Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/254

MY LADY OF THE SOUTH reason to suppose the number of men opposing us was very considerable; their apparent unwillingness in assault—for they must have known we were a small party—bespoke weakness, and the probable waiting tor reinforcements. Every rifle under such circumstances would be on the firing line, and they would anticipate no approach from the rear. Confident in this respect I crept well around, and then began worming my way in toward the grape arbor, discovering nothing to obstruct progress. The thickness of the vines finally prevented further advance in this direction, and I consequently turned more toward the front of the house, heading directly toward a great tree, at the north end of the arbor. The spreading branches cast so black a shadow that I was almost within arm's length of the trunk before becoming aware that two men were standing there together, their backs toward me. It was the sound of a voice which first awaken me to the peril of the position in which I had unwittingly placed myself.

"Theilen will certainly be here by daylight, and then we shall have enough men to turn the trick. That was his messenger who just left."

"How much of a force will he bring?" It was Calvert Dunn who asked the question.

"He should have a hundred men, with my fellows picked up on the way. He was sent over to Bitter Creek to waylay a Yankee foraging party."

There was a pause; Dunn kicked restlessly at the root of the tree.

"Well, it can't be more than an hour now until [ 240 ]