General Nelson's Scout 5

General Nelson's Scout 5

Morgan did not answer for a moment, and then slowly replied:

 

"Major, I think that you politicians, both North and South, ought to

show more sense than you do. There are those Northern politicians who

have been declaring the war would not last for ninety days. The time is

up, and the war has hardly begun. Now you fellows who have been

associating so long with the dough-faces of the North, think the whole

North is a truckling, pusillanimous set. In my business I have met

another class in the North--thrifty and earnest. They are not only

earnest, but brave; and not only brave, but stubborn. They will hold on

like bulldogs. I fear the effects of this victory will be just opposite

to what you think. It will make our people overconfident; it will tend

to unify the North and nerve her to greater exertion."

 

"Nonsense, Morgan," replied Major Hockoday, "what ails you? You will

hardly hear a peep from the Union men of Kentucky after to-morrow. The

only thing I regret is that Kentucky has not taken her rightful place in

the Southern Confederacy. We have talked neutrality so much, it is hard

to get away from it."

 

"Hockoday, like you, I think Kentucky has played the rôle of neutral too

long--so long that she is already lost to the Confederacy, only to be

retaken at the point of the bayonet. Central Kentucky is already in the

hands of that devil, Nelson. Poorly organized as he is, he is much

better organized than we. Gods! how I would like to be at the head of a

cavalry regiment and raid that camp at Dick Robinson; and I would do it,

too, if I had my way. But you politicians, with your neutrality, have

spoiled everything."

 

"Look here, Morgan," replied Major Hockoday, a little nettled, "be

reasonable. It was neutrality or worse. Look at the Union sentiment we

had to contend with. The State absolutely refused to secede. The

elections all went against us. The Legislature is against us. We had to

take neutrality to keep the State from going bodily over to the

Yankees----"

 

"That's it," broke in Morgan, "with your twaddle about State rights you

allowed your hands to be tied. The Legislature should have been

dispersed at the point of the bayonet, the election annulled, and

Kentucky declared out of the Union. If we had done this two months ago,

we would have been all right."

 

"That is what we propose to do now," said the major. "See here, Morgan,"

and he lowered his voice to a whisper. Fred yawned, and leaned his head

forward on the seat apparently for a good sleep, but his ears were never

more alert. He could only now and then catch a word something like this:

 

"Send message--Tompkins--Louisville--Knights Golden Circle--take

Louisville--Stop at Frankfort--Send Captain Conway--All excitement--Bull

Run--Louisville ours."

 

Fred leaned back in his seat, shut his eyes, and commenced to think

hard. What did it mean? And this is the conclusion that he reached: That

Major Hockoday was going to send a message from Frankfort to some one in

Louisville; that there was to be an uprising of the Secessionists with

the intention of capturing the city. "Oh!" thought Fred, "if I could

only get hold of that message. Can I?" and again he fell to thinking.

 

In the rear of the car sat two men, one dressed in the uniform of a

Federal officer; the other a sharp, ferret-looking man who would readily

pass for a detective.

 

An idea came to Fred. He thought a moment, and then said to himself, "I

don't like the deception, but it is the only way. If I have the

opportunity, I will try it. I must have that message if possible. It may

mean much to the Union cause; it may mean much to Louisville."

 

The train stopped at Frankfort, and Major Hockoday and Morgan alighted.

On the platform stood a short, stumpy man with a very red face and a

redder nose.

 

"How do you do, Captain," said Major Hockoday, stepping up to him and

shaking hands, at the same time slipping an envelope into his other

hand, and whispering some hurried instructions into his ear.

 

"Trust me," said the captain; "I will see that your letter reaches the

right person and in time."

 

Fred had followed Major Hockoday out of the car, took note of every

movement, and heard every word that could be heard.

 

The bell rang, and the captain entered the car. There was a little

delay, and Fred, who had got on the rear of the car, said to himself,

"This little delay is a blessed thing for me, for it helps me carry out

my plan." He waited until the train was getting under good headway, and

then entered the car puffing and blowing and dropped into the seat

beside the captain, where he sat panting as if entirely exhausted.

 

"You seem to have had a hard run for it, my boy," said the captain.

 

"Y-e-s,--had--to--make--it. Had--to--see--you," panted Fred, speaking in

gasps.

 

"Had to see me!" exclaimed the startled captain. "I reckon there must be

some mistake."

 

"No--mis-mistake. Wa-wait--until--I--catch--my--breath," and Fred sat

puffing as if he had run a mile race. His companion eyed him not only

in surprise, but with suspicion.

 

After Fred had let sufficient time elapse to regain his breath, he said

in a low tone: "You are Captain Conway of the State Guards, are you

not?"

 

"Yes, but what of that?"

 

"You have just received an important letter from Major Hockoday to be

delivered in Louisville."

 

Captain Conway stared at Fred in astonishment; then said in a fierce

whisper, "How do you know that?"

 

"Don't get excited," whispered Fred; "don't attract attention, or all is

lost. Listen! Hardly had the major placed the letter in your hands

before he received the startling intelligence that he had been watched,

and you spotted. Do you see those two men in the rear of the car, one in

the uniform of a Federal officer, the other a keen looking fellow?"

 

Captain Conway turned quickly and saw the men, both of whom happened to

be looking at him, and as the captain imagined with sinister designs.

 

"What of it?" he asked in a trembling voice.

 

"The gentleman seated by the side of the officer," continued Fred, "is a

noted detective from Danville. The plan is to declare you a celebrated

thief, and arrest you and take you off the cars at Eminence. Once off,

they will search you, get your dispatches, and let you go."

 

"But there may be some on the train who know me."

 

"That will make no difference; they will claim they are not mistaken,

and that you must prove you are not the person wanted before some

magistrate."

 

"What can I do? What did Major Hockoday say for me to do?" asked the now

thoroughly frightened captain.

 

"He said that you should give me the letter, and for you to leave the

train before it reached Eminence, thus giving them the slip."

 

"Boy, you are an impostor. It is simply a plot to get hold of the

letter. Why did not Major Hockoday write me this order?"

 

"He had no time."

 

"I shall not give you the letter."

 

"Refuse at your peril. What do you think will happen when you are

arrested and Major Hockoday's letter gets in the hands of his enemies.

He will shoot you at sight for betraying him."

 

"How do I know you tell the truth?" asked the captain, visibly

weakening.

 

"How did I know about the letter of Major Hockoday, if he had not sent

me?" retorted Fred.

 

The captain grasped at the last straw. "To whom am I to deliver this

letter?" he asked. He was in hopes that Fred could not answer.

 

"Tompkins," answered Fred, trembling, thinking his answer might be

wrong.

 

The captain was convinced, yet sat silent and undecided. He glanced

back; the men were still looking at him. He shivered, and then slyly

slipped the letter into Fred's hand. The train stopped, and the captain

arose and went forward as for a drink of water. At the door he hesitated

as if still undecided. Fred's heart beat fast. Would he fail after all.

No, he would jump from the train himself first. The bell rang for the

train to start, and the captain turned as if to come back, at the same

time glancing at the two gentlemen in the rear of the car. The

detective-looking individual had arisen to his feet, and was reaching

for his hip pocket.

 

Captain Conway waited to see no more; he turned, bolted from the car,

and plunged from the now moving train into the darkness.

 

The detective-looking gentleman drew a handkerchief from his pocket,

wiped his perspiring face, and sat down again. On such little incidents

do great events sometimes depend.

 

Fred drew a long breath. He had taken desperate chances, and won. For a

moment he felt exultant, and then his face grew serious. He had always

been the soul of truth and honor. "And now," he thought, bitterly, "I

have been lying like a pirate." Had he done right? He hardly knew, and

the wheels of the cars seemed to say, as they rattled along, "You are a

liar, you are a liar," over and over again, until he leaned his head on

the seat in front of him, and his tears fell thick and fast.

 

Poor Fred! He had yet to learn that deception was one of the least evils

of war.

 

The dawn of the long summer day was just beginning to brighten the east

when the train rolled into the station at Louisville. Early as it was,

the streets were full of excited men and boys, cheering for Jeff Davis

and the South. Fred at once found his way to the home of one of the best

known Union men of the city, whom we will call Mr. Spear. The household

was already astir, and Fred's ring was at once answered by a servant,

who cautiously opened the door and asked, "Who is dar?"

 

"Is Mr. Spear at home?" inquired Fred.

 

"Yes, sah."

 

"Tell him a messenger from Lieutenant Nelson wishes to see him."

 

The servant withdrew, and in a moment returned, and throwing open the

door, said, "Massa says, come right in, sah."

 

Fred was ushered into a large drawing-room, where to his surprise he met

the inquiring gaze of more than a score of serious looking men. They

were the prominent Union men of the city, conferring with a number of

the city officials as to the best method of preserving peace and order

during the day. The danger was great, and how to meet it without

precipitating a conflict was the question which confronted them. Now all

were interested in the message brought by Fred, and his youthful

appearance caused them to wonder why Nelson had chosen so young a

messenger.

 

"You have a message from Lieutenant Nelson, I understand," said Mr.

Spear.

 

"I have."

 

"When did you leave Nelson?"