part in the fight.
But Harry found in Haskell an opponent worthy of all his skill and
courage. The Union soldier threw himself upon the ground and fired at
Harry's horse, which instantly jerked the bridle from his hand and fled
as the other had done. Harry dropped flat in the grass and leaves and
listened, his heart thumping.
But luck had favored him again. He lay in a slight depression and any
bullet fired at him would be sure to go over him unless he raised his
head. He could not see his enemies, but he could depend upon his
wonderful power of hearing, inherited and cultivated, which gave him an
advantage over his opponents.
He heard the wounded man groan ever so lightly, and then the other
whisper to him, "Are you much hurt, Bill?" The reply came in a moment:
"My right shoulder is put out for the time, and I can't help you now."
Presently he heard the slight sound of the other crawling toward him.
Evidently this Haskell was a fearless fellow, bound to get him, and he
called from the shadow in which he lay.
"You'd better stop, Haskell! I've got the best pair of ears in all
this region, and I hear you coming! Crawl another step and you meet a
bullet! But I want to tell you first that your interesting brother John
is all right. I didn't kill him. I merely robbed him."
"Robbed him of what?"
"Oh, of several things."
"What things?"
"They don't concern you, Haskell. These are matters somewhat above
you."
"They are, are they? Well, maybe they are, but I'm going to see that
you don't get away with the proceeds of your robbery."
Harry didn't like his tone. It was fierce and resolute, and he
realized once more that he had a man of quality before him. If Haskell
had behaved properly he would have withdrawn with his wounded comrade.
But then he was an obstinate Yankee.
He raised up ever so little and glanced across the intervening space,
seeing the muzzle of a rifle not many yards away. There could be no
doubt that Haskell was watchful and would continue watching. He drew
his head back again and said:
"Let's call it a draw. You go back to your army, Mr. Haskell, and I'll
go back to mine."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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