Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/280



SAW them rise swiftly to their feet, and slip noiselessly along the protecting side of the cabin, the dull gray of the eastern sky already rendering things slightly visible; but I waited for nothing more. We likewise had our work to accomplish. A dozen swift steps brought us to the horse herd, nor did we fire a shot, the single guard being so surprised at our unexpected appearance, as to fail even in speech. The horses were tied along a rail fence, completely equipped, exactly as they were captured at the time of first attack, and my little party swung hastily into saddle, gathering up the bridle reins of as many other horses as we could safely lead. As I held my own bunch back a moment, so as to give all the men time to gather more closely in, three shots—two the sharp reports of carbines, the third the gruffer note of a musket—sounded beyond the negro cabins, while, in the dim light of the dawn I caught glimpses of men gathering around the corner of the house. Then more shots began to sputter along the north side, two of the swiftly running figures dropping in their tracks, with spits of flame shooting forth from the black shadow of bushes lining the driveway. The surprise was complete, the two squads performing their work thoroughly. [ 266 ]