Love under Fire Read online

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  Love Under Fire

  _by_

  RANDALL PARRISH

  AUTHOR OF MY LADY OF THE SOUTH;

  KEITH OF THE BORDER ETC.

  WITH FIVE

  ILLUSTRATIONS IN FULL COLOR

  _by_

  ALONZO KIMBALL

  1911

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER

  I BETWEEN THE LINES. II AFTER THE DESPATCH-BEARER. III A FRIEND RATHER THAN AN ENEMY. IV THE COMING OF DAWN. V ACQUAINTANCES, NOT FRIENDS. VI A BOLD FRONT. VII A WOMAN'S PRISONER. VIII THE COMING OF THE ENEMY. IX IMPORTANT NEWS. X MISS WILLIFRED INTERVENES. XI THE RETURN OF LE GAIRE. XII AN ATTEMPT AT ESCAPE. XIII I MEET LE GAIRE. XIV ACROSS THE RIVER. XV I MEET AN EX-SLAVE. XVI A CALL TO DUTY. XVII BEGINNING THE NIGHT ADVENTURE. XVIII OVERHEARD CONVERSATION. XIX LE GAIRE FORCES A DECISION. XX WE ARRIVE AT A CRISIS. XXI WE CAPTURE THE HOUSE. XXII MISS WILLIFRED DECLARES HERSELF. XXIII THE CHALLENGE. XXIV I BECOME A FAMOUS SWORDSMAN. XXV THE END OF THE DUEL. XXVI MISS WILLIFRED SURPRISES US. XXVII THE BODY OF LE GAIRE. XXVIII I FORCE BILLIE TO LISTEN. XXIX THE MYSTERY DEEPENS. XXX UNDER NEW ORDERS. XXXI THE DISAPPEARANCE OF BILLIE. XXXII WE REPULSE THE ENEMY. XXXIII MISS BILLIE REAPPEARS. XXXIV HER STORY. XXXV THE DEAD MAN. XXXVI THE LAST STAND. XXXVII THE MYSTERY SOLVED.XXXVIII THE COMING OF THE NIGHT.

  ILLUSTRATIONS

  She paused in the doorway, an exceedingly pretty picture.

  "I won't stand this! You're hiding something. Is this Yank anything toyou?"

  I forced the door shut, and stood with my back against it, the blackmuzzle of my Colt staring them in the eyes.

  "I--I will listen," she said falteringly, "to all you have to say".

  We worked like fiends, firing as rapidly as we could lay hands toweapons.

  LOVE UNDER FIRE

  CHAPTER I

  BETWEEN THE LINES

  I had drifted slowly across the river, clinging with one arm thrown overa log, expecting each moment the musket of some startled picket wouldspit red through the dark, and scarcely daring to guide my unwieldysupport by the slightest movement of hand in the water. The splash ofmotion might mean death in an instant, for keen eyes, sharpened by longnight vigils, were on the stream, and those who had ventured the deedbefore me had failed utterly. Yet the southern bank remained silent, soblack I could scarcely discern its vaguest outlines, while, by goodfortune, the sweep of the current served me almost as well as a pair ofoars. Thus, trusting to luck, and without exerting a muscle, I finallycame to a full stop on a narrow spit of sand, so far out in the stream Icould scarcely touch bottom, until the sweep of the current drifted mylog inward, and thus left me flat on the wet sand facing the bank, thewood-covered crest, as revealed dimly against the slightly lighter sky,appearing almost to overhang the water.

  This shadow served me well, yet did not invite to recklessness. Therewere surely pickets posted along here, because the gleam of camp-fireshad been plainly visible during the early evening from the bluffsopposite, but there was nothing observable from where I lay, my headcautiously uplifted, peering across the log. It was several minutesbefore I even ventured to creep up the sand-spit into the denserblackness of the over-hanging bank, but, once there safely, I discoveredthe drift had landed me at the mouth of a narrow gully, apparently amere crevice in the rocky shore-line. It was the occasional downpour ofwater after rain which had caused the accumulation of debris on which mylog had grounded. At times the dry gulch would hold a roaring torrent,although now it was no more than a gash in the bank.

  I was not altogether certain within half a mile of where I was, but thismade small difference, so far as my present purpose was concerned. Thelines of the enemy were extended from the upper ford east as far asSailor Springs, and I was certainly well within those limits, probablysomewhat to the right of the centre. However, that was a minor detail,as it made little difference where I succeeded in penetrating thecordon of pickets, so long as I returned with the information sought. IfI had, through mere chance, discovered a weak spot, then God was good.

  My heart beat rapidly as I stared blindly up into the black recess ofthat narrow defile, listening intently for the slightest unusual soundwhich would indicate the near presence of anything human. It wascaution, not fear, however, which caused me to breathe quickly--my sole,overpowering dread being that I might have to return, and face Sheridanwith a report of failure. I preferred anything rather than that. Ithought of his stern eyes as he looked me over in the late sunlight ofthe evening before; the sharp rasp in his voice, as he said, "Geer, thisis no boy's work," and the quiet, confident reply of my captain,"Galesworth will do it for you, General, if any one can." The memory ofthat scene seemed to stiffen my nerves; I had to make good here in thedark, alone, and so, on hands and knees, I began creeping slowly upunderneath the tangle of bushes. The path was steep and stony, sodensely overhung with branches as to appear like a tunnel. There wereloose stones which I had to guard against dislodging, and the drierleaves rustled as I pressed them, aside. This endeavor to avoid noisemade progress slow.

  I must have been fully ten minutes, thus endeavoring to break through,seeing and hearing nothing alarming, yet constantly feeling an oddpremonition of danger, when I finally attained the top of the bank,perhaps twenty feet back from the river, and looked out through a slightfringe of bushes. The first thing noticeable was the dull red glow of afire, nearly extinguished, some few yards in advance. The little gleamof light thrown out as the wind stirred the smouldering embers served toreveal the dirty flap of a tent set up at the edge of a grove ofsaplings, and a horse, standing with lowered head, sharply outlinedagainst the canvas. I could even perceive the deep-seated cavalrysaddle, and catch the shine of accoutrements. All these details came tome in a sudden flash of observation, for, almost simultaneously with myrising above the edge of the bank, my ears distinguished voicesconversing, and so closely at hand as to almost unnerve me. I gripped aroot between my fingers to keep from falling, and held on motionless,striving to locate the speakers. They were to my left, scarcely fouryards distant, yet so dimly revealed against the background of leaves Icould tell nothing of their rank--merely that one was short, and heavilybuilt, while the other, a much taller, and seemingly more nervous man,was wrapped in a long cavalry cape. It was his voice speaking, a ratherpeculiar voice, as though he possessed some slight impediment of speech.

  "Do not look at it in that way, General," he protested earnestly. "I amnot opposing your plan, but merely urging the extreme peril of theundertaking--"

  "Human life cannot be considered at such a time, Hardy," broke in theother warmly. "The cause for which we battle, the duty confronting us,outweighs all else. A life may be sacrificed, but that single life maysave thousands."

  "True; very true. I am sufficiently a soldier to realize that. Yet whatyou propose seems an impossibility. Two aides have endeavored thisservice already, and failed, their lives forfeited. Others stand readyto go the moment the word is spoken, but what possibility is there ofsuccess, that any volunteer could get through alive?"

  "Practically none," admitted the other, his deep voice more grave."There is only one in whom I feel the slightest hope, Hardy; that is whyI have sent for you. I naturally hesitate to say so, but I believe themoment has now come which demands this sacrifice. You recall the offerof service made us last night, Major?"

  The man addressed took a single step backward, one hand flung up, asthough warding off a blow.

  "You--" he stammered, "can you mean Billie?"

  "Yes; the South can have no more urgent need than now. These despatchesmust reach Beauregard, and I must have the report from C
arroll. If thelatter is not already in Beauregard's possession, then it must be soughteven in the enemy's camp. Every hour of delay adds to our danger. IfCarroll is dead I must know it; if he has gained the information he wassent after, then I must have it. I can stand this waiting nolonger--there is too much at stake. As you say two men have alreadyfallen endeavoring to pierce the lines, and I doubt if there is asoldier in my command who could succeed. Billie might have a chance, andI know no one else who would--do you? I sent for you to gain yourconsent, and I ask it, Major, in the name of the South."

  The taller man remained silent, his hands clasped, and head sunk on hisbreast. Finally he glanced up into the face of the other, with shouldersthrown back.

  "No Hardy ever yet failed in duty," he said sternly, "nor will one now.Where are the papers?"

  "In my tent, but the bearer will be safer not to come here for them.Even my orderly may be a spy. An aide shall deliver them at ThreeCorners in an hour--will that be too early?"

  "No; which aide? There should be no mistake."

  "There will be none. I will send Lieutenant West, and he shall act asescort as far as the outer pickets; beyond that--"

  "Wit and good luck, of course. What is the word?"

  "'Cumberland'; now listen, and repeat exactly what I say to Billie." Hisvoice fell into lower, more confidential tones, and, listen as I would,I could catch only now and then a word, or detached sentence. "The upperroad"; "yes, the wide detour"; "coming in by the rear will be safer";"that isn't a bad story"; "he's a tartar to lie too"; "just the thing,Major, just the thing"; then, "But that's enough for the outlines;details must take care of themselves. Let's waste no more time; thereare only four more hours of darkness."

  The two men separated hurriedly with a warm hand-clasp, the stockygeneral entering the tent, and brusquely addressing some one within,while the major swung into the saddle of the waiting horse, and drivingin the spurs rode swiftly away, instantly disappearing.

  There was no doubt as to my own duty. By the merest accident I hadalready become possessed of most important information. What it was allabout was still only guess-work, yet it was evidently enough a mostserious matter. I could better serve the cause of the Union byintercepting these despatches, and running down this spy, than bycarrying out Sheridan's original instructions. And it seemed to me Icould do it; that I already knew a way in which this might beaccomplished. Our army had held all this ground only a few monthsbefore, and I recalled clearly to mind the exact spot where the aide wasto meet the despatch-bearer. The "Three Corners"; surely that must bewhere the roads met at the creek ford, with the log meeting houseperched on the hill above. It would be to the west of where I was, andnot more than two miles distant.