Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/255

A RECONNAISSANCE ," he said, at last, "and altogether that will give us about one hundred and sixty-five, won't it?"

"That or more; my fellows have been dropping in here all night, and you brought five with you."

"I did n't expect to fall into this sort of an affair," in a tone of evident disgust. "I merely came over to take back that Yankee prisoner to camp. Did you count the blue-bellies?"

"No; but there are about twenty of them, I reckon, and they must have bottled up the Colonel, or he'd have been out here with us before this. Those fellars can shoot, too, better'n any troopers I ever come up against before." He paused, thinking. "Didn't you say a while ago. Lieutenant, that you knew a way leadin' into the house that would let us take 'em in the ra'ar?"

"Yes, I did, Dodd; but there's no use trying to turn that trick until we get more men. If Theilen reaches here by daylight we'll gobble up that whole Yankee outfit easy, but it's better to wait and make a clean job. As things are they can't possibly get away."

"Some of 'em will sure get hurt if they ever try it. Well, I'm goin' 'round the lines again, Lieutenant. Maybe you better wait here, where I can find you easy. Besides, this is about where Theilen will strike for when he comes. He'll follow that path up from the creek, most likely."

The guerilla sauntered off, gun across his shoulder, and I crouched low behind the grape arbor until he passed, his footsteps noiseless on the soft earth. Dunn remained quiet a moment, and then sauntered slowly round [ 241 ]