Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/278

MY LADY OF THE SOUTH keep still, sor, I think ye'll hear some noise jist back of the cabin."

We were instantly quiet, the men holding their breath to listen. I could distinguish a sound as though of moving bodies, but was unable to guess at the cause.

"What is it?"

"Horses, sor. They've got them picketed out there—some Reb, an' some Yankee, no doubt."

I crept to the door and took a survey without. So far as I could perceive, the situation had not changed in the least. Over to the eastward was some slight promise of the coming dawn, but there still remained time in which to carry out my plans if we moved promptly.

"Masterson, leave two men here to guard that trap and the prisoners. They will remain until they hear the sound of firing in front of the house, and then mount and join us. We'll leave horses for them. You take half our force and clear out the guard on the kitchen porch—there are six men there. Make it quick action, and as soon as the job is accomplished fall back here behind the cabin. O'Brien, with two of the troopers, attend to any scattered Rebs you find along the north side. The rest of us will see to the horse-shed, and, inside of ten minutes we ought to be in saddle. Don't fire a single shot more than is necessary. Do you understand your work?"

There was the murmur of an answering voice or two, and the shuffling of feet.

"All right then; hit swift, and hard. Masterson, take the six men nearest you." [ 264 ]