Page:Randall Parrish--My Lady of the South.djvu/358

MY LADY OF THE SOUTH earnest, but feeling the utter uselessness of resistance. If he was the senior officer present, as was quite probable, he, at least, possessed power to carry out his threat, and it would be an act of supreme foolishness to anger him further. That he was by disposition mean, spiteful, and cowardly I had ample reason to know; now he possessed means for revenge without danger to himself.

"Lieutenant Dunn," I called after him, "I might think you in earnest if you were not a soldier, but I cannot believe this of a Confederate officer. As you say, I have had my turn, and now it is yours, but surely, I have acted honorably, and have reason to expect the same honorable treatment from you."

He stood facing me, his lips parted so as to exhibit a row of teeth beneath the black moustache.

"Connors," he said sharply, making no pretence at replying to me, "any prisoners badly hurt?"

The man addressed, a Sergeant, straightened up from where he knelt on the floor.

"Only this boy, sir; I think he's got a fracture of the skull."

"Have them all put into the next cabin, and let Franklin dress their wounds; he knows something about surgery. Keep that fellow here under strong guard, and watch over him yourself. He's a Yankee spy, Connors, and we'll not trouble to take him back to camp."

Without even looking at me, he passed out through the door, and I lay there on my side, watching the Sergeant oversee the removal of the others. Maria and the older boy were apparently unhurt, but O'Brien had to [ 338 ]