A TALE OF THE WAR IN THE WEST 
 
 BOB BRANT, 
 
 PATEIOT AND SPY. 
 
 BY EDWARD WILLETT. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 SINCLAIR TOUSEY, PUBLISHERS' AGENT, 
 
 NO. 121 NASSAU STREET. 
 
A TALE OF THE WAR IN THE WEST. 
 
 BOB BRANT, 
 
 PATEIOT AND SPY. 
 
 BY EDWARD WILLETT. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 SINCLAIR TOUSEY, PUBLISHERS' AGENT, 
 
 NO. 121 NASSAU STREET. 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the 
 
 Year 1864, by Sinclaik Touset, Publisher's Agent, in the Clerk's Office ol tfio District 
 
 Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. 
 
BOB BRANT, 
 
 PATRIOT AND SPY. 
 
 CHAPTER L 
 
 Early L\fe of the Hero. 
 
 The guns with which Beauregard opened 
 fire upon Fort Sumter, made a great noise 
 in the world, much greater, it is probable, 
 than ,any of the artillerists who directed or 
 worked them supposed they did or could 
 make. They sounded in the remotest cor- 
 ners of the civilized world, and struck ter- 
 ror to the hearts of cotton operatives in Lan- 
 cashire and Lyons, as surely as they inspired 
 with patriotic indignation the loyal millions 
 of the North. Their echoes resounded 
 through every city, town, and village of the 
 land, and caused a commotion and an ex- 
 citement such as had never been known be- 
 fore, and such as few, if any, had expected. 
 
 To the call of the President for the seven- 
 ty-five thousand men who were to march 
 triumphantly through Secessia, and take, 
 hold, and possess " the forts and other United 
 States property" in that still unsubdued re- 
 gion, no people responded more readily and 
 enthusiastically than the inhabitants of the 
 small village of B , in one of the coun- 
 ties of New York, bordering on the Hudson. 
 Intense excitement prevailed among the 
 young and the old, and a full company, 
 which was all that could be accepted from 
 the locality, was immediately raised, while 
 some ardent and patriotic youths sought en- 
 listments in regiments that were raised at a 
 distance. Among the young men who were 
 expected to be the most active in answering 
 the call of the country, was Robert Brant, 
 generally called Bob Brant, the son of a 
 substantial farmer of that neighborhood. 
 Young Brant had seen twenty-two sum- 
 mers, and probably just as many winters. 
 He was a little above the medium hight, 
 small limbed, but compact, his frame indi- 
 
 cating great activity and endurance. He 
 was neither handsome nor unhandsome, 
 thus, being indifferently fitted for the hero 
 of a love story ; but in his broad forehead, 
 keen gray eyes, compressed lips and solid 
 chin, were written courage and penetration, 
 with great firmness and determination. 
 About the corners of his mouth lurked a 
 love of the ludicrous, and good temper and 
 strong affections were impressed upon his 
 features. A calm, equable, and quiet na- 
 ture was his, not easily excited, and seeming 
 to grow cooler and calmer in the presence 
 of danger, or of any emergency which called 
 for the use of his highest faculties. In fact, 
 he had never been taught in his boyhood, 
 as too many children are, what to fear, and 
 had not yet learned it. He was skilled in 
 all athletic exercises, especially in swim- 
 ming, having saved a companion from 
 drowning, at the imminent peril of his own 
 life, before he was out of his teens ; and 
 had made it a part of his education to bring 
 his frame as near to perfection as he could. 
 Take him all in all, Bob Brant was a strong 
 man, in every sense of the term, and was 
 loved, respected, or feared by those who 
 knew him, according to their acquaintance 
 with the man and appreciation of him. 
 
 The only son of his father — his mother 
 being dead, Robert had enjoyed the advant- 
 age of an excellent education, and had made 
 a tour over a considerable portion of the 
 Union, which had added greatly to his 
 worldly wisdom, in increasing his knowl- 
 edge of men and things. Having graduated 
 at a military school, his services were de- 
 sired in the first regiment that was formed 
 in his native county, and he was offered a 
 Lieutenant's commission, which he refused, 
 to the surprise of all his friends. He did 
 not condescend to explain his refusal, simply 
 saying to those who pressed his acceptance : 
 
 ^ ib 
 
BOB BRANT, PATRIOT AND SPY. 
 
 "When you come back, the war -will 
 begin." 
 
 The regiment went to the field, fully ex- 
 pecting to conquer a speedy peace, and re- 
 turned at the expiration of their term of 
 service, shortly after the close of the cam- 
 paign which ended with the disastrous and 
 humiliating spectacle of Bull Run. Its 
 ranks were soon filled up for the three years' 
 term, and Bob Brant was again urged to 
 accept a commission, but again declined. 
 It begun to be hinted that his loyalty was 
 questionable, and one indiscreet soldier ac- 
 cused him of being either a traitor or a 
 coward, but received a knock-down blow 
 for his only reply, and thereafter 1 , no one 
 ventured openly to question either Bob 
 Brant's courage or patriotism. 
 
 The regiment again went to the war, and 
 Bob quietly continued his farming occupa- 
 tions, until the vast army which was there- 
 after to be known in history as the army of 
 the Potomac was organized by General Mc- 
 Clellan, and the hosts of the Union were 
 ready at all points to meet the enemy. 
 
 One evening, on his return from the field, 
 he told his father that it would be necessary 
 to get a farm-hand in his place, as he was 
 going away. 
 
 " Where are you going, Robert ?" 
 
 " I am going to try to serve my country, 
 and will not return alive while this war lasts." 
 ■ " But this is strange, my son," said the 
 astonished Squire Brant. " You twice re- 
 fused a commission in your own home regi- 
 ment, and I do not see how you can better 
 yourself elsewhere. Some of your neigh- 
 bors have been free in calling you a seces- 
 sionist, but I have had no fear of that, I 
 hope, however that you don't intend to join 
 the rebel army." 
 
 " There is not a drop of my blood, father, 
 that is not true to my country, and you 
 know it, so that it is useless to talk about 
 that. I know a way in which I can be of 
 more service than by accepting a commis- 
 sion, or enlisting in a regiment. If my old 
 friends choose to call me a secessionist, it 
 serves my purpose that they should do so. 
 My path is not their path, and connection 
 with them would not advance my plans. 
 If they ever hear of me, they will have good 
 catnse to know that I am not a traitor." 
 
 " Are you fully determined upon this step, 
 Robert, and do you feel that it is for the 
 best?" said the squire, who placed entire 
 confidence in the rectitude of intention and 
 good judgment of his son. 
 
 "Fully determined, for I made up my 
 mind to it long ago, and I know that it is 
 the best I can do to serve the cause. I shall 
 leave to-morrow, and will write you from 
 Washington." 
 
 " Then go, my son, and may God go with 
 you, and may the prayers of true patriots 
 attend yon. I shall feel that you are en- 
 deavoring to dq,vour duty, and if you fall, 
 I shall know that you die the death of a 
 brave and honorable man." 
 
 Without more ado, Bob Brant packed up 
 a few articles of apparel, took a good supply 
 of money, bid farewell to his sorrowing 
 father, and left the old homestead — perhaps 
 forever. 
 
 His purpose he kept to himself, but it will 
 soon appear. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Brant in Washington. 
 
 To Washington Bob Brant quietly bent 
 his course, not as one who gayly goes forth 
 to seek his fortune or to meet adventures, 
 but with a solemn purpose in his heart, 
 from which no thoughts of clanger or of 
 death could turn him. He knew that his 
 path was to be a rough one, and that he 
 would owe much to his address or good 
 fortune, if he escaped a painful and igno- 
 minious death. He also felt that in all prob- 
 ability he would get little thanks for his 
 labor, and that the chances were in favor of 
 poor pay, starvation, and a solitary death, 
 far from friends or home. But of one thing 
 he was assured, that he could serve his 
 country in the course he had chosen, and 
 serve it to some purpose. As he had said 
 to his father, he was " fully determined," 
 and consequences were not to be thought of. 
 
 If our hero could have been discouraged, • 
 he would have been driven back upon the 
 threshold of his undertaking. As he was 
 provided with a letter of introduction from 
 the member of Congress of his district, he 
 was civilly received at the Adjutant's office, 
 but his intention was sneered at, and he 
 was told that he could not be recognized in 
 any capacity in the army ; and that there jg 
 was no provision for payment of the servicocj? 
 in which he sought to engage ; consequent- 
 ly, his fate must take care of itself, and his 
 pocket also. 
 
 " I am glad to say that I am able to de- 
 fray my own expenses," said Brant, " and 
 
BRANT IN CAIRO. 
 
 as for my life, I expect to carry that in my 
 hands. I only desire my name to be re- 
 corded in your office, so that I may refer to 
 you, in case I should get in trouble among 
 our own men, which might easily happen. 
 I would also like a letter to some General, 
 who would not object to my operating in 
 his department." 
 
 " "We have a corps of scouts here," said 
 the officer, " and certainly do not wish to 
 increase them ; but we can give you cre- 
 dentials to the commander of any western 
 post that you care to visit; and if you 
 should get in trouble, and it should be con- 
 venient for you to refer to this office, we 
 will be happy to testify to what we know 
 of you." 
 
 Brant was satisfied, as it was useless to 
 be otherwise. He felt the force of the pro- 
 verb, " Blessed are they who expect nothing, 
 for they shall not be disappointed." He 
 took the letter that was given him, mutter- 
 ing, " small favors thankfully received," and 
 prepared to leave for the West. 
 
 Before he got clear of the dusty and po- 
 litician-infested city, Bob Brant had several 
 opportunities of seeing the members of the 
 " corps of scouts," with which, as he had 
 been informed at the Adjutant's office, the 
 army of the Potomac was so liberally sup- 
 plied. There were lounging about the hotels 
 and bar-rooms, a number of young men 
 dressed in the Federal uniform, mostly at- 
 tired as officers, who all seemed to have 
 plenty of money, which they drunk, gam- 
 bled, or billiarded away with a perfect 
 looseness. This appeared to be the sum 
 total of their occupation, if we may except 
 a continual bragging of exploits which they 
 had never performed, but which each was 
 ready to swear to for the other. Some of them 
 were attired in poor imitations of Confeder- 
 ate uniforms, and all seemed to take plea- 
 sure in publishing their business, as if there 
 were no secrecy about the service. Occa- 
 sionally one of them would absent himself 
 for a while, and on his return would boast 
 that he had made the round of the rebel 
 camps, and profess to give accurate informa- 
 tion of the numbers and designs of the ene- 
 my. But it is probable that they seldom 
 went further South than Alexandria. 
 
 " None of that for me," said Bob, as he 
 shook the dust of "Washington from his feet, 
 and took the cars for the "West. 
 
 Following him, he next "turns up" at 
 the semi-submarine " City" of Cairo, at the 
 mouth of the Ohio, then rising into import- 
 
 ance as the great military depot of the "West, 
 the point from which have 'been started the 
 important expeditions which have prostrated 
 the rebel power in Kentucky and Tennessee, 
 and on a large portion of the Mississippi 
 He had presented his letters to General 
 Grant, by whom he had been favorably re- 
 ceived and kindly treated. General Grant 
 was, (and still is, thank God !) a calm, quiet, 
 silent man, of solid parts, strong common 
 sense, clear judgment, great energy, and in- 
 domitable perseverance, entirely devoted to 
 his profession. He was also, though no 
 talker, an excellent judge of character, and 
 was struck with the cool and determined 
 nature of young Brant, which assimilated 
 strongly with his own. The more the firm 
 purpose and steady devotion of our hero be- 
 came manifest to him, the more the General 
 was pleased with him, and promised him 
 all possible aid and protection. 
 
 " You are doubtless aware," said he, " of 
 the principal points we must reach. The 
 enemy has a strong force and extensive for- 
 tifications at Columbus, so strong, that a di- 
 rect attack would involve a useless waste 
 of life. Their principal rendezvous and 
 camp is at Jackson, in Tennessee. At Fort 
 Henry, on the Tennessee, and at Fort Don- 
 elson, on the Cumberland, they are strongly 
 fortified, and probably have as many men as 
 they think necessary for their defense. Of 
 the strength of these garrisons, we can only 
 judge from the contradictory accounts which 
 reach us from different sources, and after 
 all, it is little more than guess-work. "We 
 have scouts who pretend to have been there, 
 and to be able to give us all the particulars ; 
 but I have no confidence in them. One of 
 them gave evidence of having been in Co- 
 lumbus, by producing letters which he had 
 stolen from the room of a rebel officer there ; 
 but, it is my opinion that he would sell one 
 side as soon as another. It is important 
 that we should know more than we do of 
 these matters — but it is dangerous work, 
 and death in such a service does not bring 
 with it the glory that is found upon the 
 battle-field. Still, I would not dissuade you 
 from what I plainly perceive you consider 
 your duty. There are many loyal men 
 through western Kentucky and Tennessee, 
 and a man who could go through thfre 
 with his life in his hands would find many 
 friends, if he could learn to know them." 
 
 " My course was taken a long time ago," . 
 replied Brant, " and I think no considera- 
 tions of difficulty or danger can turn me 
 
BOB BRANT, PATRIOT AND SPY. 
 
 from it. I thank you for your kindness 
 and sympathy,, and can only ask you to ex- 
 tend to me what facilities you conveniently 
 can." 
 
 " You shall have all the protection that 
 it is in my power to give," said the General ; 
 " but I fear tbat it will amount to little. I 
 can say this, however ; I know of at least 
 ten rebel spies around our camps, men who 
 claim to be citizens, and perhaps are, but 
 who take every possible opportunity to 
 send information to the enemy. They are 
 well watched, and can do us little, if any 
 harm ; but I would be glad of a chance to 
 make some of them feel the weight of the 
 laws they are breaking. If the rebels should 
 take you and maltreat you, at least one of 
 these fellows will hang." 
 
 " Don't hang any one on my account, 
 General, unless he ought to be hung. I will 
 try hard to deserve death at their hands, 
 before I meet it, and will get my satisfac- 
 tion in advance." 
 
 "Don't be too confident, young man," 
 said the General, as he thoughtfully chewed 
 his cigar. " I suppose you will want some 
 money — " 
 
 " No, thank you ; I have sufficient for 
 present purposes. If I come back, and 
 should be ' short,' perhaps I may trespass 
 on your kindness to cash a draft." 
 
 " You must be in earnest, my friend. 
 Well, I must introduce you to Carson. But 
 no — you will see him soon enough. Good 
 morning, and don't be in a hurry to leave. 
 You had better stay here a few days, I wish 
 it. I will provide for your accommodation." 
 
 Brant had seen enough of the General to 
 feel that his wish was equivalent to a com- 
 mand, and took his leave, saying that he 
 would comply with his desire. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Carson tlie Scout. 
 
 After finding a lodging place, Brant 
 walked around the levee and the town, to 
 see what was to be seen. There was much 
 bustle, but little excitement. In the camps, 
 drills and parades were continually going 
 on, and soldiers crowded the streets. At 
 the levee, there were groups of citizens and 
 soldiers, and a boat filled with troops had 
 arrived. Others were lying at the bank, 
 discharging ordnance and other stores. 
 
 Every thing betokened preparation, but pre- 
 paration only, and the scene was a busy and 
 interesting one. 
 
 It was hardly more than an hour after 
 his interview with General Grant, that Bob 
 Brant, as he was sauntering along the levee, 
 felt a hand upon his shoulder, and a voice 
 said quietly : 
 
 " You are my prisoner." 
 
 Turning around, Bob beheld a tall figure, 
 dressed in black, but wearing a military 
 cap, and with a cavalry sword buckled to. 
 his side. 
 
 " What's the matter ?" said Bob, conceal- 
 ing his astonishment. 
 
 " Never mind — walk down to the guard- 
 house, and perhaps you will find out." 
 
 " All right. Show the way, if you please, 
 and let go my collar." 
 
 " I think I have you safe, when I hold 
 your collar." 
 
 " I think I can walk alone," said Bob, 
 wrenching himself free. 
 
 The tall figure again reached for his col- 
 lar, when Bob astonished him by a blow 
 between the eyes which made him reel. 
 Bob thought if he had not had to reach so 
 high, he would have " fetched" him. 
 
 As it was, the person he had struck gave 
 him one fierce look, and beckoned to a 
 couple of soldiers. 
 
 " Take hold of this man," said he, " and 
 follow me. to the guard-house." 
 
 As the odds were against him, Bob quietly 
 succumbed, and marched along, closely held 
 by a soldier on either side, followed by many 
 curious eyes, as there had collected quite a 
 crowd near the scene of the encounter. 
 
 His guide stopped at a hotel near the 
 camp, and said roughly, turning to Brant : 
 
 " I suppose you will walk up to my room 
 without troubling these men, or would you 
 like to be carried up ?" 
 
 Bob preferred to walk, and followed his 
 captor up stairs. Entering a room, the lat- 
 ter locked the door, and said, as he handed 
 his prisoner a chair : 
 
 " I hope you will, excuse the rough way 
 I have taken of making your acquaintance. 
 Your name is Brant, I believe. Mine is 
 Carson. You have heard of me from Gen- 
 eral Grant." 
 
 Robert intimated that he had heard of 
 him, and took a calm survey of his com- 
 panion. 
 
 " Carson, the scout," as he is known, and 
 will be hereafter, in the history of the war, 
 was a long, lean, and gaunt young man of 
 
CARSONS INSTRUCTIONS TO BRANT. 
 
 twenty-eight or thirty years, with high cheek 
 bones, black hair, and a piercing dark eye. 
 He had entered the service in a cavalry 
 company from Chicago, and when the com- 
 pany left for the East, he was persuaded to 
 remain with the force at Cairo, where his 
 intrepidity and address recommended him 
 to the Generals commanding that post as a 
 scout, in which capacity he continued, doing 
 much and very essential service, until he 
 met his death at the bloody battle of Fort 
 Donelson, where his head was taken off by 
 a cannon ball. He always went on his ex- 
 peditions alone, and made many audacious 
 excursions into Missouri and Kentucky, 
 noting the locations of rebel camps and re- 
 cruiting offices, and detecting the disloyal, 
 at times bringing in two or three prisoners 
 together, whom he had taken single-handed. 
 He never knew what fear was, and his en- 
 terprise and ingenuity equalled his courage. 
 It has been said that there was a dash of 
 cruelty in his disposition, which he some- 
 times unduly displayed ; but he was a brave 
 man, and a noteworthy one. At all events, 
 he is now a historic character. 
 
 "I must say," said Brant, "that it is 
 rather a hard way to scrape an acquaint- 
 ance, but I suppose you know what you are 
 doing." 
 
 " Of course I do, and you will understand 
 it when you know who and what you are. 
 You are a secesh, from Indiana. Don't be 
 surprised; there are lots of them there. 
 You have friends down South, and you are 
 trying to sneak through the rebel lines to 
 get to them ; and when you are down there, 
 you want to make arrangements to ship 
 
 ask you to drink as often as you want to. 
 Do you ever drink, though ?" 
 " Scarcely." 
 
 " Well, I want you to loaf around the 
 bar-rooms, of which there are plenty here, 
 and don't forget to edge into those that are 
 kept on the sly. You will easily find sym- 
 pathizing friends, and if they ask you to 
 drink, you must take something occasionally, 
 for that is the social style here and else- 
 where. "When you get a sure passage to 
 Dixie, and letters to help you on your way, 
 let me know." 
 
 Young Brant was then left free to go 
 where he chose, and made the best use of 
 his time in strolling around the levee and 
 frequenting the drinking shops, accompanied 
 by a soldier with fixed bayonet. The lat- 
 ter, however, took care not to be too near 
 when any one entered into close conversa- 
 tion with his prisoner. The rowdy com- 
 pany and the reeking smell of the generally 
 crowded bar-rooms were distasteful to the 
 young man, but it was part of the business 
 he had to do, and he went through it as he 
 would have forded a river, or floundered 
 through a s»vamp. He was quite an object 
 of curiosity, and before the day was over 
 had made several acquaintances, all inclined 
 to be gay and festive, who sympathized 
 with his supposed designs, and treated and 
 pumped him more freely than was agree- 
 able. He denied, however, any disloyal in- 
 tention, though by his manner he contrived 
 to leave his new friends certain of their 
 man. At last, after a long conversation in 
 a corner with a well-dressed man who un- 
 bosomed himself freely of his secesh sym- 
 
 see, I found all this out before you did. I 
 shall almost think myself smart. The Gen- 
 eral likes you, and wants me to set you up 
 in business, and this is the best way to do 
 it. This arrest, and what will follow it, 
 will get you an easy passage into Kentucky, 
 if you play your cards well, and make you 
 all right when you get there." 
 
 " I see a little light," replied Bob. " But, 
 if I am a secesh from Indiana, what is my 
 name ?" 
 
 " Well, Errington — Henry Errington, that 
 will do as well as any. Now, you must 
 give me your parole — no, I can't take your 
 parole, either — you can go about town under 
 guard of one man, who won't trouble you 
 much. I will hint around who you are, 
 and what you are under arrest for, and you 
 will soon find plenty of friends, who will 
 
 over a lot of revolvers and gun caps. You | pathies, he felt himself touched on the 
 
 shoulder as he came out, and on looking 
 around, met the bright eyes of the inevit- 
 able Carson. 
 
 " That's your man," said the scout. 
 
 Robert took the hint, and improved his 
 acquaintance at the next meeting, and car- 
 ried out his assumed character of a secesh 
 sympathizer wishing to go South. The re- 
 sult was, that his new friend went to head- 
 quarters, and certified to his loyalty, saying 
 that he had known him well in Indiana. 
 Robert was set free, and his friend was per- 
 mitted to suppose that his certificate had ef- 
 fected his release. The next day, the young 
 man received letters to parties in Jackson, 
 Grand Junction, Memphis, and Tennessee, in- 
 troducing him under the name of Henry Er- 
 rington, and recommending him to the favor- 
 able consideration of the secesh generally. 
 
BOB BRANT, PATRIOT AND SPY. 
 
 Going up the railroad a short distance, he 
 struck across the country, in company with 
 his new-found friend, to the Ohio River, 
 which he crossed at Paducah, where he 
 easily got within the rehel lines. 
 
 CHAPTER TV. 
 
 Bob Brant's interview with Major Mercer. 
 
 Jackson, Tennessee, is, or was before the 
 war, one of the most pleasant villages in 
 the State. Next to Memphis, it was the 
 abode of the wealth and fashion of "Western 
 Tennessee, and was distinguished by many 
 fine residences, surrounded by beautiful 
 gardens and grounds. The inhabitants 
 were generally wealthy, and possessed of a 
 fair degree of intelligence and refinement. 
 They were strong and " original " secession- 
 ists, and the disunion feeling was increased 
 by the presence of a large rebel force in the 
 town. It was one of the principal military 
 rendezvous of the rebel forces in Western 
 Tennessee, their chief camps of instruction 
 being here and at Grand Junction. The 
 post was under the command of General 
 Cheatham, of Tennessee, and the force was 
 variable in numbers, recruits continually 
 arriving, and trained regiments being as 
 constantly sent off. Jackson is changed 
 now, and its people have reaped a portion 
 of the reward of their treason. Most of 
 them are self-exiled from their homes, and 
 those pleasant homes have felt the devas- 
 tating touch of war, and are pleasant no 
 longer. 
 
 Nearly a mile from the town, a little 
 back from the road, stood the mansion of 
 Major Mercer, a plain, large, and roomy 
 house, surrounded by tall trees and well- 
 cultivated grounds, with a number of log 
 buildings, for negro quarters and other pur- 
 poses. Major Mercer was a gentleman of 
 Wealth and education, well known and re- 
 spected in that region, having filled several 
 important offices under the State. He had 
 not been an "original" secessionist, but had, 
 for some time, quietly used his influence in 
 favor of the Union. Times change, how- 
 ever, and men change with them. . Major 
 Mercer, after a while, permitted consider- 
 ations of policy and prudence to dictate his 
 course, and fell into the secession current. 
 It was an unwilling submission, made 
 against the impulses of his heart and the 
 
 warnings of his better judgment; but U 
 seemed better to him than the prosecution 
 and banishment which has been the fate of 
 so many. Spite of his change of course, 
 Major Mercer was soon made aware that he 
 was an object of suspicion to his neighbors, 
 and to the Confederate authorities, and was 
 continually subjected to annoyances which 
 did not tend to increase his love for the 
 new state of things. He chafed in the 
 harness, and the hateful surveillance of the 
 military commanders and the despotic gov- 
 ernment of the Southern oligarchy became 
 daily mOre insupportable to him. On sev- 
 eral occasions he had almost resolved to 
 throw off the slack allegiance which he held 
 to the " Confederate States of America," 
 but the thought of his family and his pro- 
 perty restrained him. The Major was a 
 hale and hearty man of about sixty years 
 of age, greatly loved and respected by his 
 family, which consisted of his wife, his son, 
 Charles, his daughter, Mabel, and twenty or 
 more negroes of all ages. 
 
 Mrs. Mercer was a fine, matronly lady, 
 entirely devoted to her family, and worthy 
 to be the mother of such a girl as MabeL 
 Mabel Mercer had reached " sweet seven- 
 teen," and was a tall and spirited dark-eyed 
 beauty, of the style that comes to maturity 
 so soon in the South. She was healthy, 
 active, and full of life and animation, the 
 darling of her parents, and greatly beloved 
 by the negroes of the place. Charles was 
 about nineteen, tall, straight and handsome, 
 and prided himself upon his riding and 
 shooting accomplishments. 
 
 It was nearly dusk when our friend, Bob 
 Brant, mounted upon a nag with which he 
 had been supplied by one of his secesh 
 friends in Kentucky, drew rein at the door 
 of Major Mercer's mansion, and, throwing 
 his bridle to a grinning darkey, asked for the 
 Major. 
 
 Being ushered into the parlor, he was re- 
 ceived in a gentlemanly, but cool manner, 
 by Major Mercer, who had grown to be dis- 
 trustful of all strangers. Bob merely handed 
 him a letter, which was a note of introduc- 
 tion which he had got at Paducah. The 
 Major perused it carefully, but with a dis- 
 pleased countenance, occasionally glancing 
 at the bearer of the letter, as one would eye 
 a snake or a toad. 
 
 " Well, sir," he said, at last, " I may aa 
 well tell you, plainly, that there is no use in 
 bringing such letters to me. You have 
 come to the wrong shop to sell your sneaking 
 
MAJOR MERCER AND BRANT. 
 
 treason. If I ever supported this secession 
 swindle, and I am ashamed to say that I 
 have, to some extent, I am sick of it now, 
 and I care little who knows it. I under- 
 stand you are a Northerner, Mr. Errington." 
 
 " Yes, sir ; from Indiana." 
 
 " Then, sir, I will give you my opinion 
 of you, and if it will do you any good, you 
 are welcome to it. Our Southerners, trait- 
 orous and mean though they are, have at 
 least some excuse for their attempt to sub- 
 vert the only decent government ever 
 established on earth; but you, sneaking, 
 despicable men of the North, who uphold 
 them in their course, and aid and abet them, 
 whether you do it from motives of gain or 
 from any other motive — you certainly can't 
 have any better one — are — well, no words 
 can measure my contempt for you. There, 
 sir, you can report my words to General 
 Cheatham, or any one else, as soon as you 
 choose. A man who would go into such 
 an abominable business as you are engaged 
 in, is just mean enough to do so." 
 
 The Major's face was almost purple, and 
 his manner expressed that he meant every 
 word he said. Bob began to feel himself 
 in an awkward position, especially as a very 
 well defined sneer of contempt curled the 
 lip of the fair Mabel, and there was a 
 twitching motion about the toe of Charley 
 Mercer's boot, as if that young gentleman 
 was itching to try his kicking abilities on 
 the intruder. 
 
 It was awkward enough, but Brant speed- 
 ily formed his resolution. Calmly opening 
 his penknife, he slit the lining of his vest, 
 and extracted from it a small folded paper, 
 which he handed to the Major. 
 
 " If I can't sell my treason here, perhaps 
 you would like to look at something of this 
 kind." 
 
 Major Mercer glanced over the paper, and 
 read as follows : 
 
 " Headquarters, Dep't. of Cairo, ) 
 
 " Sept. 9th, 1861. f- 
 
 " Pass the bearer, Robert Brant, in and out 
 
 of the lines at his pleasure, until further 
 
 orders, on service of this command. 
 
 " U. S. Grant, Com'dg." 
 
 The expression of the Major's counte- 
 nance changed instantly from anger to aston- 
 ishment. He eyed his visitor more kindly, 
 but still suspiciously. 
 
 " I don't understand this, sir. What does 
 it mean ? Who and what are you ?" 
 
 Bob answered him boldly, and almost 
 defiantly. He was by no means sure of 
 
 the ground he stood on, but thought it best 
 to dash right through, trusting to his au- 
 dacity and ingenuity to bring him out 
 safely. 
 
 " It means simply this — that I am in the 
 secret service of the United States, and ex- 
 pect to stay in it as long as life is left me, 
 and this rebellion lasts. My name is Robert 
 Brant, and I have less sympathy with rebels 
 than with horse-thieves; and all the pistols 
 they will get from me may be put in the 
 corner of Jeff Davis' eye, without interfering 
 with his vision. Now, sir, I have told you 
 the truth ; my life is in your hands, and, as 
 you just remarked, you can report my words 
 to General Cheatham, or any one else, as 
 soon as you choose." 
 
 Bob Brant was bold in making this de- 
 claration. In fact he was rash, and he felt 
 the imprudence and danger of his course. 
 His rashness can only be accounted for by 
 the bright eyes of Mabel Mercer, which 
 affected bun strangely, and made him think 
 there was something worth loving, besides 
 his country and his flag. He felt as if he 
 would rather be hung, than that she should 
 regard him as other than a true man. 
 
 He was rewarded, for the bright eyes 
 beamed kindly and sympathetically upon 
 him, and the sneer which had curled Mabel's 
 lip gave place to a smile. 
 
 Charley Mercer's boot stopped tapping 
 the floor. He did not seem desirous of 
 kicking any one. 
 
 The Major sat down and said nothing. 
 He still seemed unsatisfied, and uncertain 
 whether to welcome his guest or dismiss 
 him. The matter was settled by the soft 
 voice of his wife. 
 
 " I think, Mr. Mercer," said she, " that the 
 young gentleman had better stay with us 
 to-night. For my part, I am prepared to 
 trust him, and, since he has reposed so dan- 
 gerous a confidence in us, I think we can 
 do no less than be equally generous with him. 1 
 
 The smile that then lit up Mabel's face 
 was certainly one of assent, and Charley 
 Mercer broke in with : 
 
 " As far as I am concerned, I am willing 
 to bet on him." 
 
 Bob Brant felt better, but still retained 
 his bold and defiant look, except when he 
 glanced at Mabel, in whose countenance he 
 saw an interest and a sympathy which he 
 was glad to have excited. He felt that if 
 he should not be able to sell his imaginary 
 pistols, he would have no trouble in dispos- 
 ing of a heart. 
 
10 
 
 BOB BRANT, PATRIOT AND SPY. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 The Scout at Major Mercer's. 
 
 So the matter was settled, for Major 
 Mercer, although still unsatisfied, was ac- 
 customed to rely much upon the impulses, 
 as well as the judgment of his wife. 
 
 Mrs. Mercer rung a bell, and instantly en- 
 tered a stalwart darkey, bright-eyed and 
 grinning, the suddenness of whose appear- 
 ance might easily induce the belief that he 
 had been listening at the door. Mrs. Mercer 
 was plainly of this opinion. 
 
 " Pharaoh," said she, " have you been list- 
 ening to what we have been saying ?" 
 
 "No, Miss Car'line, I'd jes' come up the 
 starway, an' was gwine on up when the bell 
 rung." 
 
 " Well, tell Jim to take care of this gen- 
 tleman's horse, and you take his carpet-bag 
 np to the north room, and have Betse see 
 that the room is in order." 
 
 " Oh, yes, Miss Car'line, I'll tell Jim, and 
 Til take the baggage up stars, right away, 
 I's glad to take his baggage, I tell you," said 
 the negro, grinning from ear to ear, and 
 looking wondrously sly. 
 
 " What do you mean, Pharaoh ? Don't 
 stand there like a laughing hyena, but tell 
 me, instantly." 
 
 u Oh, Miss Car'line and Massa Harry, that 
 young gen'leman won't hurt ye. He's one 
 of the right sort He's all right on the 
 goose." 
 
 " Why, you black scoundrel, what do you 
 know about the young gentleman ?" thun- 
 dered Major Mercer, rising from his seat. 
 Bob was also surprised, for he could not re- 
 member that he had ever seen the sooty 
 features of Pharaoh. 
 
 " Oh, Massa Harry — now, Massa Harry — 
 don't you go to put yourself in a passion, 
 I ain't done no harm. But I seen that 
 young gen'leman afore, Massa Harry, and I 
 ■know he's one of the right sort." 
 
 " Pharaoh, what does this mean?" said 
 the perplexed Major. "Where have you 
 «een him, and when ?" 
 
 " Now, Massa Harry, don't you go to put 
 yourself in a passion, I ain't done no harm. 
 I knew you and Miss Car'line ain't none of 
 them sheceshers, and you don't like 'em, no 
 more'n they don't like you, and I ain't done 
 no harm. But you know, Massa Harry, 
 when you sent me 'way up to Massa Wil- 
 liam's to help him with hia tobacca ?" 
 
 " Yes, what of it ?" 
 
 " Well, Massa Harry, I done didn't go 
 thar at all, but struck across the woods and 
 the canebrakes, and made a straight chute 
 for Cairo, and there I saw all the sogers, 
 and the splendid officers, an' the forts, an' 
 the big guns, and lots of folks, and I saw 
 him, too," said Pharaoh, pointing at Bob 
 Brant. 
 
 " What did you see of me ?" said Bob, 
 who was as much astonished as Major Mer- 
 cer himself. 
 
 " Guess I seen you when Massa Carson 
 put his paws on you, and you hit him that 
 clip in the face. Hi ! Massa Carson mighty 
 sharp feller, if he do look ugly an' hungry. 
 He tole me you war comin' down here, an' 
 he tole me to look after you, an' help you 
 if I could. You seen ole Bill Woodworth 
 yet?" 
 
 " Old Bill Woodworth !" said our hero. 
 " No, I don't know any such man." 
 
 " Well, ole Bill knows you, and he'll see 
 you 'fore long. He's one of dem scoutchers, 
 too, but he don't dast come 'round here — 
 they know him too well." 
 
 As Major Mercer still stood astonished, 
 not knowing what to say, Pharaoh went on 
 eagerly to make a further explanation : 
 
 " You see, Massa Harry, I tole them offi- 
 cers, the Adjuram-Gen'l an' the rest, that we 
 wasn't all sheceshers down here, and that 
 our folks wasn't sheceshers at all, though 
 we didn't know how long we could hole out ; 
 and they tole me we must jest hole out any 
 how, and Massa Linkum's army would be 
 down here, 'fore long ; and they axed me, 
 wouldn't I like to stay up there an' be free, 
 an' I tole 'em I wasn't gwine to leave the 
 old woman an' the chilluns, an' wasn't 
 gwine to leave Massa Harry an' our folks 
 neither. And Massa Carson tole me to come 
 right straight down here, an' he showed me 
 that young gen'leman, and says, if I see him 
 down here, I must 'member he's an awful 
 shecesher, an' he mind him eye, and I know 
 how big a shecesher he is. Hi !" 
 
 " That will do, Pharaoh," said Major 
 Mercer. "Now take the carpet-bag up 
 stairs, and have the horse attended to, and 
 mind you keep your mouth shut before the 
 rest of the servants." 
 
 " And, Pharaoh," said his mistress, " no 
 more of your listening at key-holes in this 
 house." 
 
 " Oh, Miss Car'line !" ejaculated the grin- 
 ning African, as he skedaddled with Bot 
 Brant's small amount of baggage. 
 
 Major Mercer gave a sigh of relief as he 
 
A FAMILY CONFERENCE. 
 
 11 
 
 resumed his seat, and his countenance looked 
 much brighter than it had during the even- 
 ing. Reaching out his hand to our hero, he 
 said: 
 
 " You will pardon me, Mr. Brant, or 
 rather Mr. Errington, as we must call you 
 here, for my suspicions. But our circum- 
 stances compel us to be distrustful of stran- 
 gers, and you must admit that you came in 
 a very questionable guise." 
 
 " Of course, Major Mercer, I fully under- 
 stand your situation, and you do not owe 
 me any apology. Allow me to say that the 
 revelations of your man, Pharaoh, have sur- 
 prised me. I have no doubt that he has 
 told you the trutb, for the Carson he speaks 
 of, is a scout in the Union service, and he 
 made a sham arrest of me, in order to give 
 me the character described in the letter of 
 introduction which I presented to you." 
 
 " It has let in a new light upon me," 
 answered the Major. "I feel now, as I 
 have not felt for a long time, that the world 
 is not made up of traitors, and that we have 
 a country yet, with the power and the will 
 to save us from secession despotism. But 
 this is a dangerous trade you have taken up, 
 sir, and I hope," he continued, his fears for 
 his family and his property inducing a re- 
 turn of his timidity, " that your presence 
 here may not endanger the safety of my 
 family; for I must temporize, sir, I must 
 temporize." 
 
 Bob blushed, not for himself, but for Ma- 
 jor Mercer's manhood, and an indignant 
 flush spread over the cheeks of Mrs. Mercer 
 and Mabel. 
 
 " As for the danger to myself," said our 
 hero, " I have found, so far, that the peril is 
 less than I had supposed it to be, and see 
 no reason to fear for myself. As for com- 
 promising you, I can assure you, that if I 
 am found out by the enemy, it will not be 
 here ; and I am certain, that so far from en- 
 dangering your safety, the chances are that 
 I will be able to render you some service. 
 I am not at all rash or careless, although 
 my disclosure of myself to you might cause 
 you to think so ; but I was induced to do that 
 by an impulse which I felt must be right, 
 and I did not wish to appear to your — 
 family — Bob's eye was on Mabel as he 
 spoke — in the light of a sneaking Northern 
 traitor." 
 
 "Pardon me again," said the Major. 
 " Pardon me. I love my family so deeply, 
 and fear for them so much, that the tbought 
 of them sometimes makes me a coward, as 
 
 it has almost made me a traitor. Wife and 
 son, draw up your chairs, and you too, Ma- 
 bel. We must be careful how we talk, even 
 among ourselves, for some ears might be 
 listening which are not as honest as those 
 of old Pharaoh." 
 
 The family then drew closely together, 
 and discussed the present and the future in 
 an anxious but quiet tone. Whether by ac- 
 cident or design, Mabel Mercer sat very near 
 to Bob Brant, and as he heard her soft and 
 musical voice chime in the conversation, 
 like sweet bells sounding afar off, and at 
 times caught the rich odor of her warm 
 breath, he was lifted into an elysium, and 
 his brain whirled until he found it difficult 
 to fix his mind upon the matter in hand. 
 He felt as if he would like to spy into her 
 heart, and organize himself into a foraging 
 party to capture her love, and then confis- 
 cate her in the name of the Union — not the 
 " old" Union, but the kind of Union that a 
 minister is needed to consummate. If Gen- 
 eral Grant could have known his feelings 
 then, he might have distrusted the discretion 
 of his young scout. 
 
 They talked long and earnestly; Bob 
 urged upon Major Mercer the policy of 
 moving up into a free State, if he could get 
 away, taking a farm and hiring his negroes 
 on it, if he could get them away. Of course 
 the young man could not have been think- 
 ing of Mabel, when he made this very sen- 
 sible proposition. The Major was puzzled 
 about his negroes and his other property. 
 Brant said that the negroes, in any event, 
 would have to follow the fortune of war, 
 and if the family staid at Jackson, it was 
 probable that the rebels would drive them 
 further South, and if not, the progress of 
 the Union armies would force them. If the 
 Major wished to promote their welfare, and 
 had confidence in them, it would be better 
 to keep tbem near the North, as they would 
 never be of any use to him if taken further 
 South. The Major recognized the justness* 
 of these remarks, but was still perplexed, 
 and even spoke of the high prices he ■could 
 get for them down below. 
 
 Tbis was too much for Mabel and her 
 mother, who scouted the idea of selling any 
 of their servants. 
 
 " I had rather see them all free," said the 
 matron, forcibly. 
 
 " Sell them for what ?" said Mabel, " for 
 Confederate money ? Don't let your fears 
 for us run away with you, father." 
 
 The matter was settled at last, as mattera 
 
12 
 
 BOB BRANT, PATRIOT AND SPY. 
 
 generally were, by the clear sense of Mrs. 
 Mercer, who proposed that they should 
 move, as soon as they could, to her brother's 
 
 farm, in County, Kentucky, as he had 
 
 land enough and to spare, with a good house 
 that was empty. After the many objections 
 of the Major had been overruled, this plan 
 was generally agreed to, and as the conver- 
 sation had reached late into the night, the 
 family dispersed to bed, with lighter hearts 
 than they had known for a long time. 
 
 As Bob Brant laid down, his head and 
 heart were full of Mabel Mercer, to the ex- 
 clusion of everything else, and it was some 
 time before his excited thoughts would suf- 
 fer him to stop. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 Divided Duty of Bob Brant. 
 
 Our hero was astonished, on waking 
 from his sound but not dreamless sleep, to 
 see the sun shining through his window. 
 He was also saluted by a mocking-bird in a 
 cage not far off, (in Mabel's room, as he 
 thought,) which seemed to have learned a 
 new- tune. It said, as his half-wakened 
 senses translated it : 
 
 " Bob Brant's — a humbug. Bob Brant's 
 — a humbug." 
 
 And it struck Bob that he was a humbug. 
 He asked himself severely, if that was any 
 way to attend to the business to which he 
 had devoted his life, to fall in love at the 
 start (as he could not help confessing that 
 he had) with a girl he had never seen be- 
 fore, and to permit her image to occupy his 
 mind and heart, to the damage, if not de- 
 struction of the serious affairs he had un- 
 dertaken. His life was too dangerous, he 
 said to himself, to ask her to share it, even 
 if she could be induced to do so. On the 
 spur of the moment, Bob Brant formed sev- 
 eral very excellent resolutions, of which, not 
 the easiest was, that he would thereafter 
 shut out all thoughts of Mabel Mercer. He 
 dressed himself and went down stairs, look- 
 ing savagely solemn. 
 
 As he stepped out into the garden, he 
 heard the musical voice of Mabel Mercer, 
 singing to herself, and caught a glimpse of 
 her airy form as she moved about among 
 the flowers. Unconsciously, as he persuaded 
 himself to believe, he went toward her, and 
 soon stood by her side, when she greeted 
 him with a smile which made his heart 
 
 throb violently, and played the mischief 
 with his severe and excellent resolutions. 
 
 " Good morning, Mr. Brant — Errington, 
 I mean." 
 
 " Good morning, Miss Mercer, and please 
 don't let your tongue trip so any more, as it 
 might possibly prove a death warrant for 
 me, though it would sound sweetly, and 
 could be met cheerfully, if it came from 
 your fair lips." 
 
 " Oh, you are complimentary. Is that 
 the way with you gentlemen of the North ? 
 "Well, I don't like compliments, and am sure 
 that nothing could induce me to speak your 
 death warrant — or the death warrant of 
 any other good Union man," she continued, 
 half blushing. "If you could say, Mr. 
 Errington, that I am a true Union girl, 
 who would be willing to suffer and die for 
 my countiy, it would be a compliment that 
 I would be glad to hear." 
 
 " Indeed, Miss Mercer, I believe that I 
 can say it, and I thank God that it is so. 
 I only wish there were more like you — 
 though there could be none like you," he 
 said, musingly. 
 
 " No, there are few, if any, Union ladies 
 around here," said Mabel, refusing to un- 
 derstand the compliment. " Don't you 
 think, to change the conversation, that you 
 are now engaged in a very perilous busi- 
 ness ?" 
 
 " Perilous it may be, and I expect it will 
 be ; but long ago I solemnly devoted my 
 life to it, and I can afford to die better than 
 many who must leave behind them pleasant 
 homes and sweet family ties." 
 
 " Have you no one, then, to mourn for 
 you, if you should fall in battle, or meet a 
 more ignominious death?" said Mabel, 
 shuddering. 
 
 " None, Miss Mercer, except my old 
 father, who does not expect to see me re- 
 turn." 
 
 " Is there no fair lady who would grieve 
 when you are gone ?" 
 
 " None." 
 
 " Would it not make your heart better 
 for your work, and please and comfort you, 
 to know that some one, however insignifi- 
 cant, cared for you, and would mourn your 
 loss, if you were to die ?" 
 
 " Indeed it would," said Bob Brant, lift- 
 ing up bis flushed and then handsome face 
 to tbe dark eyes that seemed to look into 
 his soul. 
 
 " Then I assure you that I would grieve 
 for you — oh, so much ! for you are a true 
 
BUSINESS AFFAIRS OF BRANT. 
 
 13 
 
 Union man, and a brave one," she said, 
 blushing deeply, " and such deserve my best 
 prayers and sympathies. If this can ever 
 comfort you, and keep you from risking 
 your life unnecessarily, I shall be very thank- 
 ful," and Mabel Mercer gave him her hand, 
 smiling, blushing, and half weeping. 
 
 It was too much. As Bob Brant felt the 
 warm and tender pressure of that small 
 hand, his very fine resolutions melted, and 
 the capture of the scout was completed. 
 He had found something besides his country 
 to love, and felt, but did not deplore, the 
 " divided duty." 
 
 The breakfast bell soon rung, and Bob 
 and Mabel Mercer went to the house. It 
 may be said, in justice to our hero, whose 
 performances and vascillations of late may 
 cause him to be considered by some as not 
 a "first-chop" hero, that he had enough 
 good sense left to eat a substantial break- 
 fast, and well he might, it being a good 
 one. 
 
 After breakfast he started out to attend 
 to "business." He declined the company 
 of Charley Mercer, who was anxious to go 
 with him, fearing that he might bring the 
 young man into difficulty. 
 
 "I had better see for myself how the 
 land lays," said he. " If I should possibly 
 come to grief, I would not wish it to be 
 known that I had any thing to do with this 
 house or its inmates. If I should not suc- 
 ceed perfectly, you must not look for me 
 here again. And so good-by, as we may 
 not meet again." 
 
 Bob's whole heart was in his eyes when 
 he looked at Mabel, and pressed her hand 
 at parting, for he felt that it might be an 
 eternal good-by. 
 
 But down the road he walked, gayly and 
 almost joyfully. H he had been a musical 
 hero, our hero would have sung or whistled 
 as he walked, but as he was a very matter- 
 of-fact sort of an individual, and had no 
 ear for music, he did nothing of the kind. 
 Before, it had been a determined and patri- 
 otic, but solemn and severe spirit that actu- 
 ated Sim; but now he felt cheerful and 
 lightsome, and better able to do and to dare, 
 as well as to suffer. If it wa9 Mabel Mer- 
 cer who had wrought this change in Bob 
 Brant, blessings on her sweet face ! 
 
 Bob found his "business" better, and 
 more easy of accomplishment, than he had 
 expected. Delivering a letter to a promi- 
 nent secessionist, who proved to be a " sure- 
 enough" one this time, he was warmly 
 
 welcomed, and introduced to several army 
 contractors and officers, including General 
 Cheatham himself. He had reason to thank 
 the timely foresight of Carson, who had 
 arrested him at Cairo, and thus given him a 
 ready passport to Secessia, for the story of 
 his arrest had preceded him — such was, at 
 that time, the facility of communication be- 
 tween Cairo and the Confederate camps — 
 and he found himself quite a lion. 
 
 He was astonished at the discipline and 
 organization of the troops he saw at Jack- 
 son ; it was so different from what was re- 
 ported and generally believed at Cairo. 
 The men, also, were substantially, though 
 roughly clothed, and seemed to be well fed. 
 Bob wished that the same spirit of energy 
 and activity that characterized the Confeder- 
 ate officers might be manifested by those on 
 our side. It seemed to him that they ap- 
 peared to feel that they had a powerful 
 enemy to encounter, while the Union men 
 were too confident, and too ready to under- 
 rate their adversary. 
 
 Bob made contracts with several parties 
 for such a quantity of " navy-sized revolvers" 
 as he thought would be reasonable, deliver- 
 able at any point within the Confederate 
 lines at which he could most conveniently 
 run the blockade; also for gold lace and 
 such other small articles as he could smuggle 
 through. To carry out his idea of " busi- 
 ness," he was careful to chaffer about the 
 price, enlarging upon the increasing difficulty 
 of getting his goods across the river, and 
 endeavoring to get as much of the price as 
 possible payable in gold. In short, he was 
 entirely successful, being welcomed as a 
 " friend in need," and made such good use 
 of his eyes and ears, that before evening he 
 had secured considerable information that 
 would be very valuable in Cairo. 
 
 After sauntering about as much as he 
 chose, he slipped away from his new friends 
 before any of them had time to ask him 
 home to supper, and took the road to Ma- 
 jor Mercer's. 
 
 CHAPTER Vir 
 
 Threatening Appearances. 
 
 As Bob Brant sauntered along the road, 
 he felt the perplexities of his situation, and, 
 in plain language, was considerably bothered. 
 
 He knew that the information he had 
 gained should be conveyed to Cairo, and 
 
14 
 
 BOB BRANT, PATRIOT AND SPY. 
 
 that, too, with the greatest possible dispatch, 
 and he knew of no way of getting it there 
 but to carry it. He felt that a sudden dis- 
 appearance from Jackson would cause him 
 to be looked upon with suspicion by the 
 Confederate authorities, and he feared that 
 the suspicion might also attach to Major 
 Mercer and his family. Can it be possible 
 that Mabel Mercer had any thing to do with 
 his perplexity, and that his desire of re- 
 maining near her for a short time caused 
 him to hesitate ? It hardly seems possible 
 that any tiling could cause a young man, 
 who had formed such excellent resolutions, 
 to deviate from his duty. 
 
 Nevertheless, Bob Brant was perplexed, 
 and walked along in a kind of brown study, 
 noticing nothing by the way, until he sud- 
 denly found himself surrounded by a rough 
 crowd, who all seemed to have been drink- 
 ing very freely, for they came on whooping 
 and shouting, and were certainly intoxicated 
 with excitement or poor whisky. 
 
 The spokesman of this interesting assem- 
 blage was a tall, raw-boned, gaunt individual, 
 dressed in a rough suit of brown homespun, 
 who flourished a heavy overseer's whip, and 
 appeared as much overcome by intoxication 
 or excitement as any of the rest. He had 
 a merry twinkle in his eye, however, and 
 his general appearance was indicative of 
 mischief rather than malevolence. 
 
 This worthy staggered up to our hero, 
 and shouted, as he brandished his whip in 
 the air : 
 
 "Here, boys; shouldn't wonder if we 
 have caught one of them durned Yanks at 
 last. Let's look into the crittur." 
 
 Then sidling up to Bob Brant, who kept 
 his right hand in the pocket where his 
 pistol was concealed, with a maudlin air, 
 said: 
 
 " Hello, stranger ; p'raps ye can jest tell 
 us whar ye come from. Seems kind o' 
 strange for a man of your stamp to be found 
 around here, 'specially with all them good 
 clothes on, and nary Confederate uniform. 
 P'raps ye'd jest let me know, for the satis- 
 faction of myself an' this yere party of 
 royal — loyal, I mean, boys — hie — citizens, 
 who ye are, and whar ye come from, and 
 all about ye. That's it, boys, and that'll 
 bring this feller down to the pint of a toad- 
 sticker." 
 
 " That's the idea, ole fel," said one of the 
 party, who was steadying himself up against 
 a tree ; " bring him down to tell which he 
 came from, and whence he's agoin' to. 
 
 That's the question. Young feller, answer 
 that ere speech." 
 
 Bob kept his presence of mind, and kept 
 his hand on his pistol, both, as he thought, 
 very needful things to be kept. And he 
 answered them coolly and well : 
 
 " If you want to know where I came 
 from, gentlemen, I must say that I came 
 from the North, from the State of Indiana. 
 I am here to aid the Confederate Govern- 
 ment by supplying them with arms and ac- 
 couterments. I have some of the arms 
 with me, and this is one of them," said he, 
 drawing his pistol, cocking it, and present- 
 ing it at the crowd. 
 
 " There, never mind," said the individual 
 who was steadying himself against the tree. 
 " I s'pect it's all right, Cap'n, and I don't 
 reckon he'd steal any niggers." 
 
 " No, it ain't, by a durned sight," said the 
 long personage with the overseer's whip. 
 " I've seen too much of these Indianny and 
 Ellinoy Yankees, who come down here to 
 swindle us, and go back and tell all they 
 know. Say, stranger, tell us whar yer goin' 
 to now. Ye needn't handle yer six-shooter, 
 for we're too many for yer. So tell us plain 
 and squar, if you've got any plainness and 
 squamess about yer." 
 
 " I have only one thing more to say to 
 you," said Bob, as he returned his pistol to 
 his pocket, but left it cocked, and still 
 clutched it firmly ; " if you want to know 
 any thing more about me, just go to head- 
 quarters, and ask General Cheatham about 
 Mr. Errington. I have periled my life for 
 your Confederacy, and don't mean to be in- 
 sulted by any understrappers." 
 
 It was evident that the cool and deliber- 
 ate Bob Brant was getting excited. 
 
 " It's all right, Cap'n, I guess," said the 
 man who was steadying himself against the 
 tree, and who had been gradually edging 
 himself out of the possible range of Bob's 
 pistol. 
 
 " No, it ain't all right, by a durned sight, 
 as I told ye before," said the long and 
 ugly one, who had stayed close to Bob dur- 
 ing the parley. " I ain't satisfied with every- 
 body's say-so, and I've good reason not to 
 be, and I'm going to arrest this yere young 
 feller, in the name of the Southern Confed- 
 eracy." 
 
 Bob's hand again clutched his pistol, and 
 his interrogator saw the movement. 
 
 " Ye needn't handle yer pistol, young 
 man, for I'm able to take yer by myself 
 alone, and can shoot a durned sight quicker 
 
"OLD BILL WOODWORTH." 
 
 15 
 
 than you ever dar'd to. Here, you fellers, 
 go up the street, and turn off on that lane 
 to your right, and see if you can pick up 
 any more stragglers. And the first whisky- 
 shop you come to, take a drink at my ex- 
 pense, and tell 'em Captain Higley will see 
 it settled for. I'm goin' to take this yere 
 young chap to the Captain's quarters, and 
 ye can bet yer bayonets that the old man 
 will fix him." 
 
 " All right, Cap'n," said the self-constitu- 
 ted synod, as they took their devious way 
 along the road. 
 
 " Come along, young feller," said Bob's 
 captor, as he staggered up alongside of his 
 prisoner. 
 
 Bob concluded to go. He thought he 
 saw plain sailing before him, and it seemed 
 an easy matter to get rid of the inconveni- 
 ent presence of this inebriated individual at 
 any moment. 
 
 So they went along together, the tall man 
 walking on the right of our hero, who step- 
 ped freely but warily, his hand still grasp- 
 ing his pistol. In a few minutes they came 
 to a tavern in the road, where thick woods 
 spread upon either side, and here Bob's con- 
 ductor cast a quick and furtive look behind, 
 and then suddenly staightening himself up, 
 stopped in his tracks, and looked at Bob. 
 
 Bob Brant stopped also, and again clutch- 
 ed his pistol as he looked the supposed Con- 
 federate full in the face. 
 
 " Mr. Brant," said the long man, from 
 whom every trace of intoxication had dis- 
 appeared in an instant; "'spect likely ye 
 don't know me." 
 
 " No," said Bob, " I don't." 
 
 "But I know you, and ye'll know me, 
 when ye hear my name. "Wouldn't those 
 chaps hev give a pretty sum to know it, 
 though ! But it takes old Bill Woodworth 
 to fool 'em 1" 
 
 " What !" said Bob Brant, " do you mean 
 to say that you are old Bill "Woodworth ? 
 Here, where a price is set on your head ! 
 How can you dare — " 
 
 " Never mind, young man, what I dare. 
 So ye thort I a was a Confed, and drunk at 
 that 1 "Well, I meant ye should, but if any 
 man has got good cause to hate the Con- 
 federates an' whisky, too, it is me. Between 
 them, they've ruined my house and home, 
 an' murdered my wife and child. I'll re- 
 member Missouri for 'em, and get revenge 
 enough before I die. Do you know I went 
 on tick for them fellows whisky ? P'raps 
 Captain Higley or somebody else '11 come 
 
 along and pay for it. Cuss 'em ! I only 
 want a clear field and a good rifle to show 
 'em wbat I think of 'em. But I hevn't no 
 time to talk, or to cry, neither, though God 
 knows I would like to. Carson sent me to 
 meet you, and the Gineral said you'd hev 
 some drawin's or writin's to send up. H 
 you have, give 'em to me quick." 
 
 Bob had been astonished for a moment, 
 at the audacity of this man, who was known 
 and "spotted" by the Confederate authori- 
 ties in all that section of country ; but re- 
 covering his presence of mind, he drew from 
 his pocket a few condensed notes and me- 
 moranda, and a small plan of the fortifica- 
 tions at Columbus, and handed them to hi« 
 strange companion, who immediately thrust 
 them in the breast-pocket of his butternut 
 coat. The plan was complete, and the me- 
 moranda were of the utmost importance. 
 
 " Good-by," said "Woodworth, hurriedly, 
 wringing the hand of our hero. " The old 
 man wants you to be in Fort Donelson 
 within four days, ef you dar to do it." 
 
 " Dare !" said Bob, flushing up, " I will 
 be there witfcin the time, if I die for it." 
 
 " Yes, yes, that's what he said he knowed 
 of yer. Git in as well as you ken ; I can't 
 tell you nothin' about it ; but I'm 'feard the 
 biggest trouble will be to git out. Let me 
 tell you one thing — jest you take the Mays- 
 ville road when you go. Good God ! I'm 
 off. Say you don't know me, young man," 
 and in an instant, the long, gaunt, and ugly 
 individual disappeared in the woods. 
 
 Bob Brant was somewhat surprised; as 
 may reasonably be supposed, but his sur- 
 prise was at an end when half a dozen Con- 
 federate cavalrymen, headed by a Lieuten- 
 ant, rode up and halted where he stood. 
 
 " Halt !" said the officer. " Two of you 
 guard this man, while the rest chase that 
 fellow up. Catch him or kill him 1" 
 
 The four disappeared in the wood, and 
 two dismounted and took hold of our hero, 
 to whom the almost breathless Lieutenant 
 thus addressed himself: 
 
 " Well, sir, you are caught, are you ? A 
 pretty piece of business this is, and you shall 
 swing for it, as sure as I hate a sneaking 
 Northern spy. You have done for yourself 
 this time, young man." 
 
 " I have done nothing wrong that I know 
 of," said Bob, quite coolly, " and will be 
 much obliged to you if you will tell me 
 what this all means." 
 
 " "What it means ! Well, young man, 
 your impudence beats the devil. Why, 
 
16 
 
 BOB BRANT, PATRIOT AND SPY. 
 
 haven't we proved you a spy, by catching 
 you in company with that sneaking scoun- 
 drel, Bill Woodworth ?" 
 
 " Bill Woodworth !" said Bob, showing a 
 fair degree of surprise, I don't know any 
 such man. If you mean him who has just 
 left us, I was taken prisoner by him a short 
 time since, in company with a crowd of 
 others, and he said he intended to take me 
 to Captain Higley's headquarters." 
 
 " I don't believe your story, young man," 
 said the officer, " but if it is true, that Bill 
 Woodworth is the most impudent, as well 
 as the most daring scoundrel unhung." 
 
 The men who had followed Woodworth, 
 returned, and reported that they could not 
 find the slightest trace of the spy. The 
 party then returned to the camp at a walk, 
 two of them guarding our hero. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Brant Imprisoned and Paroled. 
 
 I 
 
 Arrived at the camp, Bob Brant was 
 promptly conveyed by his captors to the 
 office of the Provost-Marshal, an official 
 upon whose tender mercies he put but little 
 reliance. The officer- gave his account of 
 the affair, relating the suspicious circum- 
 stances in which he had found our hero. 
 Bob was graciously permitted to give his 
 version, and promptly stated that his name 
 was Henry Errington, that he had come 
 there with letters from some of their friends 
 in the North, for the purpose of supplying 
 small arms, percussion caps, and such ma- 
 terial to the army ; that he run great risk in 
 so doing, and thought it hard that he should 
 be put to trouble and inconvenience on ac- 
 count of a person whom he had never seen 
 before. He stated that he had finished his 
 business at the camp, and was walking along 
 the road, when he was met by a crowd of 
 men whom he supposed to be patrolmen or 
 rangers, headed by the man Woodworth, or 
 whoever he was, who had arrested him on 
 some suspicion ; that Woodworth, or who- 
 ever he was, said that he was going to take 
 him to Captain Higley's headquarters ; and 
 had stopped to search him for arms, when 
 the cavalrymen came in sight, and the fel- 
 low darted off into the wood. 
 
 Bob told his story with an air of candor 
 that sat well upon him, but it was evident 
 that he would find no believers tbere. 
 
 " This is a strange story, young man," 
 said the Provost, " one of the strangest 
 stories I ever heard. In fact, it is entirely 
 too strange to be true. Even old Bill 
 Woodworth wouldn't have the impudence 
 and the audacity to perpetrate such a trick : 
 and what could be his motive in doing it, 
 and how could he get the men to follow 
 him ?" 
 
 " Of his motive," answered Brant, " I 
 know nothing, unless it may have been to 
 rob me ; but as for the men, it is evident 
 that he had made them drunk, as they were 
 all pretty full when I met them." 
 
 " Why did he go along with you alone, 
 and what became of the other men ?" 
 
 " He sent the other men on, to look up 
 more stragglers, as he said, and told them 
 to stop at the first whisky shop and take a 
 drink, and that Captain Higley would pay 
 for it." 
 
 The Provost was getting indignant. 
 
 " There is no such man as Captain Hig- 
 ley," said he. " Your story is utterly ridicu- 
 lous, young man. Guard, search him." 
 
 Brant was accordingly subjected to a 
 thorough search, and glad enough was he 
 that he had got well rid of the plans and 
 memoranda he had given to old Bill Wood- 
 worth, and that that individual had got 
 safely off with them. Nothing was found 
 upon him but his pistol, and one of the let- 
 ters of introduction he had brought from 
 Paducah. The latter evidently disposed the 
 officer to look upon his case rather more 
 favorably, and to think that there might be 
 some truth in his representations. Never- 
 theless, he told our hero that he must com- 
 mit him for further examination ; though, 
 as he appeared to be a gentleman, and might 
 be found'" all right," he would not put him 
 in the common guard-house, but would lodge 
 him for the night in tbe calaboose or town 
 jail. 
 
 Bob asked to be confronted with General 
 Cheatham, expressing himself as certain that 
 that officer would order his immediate re- 
 lease, but he was informed that the General 
 could not be seen at that hour, and he must 
 consequently be content to remain in the 
 prison for the night. His pistol was then 
 taken from him, but he was allowed to re- 
 tain the money he had about him, and was 
 marched off to the calaboose, under a guard. 
 
 There were few spectators at the Provost- 
 Marshal's office ; but young Brant had no- 
 ticed among them the shining countenance 
 of old Pharaoh, who had glanced at him 
 
AN UNEXPECTED CALL. 
 
 17 
 
 significantly. When he was taken to the 
 jail, he observed that the old negro followed 
 him at a short distance, and, just before the 
 door closed upon him, he again caught the 
 significant glance of Pharaoh. 
 
 Bob Brant was ushered into a small room, 
 hardly to be called a cell, in which he was 
 alone. It was a comfortable enough room, 
 for a jail, but Bob felt painfully that it teas 
 a jail, a place which, at that time, he most 
 heartily wished himself out of. No thought 
 of personal danger entered his mind, for he 
 was sure that no proof could be found 
 against him, unless old Bill Woodworth 
 should be caught, of which he had no fear, 
 or unless Major Mercer should inform 
 against him, an idea which he rejected as 
 soon as it presented itself. But he had pro- 
 mised, and the General expected him, to be 
 inside of Fort Donelson within four days, 
 and he felt that he ought to have started 
 that night, or in the morning at farthest, in 
 order to arrange his plans for getting in and 
 out again. He knew that it would hardly 
 be possible for him to get a hearing before 
 noon the next day, and even then he would 
 not be likely to get clear without further 
 detention, so that he saw little chance of 
 being in the promised place at the promised 
 time. 
 
 The calaboose, as Bob had previously 
 noticed from the outside, was a strong build- 
 ing, substantially built of heavy hewn tim- 
 bers, and on the inside he found it stoutly 
 double planked, the planks being spiked to 
 the timbers. He soon saw the hopelessness 
 of any attempt at escape, and settled down 
 into a fit of the blues. Thoughts of Mabel 
 Mercer mixed themselves up gloomily with 
 the unpleasant web of his perplexities, and 
 he became so restless and uneasy that he 
 was unable to sleep, but walked the floor 
 with moody brow and downcast eye. 
 
 It was hardly an hour after our hero had 
 been lodged in the jail, that a young gentle- 
 man in the uniform of a Confederate Cap- 
 tain, evidently inebriated, came walking 
 unsteadily along the street, and "brought 
 up " in front of the sentry who stood at the 
 jail door. The sentry gave the usual salute 
 to the officer, and the latter, steadying him- 
 self against the post, addressed him as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 " Did they bring a young chap in here a 
 while ago, from the Provost's office ?" 
 
 " Tes, sir." 
 
 " Let me in ; I want to see him." 
 
 " Can't do it, Captain ; it's against orders." 
 2 5 
 
 " I reckon General Cheatham's orders are 
 good enough for you," said the officer, taking 
 a bit of paper from his pocket. " Here, 
 young man, can you read writing? Let 
 me read it for you, though," and he read : 
 
 " Henry Errington is paroled until further 
 orders, on condition that he keeps within the 
 quarters of Captain Hemingway. 
 
 " By order of Brig. Gen. Cheatham. 
 
 " B. A. Cooley, A. A. Gen." 
 
 " There, young man, you see that signa- 
 ture, do you ? I want to see if this young 
 man is the one the General means, and if 
 he is, he goes to my quarters to-night." 
 
 " All right, Captain," said the obsequious 
 sentry, as he opened the door, and called 
 to those within to admit the visitor to the 
 new prisoner. 
 
 CHAPTER. X. 
 Charley Mercer and Brant. 
 
 YotrNG Brant was surprised when this 
 bearded and mustached officer walked into 
 his cell, and he stared blankly at him. The 
 visit, however, was a relief to his monotony, 
 and served to distract his attention from his 
 own tboughts. 
 
 The officer closed the door carefully. 
 
 " Good evening, Mr. Errington," said he ; 
 how do you find yourself?" 
 
 "Pretty well, I thank you, for a man 
 who is locked up. Hope you are in good 
 health yourself." 
 
 " Yes, I am well enough ; always am, 
 Robert." 
 
 " You have slightly mistaken my name," 
 said Bob, without moving a muscle. " My 
 name is Henry Errington, not Robert." 
 
 " Reckon it isn't, just now," said the 
 officer, as he pulled off his heavy, dark 
 beard and moustache, and disclosed the 
 smooth face and laughing eyes of Charley 
 Mercer. 
 
 " Why, Mercer, you're welcome as ice in 
 the dog-days. How did you get in ?" 
 
 " Walked in, of course ; and now, with- 
 out any more talking, you will please just 
 walk out with me, and I will tell you about 
 it afterward. Old Pharaoh is waiting near 
 the corner of our lane with a couple of 
 horses and your traps, and you can be far 
 away from this before sun-up." 
 
 " All right," said Bob, reserving his won- 
 der; "have you a scrap of paper about 
 you V* 
 
BOB BRANT, PATRIOT AND SPY. 
 
 Charley Mercer tore off the blank part of 
 a letter, and. Bob hurriedly scrawled the fol- 
 lowing lines on it in pencil : 
 
 " In the Calaboose, Wednesday night. 
 " Gen. Cheatham : 
 
 " After risking my life to serve the Confed- 
 eracy, I thought I was entitled to better treat- 
 ment. I am not pleased with this lodging, 
 and have concluded to quit it. I have busi- 
 ness which calls me to Fort Donelson, from 
 which place I will write to you, and if you 
 wish me to carry out the contract I made 
 with you, will arrange for the delivery of the 
 arms, etc. 
 
 " Please give my respects to the Provost- 
 Marshal, and tell him to be careful not to pick 
 up the wrong man next time. 
 
 " Yours, very respectfully, 
 
 " Heney Errington." 
 
 This precious document the young man 
 left in a place where it could be easily found 
 in the morning, and followed his guide, who 
 by this time had resumed his beard and his 
 unsteady gait. 
 
 As they passed out of the door, the pre- 
 tended Confederate officer said to the sentry : 
 
 "It's all right, young man. This is the 
 chap I was looking for. I tell you the 
 General was hopping mad when he heard 
 that he had been locked up in the jail." 
 
 " All right, Captain," replied the soldier, 
 as he saluted. 
 
 " Come along, old boy," said Charley, 
 hilariously, as he took his companion by 
 the arm. " We'll make a night of it at my 
 quarters, and I'll get you so tight that you 
 won't be able to break your parole if you 
 want to ; and if I get in the same fix, guard 
 duty may go to the devil, if I get cashiered 
 for it." 
 
 When they were out of hearing of the 
 thoroughly deceived sentry, walking swiftly 
 along the street, Bob Brant thought he 
 could indulge his curiosity, and asked his 
 friend: 
 
 " How, in the name of common sense, did 
 you get that parole from the General ?" 
 
 " Didn't get any parole from the General," 
 said the laughing boy ; " made it myself. 
 And that reminds me that I had better de- 
 stroy it." 
 
 He accordingly tore it in small pieces, 
 and scattered them along the roadside. 
 
 " Made it yourself I You are very rash, 
 and have been bringing yourself into danger 
 for my sake. Don't you know that it would 
 be as much as your life is worth, if you 
 should be found out ?" 
 
 " But how is any one ever going to know 
 any thing about it? Why, you yourself 
 
 could not recognize me in this dress and 
 with this beard, and I am sure that that 
 sentry, who never saw me before, could not 
 identify me." 
 
 " How did you come by that Confederate 
 unifoirn ?" 
 
 " Old Pharaoh stole it for me. It was 
 one of the neatest things you ever saw. I 
 tell you, there is a heap of come-out in that 
 old nigger, whenever he chooses to let him- 
 self out." 
 
 " I should think so ; and not a little in 
 you, also. But I am sorry to see you risk- 
 ing your life for my sake — your life, that is 
 so dear to your father and mother, and- — 
 your sister." 
 
 " Never mind my sister," said Charley 
 Mercer, with a merry twinkle in his eye. 
 " She put me up to this thing, though to be 
 sure I didn't need any coaxing — the joke 
 was too good a one to be lost. Old Pharaoh 
 saw you going to the Provost-Marshal's 
 office. He knew something was up, and 
 followed and watched you until you were 
 lodged in the jail, when he hurried home to 
 bring us the news. He told no one but 
 sister Mabel, however, and she told me, and, 
 between the three of us, we soon fixed up a 
 plan to get you out of there. Pharaoh said 
 he knew where he could lay his hands, 
 easily enough, on a Captain's coat, panta 
 and cap, and that is the rig I am in now. 
 Think I shall keep the suit — may find it 
 useful some time. But you must get away 
 from here, and which way do you want 
 to go ?" 
 
 Bob then told his friend of his desire to 
 reach Fort Donelson as soon as possible ; of 
 his trouble, while in the jail, because he 
 feared he would be unable to accomplish 
 his mission, and of his present perplexity 
 concerning getting in the fort, and — what 
 was of greater importance — getting out 
 again. 
 
 Charley Mercer said nothing, but rumi- 
 nated. As they walked along briskly, though 
 silently, they soon reached the corner of 
 the lane, where, turning into a little piece 
 of wood, they found old Pharaoh awaiting 
 them with two saddled horses. The old 
 African's eyes sparkled, and his face fairly 
 glistened, as our hero and his guide walked 
 up to bim, and he expressed his satisfaction 
 audibly : 
 
 " The Lord and all his holy angels bless 
 you, Massa Brant 1 I knowed Massa Char- 
 ley would fix the trick for you. Hi ! he's 
 too much for them 'Federates, and this ole 
 
BRANT ON THE ROAD. 
 
 19 
 
 nigger ain't nobody's chicken, neither. 
 Won't Miss Mabel be glad when she knows 
 how this thing come out ? oh, no, guess not. 
 Now, Massa Charles, you must hurry up to 
 the house and take them clothes off, right 
 straight 'way, and you mustn't wake nobody 
 up. Needn't be 'feard of wakin' up Miss 
 Mabel, I reckon, for I 'spect she hain't slept 
 nary wink this blessed night." 
 
 Bob Brant's eyes twinkled, too, and he 
 felt better all over, though his, face became 
 suddenly hot, and he was rather wet about 
 the eyes. 
 
 As for Charley Mercer, he still seemed 
 lost in thought, and made no answer to 
 Pharaoh. At last he condescended to 
 
 " Mr. Brant, here is your carpet-bag ; are 
 any of your clothes marked ? 
 
 " Of course not." 
 
 " All right, then. If you have any letters 
 or writing of any kind, you had better de- 
 stroy every thing as you go along. Now 
 jump on this horse, and make as fast time 
 as you please. Pharaoh will go with you 
 as far as Uncle Tom's, and put you right 
 on the way. I must stay here to-morrow, 
 to see if this matter blows over. On the 
 turnpike, near Dover, is a sort of a tavern, 
 at a cross-roads, kept by a fellow named 
 Michael Curwin. You can find it easily 
 enough, and within four days I will meet 
 you there. That's settled. By the way, 
 could you give a fellow the oath of alle- 
 giance ?" 
 
 " I am sorry to say, my dear boy, that 
 I am not authorized to administer the oath." 
 
 " Then I will administer it myself. Now 
 hear me: I do solemnly swear, before high 
 Heaven, that I will bear' true allegiance to 
 the United States of America, and will use 
 my utmost efforts to restore the Federal 
 Union, and to maintain it against all its foes, 
 whether foreign or domestic, at whatever 
 risk or danger to life or fortune. So help 
 me God !" 
 
 " There, be off with you, and remember 
 Curwin's tavern." 
 
 " A moment, Charley," said Brant, press- 
 ing his friend's hand, and looking down, as 
 he pretended to adjust his stirrups, " may I 
 ask you to give my love to your sister?" 
 
 " Of course you may, and I will be glad 
 to do it ; and, if it will do you any good, 
 I can assure you that she will be glad to 
 receive it. Good-by ; good-by, Pharaoh." 
 
 " Good-by," said Bob, " God bless you, 
 and keep you safe 1" 
 
 The white and black man, so strangely 
 allied, turned their horses into the road, and 
 were soon lost to the sight, as they disap- 
 peared over the hill, while Charley Mercer 
 hurried homeward. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 Hospitalities at Curwin's Tavern. 
 
 Cubwtn's tavern, on the Dover road, was 
 never an inviting place, and, at the time of 
 which wc write, was less so than ever. The 
 proprietor had, to be sure, done a very good 
 business of late — more than could be ex- 
 pected of so small and uncomfortable a 
 hostelrie — but on several occasions he had 
 had a portion of his stock confiscated for 
 selling whisky to the Confederate soldiers, 
 and his reverses of fortune had not had the 
 effect of sweetening his temper, which was 
 never one of the most cheerful. 
 
 The house was a two-story affair, but was 
 a miserable old rattle-trap, one of the " bal- 
 loon" style, through the many cracks and 
 crevices of which the wind whistled and 
 howled as it pleased. A substantial log 
 cabin was attached to the premises, which 
 was used as a barn ; but there was only a 
 small portion of the roof remaining. In 
 fact, the whole establishment, and the whole 
 household, from old Curwin himself, down 
 to a bare-legged and hatless little negro boy, 
 looked dilapidated and " shiftless," to use the 
 expressive Yankee word. 
 
 But, comfortless as it looked, the place 
 appeared pleasant to Bob Brant, as he rode 
 up to the door, on the evening of a chilly, 
 misty, drizzling day. He was wet through, 
 and it seemed as if the cold north-east wind 
 had found its way into the marrow of every 
 bone. The enticing placards which adorned 
 the window, announcing the various kinds 
 of liquors to be found within, were a grate- 
 ful sight, and a glimpse, through the open 
 kitchen door, of the preparations for supper, 
 was still more agreeable. His horse, also, 
 seemed glad at the prospect of rest and 
 food, and testified his approbation- by a 
 shrill, exultant neigh, which soon brought 
 old Curwin himself to the door. Calling a 
 young negro to take care of our hero's horse, 
 he invited him to alight and enter. Bob 
 was not slow to accept the invitation, and 
 followed his gruff-looking landlord into the 
 house,, carrying his carpet-bag with him. 
 
BOB BRANT, PATRIOT AND SPY. 
 
 He had first taken care, however, to secure 
 about his person a brace of pistols, which 
 old Pharaoh had thoughtfully put in his 
 holsters. 
 
 " A bad night, stranger," said old Curwin, 
 as he closed the door after his guest. 
 
 " Yes," said Bob, as he laid down his little 
 baggage, " a bad night, and I am glad I am 
 out of it." 
 
 " Nice horse that of your'n. Should say 
 he's a good beast." 
 
 " Yes, a good horse to go, and to stand 
 up to his work. "Wish you'd make your 
 boy rub him down well." 
 
 " Oh, he's up to that, the boy is. That 
 nigger likes a good hoss better'n he does 
 his vittles, which is sayin' a heap for a 
 nigger. 'Spect ye've rode purty fur to-day, 
 stranger ?" 
 
 " Not so very far ; but I lost the road." 
 
 " And whar mout ye be goin' to ?" 
 
 " I am going here just now," said Brant, 
 who was not at all pleased at the landlord's 
 inquisitiveness, and who saw the necessity 
 of changing the conversation or quieting 
 his interrogator. " Landlord, can you make 
 me something hot to warm me up, as I am 
 too nearly frozen to talk." 
 
 " Give ye some hot whisky, with sugar 
 into it," said Curwin, as he bustled about to 
 prepare the fluids. " That's purty much all 
 we've got now." 
 
 " Perhaps," said Bob, anxious to get in 
 the good graces of his host, as he looked 
 around and saw three or four men sitting in 
 the partial light by the fire, "perhaps these 
 gentlemen will take something." 
 
 As usual in that latitude, the " gentlemen " 
 he referred to " didn't care if they did," and 
 they stepped up with an alacrity which 
 might induce the belief that they were glad 
 to be invited, while old Curwin's face 
 looked almost pleasant at the prospect of 
 custom. 
 
 "While the landlord was mixing the spirits 
 to suit the varied tastes of "the crowd," 
 young Brant looked around to see into what 
 kind of company he had fallen. 
 
 " At the first glance, his eyes, though 
 at first he could not believe them, fell upon 
 the never-to-be-forgotten face of old Bill 
 "Woodworth, who was leaning stiffly against 
 the counter, stirring his toddy with a spoon. 
 Bob started involuntarily, and the landlord 
 noticed it. 
 
 " "What's the matter now, stranger V said 
 he, eyeing the young man suspiciously. 
 "Any thin' scart ye V 
 
 Brant's presence of mind returned at the 
 instant. 
 
 "By jove," he replied, "'that picture on 
 the wall looks like a girl I once knew." 
 
 He then walked up to the picture he men- 
 tioned, a cheap lithograph, and gazed in- 
 tently at it for a few minutes, while he col- 
 lected his thoughts and recovered front his 
 astonishment. 
 
 "While the "gentlemen" were imbibing, 
 Bob observe,d that Woodworth took no 
 notice of him, and of course concluded that 
 it was expected that neither should recog- 
 nize the other. As he took a seat by the 
 fire, and called for cigars for " the crowd," 
 he had an opportunity of inspecting his 
 late acquaintance more closely. Old Bill 
 was transformed greatly as to dress, though 
 it seemed that his shape and countenance 
 could not be altered. He was attired in 
 clothes that would be called fine in that re- 
 gion, though by no means fashionably cut, 
 held a heavy whip in his hand, the lash of 
 which he kept passing through his fingers, 
 and looked what Bob thought to be the very- 
 picture of a substantial Kentucky or Tennes- 
 see farmer. 
 
 It was old Bill "Woodworth, without 
 doubt. There was no mistaking the flash 
 of that keen eye, or the determination ex- 
 pressed by those thin lips. But how came 
 he there ? How had he made his way to 
 Cairo, and got back into that country so 
 quickly ? Above all, how did he dare to be 
 there at all ? These were question which 
 puzzled the young man not a little, but, as 
 he did not think it worth while to perplex 
 himself about what he could not compre- 
 hend, he became content in the belief that 
 the old scout knew what he was about, and 
 thac he would always be found in the right 
 place at the right time. 
 
 The men around the fire had been talk- 
 ing quite freely when B rant came in, but 
 after his entrance they had been nearly 
 silent, only exchanging a few words about 
 the weather or the prospect of supper. 
 
 The landlord edged his chair up to the 
 fire, which he stirred. He seemed uneasy 
 about something, and at last he said, looking 
 at our hero. 
 
 " A bad night agin, stranger. Wot makes 
 you all so dull ?" 
 
 " It is dull," said Bob, aroused from his 
 revery. "Landlord, give us some more 
 drinks all around." 
 
 This, by way of parenthesis, was a course 
 of conduct that we would not recommend 
 
CURWIN GETTING CHIVALROUS. 
 
 21 
 
 to a judicious young man in Brant'3 peculiar 
 position. He was rather too clever for the 
 occasion, and, although his patronage tended 
 to appease old Curwin, yet the suspicions of 
 that faithful servant of King Jefferson were 
 awakened by the circumstance. However, 
 he bestirred himself to procure the fluids, 
 and the faces of the rest of the party, ex- 
 cept that of Woodworth, sensibly brightened. 
 
 When the landlord had brought the 
 glasses, he again seated himself, and turned 
 his gray eyes upon Brant, his hands resting 
 upon his knees, and his countenance expres- 
 sive of suspicion. 
 
 " Stranger," said he, " I don't like to be 
 too curious about a gen'leman as spends his 
 money free like you, but these is ticklish 
 times, and my house is watched purty close, 
 and I think it's my duty to know who the 
 men are as comes here, and whar they 
 come from, and whar they're goin' to. 
 Now, that's jest wot I want to know about 
 you." 
 
 " It seems to me, landlord," replied Bob, 
 " that you are running your ideas of duty 
 into the ground. For my part, I am not in 
 the habit of satisfying idle curiosity. I am 
 traveling on my own business, and what 
 that business is, is nobody's business but my 
 own. If I am asked by any authorized 
 officer, I will tell it, but do not intend to 
 make it known to every one-horse tavern 
 keeper I meet." 
 
 " You talk brash enough, young man, but 
 your talk won't go down with old Mike Cur- 
 win. I want to know, now, whether you're 
 for the Confederacy or not." 
 
 " You may bet on that." 
 
 "Then you can't object to tellin' me 
 which way you're a-goin'." 
 
 " Going my way." 
 
 "Now, landlord," spoke up one of the 
 men, " I don't see the use of botherin' the 
 young feller, when he says he's for the Con- 
 federacy, and spends his money like a white 
 man." 
 
 Curwin glanced angrily at him. 
 
 "You'd better dry up, John Gasher; 
 you're nothin' but a no'count Kentucky 
 skunk, nohow, and ye mout get your ownself 
 into a scrape." 
 
 The man made no further objection, but 
 Bob saw that he would have a chance in a 
 " scrimmage," and spoke sharply to the 
 landlord. 
 
 " No more talk is necessary. I do not 
 consider myself bound to satisfy your curi- 
 osity, and do not intend to do it." 
 
 Curwin sprung from his seat, and made a 
 rush at our hero, but was met by the muzzle 
 of one of Colt's 6ix-inch barrels, pointed at 
 his breast. Bob glanced at "Woodworth, 
 who was still amusing himself with drawing 
 the lash of his whip through his fingers. 
 
 Curwin stepped back for his gun. As he 
 took it from the rack, Brant raised his left 
 arm, levelled his pistol over the elbow, and 
 sighted along the barrel. 
 
 " If you raise that gun," he said, calmly, 
 " I will bore a hole through you. Please 
 move your arm a little, so that I may have 
 a fair sight at that third button." 
 
 Curwin was brave, or desperate, enough, 
 but the appearance of the "situation" did 
 not please him. He appealed to the " crowd." 
 
 "Men, do you stand this? Is a loyal 
 citizen, who is only a-doin' of his duty, to 
 be run over by a young chap as is perobably 
 a nigger-stealin' spy?" 
 
 Woodworth, at whom Curwin looked, 
 was still fingering the lash of his whip. 
 
 " Wa-a-1, landlord," said he, " I don't see 
 as you've any call to question the stranger 
 so close and perticlar like." 
 
 Another of the party was fingering for a 
 knife, and moved closer to the fire and to 
 our hero. But Bob's quick eye noticed that 
 old Bill Woodworth had changed his hand, 
 bringing it nearer to the heavy butt of the 
 whip, and as he felt secure from a flank at- 
 tack in that quarter, he maintained a'steady 
 aim at the landlord. 
 
 Affairs were in this position, Curwin stand- 
 ing irresolute, with his gun in his hand, 
 Brant still sighting his pistol at the third 
 button on his coat, the man with the knife 
 edging toward Brant, and Woodworth grasp- 
 ing firmly the stock of his whip and com- 
 pressing his lips, when the door suddenly 
 opened. 
 
 CHAPTER XLL 
 An Opportune Arrival. 
 
 "Halloo! what's the row here?" said 
 the new comer, with a merry laugh, as he 
 closed the door hastily. " Any chance for 
 a free fight here, landlord ?" 
 
 Young Brant immediately recognized the 
 voice and the laugh, as those peculiar to 
 Charley Mercer, but he did not take hia 
 eye or his pistol off of Curwin, until the lat- 
 ter laid aside his gun, and addressed the 
 seeming officer, as he touched his hat 
 
22 
 
 BOB BRANT, PATRIOT AND SPY. 
 
 " Why, Captin, it is jest a stranger as is 
 come in here, and he won't give no account 
 of himself, and that's suspicious, as you must 
 allow, as folks as won't give no account of 
 themselves is perobably Yankee spies or 
 something wuss. He sorter got the whip 
 hand of me jest now ; but I'd hev brort him 
 to his milk purty quick ef you hadn't come 
 in, and now I'll turn the cuss over to you." 
 
 " Which is the man ?" said Charley, 
 glancing around. 
 
 " That yere feller with the pistil." 
 
 " What, Heffernan !" exclaimed Charley, 
 stepping up to Brant and laying his hand 
 upon his shoulder. " The very man I have 
 been looking for. Landlord, you have done 
 exactly right ; and you deserve a great deal 
 of credit for your caution and your devotion 
 to the Confederacy. I will see that it is 
 represented in the proper quarter. This 
 man is a deserter from my company, Com- 
 pany B, Fourth Arkansas regiment, and I 
 am glad to get hold of him." 
 
 " There," said Curwin, triumphantly, ap- 
 pealing to " the crowd," " I knowed thar 
 war su'thin' wrong about that chap. I'm 
 never out of the way when my eyes light 
 onto a feller." 
 
 " All right, landlord," replied the officer : 
 " but I think there is not really any harm 
 in this man. He is true and sound, but he 
 wanted a furlough to go and see his girl, up 
 in Kentucky, and the Colonel refused it, and 
 this scapegrace took French leave and fur- 
 loughed himself." 
 
 The deserter had now looked up and 
 scrutinized his captor. Mercer was again 
 attired in the uniform of a Confederate 
 Captain, and his apparent age was increased 
 by a heavy dark mustache. 
 
 Bob was quick to take his cue, and said 
 to the officer, rather doggedly, but care- 
 
 " I was just on my way to join the regi- 
 ment, Captain, and to receive whatever 
 punishment might be inflicted on me. It 
 was tyrannical in the Colonel to refuse me 
 a furlough, and I was bound to see the girl, 
 if I died for it." 
 
 "Well, Heffernan, don't bother your 
 brains about it. The Colonel understands 
 the matter, and I am on the right side of 
 him, and I think you will get off with a 
 short imprisonment, and the loss of any pay 
 that is coming to you." 
 
 " Wa-a-1, now," said Curwin, " I'm glad 
 to hear it ain't no wuss, though the young 
 feller was sassy enough to me. If he's true 
 
 to the cause, I sh'd be sorry to see such a 
 likely chap shot, when we've a-needin' of 
 soldiers. Come, Captin and gents, all of 
 you take suthin' with me. P'raps it will 
 cheer ye up, young feller." 
 
 The request was generally acceded to, 
 and Charley Mercer then asked the landlord 
 to hurry up supper, which was speedily put 
 on the table, and all ate it,- such as it was, 
 with a hearty relish. While at the table, 
 Mercer again opened his conversational bat- 
 teries upon his deserter. 
 
 " Well, Heffernan, you must have been in 
 a hurry to get back, as you borrowed a horse 
 in Kentucky. 
 
 " I intended to send it home, Captain, the 
 first chance I could get." 
 
 "I suppose you did, but as I am here 
 now, and must carry you into Donelson for 
 safe keeping to-morrow, I will have to re- 
 turn it for you myself, unless I can find 
 some one to take the job off my hands." 
 
 " I am goin' down Kentuck way," said 
 Woodworth, who had been doing full duty 
 with his knife and fork, " and if it ain't 
 much outer my track, I will take the hoss 
 along for yer." 
 
 " Very well ; you appear to be a respect- 
 able man, and I will trust you. Let me 
 know when you start." 
 
 " I shall start to-night, Capting, and as 
 I'll hev a hoss of my own under me, I can 
 lead that yere animule as well as not." 
 
 " Heffernan," said Charley, " I understand 
 you borrowed a pair of pistols with the 
 horse. I suppose you will want to return 
 them also. 
 
 " Here they are," said Bob, as he handed 
 up his weapons to Mercer, who delivered 
 them to Woodworth, requesting him to put 
 them in the holsters. 
 
 When the meal was finished, Woodworth 
 " allowed " that he was ready to start, and 
 went out. Young Mercer followed him to 
 the door, and the two- had a few words of 
 private chat, after which, Charley reentered 
 the house, and seated himself by the fire. 
 The steps of the two horses were soon heard 
 passing the house. 
 
 " Do you know that old chap, Captin ?" 
 said Curwin to Mercer. 
 
 " I know him by reputation as a farmer, 
 and a man of meaus. I don't thiuk he 
 would be guilty of stealing a horse." 
 
 " I 'spect not, for he would find that a 
 risky business around here. 'Pears to me 
 I've seen that man some'eres, but I can't 
 rightly place him." 
 
BOB BRANT IN FORT DONELSON. 
 
 23 
 
 Charley then told the landlord that he 
 should want a single room for himself and 
 , his prisoner, which was obtained, after some 
 difficulty, rooms being scarce in the " hotel," 
 and the two retired to bed. Bob wished to 
 ask his friend a few questions, particularly 
 about old Bill Woodworth's appearance 
 there, and more particularly about Mabel 
 Mercer ; but Charley did not seem disposed 
 to talk, and our hero repressed his curiosity, 
 and soon fell into a sound sleep. 
 
 In the morning, after they had taken 
 their breakfast and paid their score, the two 
 started out afoot, on their way to the fort. 
 As it was a long walk, they had sufficient 
 opportunity for explanations and other con- 
 versation. Brant first asked his friend how 
 old Woodworth happened to be there, and 
 how he dared to be in that locality. 
 
 " That is more than I can tell you," was 
 the answer. " I never saw the man before, 
 but Pharaoh described him to me so exactly, 
 that I knew him as soon as I met him. As 
 he left, he told me to say to you that he 
 would not be far away from here, and that 
 he would try to help you if he could. Pha- 
 raoh says that the old man is a witch, and 
 can do any thing." 
 
 " I have great confidence in him, also, for 
 he is the most inevitable and ubiquitous in- 
 dividual I ever saw. But I am at a loss to 
 know how he is going to help me to get out 
 of that fort, for I suppose you intend taking 
 me in." 
 
 " Of course, being a stranger, I must take 
 you in, and as for getting out, you must 
 trust to luck and your own wits, for I shall 
 not venture in again. My uniform will do 
 very well for a while, as no one there knows 
 any thing about the Fourth Arkansas, and I 
 can tell them all about it, but it would be 
 too dangerous to risk it again, as it is very 
 likely I might meet some one who knows 
 me.. Here are some letters which old Pha- 
 raoh got for me from the real deserter. You 
 must read them over, and make up as piti- 
 ful a tale as you can, and I do not doubt 
 that you will have a good enough chance to 
 look around. That Pharaoh is a first-class 
 hand to steal, and I shall be almost afraid 
 to trust him about the farm any more." 
 
 " Never fear about my getting out, after 
 I am once well in. Now, tell me if my es- 
 capade from Jackson caused any excite- 
 ment." 
 
 " Very little. The Provost-Marshal was 
 angry enough, and the sentry was put under 
 arrest; but when the General saw your note, 
 
 he laughed, and said it was cleverly done. 
 He told the Provost to take no further steps 
 in the matter, as he was sorry the arrest 
 had been made, and had no doubt that you 
 would turn up again after a while. ' These 
 Yankees,' said he, ' will not be caught play- 
 ing spies, when they can make money in 
 other ways.' The matter dropped much 
 easier than I thought it would. I heard the 
 particulars from an officer on the General's 
 Btaff." 
 
 Satisfied upon these points, Brant then 
 asked Charley concerning his family, hoping 
 to hear something about Mabel. He was 
 not disappointed, but had the gratification 
 of learning that she had expressed great 
 anxiety concerning his safety, and had en- 
 joined it upon Charley to do all he could 
 for him, and persuade him to leave the 
 dangerous employment in which he was en- 
 gaged. Bob felt as if he would be willing 
 to give it up at any moment, if Mabel Mer- 
 cer would promise to console him for his 
 broken resolution. Young Mercer also told 
 him that the Major had been making pre- 
 parations for moving up into Kentucky, and 
 would probably change his residence imme- 
 diately. 
 
 His curiosity being satisfied, our hero ap- 
 plied himself to reading the package of let- 
 ters which Charley had given him, in order 
 to " post himself up" in his new character, 
 and shortly after he had finished his read- 
 ing, they were challenged by a Confederate 
 picket. Mercer, who, for the time being, 
 was Captain Kirby, of the Fourth Arkansas 
 regiment, soon made known his business, 
 and the two friends were escorted to the 
 fort, where they were conducted to the office 
 of the Provost-Marshal, an establishment 
 whicli Bob, as yet, was unable to enter 
 without experiencing a strange sensation 
 about his throat. 
 
 " Captain Kirby" produced a pass for 
 himself, signed by Colonel Burden, of the 
 Fourth Arkansas regiment, and explained 
 the circumstances under which he had ar- 
 rested " Thomas Heffernan," a deserter from 
 that regiment, whom he then and there pro- 
 duced. He told substantially the same 
 story he had told at Curwin's tavern, and 
 Bob, being appealed to, gave a pitiful but 
 manly narrative of his escapade, which 
 strongly disposed the officer in his favor. 
 
 " As I had business in this direction," said 
 Mercer, " the Colonel gave me a furlough, 
 and said that while I was here, he would 
 like me to look up this yonng man and 
 
24 
 
 BOB BRANT, PATRIOT AND SPY. 
 
 bring him back to camp, and I was to tell 
 him that if he would come quietly and 
 promise good behavior in future, his punish- 
 ment would be very light, if any thing. I 
 have some important business up the river, 
 and would like to leave him in your care 
 until I return, say for four or five days, 
 when I will have transportation for him to 
 go to camp with me. I am fully convinced, 
 that when I found him, he was endeavoring 
 to make his way back to camp, and as he 
 is one of the best men in the regiment, I 
 can trust him. I think it, therefore, entirely 
 unnecessary to confine him, if he will give 
 his promise not to attempt to escape." 
 
 The officer replied that if Captain Kirby 
 was satisfied, he was, and that Heffernan 
 might have his parole. Bob accordingly 
 agreed to this very satisfactoiy arrangement, 
 assuring the "gentleman from Arkansas," 
 that he would find him there on his return, 
 which was certainly near enough to the 
 truth. 
 
 • The soi-dmant Captain Kirby then took 
 his departure, pleading the importance of 
 his business and the shortness of his fur- 
 lough as an excuse for his haste, and our 
 hero was again alone in a strange place, and 
 among men hostile to his flag and himself 
 
 CHAPTER XTTT. 
 
 Brants Escape and Becapture. 
 
 Bob Brant had a ready tongue, was 
 plentifully supplied with tact, and knew well 
 how to adapt himself to circumstances. He 
 made good use of these talents, and the con- 
 sequence was, that, so far from being con- 
 fined, or looked upon as a dangerous char- 
 acter, he was allowed the liberty of the fort 
 and intrenchments, and was treated with 
 more consideration than he could have ex- 
 pected under the most favorable circum- 
 stances. The men in whose company he 
 was thrown, looked upon him as a sort of 
 hero, as a martyr to love, and generally 
 praised his "pluck." The officers, also, 
 whom he met, treated him with respect, as 
 a man of intelligence and education, espe- 
 cially as his military training, enabled him, in 
 his walks about the fortifications, to point 
 out and show them how to remedy some 
 trifling defects in the works and in the posi- 
 tion and management of the guns, which 
 had been overlooked by the superior officers. 
 
 This was done in a modest and unobtrusive 
 manner, that gained him friends and pro- 
 cured him facilities that he would not other* # 
 wise have had. 
 
 In short, he was well treated, and could 
 have been contented, had it not been that it 
 was necessary for him to get away from 
 there, and that speedily. He was satisfied 
 with his experience of the inside of the fort, 
 as he had gained all the information he 
 wished, and now he greatly desired to see 
 the outside. On the afternoon of the day 
 after he had been brought in, he concluded 
 that he had no more business there, and 
 that it would be safe, as well as more pro- 
 fitable to leave. 
 
 Therefore, he concluded to bid adieu to 
 Fort Donelson, until he could reenter it 
 under the protection of the Stars and Stripes. 
 
 But how was it to be done ? He saw 
 that the attempt was dangerous, but he did 
 not puzzle his brain long before he decided 
 on the best way to make it. He might 
 easily have obtained the countersign, and 
 might probably have passed out unques- 
 tioned, but he was convinced that it could 
 not be long before he would be stopped or 
 overtaken. He knew that he must leave at 
 night and by stealth. At the eastern angle 
 of the principal work he had noticed that a 
 heavy gun had been recently placed, and 
 that the earth had shelved away from the 
 embankment, leaving a considerable space 
 below the gun, and half filling the ditch. 
 He had also noticed that the fallen trees 
 and masses of brushwood were thicker op- 
 posite this angle than elsewhere, and that 
 the distance to the woods was less, thus af- 
 fording the best chance for concealment 
 during his escape, and for a cover when the 
 escape was effected. He resolved to attempt 
 to leave by that avenue, and to make the 
 attempt that night. 
 
 Accordingly, watching a time when he 
 could be alone, he made a few condensed 
 memoranda, and sketched a plan of the 
 works and guns, upon a small scrap of paper 
 as would contain them, and concealed it 
 under the insole of his boot, He remenv 
 bered the fate of Major Andre, but concluded 
 that that unfortunate officer had no insole to 
 his boot. 
 
 This done, he wandered about the baiv 
 racks, and accepted several invitations to 
 partake surreptitiously, of the extract of 
 corn, of which he appeared to drink very 
 freely, so much so, that he was cautioned 
 of the danger of taking too much. But, 
 
OUT OP FORT DONELSON. 
 
 despite the caution, he permitted so much 
 of the enticing fluid to get into his head, 
 that (I grieve to say it, but as a faithful 
 chronicler am obliged to record it,) when 
 "taps" struck, he was disinclined to take 
 the trouble to undress, and fell upon his 
 bunk, with not only his coat but his boots 
 on. His mates in the log hut thought him 
 a good subject for jokes, and exhausted their 
 wit upon him, the best attempt being 
 
 " Now lies he there, 
 
 And none so poor to do him reverence," 
 
 •until they also dropped off to sleep.-' 
 
 When this occurred, a change came over 
 the spirit of Brant's dream, if any dream he 
 had had. The fumes of the liquor seemed 
 to affect him no longer, and his movements 
 were those of a man with a clear head and 
 steady nerves. He sat up, looked about, 
 moved lightly around the room, as if to sat- 
 isfy himself that his room-mates were indeed 
 asleep, then put on his hat and stepped 
 lightly out of the door. 
 
 The night was cloudy and dark, and as 
 he breathed the cool, damp air, he almost 
 felt free. He moved silently and stealthily 
 along the outer edge of the log huts, occa- 
 sionally slipping around to the inner side 
 of one, as he saw a sentinel approaching, 
 until he reached the angle which he desired 
 to find. Then, stepping quickly from the 
 shadow of a hut, he reached the heavy gun 
 which had lately been mounted at this 
 angle, and crouched by the side of its car- 
 riage. From this position he peered out, 
 and saw a sentinel approaching' by the side 
 of the parapet, at a measured pace. Bob 
 speedily ensconced himself under the gun, 
 lying lengthwise with it, and identifying 
 himself with the mass of iron, so that he 
 could not be observed in the darkness. 
 Here he lay, scarcely daring to breathe, 
 until the sentinel passed, within a few feet 
 of him, whistling as he went by. As soon 
 as this man was well out of the way, Bob 
 slipped down into the ditch, and clambered 
 up on the other side. He knew that it 
 would be fully ten minutes before the sen- 
 tinel returned to that spot, and accordingly 
 crawled upon his hands and knees for a few 
 rods through the fallen trees and brush, until 
 he found shelter under the withered leaves 
 of a tree-top, where he hid and awaited for 
 the return of the sentinel. 
 
 He had not long to wait, for soon he 
 again heard the measured step and the low 
 whistle, and again knew that it had passed 
 by. Again he worked his way, slowly and 
 
 toilsomely, through the debris, until he stop- 
 ped at another cover. He had not been 
 exactly quick enough, however, for the sol- 
 dier, as he returned, caught the sound of a 
 rustling in the brush, and stopped and 
 looked. 
 
 " Who goes there ?" rung from the fort. 
 
 Bob lay quiet. He was well concealed, 
 and all was silent. 
 
 " Some kind of a varmint, I reckon," 
 muttered the sentinel, and resumed his soli- 
 tary walk and his whistling. 
 
 In this way Bob worrhed himself along, 
 until he was sure that he was out of sight 
 or hearing of the fort. It was slow work, 
 and was hard work, but liberty was ahead, 
 and more than liberty, the honor of his 
 flag, the glory of his country, the cause of 
 the Union. He thought of this, and, above 
 all, it must be confessed, he thought of 
 Mabel Mercer, and resolved to be cautious 
 while he was bold. Therefore, he still picked 
 his way carefully, but quietly, until he 
 reached a clear space, a short distance from 
 the timber, when he ran for the protection 
 of the standing trees. 
 
 Once under their shade, he breathed more 
 freely, but he was again perplexed. As the 
 night was dark, and he had only a very 
 general idea of distances and directions, he 
 did not know what course to strike. He 
 had no time to spare for consideration, and 
 pushed out boldly, keeping near the edge 
 of the timber, and trusting to luck to hit 
 some road. He walked rapidly, and partly 
 ran, taking care not to stumble, or to make 
 any unnecessary noise. He knew that he 
 would be obliged to pass the Confederate 
 pickets, but as he had learned, while in the 
 fort, the approximate position of the picket 
 line, he had little fear on that score. After 
 a while he espied a faint light to the right, 
 whereupon he made a detour a short dis- 
 tance to the left, and pursued his way more 
 carefully and silently, until he had left the 
 light well to his right and rear, when he 
 again hurried forward more rapidly and 
 boldly than before. Thus he continued for 
 more than an hour, and had begun to won- 
 der when, if ever, he was to find his way 
 out, when he came to a clear space, and 
 perceived the^ dim outline of a house a short 
 distance ahead. Of course, where there 
 was a house, there must be a road, and 
 Brant considered that his best plan would 
 be to make for the building. 
 
 When he reached it, it was soon evident 
 that it was no other than the " hotel " of 
 
26 
 
 BOB BRANT, PATRIOT AND SPY. 
 
 Michael Curwin, at which he had stopped 
 two nights before . Our hero was surprised 
 to learn that he had traveled in that direc- 
 tion, but was glad that he now knew where 
 he was, and that he could see his way clear. 
 Jumping over the low fence, he found him- 
 self in the main road, and stepped on 
 rapidly, as he had been over the road before, 
 without experiencing any difficulty. He 
 knew that if he was missed from the fort in 
 the morning, it 'would probably be a con- 
 siderable time before his absence would be 
 noticed, and felt confident that he could get 
 out of harm's way before pursuit would be 
 made. 
 
 He had proceeded about a quarter of a 
 mile, when he came to a small road or lane, 
 which led off to the left Here he stopped, 
 to medit-ate a moment on the proper course 
 to pursue. The stop was fatal, for there 
 was a quick rush from a thicket at the side 
 of the road, and, before Brant could look 
 around, he was seized by the arms behind 
 his back, and, despite his struggles, these 
 useful members of his body were speedily 
 and strongly bound in that position. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 The Captive Rescued. 
 
 " "Well, Tve caught ye, hev I ?" was the 
 first exclamation he heard. 
 
 His captor then stepped in front of him, 
 and Brant saw, to his dismay, that it was 
 old Curwin himself His ugly features were 
 tortured into a hideous grin, and his gray 
 eyes shone with satisfaction from under 
 their shaggy brows. By bis side stood a 
 grinning darkey boy, apparently fourteen or 
 fifteen years old. 
 
 Bob was not pleased ; in fact, he was ter- 
 ribly disgusted with the situation of affairs. 
 He was more than disgusted — he was abso- 
 lutely alarmed — for he felt sure that this 
 old sinner would carry him to the fort, and 
 there deliver him up ; and he also was sure 
 that he was completely in his power, and 
 had no chance of escaping, unless Provi- 
 dence should interfere ; and once in the fort, 
 he well knew what his fate would he. 
 There came a sudden and dizzy rush <>f 
 feeling over him, in which were mixed up 
 the duty expected of him, the blessed old 
 flag of his country, his father, his home, 
 and Mabel Mercer, while beyond all, his 
 
 prophetic vision perceived a dangling rope, 
 with an ominous noose at the end. But 
 this feeling passed as soon as it came, and 
 Bob braced himself up, resolved, if it came 
 to the worst, to meet his fate like a man, 
 but in the mean time to lose no opportunity 
 in endeavoring to avert it. 
 
 " I've caught ye, hev I ?" repeated Curwin, 
 eyeing his prisoner with a look of malicious 
 glee. " Thought ye was gettin' off mighty 
 cute, didn't ye ? Lucky I happened to be 
 out late to-night, or I wouldn't hev lit on 
 ye. My old eyes was sharp enough to tell 
 who ye was, as soon as I sot 'em on ye ; 
 and, thinks I, there's that ere desarte#, if he 
 ain't no wuss, a-makin' tracks for Yankee 
 land ; and this old coon laid for ye, he did, 
 and got ye, too, ye dogoned ornary skunk !" 
 
 " You are entirely mistaken, sir," protest- 
 ed Bob. " I have left the fort on my 
 parole, if you understand what that means, 
 and was on my way to join my regiment." 
 
 " That won't do, young man. I've hearn 
 such chaps as you say that sort of thing 
 before now, for I've caught fellers as was 
 desartin', and hev made suthin' out of 'em, 
 too ; and 'pears to me you told purty much 
 the same story night afore last to the Cap- 
 tain, and the Captain took ye to the fort 
 any how, and I reckon I'll do jist as he did. 
 Do ye see any thin' green in my eye ?" 
 
 " Not in this fight," said Bob ; " I haven't 
 a good chance to look." 
 
 " Don't go to be sassy, young man, or it'll 
 be worse for, ye. I've got the whip hand 
 of ye now, as ye had of me t'other night, 
 and more, too, and I'm jist a-considerin', at 
 this minit, whether I shall blow yer durned 
 brains out, or take ye into the fort ; but I 
 reckon the fort'll win, as they pay well thar 
 for your style. Now, jist you move along 
 purty sharp, or I'll put ye whar ye won't 
 stir yer legs again till judgment day." 
 
 The inducement of a pistol held to his 
 head was sufficient to persuade Brant to do 
 as his captor required, and the three started 
 in the direction of the " hotel," old Curwin 
 walking upon our hero's right, with his left 
 hand upon his shoulder, while the right 
 clenched a cocked pistol, and the negro boy 
 shuffled along a little in advance, and to the 
 left. 
 
 " At one moment, Bob thought of bribing 
 this ardent patriot, but he recollected that 
 he was in his power, and had no control 
 over the money in his pocket, and instantly 
 rejected the idea. But another thought 
 struck him, and he was unwilling to miss 
 
"OLD BILL WOODWORTH," AGAIN. 
 
 27 
 
 any chance of regaining his liberty, now so 
 valuable to him. 
 
 " Can you read ?" said he, to the old 
 man. 
 
 " Me read ! Well, perhaps I could when 
 I was younger'n I am now ; but if I ever 
 could, I've done forgot it. My old woman 
 used to do my readin' and writin' for me, 
 but she's gone dead, and now I don't want 
 to do none. What do ye want to know 
 fur?" 
 
 "Because, if you could read, I would 
 show you a letter I have from the officer 
 commanding the fort, giving me a pass to 
 Arkansas." 
 
 Of course our hero could not be expected 
 to confine himself strictly to the truth. It 
 was not in his instructions that he should 
 do so ; in fact, his instructions tended quite 
 the other way ; and the commanders of the 
 army of the Union, and through them, 
 honest Abraham Lincoln, were responsible 
 for any such slight misstatements as he 
 might consider it necessary to make. 
 Young Brant, however, did not pause to 
 consider the matter in either a moral or an 
 ethical point of view ; he had hoped to im- 
 pose upon Curwin's ignorance one of the 
 letters to " Thomas Heffernan, private," as 
 a genuine epistle from the commander of 
 Fort Donelson, but the bait would not 
 take. 
 
 " I rather reckon ye can't play any games 
 on me," said Curwin, " and thar's no use in 
 yer tryin' it on any more. I won't say that 
 ye hain't got sech a letter, but if ye hev, I 
 know I can't read it, and am sure they ken, 
 at the fort ; so ye may jest show it to 'em 
 thar." 
 
 " Massa Mike," said the negro boy, " is 
 dis gen'leman one o' dem Yankee Linkin's 
 dat wants to steal us poor niggers ?" 
 
 "I ain't quite sartin about that, Jake, 
 though I don't think he's quite so bad as 
 that." 
 
 "Lor, Massa Mike, I's mighty 'feard o' 
 dem Yankee folks. What does they do wid 
 de niggers wen dey cotch 'em?" 
 
 "They kills 'em and roasts 'em, Jake, 
 and you may be thankful that you was 
 borned in a country whar ye're took keer 
 on, and whar ye hain't no call to be 'feard 
 on 'em. 
 
 "I jest did thort I seed one ob 'em dis 
 bery night, and I don't 'spect he's ever so far 
 from here, neither." 
 
 As the boy said this, he threw a quick, 
 but significant glance at our hero, who was 
 
 momentarily startled, and .thought of old 
 Bill Woodworth. 
 
 " Jest you hold yer yaup, youngster, or 
 ye'll ketch a cowhidin' when ye git home." 
 
 Bob Brant thought that he saw a straw 
 to catch at. Dropping suddenly upon one 
 knee, he assumed an expression of pain, and 
 exclaimed that there was something in his 
 boot, which hurt his foot so that he was 
 unable to walk. He requested his captor 
 to loose his hands, that he might see what 
 was the matter. 
 
 " No ye don't, young man," doggedly re- 
 plied that worthy. " I 'spect this is some 
 new trick ye've been a-gettin' up. But I 
 don't want to be hard on ye, so jest sit 
 down, and let this yere nigger pull off your 
 boot." 
 
 Brant sat down, accordingly, and held out 
 his foot to the boy, while Curwin bent over 
 his shoulder, cursing very volubly. As the 
 boy took hold of the boot, Bob thought, in 
 an interval that occurred between the old 
 man's curses, that he heard a step. He 
 also noticed that the boy cast a glance down 
 the road. But the sound, if any there was, 
 did not continue, and Bob concluded that 
 the wish was father to the thought. 
 
 The boot come off very slowly, but at 
 last the boy, Jake, held it in his hand. 
 Curwin leaned over to take it, and Brant 
 thought he heard the step again. He was 
 not mistaken this time, for the next instant 
 he heard a dull, heavy sound, and his late 
 landlord and present captor fell over him, 
 and rolled on the ground. 
 
 Brant jumped up as quickly as his bound 
 arms would permit him, and saw before him 
 old Bill Woodworth, who stood looking at 
 the fallen man, and holding a pistol by the 
 barrel." 
 
 "The cussed critter I" said Woodworth, 
 " I feel just as if I could rim my knife 
 through his dirty gizzard, and I would, too, 
 ef it wasn't that I don't take naterally to 
 murderin' fellow critters in cold blood, 
 though it's nothin' more'n what they did to 
 my poor boy, curse 'em 1 Here, Mr. Brant, 
 let me onfasten these yere lashin's ; I've got 
 another use for 'em." 
 
 He proceeded to untie Brant's arms, and 
 used the rope to fasten those of Curwin, 
 who was still insensible from, the effects of 
 the blow that Woodworth had given bim 
 with the butt end of his pistol. 
 
 " A friend in need is a friend indeed," 
 said Bob, as he grasped the rough hand of 
 the ugly but honest patriot. I felt gloomy 
 
BOB BRANT, PATRIOT AND SPY. 
 
 enough five minutes ago, though I hadn't 
 given up hope, for I' half believed you would 
 turn up at the right place and time, and I 
 have a pretty good knack at getting out of 
 scrapes myself." 
 
 " Well," said Woodworfh, " we'll do our 
 talkin' some other time. Just now we must 
 be for gettin' away from this. Here, Jake, 
 help me carry this old wretch to the side of 
 the road. He'll come to, purty soon, I 
 reckon, and'll be meaner and sneakin'er, and 
 more spitful'n ever." 
 
 With the assistance of the negro boy, 
 who had been standing by with an expres- 
 sion of wonder and delight upon his sooty 
 countenance, he deposited Curwin upon the 
 grass at the roadside. 
 
 " Thar, now ; them as he belongs to ken 
 pick him up and cure his headache for him. 
 Tain't anythin' to what he desarves. Tou, 
 Jake" — the negro boy's eyes brightened — 
 " the time I told ye about hes come, and I 
 never split my word to no man, be he black 
 or white, cept he's a traitor, and then I ken 
 outlie the devil himself. Now, if ye want 
 yer freedom, jest pick up that old man's 
 pistol and come along i' us, and ye may bet 
 yer wool he shan't flog ye agin. Ken ye 
 shoot, young nigger ?" 
 
 " Oh, yes, Massa Bill. I used to knock 
 over de chickens when we had chickens, 
 but 'pearslike I sh'd be 'feard to shoot at a 
 white man." 
 
 " Jake, these yere rebils ain't white men, 
 by no manner of means. Ther hearts is a 
 durned sight blacker'n your face ever darred 
 to be ; so ye ken jest shoot at 'em with a 
 cl'ar conscience and a stiddy aim. Pick up 
 that weepon and trot along." 
 
 The boy quickly did as he was desired, 
 and, as he ran gayly before the two scouts, 
 his nature seemed suddenly to have changed. 
 He had lost his shuffling gait and hangdog 
 look, and his step was light and springing, 
 his countenance bright and cheerful. Wood- 
 worth noticed the change, and mentioned it 
 to Brant, with a low, chuckling laugh. 
 
 " Do ye see that ar nigger, Mr. Brant ? 
 He ain't the boy he was a half hour ago — 
 no, nor ten minutes ago, neither. Tell ye 
 now, 'tain't so easy to fool these yere niggers 
 as some folks think fur. They know a heap 
 more'n they like to let on, and some on 'em 
 has got so many secrets among 'em, that it's 
 a wonder they don't bust. Thar mass'rs 
 thinks they hes 'em fooled, but human natur 
 is mighty desaivin', 'specially nigger natur. 
 A nigger alius will be a nigger ; thar's no 
 
 gittin' around that, but some on 'em has 
 got a right smart notion of come-out to 'em. 
 Now, I hain't knowed that nigger more'n 
 two weeks, fur I haint been in this part of 
 the kentry till lately, but he jest took to me 
 at the first 6tart, and he's done me some 
 mighty good turns. I told him I'd pay him 
 with his freedom, and now he thinks he'a 
 got it, as ye ken jedge by his looks and his 
 actions. Mr. Brant, ef ye go into camp, as 
 I s'pose ye will, for your life is too good and 
 too young to be throwed away in this sort 
 of work, and ye want a sarvant, jest freeze 
 to that boy, and Til be the warrant that he'll 
 freeze to you" 
 
 After a few moments' rapid walking, old 
 Bill turned a short distance into the wood, 
 where two horses were discovered, tied to 
 the tall trees. Brant recognized in one of. 
 them the animal which he had obtained 
 from Charley Mercer, and which Wood- 
 worth had taken from Curwin's " hotel." 
 
 " You, Jake," said their guide, " do you 
 know whar yer mass'r's boss is? — old 
 Mike's, I orter say, fer he ain't yer mass'r 
 no longer." 
 
 " Oh, yes, Massa Bill ; de hoss jest ober 
 here in de field, 'cross de road." 
 
 " Then take this rope, and run and git 
 him, and bring him here quicker'n lightnin'. 
 'Tain't no hoss stealin', mind ye," he con- 
 tinued, seeing the boy hesitate. " I jest 
 confisticate that ar hoss, in the name of the 
 United States of America and of old Abe 
 Lincoln, I do ; so jest you jump, wuss'n a 
 squirrel 1" 
 
 The boy disappeared like a flash of 
 lightning, if so dark an object can be com- 
 pared to ligh t ning. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Journey of Brant and WoodwortJu 
 
 "Now, Mr. Brant," said Woodworth, 
 " gist hand over to me what papers you've 
 got to 6end in ; for I know the kentry, and 
 ken git 'em to camp quicker'n you ken. 
 Besides, when we fetch up whar We 'spect 
 to rest to-night, I'm doubtin' whether ye'll 
 car to go any turther." 
 
 " I hope you do not suppose that a day's 
 ride will tire me out," expostulated Bob. 
 " I think I can stand as much as any man 
 of my inches." 
 
 "P'raps ye ken; I ain't doubtin' about 
 
THE OLD SCOUT'S NARRATIVE. 
 
 that, but still I say what I do say, and I hev 
 my reasons for sayin' it, too. But in my 
 suckemstances, the papers are better off with 
 me." 
 
 Bob pulled off his boot, and handed the 
 scrap of paper to the old man, who carefully 
 made a small opening in the lining of his 
 boot, in which he placed the scrap, and then 
 closed the aperture with some gum from a 
 tree. 
 
 " Thar ! ef they should ever take me alive, 
 I don't think they'd hev that evidence agin 
 me, though God knows they've got plenty 
 more. Te'll find yer pistils in them holsters, 
 Mr. Brant, and ye'd better see ef they're all 
 right. A keerful man alius looks keerfully 
 to his weepons. Now let us git out of this." 
 
 The two imtied and mounted their horses, 
 and walked them out of the timber, into the 
 road, where they met Jake coming up at a 
 gallop, riding barebacked, and guiding his 
 uorse by the halter. As soon as he saw 
 them, he commenced whooping and causing 
 the animal he rode to prance and curvet. 
 
 " None of that, now, young darkey," said 
 the old scout, " ye'd better stick to yer old 
 erainin' till ye ken git a better one. But 
 remember that I'm yer mass'r now, till ye 
 fotch up in the land of freedom, and then I 
 reckon ye'd better sarve under old Abe Lin- 
 kin, till ye larn how to take car of yerself. 
 Ye can jest ride along quietly, behind us 
 white folks, and keep at a 'spectful distance. 
 Mind ye hev an eye out over yer shoulder, 
 to see if all's right behind, and don't let me 
 see no more of yer monkey shines." 
 
 The party then proceeded at a slow trot, 
 Woodworth and Brant in the advance, with 
 the boy, Jake, bringing up the rear. By 
 this time the darkness was sensibly decreas- 
 ing, and the sky begun to show evidences 
 of approaching daylight. 
 
 " Start up yer boss, Mr. Brant," said the 
 guide. " We've got some thirty odd miles 
 to ride afore we ken count ourselves any 
 ways safe. "We ken make it easy enough, 
 but it stands us in hand to git ten or a dozen 
 miles away from this afore daylight fairly 
 breaks, and then we must take it easy, fur 
 it won't do to git our hosses blowed. Thar's 
 stragglin' parties of the rebils about this 
 kentry all the time, and we may need all the 
 wind that these four legs under us ken carry, 
 to git us out of the way of some of the 
 scamps." 
 
 They all pushed their horses to the gal- 
 lop, and the road disappeared rapidly under 
 their feet. To young Brant the hour, the 
 
 fresh, cool air, the spirited horse he rode, 
 the remembrance of the great danger from 
 which he had lately escaped, the sense of 
 the lesser peril he was now in, and the hope 
 of again meeting Mabel Mercer, combined 
 to exhilarate him, and to render the ride a 
 thing to be remembered in after life. The 
 boy, Jake, also, was running over with ex- 
 citement, and it needed frequent admoni- 
 tions from Woodworth to restrain his ardent 
 desire to get on faster. The sense of his 
 newly-acquired freedom, and the hope of 
 preserving it, were even stronger feelings 
 than those which actuated the whiter and 
 better-educated young gentleman who rode 
 before him. 
 
 They rode thus for about an hour and a 
 half, over a rather rough road, when the 
 guide turned into a smaller and less fre- 
 quented road, which led off to the left, and 
 let his horse drop into a walk. Brant fol- 
 lowed his example. It was now nearly 
 daylight, but no signs of life had as yet been 
 seen at any of the farm-houses or cabins 
 they had passed. Bob thought it a good 
 time to gain some enlightenment from his 
 companion, and accordingly asked him how 
 he had happened to meet him at Gurwin's 
 tavern, and on the road, after he had been 
 captured. 
 
 The old scout chuckled : 
 
 " Oh, that was easy enough," he said, 
 " As I told ye, I hain't been in this kentry 
 till lately, and none of the folks livin' about 
 here knowd me ; so 'twasn't near so dan- 
 gerous as it is on t'other side the Tennessee, 
 though of course it's ruther resky like. Be- 
 sides, I've got inter the way of makin' friends 
 with the niggers, and relyin' on them con- 
 sidabul, and I ken tell ye that I hevn't tried 
 one on 'em yit that was any ways onreli- 
 able, leastways, not to me. Among 'em I 
 struck that boy, Jake, and I must say for 
 the young nigger, that he's put me up to one 
 or two tricks, sech as I wouldn't 'a thort on 
 myself. I knew from Major Mercer's Pha- 
 raoh, who is a most overpowerin' sort of a 
 nigger, and he's some onaccountabul ways 
 of gittin' around and doin' things, when ye 
 was to be at Curwin's tarvern, and the boy 
 stuffed the old man up with a tale I told 
 him to tell about me, so that I was all right 
 on that goose question. I soon found out 
 that two of the men who were in thar when 
 you come in didn't hev any too much secesh 
 into 'em ; so that if it had come to a fight 
 we'd hev had a far show, though them two 
 critters was no 'count ornary cowards, 
 
30 
 
 BOB BRANT, PATRIOT AND SPY. 
 
 anyhow. When young Mercer come in, I saw 
 it was all right ; for that game was as plain 
 as the nose on my face, which is tolabul 
 plain. I 'spect I could hev got into that 
 yere fort, and got out of it, too, by myself; 
 but I knowed nothin' about readin' and 
 writin', and it needed a man of edication 
 and discarnment, like yourself, for that 
 work." 
 
 Brant thought of Mabel Mercer's request 
 to him, through Charley, to leave the dan- 
 gerous service on which he was employed, 
 and the feeling that this rough and untutored 
 backwoodsman could surpass him in the 
 vocation he had chosen, contributed to shake 
 his resolution to devote his life to his coun- 
 try as a spy and scout ; but he summoned 
 up his patriotism, and endeavored to shake 
 off the feeling. 
 
 " Well," continued Woodworth, " sence 
 that affair at the tarvern, Tve been a-layin' 
 around here o' nights, for I knowed ye'd git 
 out o' the fort as soon as ye could, and 
 knowed ye'd hev to leave at night. I had 
 two or three niggers I could depend on, 
 a-watchin' too, and I 'spect ye wouldn't hev 
 gone fur without lightin' on some of us. 
 Here, Jake !" 
 
 The black boy rode up. 
 
 " How was it old Curwin happened to be 
 out at that time o' night ? Be sure ye tell 
 me the truth, now." 
 
 " Why, Mass' Bill, de ole man an' me, we 
 went out to steal a pig which de ole man 
 knowed about ; but he couldn't find de pig, 
 an' he was awful mad, an' so he drunk up 
 all de whisky in de bottle, an' guv me a 
 thrashin' ; an' we was a-goin' home when he 
 saw this gen'leman in the road, an' den — " 
 
 " That'll do, now, black boy, and you 
 may fall back. As I was a-sayin', Mr. 
 Brant, I was lyin' around, and thort I'd take 
 a little scout up the road, and thar I saw 
 that bloody old secesher a-marchin' you 
 along. I dug" inter the timber till I got 
 nigh yer, and then ye'd stopped and was a- 
 settin' down; so I sneaked up quiet-like, 
 till I got near enough to knock the old 
 wretch 'over the head with the butt of my 
 pistil. The boy saw me as I come up, but 
 I had got him trained, and knowed he 
 wouldn't be in the way." 
 
 " It seemed to me," said Bob, " that you 
 did not arrive a moment too soon, for I had 
 nearly made up my mind that I would be 
 obliged to go back to the fort and get my 
 neck stretched." 
 
 The conversation then turned upon the 
 
 news, which Brant was anxious to learn, 
 but of which his companion could tell him 
 little, as he was conversant only with mat- 
 ters in the immediate neighborhood. He 
 could assure Brant, however, that great pre- 
 parations were making, and that an expe- 
 dition would soon start out to accomplish 
 the capture of Forts Hemy and Donelson. 
 This was joyful news to our hero, who was 
 convinced that the fall of these strongholds 
 would insure the evacuation of Columbus, 
 which would be followed by the Federal 
 occupation of Jackson. 
 
 Thus they journeyed along, at a moderate 
 pace, beguiling the way with conversation, 
 Woodworth relating, in his quaint and pe- 
 culiar manner, some incidents of his scout- 
 ing life in Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennes- 
 see, to which Brant listened with interest, 
 though it must be confessed that his thoughts 
 principally tended toward Mabel Mercer. 
 Woodworth occasionally altered his direc- 
 tion; taking roads apparently unfrequented, 
 which were often nothing more than bridle 
 paths. Thus far they had only encountered 
 two persons ; one a white man, who was 
 hauling wood out of the forest with a yoke 
 of oxen, and who eyed them suspiciously 
 and bid them a surly good morning ; and 
 the other a negro, whom Woodworth stop- 
 ped, and whom he asked a few questions 
 concerning the road, mquiring whether he 
 had seen any Confederate cavalry scouting 
 around lately. The questions concerning 
 the roads were answered satisfactorily, but 
 on the other point, the man either could or 
 would give no information, further than that 
 they were scouting the country most of the 
 time. 
 
 It was high noon, by the sun, when the 
 party reached a small valley, where the 
 road, passing through a forest of immense 
 trees, was crossed by a rivulet which was 
 not at that season large enough to be called 
 a brook. The guide looked up at the lumi- 
 nary, which was faintly visible through light 
 clouds, and brought his horse to a halt. 
 
 " Mr. Brant," said he, " do ye feel as if 
 ye could eat suthin' ?" 
 
 " I think I could, if I had it to eat. You 
 do not expect to find any thing about here, 
 do you ?" 
 
 " Well, ye see, I'm sorter like an army, 
 and when I move inter the enemy's kentry, 
 I ginerally hev my supply stations, as they 
 call 'em, some'res about, and 'pears to me I've 
 got a cache around here. Yes, thar's the gum 
 tree, broke off at the top. Follow me." 
 
THE FOREST LARDER. 
 
 81 
 
 Woodworth turned into the timber, and 
 followed the course of the rivulet for a few 
 rods, when he stopped and tied his horse to 
 a tree, his example being imitated by his 
 companions. After looking around a mo- 
 ment or two, he went to a flat stone, which 
 he lifted up, and discovered a hollow 
 scooped out beneath it, from which he pro- 
 duced some cold boiled salt pork and some 
 crackers, wrapped up in a cloth. 
 
 " I hid that yere," said he, " when I come 
 along this road the last time, fur I knowed 
 it would stand me in good hand ef the var- 
 mints didn't get at it. But nothin' hes 
 tetched it, so fur's I see. Help yerself, Mr. 
 Brant." 
 
 Cutting off a fair slice, or chunk, of the 
 pork, he gave it to Jake, with some crack- 
 ers, and bade him keep at a respectful dis- 
 tance, for this " poor white" had a high idea 
 of his dignity as a white man, and thought 
 it beneath him to eat with a " nigger." 
 
 The two scouts then fell to in good ear- 
 nest, with knives, fingers, and teeth, and soon 
 exhausted the contents of this forest larder, 
 after which, they quenched their thirst at 
 the rivulet, mounted their horses, and pro- 
 ceeded on their way, feeling much refreshed 
 by their rude repast 
 
 CHAPTER XVL 
 
 A Race and its ResvM. 
 
 The party rode on, without meeting with 
 any molestation, until it was near sunset. 
 They got on rapidly, as their horses were 
 still in excellent condition, but as they were 
 now in the turnpike, Woodworth proceeded 
 more carefully, and at every cross-road took 
 the precaution of sending Jake ahead to 
 reconnoiter. That youth understood the 
 duty with a high sense of the responsibility 
 resting upon him, and flourished old Cur- 
 win's pistol in a manner that threatened 
 danger to himself or his companions. 
 Woodworth was obliged to tell him to put 
 the pistol away, or he would take it from him. 
 
 The road led again through a thick wood, 
 at the opening of which there appeared to 
 be a lane tending to the right. Jake was 
 sent ahead, as usual, to reconnoiter. The 
 boy stopped his horse at the opening of the 
 lane, peered down it a moment, and then 
 galloped back, with eyes wide open and 
 mouth agape. 
 
 " Massa Bill," exclaimed the excited dar- 
 key. " I seed 'em. Dar they is, down dat 
 road, on bosses, with soger coats, and guns." 
 
 " Federate cavalry scouts, of course," said 
 old Bill, calmly. How fur down the road, 
 Jake ?" 
 
 " Oh, a good ways, and only a-walkin' 
 ther hosses." 
 
 "Let's ride along slowly, Mr. Brant," 
 said the old man, " so's they shan't suspicion 
 us, and then if they hail us, we'll hev to run 
 fur it. 'Twon't be long afore we ken git 
 whar we'll be tollabul safe." 
 
 The three then rode along at a gentle 
 trot, Jake keeping well to the left, and 
 Woodworth forming the right flank. As 
 they reached the road, old Bill cast his eye 
 down it, and plainly saw seven or eight 
 cavalrymen, in the Confederate uniform, at 
 a less distance than Jake had given him to 
 suppose. They spied our three travelers at 
 the same instant, and spurred their horses. 
 
 " Who goes there ? Halt 1" rung out on 
 the air. 
 
 " Ride now, Mr. Brant, fur yer life," said 
 Woodworth, as he urged his horse forward. 
 
 Brant struck his spurs into his horse, and 
 the animal started forward with a bound. 
 Jake was already quite a distance ahead, 
 and Woodworth followed rapidly. Several 
 shots were fired by the Confederates, but 
 none of them took effect upon the party. 
 As they had used their horses carefully, and 
 kept them in fair condition, they made good 
 time, and easily run away /rom the jaded 
 animals of their pursuers, who, after a run 
 of a mile, gave up the chase in despair 
 
 Woodworth and Brant pulled up their 
 panting animals to a walk, and the old man 
 ordered Jake to moderate his speed and ride 
 close to them. 
 
 "Well out of that scrape, Mr. Brant," 
 said old Bill. " Inside of an hour we'll be 
 as safe as we ken be in this yere kentry." 
 
 The words were hardly out of his mouth, 
 when the old scout espied a fresh danger. 
 As they emerged from the wood, a wide 
 cornfield spread out to the right, and across 
 it was coming a body of horsemen. They 
 were evidently Confederate cavalry, and 
 were spurring their horses over the rough 
 ground, as if they wished to head off the 
 little party. 
 
 Again it was ride for life, and the two 
 scouts followed Jake, who was kicking his 
 heels against the sides of his saddleless and 
 bridleless horse, and urging him furiously 
 forward. Their horses had got their breath 
 
BOB BRANT, PATRIOT AND SPY. 
 
 again, and the- road was level and smooth; 
 but their enemies were too near for them to 
 escape scatheless. They had almost passed 
 the cornfield, and were about to enter the 
 wood again, when the Confederates halted 
 and fired a volley. Brant saw the dust fly 
 from Woodworth's saddle, and at the same 
 instant felt a sharp pang in his right arm, 
 as if a hot iron had been suddenly run 
 through it. But he only urged on his horse 
 the more, and as the Confederates were 
 obliged to stop to take down a portion of 
 the fence, the little party soon distanced 
 them. Then Bob began to feel faint. 
 
 " "Woodworth," said he, "*I am hit." 
 
 " Stop yer boss. Hi 1 Jake, halt there ! 
 Good God ! Mr. Brant, yer bleedin' like a 
 bull. What a quantity of blood thar is in 
 young veins, for sartin' I Give me yer 
 handkercher, fur that blood has got to be 
 stopped." 
 
 Brant handed him the handkerchief, and 
 the old man, without dismounting, quickly 
 cut the sleeve from the wounded arm, and 
 pressed his thumbs and fingers hurriedly 
 and roughly around the bullet-hole. 
 
 "It hain't' touched the bone, Mr. Brant, 
 and ye'll soon git over it. Let me jest stop 
 that bleedin', and we must be off." 
 
 The old scout then tied the handkerchief 
 around the arm of the younger one, pulling 
 it so tightly that the pain made him wince 
 and contract his brows; but he strove to 
 suppress any indication of suffering, as he 
 looked over his* shoulder and saw the Con- 
 federates coming on behind them, at no 
 great distance. 
 
 Again they spurred their horses, and again 
 they distanced their pursuers. Thus they 
 rode on for nearly half an hour, when they 
 came in sight of a small hut, which looked 
 like a negro cabin, situated in a clearing at 
 the end of a turn in the road. 
 
 " Halt here, Mr. Brant," feid Woodworth. 
 " Git off yer hoss, and run into that cabin. 
 Don't stop to ask questions. It's all right. 
 Here, take yer pistils." 
 
 The old man then handed Brant the pis- 
 tols from his own holsters, placing them in 
 his left hand, and rode off without another 
 word of explanation, leading the riderless 
 horse. Bob did not stop to wonder or to 
 think. Death or capture was behind him, 
 and in the cabin was his only chance of 
 safety ; besides, he had unlimited confidence 
 in Woodworth, and the old scout had as- 
 sured him that it was " all right." So he 
 stepped quietly to the door and entered. 
 
 " Massa Brant 1" 
 
 "What, old Pharaoh? Pharaoh, I am 
 wounded, and am pursued. Can you hide 
 me?" 
 
 " 'Spect I ken, Massa Brant. Thar ain't 
 no time for talkin', is there?" 
 
 "No, old man ; they will be here in a few 
 minutes." 
 
 A hasty glance showed Brant that the 
 little cabin had but one room, one side of 
 which was almost entirely occupied by a 
 broad fire-place. On another side was a 
 rickety bedstead, covered with some tattered 
 quilts. A rough table, a bench, a broken 
 chair, and a few iron pots and skillets, ap- 
 peared to complete the regular furniture of 
 the habitation ; but at this time the room was 
 nearly filled with a fitter of household 
 articles, boxes, bags and bedding, which 
 were scattered around confusedly, and which 
 evidently did not belong there. In a corner, 
 between the fire-place and the bedstead, was 
 a pile of old clothes, empty bags, sheets, 
 blankets, coverlets, and odds and ends, 
 which reached nearly up to the roof. Old 
 Pharaoh went to this pile, pulled it down, 
 and placed two empty boxes on end against 
 the sides of the cabin. 
 
 " Git in thar, Massa Brant," said he, 
 " 'tween dem boxes, and I'll kiver ye up 
 keerfully, so's you ken git yer breff, and 
 you'll lie as snug as a coon in a holler log." 
 
 Bob accordingly sat down in the corner, 
 still holding his pistols in his left hand, and 
 the old _ negro piled the quilts and other 
 articles over him thickly and loosely, but 
 was careful to leave him a breathing place 
 by the side of one of the boxes. 
 
 He was not a moment too soon, for the 
 hiding place was hardly finished when the 
 sound of horses' feet, advancing rapidly, 
 were heard, and they stopped in front of 
 the cabin. Directly the door was opened 
 so violently as almost to upset old Pbaraoh, 
 and a man, in the uniform of a Confederate 
 officer, entered, followed by four of his men, 
 all armed with rifles, shot-guns, pistols and 
 knives. 
 
 " Hallo, uncle !" said the leader. " Have 
 you seen two men and a little nigger riding 
 by here lately ?" 
 
 " Yes, massa officer. 'Pears like it wasn't 
 more'n ten minutes ago. Thar was an old 
 man and a young one, and a little nigger on 
 a hoss with nothin' but a halter. They 
 stopped out in the road a minute or two, 
 'cause one of em had his arm tied up, and 
 'peared to feel kinder faint. When they 
 
BRANT IN A TIGHT PLACE. 
 
 rode off again, the old man was leadin' the 
 young one's hoss." 
 
 " Those are the men we are after. Martin, 
 does the road look as if the horses had 
 stopped there ?" 
 
 "Yes, sir; but they have all gone on 
 again, as there are tracks of three horses 
 beyond." 
 
 " Then the old darkey has told us the 
 truth." 
 
 " O yes, massa officer ; it's Goramighty's 
 troof what I tole you. But their bosses 
 'peared to be mighty tired, and, if you've got 
 good hosses, you mought ketch 'em." 
 
 "The fact is, our horses are worse off 
 than theirs. These men," he continued, ad- 
 dressing one of his companions, " would have 
 been worth a pretty pile to us, dead cr alive, 
 if we could have caught them, for I think 
 one of them was old "Woodworth, that in- 
 fernal Yankee scout we have heard of, and 
 the other must have been -that young chap 
 who got out of Donelson last night, a de- 
 serter or a spy — no one seemed to be cer- 
 tain which. But our horses are all knocked 
 up, and there is no use in trying to follow 
 them any nearer the Yankee lines. Who 
 do you belong to, uncle, and what are you 
 doing here ?" 
 
 " Me, massa? I b'longs to Major Mercer, 
 what's been livin' down to Jackson; but 
 he's gwine to move up yere now. His 
 house is nigh about a mile from yere, and 
 these is some of the niggers' things." 
 
 " Is there any one at the house ? Could 
 we get any thing to eat there, and some 
 fodder for our horses ?" 
 
 " Goramighty, no, massa 1 Thar ain't no- 
 body up to the house, 'cept two or three 
 niggers, and they hain't got nuffin for thar- 
 selves to eat, scacely, and won't have nuftln, 
 till the things comes up from Tennessee." 
 
 " Well, we must go hungry, then, for I 
 see you have nothing here. Your master is 
 a loyal man, I suppose ?" 
 
 " Does that mean a 'Federate ? Oh, yis, 
 he's jest one o' the best kind o' 'Federates, 
 and alius was." 
 
 " He will have to be careful how he acts 
 around here, for the Yankees are getting 
 into this part of the country, and their 
 scouts are growing too plenty about here. 
 But it will not be long before we will drive 
 every one of the infernal thieves out of the 
 State. Come, boys, let us be getting off 
 and hunting for something to eat." 
 
 " Hold on a bit, Cap'n," said one of the 
 men. " The nights are gettin' cold, and a 
 3 5 
 
 blanket is a good thing to have. Pve got 
 my eye on one over thar in the corner, 
 which I reckon I'll confisticate." 
 
 As he spoke, he moved toward the pile 
 which covered Brant. 
 
 "None o' that, now, mister soger!" ex- 
 claimed old Pharaoh, who had watched the 
 movement. " Them blankets ain't none o' 
 your'n, and Massa Charley will be mighty 
 mad ef they're tetched, 'cause he's gwine to 
 jine the cavalry, and says he wants all he 
 kin git, to warm his own men." 
 
 The man did not heed the remonstrance, 
 but pulled a blanket from the pile. Pharaoh 
 trembled with fear lest the hiding-place of 
 Brant would be discovered, but strove to 
 conceal his anxiety, contenting himself with 
 muttering and grumbling, threatening the 
 soldier with the wrath of " Massa Charley." 
 It happened that the best blanket of the 
 pile, that which the man coveted, lay loosely 
 on the top, and, as he picked it off, there 
 was nothing discovered beneath. If Brant 
 knew that it was being taken, he was en- 
 titled to credit for great steadiness of nerve, 
 for the slightest movement would have 
 stirred his covering and induced suspicion. 
 
 " You ken tell your Massa Charley," said 
 the Confederate, as he deliberately rolled up 
 the blanket, " that he ken hev this back 
 when he gits his men into the service. It 
 mought as well be mustered in now as 
 any other time." 
 
 The officer and his men then left the 
 house, mounted their horses, and the whole 
 party returned by the road over which they 
 had pursued Brant and his friend. 
 
 " Gorry !" ejaculated old Pharaoh, -as he 
 watched their receding forms, dimly seen in 
 the growing dusk. " Ain't I mighty glad 
 they's gone, though ? They give this old 
 nigger an orful scare. Cuss 'em, anybody's 
 nigger's a white man alongside o' them. 
 froat-cutters." 
 
 He watched them until they were out of 
 sight, and then called to Brant : 
 
 " Come out, now, Massa Brant. They'* 
 all gone." 
 
 Hearing no answer, he stepped to th» 
 pile, muttering : 
 
 " 'Spect I done forgot he's got a lame arm,, 
 and can't git hisself out." 
 
 Hastily tearing down the pile of cotton 
 and woolen, he saw Brant sitting as if 
 asleep, with his head dropped upon his 
 breast. The pain of his wound and the 
 tightness of the bandage, combined with 
 the lack of air, had caused him to faint. 
 
 ie X 
 
34 
 
 BOB BRANT, PATRIOT AND SPY. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIL 
 In Comfortable Quarters. 
 
 " Oh, Goraniighty !" exclaimed the old 
 negro, " he's gone dead. No, he ain't he's 
 only swounded away. I jest wish Missy 
 Mercer was here, or Aunt Jule, or some- 
 body." 
 
 Fortunately, Pharaoh did not confine him- 
 self to lamentations, but drew the young 
 man out from his uncomfortable place of 
 concealment, and set him up on some blan- 
 kets against the side of the house. Then 
 he ran for some water, which he speedily 
 brought, and dashed it liberally in Brant's 
 face. As this remedy was not effectual at 
 the instant, he thrust a quantity of snuff in 
 the nose of the insensible man, when his 
 efforts were rewarded by a slight sneeze, and 
 Brant opened his eyes, slowly, at first, and 
 then stared wildly about the little room. 
 
 " Look up, Massa Brant ; don't ye be 
 scar'd, for I's old Pharaoh, and yer safe 
 now. Those 'Federate froat-cutters are all 
 done gone." 
 
 "My arm — it pains me — it feels dead. 
 Give me some water." 
 
 A drink revived the young man, and then 
 Pharaoh took the wounded arm tenderly in 
 his black and rough paws, and one or two 
 tears dropped upon it. 
 
 " None of your salt water, old man," said 
 Bob, who had now fully recovered his senses. 
 "Light a candle, or something, and come 
 and untie this bandage." 
 
 Pharaoh hastened to strike a light, and 
 then' carefully untied the bandage, above 
 which the arm was badly swollen. It was 
 only a flesh wound, but the ball had cut a 
 large vein, and the loss of blood had been 
 considerable. The old negro muttered plain- 
 tively as he washed the wound. 
 
 " It's gone right through this poor arm, 
 but it hain't touched no bone, Massa Brant, 
 and it's a nice clean hole, and that's a good 
 thing. Oh, it hurts this ole nigger mighty 
 bad, to think how many good men a-fightin' 
 fur freedom will hev wuss holes'n this bored 
 through 'em. But them what does it, Gor- 
 amighty knows they'll hev to pay sharp for 
 what tVey're a-doin agin his laws. Now, 
 I've got some sarve, real nice sarve, that 
 ole Aunt Jule made herself, and it's jest 
 the 'mazinest best thing that ever was, fur 
 cuts and burns and bruises ; and I'll jest put 
 some of that on yer arm." 
 
 " Be quick about it, then, and talk less." 
 
 Bob Brant was evidently peevish and im- 
 patient, and old Pharaoh, thus admonished, 
 hastened to find his salve, and soon bound 
 up the wound comfortably, though not after 
 the manner of regular surgeons. He then 
 made a sling of Brant's handkerchief, with 
 which he tied up the arm in an easy position, 
 and stepped back to survey his work. 
 
 " There, Massa Brant, jest you sit there 
 quiet like, while I run up to the house and 
 tell Miss Mabel, and fetch somethin' you ken 
 eat." 
 
 " Tell who ?" 
 
 " Tell Miss Mabel — Massa Mercer's Mabel, 
 you know. Didn't you hear me tell them 
 'Federates that Major Mercer was a-movin' 
 up yere ?" 
 
 " No ; I heard nothing you said, after the 
 first few words. But if Mabel Mercer is 
 near here, hurry on, old man, for God's 
 sake. You must not ask her to come here 
 to-night. But perhaps Mr. Charles can 
 come." 
 
 " Oh no ; Massa Charley ain't here now, 
 Thar's nobody up to the house 'ceptin' Mis3 
 Mabel and Missy Mercer, and some o' de 
 cullud folks. I don't 'spect either of 'em 
 ken come to-night, as they's all tumbled up. 
 Now jest you keep still, and I'll be back 
 mighty quick." 
 
 As the old man hurried off, Bob Brant 
 reflected upon his condition, and saw no 
 reason to complain. He had a wounded 
 arm, but that was nothing to a strong and 
 healthy young man. He had got well out 
 of his scrape at Curwin's tavern ; he had 
 safely escaped from the rebel stronghold on 
 the Tennessee ; he had been rescued, at the 
 nick of time, from the clutches of Curwin ; 
 his papers were safe in the possession of 
 Woodworth, and were on their way to a 
 place where their value woulcr* be appreci- 
 ated ; and, above all, here he was, almost 
 within reach of Mabel Mercer. Under the 
 circumstances, the wounded arm was a posi- 
 tive blessing, and he inwardly thanked the 
 Confederate who had fired the bullet. He 
 soon came to the conclusion that the wound 
 would get well slowly; that it was more 
 severe than he had thought, and he was 
 sure that it would require veiy careful 
 nursing. The truth is, that the young man 
 was too much weakened by want of sleep 
 and food, by his long ride, and by pain and 
 loss of blood, to form any more high-minded, 
 patriotic and severe resolutions, or even to 
 remember those which he had previously 
 formed. He felt an agreeable lassitude, 
 
HAPPY STATE OP BRANT'S AFFAIRS. 
 
 mingled with pleasant anticipation, and was 
 ready to accept, thankfully, any blessings 
 that Providence might have in store for him, 
 without giving himself unnecessary trouble 
 about labor and duty. He then begun to 
 tbink of the possibility of Mabel Mercer 
 making her appearance there, in that cabin, 
 perhaps that night, and then — alas for his 
 character as a patriot and a hero ! — he actu- 
 ally thought of the sorry figure he would 
 present to her, with his cut coat-sleeve, his 
 disordered and bloody clothes, his tangled 
 hair, and his general air of slouchiness. 
 He rose with difficulty, endeavored to smooth 
 his rough hair and arrange his attire so as 
 to make himself partially presentable, and 
 then tottered to the broken chair which he 
 had placed in a corner, and braced himself 
 up, vainly striving to appear easy and non- 
 chalant. 
 
 He had hardly seated himself, when the 
 door opened, and in stepped Mabel Mercer 
 herself, followed by Pharaoh and a negro 
 woman, both loaded down with sheets, pil- 
 lows, eatables and other articles. Brant at- 
 tempted to rise, but his previous efforts had 
 exhausted him, and he sunk back upon the 
 chair. 
 
 " Miss Mercer, this is too much honor." 
 
 " No honor at all, if you please ; and if 
 it was, no honor could be too great for a 
 brave man who has been wounded in the 
 cause of his country. Now, you are not to 
 eay another word, but just obey Aunt Jule 
 and me, and wait as patiently as possible 
 until we make you as comfortable as we 
 can. Pharaoh, put down those things, and 
 don't stand there staring. Then start a fire, 
 and try to make this place look a little 
 decent." 
 
 Brant's eyes followed her graceful form 
 wonderingly and wistfully, as she moved 
 lightly and airily around the small room. 
 In a very short time, with the assistance of 
 the old negress, who seemed to know just 
 what to do, and just how to do it, she had 
 made a great change in the cabin, and it 
 really looked comfortable and cheerful. A 
 bright fire blazed upon the hearth, over 
 which a kettle was soon singing merrily, and 
 the fair Mabel was on her knees before the 
 fire, toasting thin slices of bread, with a 
 fork so short that Bob was unhappy for fear 
 that her delicate hands would be scorched. 
 A good couch of blankets was made upon 
 the rickety bedstead, on which pillows were 
 placed and sheets were spread, and Brant, 
 with the assistance of old Pharaoh and the 
 
 negress, was laid upon it unresistingly. And 
 then he was propped up with pillows and 
 quilts, so that he could see the fire and the 
 busy Mabel, and the bright face of Pharaoh ; 
 and then Aunt Jule, softly sootbing the 
 wounded arm, and calling him " Honey," 
 washed it in nice, warm water, abused Pha- 
 raoh for his clumsiness, and called for more 
 of her wonderful " sarve ;" and then Mabel, 
 with her face all ablaze, had to leave her 
 toast-making to find some linen and lint, and 
 had to stop as she brought it, to take a shy 
 peep at the fair, white arm, and to tell Aunt 
 Jule to be very careful not to hurt it — a 
 suggestion which that female treated quite 
 scornfully — and, in short, Bob Brant was in 
 elysium, and thought that it was a very pleas- 
 ant thing to be woimded. 
 
 "Laws a-massy, Miss Mabel," said Aunt 
 Jule, as she re-slung Brant's arm in a clean 
 and soft handkerchief, and laid it across his 
 breast, " you've been and made toast enough 
 for a reg'ment. Jest you fix that tea now, 
 while I look arter the jelly. I don't 'low 
 nobody to touch my jellys, 'cept sickness or 
 death." 
 
 Mabel started up, as if aroused from a 
 reverie, bustled about, drew the tea in a 
 dainty little tea-pot, poured it out in a 
 shining cup, and placed it upon a waiter 
 before our hero, together with the hot but- 
 tered toast, and a plentiful supply of Aunt 
 Jule's jelly, which was only less wonderful 
 than her " sarve." Then she drew the brok- 
 en chair to the bedside, and actually insisted 
 upon feeding that rough fellow with her own 
 fair hands. Our hero was quite overcome, 
 and a few drops of moisture which stole 
 from his eyes proved his lack of the proper 
 heroic qualities. But he had no mother, 
 and all this was new to him. 
 
 " Does your arm pain you so much ?" 
 " Oh, no, scarcely any, thanks to you and 
 Aunt Jule. But it is so sweet to be 
 wounded, when I can be here, and with 
 you !" 
 
 He felt that there was a wound in his 
 heart, which could not be healed so easily as 
 that in his arm. 
 
 Mabel concealed her blushes by pouring 
 out some more tea. 
 
 Brant drank his tea and munched his 
 toast slowly, for he wished to prolong his 
 pleasure. Mabel was anxious to know his 
 adventures after he parted with her brother, 
 for Charley had given her a vivid descrip- 
 tion of the scene at Curwin's tavern, and of 
 his triumphant entry into the fort. As Bob 
 
BOB BRANT, PATRIOT AND SPY. 
 
 related his several escapes, she listened 
 eagerly, with little ladylike ejaculations of 
 wonder, pity, and fear. It was somewhat 
 like the old story of Othello and Desde- 
 mona. 
 
 Brant then inquired about Major Mercer 
 and the rest of his family, and was informed 
 that they were engaged in the unpleasant 
 labor of moving, but would soon be settled 
 down again. 
 
 " You can not imagine," said Mabel, 
 " what a change has come over father. He 
 is nothing like he used to be. He had a 
 great deal of trouble with the authorities at 
 Jackson, when they learned that he intended 
 to leave, and they run off two or three of 
 his best negroes. He expects to be obliged 
 to leave behind much of what belongs to 
 him in Jackson, but his money is safe in 
 Louisville, and that is a great comfort to 
 him. The house we are to live in here is 
 a small house, compared with that at Jack- 
 son, and it is not a nice one, but we will be 
 much happier than among the rebel officers 
 and soldiers, and mamma is very much 
 pleased. The house belongs to ma's brother 
 William, who's a good Union man and 
 loves us all dearly. Father is a good Union 
 man, too, at last, and abuses the secession- 
 ists like a man, when he is away from Jack- 
 son. And that's all, I believe." 
 
 " Come now, Miss Mabel," broke in Aunt 
 Jule. " Jest stop that talkin', and let the 
 young gen'l'man alone, and come right home 
 'long with me ; fur Miss Car'line '11 be on- 
 easy." 
 
 " "Wait a moment, Jake, Pharaoh says he 
 thinks those rebels will not be back here to- 
 night, Mr. Brant, and I am sure of it ; so 
 you must sleep soundly and feel fresh in the 
 morning. I will be here early, and Charley 
 will be home to-morrow, and then we will 
 take you up to the house. Good night, and 
 pleasant dreams to you I" 
 
 Mabel Mercer tripped away, carrying Bob 
 Brant's sunshine with her ; but she left him 
 a warmth about the heart that was very 
 pleasant to him. He prepared himself to 
 enjoy a good night's rest. Bidding Pharaoh 
 to bring him his pistols, he examined them, 
 and laid one within reach of his well arm, 
 giving the other to the old negro. Pharaoh 
 rolled himself up in a blanket, and laid 
 down in front of the door. Even the 
 thought of Mabel Mercer could not keep 
 Brant awake, and he soon dropped into a 
 doze. 
 
 Pharaoh had hardly commenced to snore, 
 
 when his slumber was interrupted by a gen- 
 tle tapping at the door of the cabin. 
 
 " "Who's thar ?" said the old negro, softly, 
 as he sat up in his blanket. 
 
 " It's me — it's Jake." 
 
 " Who's Jake ?" 
 
 " Is Massa Brant in thar ? He knows 
 me." 
 
 " What is it, Pharaoh ?" asked Bob, half 
 awakened. 
 
 "Some nigger boy, I 'spect — says his 
 name's Jake, and you knows him." 
 
 " Let him in. What do you want here, 
 you ebony imp ? What is the matter now?" 
 
 " Massa Bill tole me to come back yere, 
 sah. He tole me I b'longs to you now, an' 
 I must see how you's gittin' on." 
 
 " Very well. I can not say that I am 
 obliged to him, as I fear you will prove 
 rather troublesome property. Are you 
 hungry ?" 
 
 " No, sah." 
 
 " Pharaoh, give him a blanket, and let 
 him curl up somewhere. Oo to sleep, imp, 
 and dream of the promised land." 
 
 The " imp" showed his ivories until, as 
 some old poet says, they almost " made a 
 sunshine in a shady place," and dropped in 
 a corner. Pharaoh grumbled a little, and 
 snored again. Brant was soon immersed 
 in dreams, in which Mabel Mercer was 
 strangely mixed up with prisons and grin- 
 ning Africans. 
 
 CHAPTER XV HI. 
 
 Major Mercer's Policy. 
 
 The first thing the boy Jake did, upon 
 awakening in the morning, was to ask for 
 some blacking and a brush, with which to 
 polish the boots of his new master; the 
 first thing old Pharaoh did, was to scold the 
 said boy Jake for disturbing the slumbers 
 of the said master ; and the first thing Bob 
 Brant did, was to call for hot water and 
 soap and a towel, that he might clean the 
 outward man. Those necessaries were not 
 to be had in a moment, however, and when 
 our hero had succeeded in working himself 
 up to an unpleasant condition of peevish- 
 ness, he was astonished by the entrance of 
 Cbarley Mercer, who brought sunshine with 
 him, and drove the clouds from the faces of 
 all three. 
 
 " What in creation is the matter with you 
 all ?" exclaimed the hearty young fellow, as 
 
A FAMILY TALK. 
 
 37 
 
 he gazed upon their grim faces. " Why, 
 Brant, you look like a thunder cloud, and 
 Pharaoh is solemn as an owl, and who is 
 this young darkey ?" 
 
 " "We didn't 'spect you so soon, Massa 
 Charley," said old Pharaoh. " As fur that 
 young nigger, I dunno whar he cum from, 
 but I don't b'lieve thar's much good in him, 
 nohow. He's jest been botherin' the life 
 out o' me, for a boot brush and some black- 
 in', to do Massa Brant's boots, jest's ef he 
 knowed how, when his olders an' his bet- 
 ters is here, too." 
 
 " Well, never mind the boy. Let me see 
 you look a little more cheerful. Here, Mr. 
 Brant, I have brought you some clothes to 
 wear, and you must hurry and put on some- 
 thing clean and nice, as sister Mabel will be 
 here shortly." 
 
 This announcement brought Bob to his 
 feet instantly, and with the assistance of 
 Charley Mercer and old Pharaoh, he was 
 soon made clean and presentable. But the 
 change in his personal appearance was not 
 made any too soon, for Mabel directly en- 
 tered, bright and cheery as ever, and then 
 there was a happy party in the little cabin. 
 The boy Jake obtained the privilege of 
 blacking Bob's boots all he chose, and po- 
 lished them until they were even blacker 
 and more shining than his own ebony face. 
 
 Mabel anxiously inquired of Bob Brant 
 whether he thought he could bear the jour- 
 ney to the house, and whether he could 
 possibly walk half a mile ; and that young 
 hypocrite replied that he thought he could, 
 if he had a stick or something to lean on ; 
 when the young lady offered her arm, which 
 he instantly accepted. And as they marched 
 to Major Mercer's new residence, which was 
 a small one story farm-house, but with com- 
 fortable negro quarters. Pharaoh wished 
 the boy Jake to remain with him, as he 
 thought the young African needed his per- 
 sonal supervision; but the boy said that 
 Massa Bill had told him to stick to Massa 
 Brant, and he meant to do it ; so, at the 
 solicitation of our hero, he was allowed to 
 accompany them, and was thereafter installed 
 as bis special body servant. 
 
 They found Mrs. Mercer at the house, 
 who welcomed Brant very kindly, showed 
 him the little room which she had fitted up 
 for him, and soon made him perfectly at 
 home. Major Mercer arrived after a few 
 days, bringing up the rear, with all of his 
 property that he had been permitted to bring 
 away from Jackson, from which place he 
 
 had been glad to escape with his life and 
 liberty. 
 
 Those were happy days that Bob Brant 
 passed at the little farm-house. He had 
 never seen any half as happy before, and 
 had never thought that life could have so 
 many charms for him. He did not pass his 
 time in " making love," for he found it ready- 
 made to his hand, but in loving and being 
 loved, and in wondering how long such 
 happiness could last. His arm speedily 
 healed, so that he could easily have dis- 
 pensed with his sling ; but he did not do so, 
 as it was so sweet to be wounded there, 
 and so pleasant to be nursed by Mrs. Mer- 
 cer — and Mabel. The young man had 
 changed under the enervating influence of 
 this first affection. He was no longer anx- 
 ious to rush on and sacrifice his life for his 
 country, but absolutely dreaded the time 
 when, what he still considered his duty, 
 should again call him into active service. 
 The change might be pitiable, but the hap- 
 piness was enviable. 
 
 As for Major Mercer, he sat down quietly, 
 and waited for the storm of war to blow 
 over him. He now hated secession and all 
 secessionists, but much of his natural timid- 
 ity remained, and he was by no means an 
 outspoken partisan. He had lost much, and 
 feared that he might lose much more ; but 
 he was now quite determined to lose it ; if 
 it must be lost, on the side of the Union. 
 Thus far he was willing to go, no further. 
 He was a Union man, but conservative — of 
 himself and his property. 
 
 " Wife," he said, one evening, as the 
 family, including Brant, were collected to- 
 gether, " this is pleasant, far more so than 
 at Jackson, and we have much to be thank- 
 ful for." 
 
 " It is liberty, husband ; it is freedom 
 from the scoundrels, swindlers, and traitors 
 who are striving to destroy the Union and 
 the peace of every fireside in it. But we 
 will be much happier when we can see the 
 flag of the Union flying over our house. 
 For my part, I would like to raise it this 
 very day." 
 
 " Mother and I are making one," whis- 
 pered Mabel to Bob, and she was rewarded 
 for the information by a pressure of the 
 hand. 
 
 " It may be as you say," answered Major 
 Mercer ; " but it is not well to compromise 
 ourselves too far at present. The truth 
 should not be told at, all times. As for a 
 flag, don't talk of raising one yet. It is a 
 
BOB BRANT, PATRIOT AND SPY. 
 
 great deal to be thankful for, that we are 
 unmolested here, and are likely to be so." 
 
 " Don't be too sure of that, father," broke 
 in Charley Mercer. The rebel guerillas 
 have lately been getting thicker in this part 
 of the country, and parties of them have 
 been within a few miles of our house. If 
 you will give me your permission, I will 
 conceal all the arms we happen to have, so 
 that they can not be found if the guerillas 
 should make us a visit." 
 
 " You see, wife," said the Major, " Charles 
 coincides with me. I told you that we 
 must be careful. By all means, Charles, 
 conceal the arms, as we would be unable to 
 use them in our defense." 
 
 " I can fight, father," said Charley Mercer. 
 
 " So can I," said Brant. 
 
 " So can I," said Mabel, with a right royal 
 flash of the eye. 
 
 " So can even old Pharaoh," said Mrs. 
 Mercer, quietly but confidently. 
 
 " What, wife !" exclaimed the Major, 
 starting up with his countenance flushed 
 with anger and astonishment. " Would 
 you ask our niggers to fight for us ? The 
 cowards would run at the first flash of a 
 musket. Besides, what defense have we, 
 but our own arms ?" 
 
 " If you please, father," said Charley, " I, 
 Major-General Charles Mercer, with the as- 
 sistance of Lieutenant-Colonel Brant, chief 
 of artillery, have fortified the smoke-house, 
 so that it will stand a siege against any 
 thing but artillery." 
 
 " Charles 1 Charles ! this is no child's 
 play. You talk boyishly and recklessly. 
 Let me hear no more of such nonsense. 
 But you had better conceal the arms, as 
 you said. I have no fear that the guerillas 
 will offer any serious molestation. But 
 their presence might probably be uncom- 
 fortable to our friend, Mr. Brant, and per- 
 haps it would be better for him to find some 
 temporary place of concealment." 
 
 " I will manage that, father." 
 
 Thereafter, Charley Mercer and old Pha- 
 raoh constituted themselves scouts for that 
 outpost, as they called the house and its 
 appurtenances, and scoured the adjoining 
 country thoroughly, watching for indica- 
 tions of guerillas in the neighborhood. The 
 boy Jake was on the scout also, and his 
 habits and instinct enabled him to gain in- 
 telligence with more ease and certainty than 
 his older and more prudent companions. 
 One morning early, as Charley Mercer and 
 Pharaoh were just issuing out, they met 
 
 the boy running toward them, with eyes 
 wide open and mouth agape, and panting 
 with the exertions he had made. 
 
 " Massa Charles, dey's comin' ! dey's 
 comin' ! I seed 'em myself — a whole 
 squadroon o' dem rebel fellers, on ther 
 hosses, an' lookin' jest like I used to see 
 'em around ole Massa Curwin's." 
 
 " Pharaoh," said Charles, " run to the 
 house and tell Mr. Brant to get ready to 
 hide." 
 
 " Now Massa Charley, don't you go to 
 b'lieve a word that scrumptious little nigger 
 says. He's seen a stump, an' it's dun scar'd 
 him outer his wits, ef he ever had any. T 
 ken see in his eye he's a lyin' at this 
 minute. That stock o' niggers is alius 
 skeary, an' apt to be terrible onsartin." 
 
 " Run to the house, Pharaoh, and do as I 
 told you." 
 
 The old negro went off grumbling, and 
 young Mercer questioned the boy, and soon 
 saw reason to believe that his tale was true, 
 although it might be somewhat exaggerated. 
 He accordingly hastened to the house, and 
 conveyed Brant to the place of concealment 
 which had been prepared for him, in one 
 of the negro quarters, and bade him lie 
 quiet while he went back to the house and 
 reconnoitered. The boy Jake showed more 
 prudence than Pharaoh would have been 
 willing to give him credit for, by also going 
 into hiding. 
 
 Brant waited nearly two hours for his 
 friend, seeing nothing and hearing nothing, 
 and his anxiety made the time seem longer, 
 and made his confinement irksome to him. 
 At last, when Charley Mercer came, his 
 eyes sparkled with fire, and his sides shook 
 with laughter. 
 
 " Brant, my boy, it's the best thing ! The 
 best thing you ever saw ! The best thing 
 of the season or any other season ! The 
 best thing that could possibly have hap- 
 pened, for all of us, as eure as I am a sin- 
 ner 1" 
 
 "What's the matter? Nobody hurt, I 
 judge from your countenance." 
 
 " Yes, somebody hurt, awfully hurt, in 
 feelings, and that is no less a man than my 
 father, Major Mercer. You know how 
 father has always been, how off-and-onish, 
 how timid and non-committal. H he had 
 not been my father, I could not have re- 
 spected him, and hardly did, at that. Well, 
 the rebels did not respect his neutrality, 
 either — not a bit. They took what they 
 chose, and stormed about the house as they 
 
MAKING AN UNQUALIFIED UNIONIST. 
 
 pleased ; but that was nothing — they actually 
 kicked him — kicked Major Mercer, the rep- 
 resentative of one of the best familes in West 
 Tennessee and Kentucky — kicked him, and 
 slapped his face, first on the Union side, and 
 then on the rebel side. Oh, how it roused 
 him ! He cursed them, and told them that 
 they would suffer for that indignity; but 
 they laughed at him and rode away. Isn't 
 it glorious ?" 
 
 " Charley, I really do not see how you 
 can laugh when your father has been insulted 
 and abused." 
 
 " It does seem hard, but I am glad of it, 
 for he is a thorough Union man now, with- 
 out any ife or ands. He will never go back, 
 either, but will fight them now to the death, 
 I will bet my life. He is raging around the 
 house in a terrible fury. Let us go up and 
 see him. He does not know that I witnessed 
 the kicking and slapping." 
 
 " I hope they did not offer to insult 
 Mabel." 
 
 " Not at all. She was in her room, and 
 they merely looked in to see that no one 
 else was there, and left her in peace. Mother 
 aimply looked on and said nothing, and was 
 not molested. Father's misfortune happened 
 in front of the house, where he was endea- 
 voring to ' explain his position' to the rebels. 
 They were not real guerillas." 
 
 The friends then walked into the house. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 The Impromptu Fbrtress. 
 
 When Brant and young Mercer entered 
 (he house, they found Major Mercer in the 
 parlor with his wife and Mabel. Mrs. Mer- 
 cer looked indignant, but calm and composed. 
 Mabel's face was flushed, and her eyes were 
 flashing. The Major himself was walking, 
 excitedly, up and down the room, speaking 
 incoherently, and, it must be confessed, with 
 occasional profanity. 
 
 Charley asked, quite coolly : 
 
 " What is the matter, father ?" 
 
 " Matter 1 Matter enough, and too much. 
 Would you believe it, my son, those rebel 
 rascals have actually dared — have had the 
 audacity and the insolence — to kick me, 
 yes, me, the representative of the old Mercer 
 stock — a stock that has never been dishon- 
 ored, since Kentucky was a State. Yes, 
 they kicked me, Charles, and slapped me in 
 
 the face. Curse them, if I had had a pistol, 
 or a knife, they would have learned what it 
 is to insult Henry Mercer." 
 
 " I hope you had not been so rash as to 
 tell them you were a Unionist." 
 
 " No ; I wish I had, and then I might 
 have excused them. I was endeavoring to 
 explain to them the delicate position in 
 which I found myself, telling them that my 
 interests lay with the South, but I was situ- 
 ated near the North, and much of my pro- 
 perty was there, and I thought it was only 
 fair that I should be allowed to preserve my 
 neutrality, and I only asked to be let alone 
 in peace. Then their leader spoke up : 
 ' Oh, bah !' said he, ' you are neither fish nor 
 flesh, but a big bloated bullfrog. You are 
 with us to save your niggers, and with the 
 Lincolnites to keep your land.' And then — " 
 
 " Did you believe him, father ?" 
 
 " Charles ?" 
 
 " Did you believe him, father ?" 
 
 " What do you mean ?" 
 
 " Did you believe the man when he said 
 that ?" 
 
 The Major cooled down immediately, and, 
 for a few moments, was lost in thought. 
 
 " My son," said he, " in the excitement of 
 the moment I suppose I thought nothing 
 about believing or disbelieving ; but when I 
 reflect upon it, I incline to confess that he 
 spoke the truth, or near it — nearer than I 
 did, certainly. But I never will be guilty 
 of making such an explanation to any of 
 them again. I will tell them plainly that I 
 am — as from this moment I will be — a 
 Union man, sound and true ; and then if 
 they take me, I will do my best that they 
 shall not take me alive." 
 
 " Father, I never honored you as much as 
 I do at this moment." 
 
 " Caroline," continued the Major, taking 
 his wife by both her hands, " are you will- 
 ing that I take this step, and that I sacrifice 
 every thing — slaves, lands, home, money, 
 and life, if need be — in the cause of the 
 Union ?" 
 
 " I am, Henry. I am willing to give up 
 every thing, and I trust that you may never 
 change." 
 
 " Then from this day forward I will serve 
 that cause to the extent of my ability, with 
 my tongue, my pen, my means, and my 
 sword, if I can. I see the error of my 
 way. I have halted long between the wrong 
 and the right, but now that I have taken 
 the step, you shall never have occasion to 
 accuse me of turning back." 
 
40 
 
 BOB BRANT, PATRIOT AND SPY. 
 
 " God bless you, my husband !" 
 
 " God bless you, father !" 
 
 Mabel Mercer stepped up and kissed her 
 father's band, and glided out of the door, 
 followed by Brant. 
 
 " I am glad, Robert," said she, " that 
 you did not witness what happened to 
 father." 
 
 " So am I ; but I am also glad that I did 
 witness what has happened to him just 
 now." 
 
 " Well, it is better to be kicked and slapped 
 into being a Union man, than not to be one 
 at all." 
 
 " Much better ; but we will not tell him 
 so." 
 
 " Oh, no !" 
 
 "When they had talked a few moments, 
 Major Mercer came out, accompanied by 
 Charley. The Major was looking unusually 
 bright and cheerful, and stepped more 
 freely, as if he had thrown off a great 
 load. 
 
 " Lieutenant-Colonel Brant," said he, " I 
 understand from this young Major-General 
 Mercer that you are acting as his Chief of 
 Artillery and Engineers, and I desire to ask 
 permission to visit your fortifications." 
 
 " Certainly, sir, and we are prepared to 
 deliver up to you the command of the gar- 
 rison, in virtue of your rank." 
 
 The three then proceeded to inspect the 
 smoke-house. 
 
 " This smoke-house, as it was called, stood 
 about one hundred yards from the dwelling- 
 house, and was a stout log building, some 
 twenty feet square, or more. It was a 
 smoke-house only in name, as it had never 
 been used for that purpose, but principally 
 for storing. It had a large and deep cellar, 
 which in winter commonly contained the 
 vegetable supplies of the family. There 
 was a small addition at one end, which 
 covered the door. There was but one small 
 window, with a wooden shutter. Brant and 
 young Mercer had carefully loopholed the 
 building for musketry, and had made ample 
 arrangements for ventilation just under the 
 roof, and near the floor. They had also 
 strengthened the window-shutter and the 
 door by thicknesses of planking. Thus the 
 building was in an admirable condition for 
 defense, being impervious to musket or rifle 
 bullets, and was available for a siege against 
 any thing but artillery. 
 
 Major Mercer surveyed the arrangements 
 with the eye of a connoisseur, and expressed 
 himself highly satisfied. 
 
 " "Well, young gentlemen, I must confess 
 that I do not at present see how your forti- 
 fication can be improved upon. You bave 
 certainly arranged every thing as I should 
 wish to have it arranged. It puzzles me 
 how you can have done all this without my 
 knowledge." 
 
 "Nothing easier, father, as you never 
 came near here." 
 
 " Ah ! I suppose so. All we can ask in 
 addition to our means of defense would be 
 plenty of provisions and ammunition, and 
 some more men." 
 
 " We have plenty of men, father. There 
 is old Pharaoh ; I know he can shoot well ; 
 and so can Harry and Pete, for I have often 
 had them out hunting with me." 
 
 " What, my son, shall we rely upon our 
 niggers to fight for us ?" 
 
 " Certainly, sir, if they are able and will- 
 ing to do it." 
 
 " To be sure, my boy. I had forgotten. 
 Tbey are surely good enough to fight against 
 rebels, and for their homes. I would be 
 glad to have one of them shoot the man 
 who kicked me, though I would rather do it 
 myself. In what condition is the ordnance 
 department ?" 
 
 " Not first-rate. We have two rifles and 
 a shot-gun, that I know of, and Mr. Brant 
 and I have each two revolvers. We have 
 rim plenty of bullets, and have, I think, a 
 fair supply of powder." 
 
 " Indeed ! I must give you credit for 
 meaning war in earnest. Wait a moment; 
 or rather come to the house, and let me 
 show you something." 
 
 Hastening into the house, the Major 
 brought out a fine mahogany case, which, 
 on being opened, disclosed a fine, short- 
 barrelled, German rifle, in parts, with all 
 its appurtenances complete, and in excellent 
 condition. 
 
 " There, young gentlemen," said the Ma- 
 jor, putting it together, and eyeing it lov- 
 ingly, " is as sweet a piece as either of yon 
 ever saw, I suppose. I bought it for hunt- 
 ing bears in Arkansas. I don't remember 
 how far off it will kill a bear, but it is a 
 great distance. Let me see what my eye- 
 sight is good for now." 
 
 He then carefully loaded the piece, pointed 
 out a bird sitting upon a limb, at such a 
 distance that good eyes were needed to see 
 it, took a deliberate aim, and fired. The 
 bark flew from the limb near where the bird 
 stood. 
 
 " Oh 1" said the Major, " I am not what 
 
WOODWORTH VISITS THE GARRISON. 
 
 41 
 
 I used to be, but that little bird is not a 
 man." 
 
 ° You'll do, father I" exclaimed Charley, 
 clapping his parent on the shoulder. " And 
 now, if you will attend to provisioning the 
 fortress, we will see what else there is to be 
 done." 
 
 " There is one thing forgotten, young 
 gentlemen. You have no colors." 
 
 " Haven't we, though ? Ask Mabel." 
 
 The next day Bob Brant was surprised by 
 the appearance of old Bill Woodworth, who 
 brought two fine breech-loading rifles. 
 
 " Thar, Mr. JBrant," said the old scout ; 
 " one o' them is fur you, an' t'other is fur 
 yer friend. They say in the camps that they're 
 mighty nice shootin' -irons, but fur my part 
 I don't want to be troubled with none o' 
 them new-fangled tricks. I stick to my 
 old long barrel, an' I ken pull down e'en 
 a'most anythin' with her. The boy Jake — 
 do you know that's turnin' out to be a 
 wumierful peart little nigger ? — hunted me 
 out and told me what you was a-contrivin' 
 yere, an' I 'lowed I'd look in on yer. So I 
 got permish'n, and was give these yere tools 
 to bring you. I ken jest tell ye, Mr. Brant, 
 that somebody ye knows on is mighty tickled 
 about the work ye done up thar to Donelson, 
 an' hoped yer wound wouldn't be bad. I 
 lowed thar was somethin' up yere that 
 hurted ye wuss'n that, but didn't let on. 
 Now, good-by, an' mind to keep a sharp 
 look-out for them guerilla thieves. This 
 kentry's mighty hot with 'em jest now, but 
 it won't be many days afore they're all 
 cl'ared out;' sure's I'm livin' an' a white 
 man. Hold up, now ; if I ain't a forgittin'." 
 
 The old man then unloaded from his 
 capacious pockets a quantity of cartridges, 
 and some canisters of rifle-powder. 
 
 " Thar, then. Part on 'em is cartridges, 
 an' the rest is powder, and as you onder- 
 stand that sort o' guns, Mr. Brant, you 
 ken make more cartridges. Now, I'm off." 
 
 Refusing young Mercer's pressing invita- 
 tion to stop and take a " a bite and a sup," 
 the honest old scout " loped " off, his long 
 legs getting over the ground more rapidly 
 than those of many younger men could have 
 done. 
 
 The boy Jake had " turned up " directly 
 after the departure of the rebels, with his 
 face covered with corn meal, to the great 
 astonishment and indignation of old Pharaoh, 
 who "Declar'd ef he didn't b'lieve that 
 mizzable young nigger had been an' crep 
 into one of Missis' meal bags f ' Bat as he 
 
 had not been caught in the act, he was not 
 molested, and went his way rejoicing. The 
 day after the arrival of old Bill Woodworth, 
 Brant wished the boy, fbr some purpose of 
 his own, but he was not to be found. He 
 was searched for, all over the place, but did 
 not make his appearance during the day. 
 Old Pharaoh was triumphant. 
 
 " Thar, now, Massa Brant," said he, 
 " didn't I tole ye that ar young nigger wan't 
 no 'count ? Ef you'd jest luff em long o' 
 me, I'd 'a made a useful boy outer him. 
 It's hard trainin' that stock o' niggers, but 
 I'd 'a tanned his hide fur him, till he'd 'a 
 been glad to stay put some'eres." .. 
 
 " What do you mean by ' that stock of 
 niggers,' Pharaoh?" 
 
 " Jest them low-raised niggers, like that 
 yere boy, Jake, raised in low families, an' 
 with no breedin' into 'em." 
 
 " But you can have nothing to say against 
 that boy, Pharaoh. He is free. He does 
 not belong to me, or to any one. Wood- 
 worth took him from his master, who was a 
 mean traitor, and confiscated him; so he 
 belongs either to himself or to the United 
 States." 
 
 " Then luff the 'Nited States take car on 
 him, Massa Brant, an' not hev him a-runnin' 
 round loose, so. A boy like him has got to 
 b'long to somebody." 
 
 " Pharaoh, I am astonished to hear you 
 speak so, when I know that you believe in 
 freedom." 
 
 " Yes, Massa Brant ; jest so. So Tse 
 'stonished at myself. Goramighty's bressed 
 freedom is for all, to be sure, even for sech 
 as him. Sometimes I think, an' sometimes 
 again I don't think, that Goramighty's free- 
 dom is a great thing. But that ar little 
 nigger, Massa Brant, needs somebody to take 
 car o' him, an' train him up." 
 
 " Well, Pharaoh, perhaps he has gone off 
 with Woodworth." 
 
 " P'raps he has. Thank the Lord I ain't 
 'sponsible for him." 
 
 In the meantime, the fortification of the 
 smoke-house was completed, and all other 
 preparations were made, to meet a sudden 
 attack. Major Mercer sent to a place of 
 safety the few negroes he had upon the 
 farm, saving only old Pharaoh, Harvey, 
 Pete, and two other able-bodied men, to- 
 gether with Aunt Jule and a girl. He 
 provisioned the smoke-house, and conveyed 
 to it the arms and ammunition, and such 
 of his valuables asixoukl be spared from 
 the house, for whifcji ST^pie •« joorn was 
 
42 
 
 BOB BRANT, PATRIOT AND SPY. 
 
 found in the cellar. Brant, Charley Mercer, 
 and old Pharaoh, continued to scout and 
 watch for guerillas. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 The Siege of the Smoke-house. 
 
 During three days after the departure of 
 Jake, the " outpost " was undisturbed, but 
 on the morning of the fourth old Pharaoh 
 was confounded, and Brant's belief was veri- 
 fied, by We return of the boy in hot haste, 
 with a message from Woodworth, to the 
 effect that they must move into the smoke- 
 house immediately, and expect an attack. 
 When the boy had been given something to 
 eat and drink — for he seemed to be half 
 famished, and nearly worn out — he repeated 
 the story that Woodworth had told him, as 
 nearly as he could. It appeared that the 
 rebels had discovered that the family of 
 Major Mercer was a Union family, and that 
 it contained a son — Charles — who would be 
 an excellent subject for conscription. It 
 also seemed that old Mike Curwin, intent 
 on revenge and blood money, had' been 
 spying around, and had learned, or had rea- 
 son to suspect, that Brant was harbored at 
 the house. But the most important part, a 
 part that could only be dimly guessed at 
 through the indistinct account of the boy, 
 was that Brant's character had become fully 
 known, as well as his connection with 
 Major Mercer, and an order had been sent 
 from Jackson for the arrest of his guest, 
 dead or alive. Consequently a strong guer- 
 illa party had set out from camp for that 
 purpose. 
 
 On receiving this intelligence, it was the 
 work of but a few moments to move into 
 the smoke-house, and all due preparations 
 were made in a very short time. 
 
 " Major Mercer," said Brant, when they 
 were in the building, " I feel that I have 
 brought this upon you — in fact, I kuow 
 that I have — and I am sorry to have been 
 the cause of much suffering and loss to 
 you." 
 
 " Not a bit of it, 6ir. Not a bit of it. 
 K you have been, in any manner, the cause 
 of what has happened to me, you desfVve 
 my everlasting esteem, and I- 'thank, you for 
 it. I never felt better in my life than I do 
 now — never felt half && free or so happy. 
 If they fif^at as, as % suppose they will, I 
 
 am confident that we will beat them, as sure 
 of it as I am standing here." 
 
 " I hope so, sir, and will do my best to 
 make your words good." 
 
 " I stand corrected, my boy. You young 
 ones are always teaching me something, 
 against my will. Let us not be too confi- 
 dent, but put our trust in God and our 
 good cause, and keep our powder dry. 
 Now, let us look to our arms and ammu- 
 nition." 
 
 The arms were distributed as follows: 
 The Major had his German rifle, and Brant 
 and Charley were armed with those which 
 Woodworth had brought. To old Pharaoh 
 was given a common country rifle, and to 
 Harvey another. Both were skilled in the 
 use of this weapon. Pete had the shot-gun, 
 well loaded with buck-shot and ball, but 
 was instructed not to use it except at easy 
 range. The boy, Jake, and the other two 
 black men, were to assist as they could. Mrs. 
 Mercer and Mabel, Aunt Jule and the girl, 
 were in. readiness to descend into the cellar 
 if an attack should commence. The build- 
 ing was lighted partly by the ventilation 
 holes under the roof, and partly by lanterns. 
 
 Thus all things were in readiness, and 
 watches were set upon the road, and the 
 little party waited patiently for an attack. 
 But noon came, and no enemy, and all ex- 
 cept the watchers ate heartily of a good 
 cold dinner. The appetite of Major Mercer 
 was excellent, and he was in fine spirits. 
 
 But they were not allowed to remain 
 much longer in suspense. Harvey and 
 little Jake shortly came in, and brought the 
 news that a body of horsemen was coming 
 up the road, with a flag flying. The doors 
 were closed and barred, and the women 
 were sent below, while the men took their 
 stations. 
 
 The horsemen soon came in sight, a loose 
 and straggling crowd of men, riding with 
 scarcely any attempt at order or discipline. 
 They appeared to number a hundred, or 
 more. In the front were a few files of 
 regular rebel cavalry, but the rest were un- 
 mitigated guerillas, of the worst stamp, 
 with scarcely any attempt at uniform, and 
 with all sorts of arms. They were halted 
 in front of the house, which stood at a little 
 distance from the road, and three men, dis- 
 mounting, went up and knocked at the 
 door. Receiving no reply, they shouted back 
 to their officer : 
 
 " They won't answer, Captain." 
 
 u Then burst in the door." 
 
TH#, FIGHT JN PROGRESS. 
 
 That was quickly done, anc'l the men 
 disappeared within the house. In about 
 ten minutes they came out,, and again 
 ahouted j 
 
 " No one here, Captain- Th< s birds have 
 flown. 
 
 " They can't have flown far. They must 
 be about here somewhere." 
 
 "My God!" exclaimed Ma;jor Mercer, 
 "that officer ia the man who kicked me. 
 Til shoot him while I can£ 
 
 "No, father," said Charley, seizing the 
 Major's arm as he grasped his rifle, "we 
 should not draw them upon us unneces- 
 sarily." 
 
 " Don't touch me, boy ; I Will." 
 
 The Major put his rifle out of the loop- 
 hole, and fired hastily. He had not taken 
 proper aim, but the officer's horse was seen 
 to stagger, and then fall. The xider, how- 
 ever, rose, and poiuted toward the smoke 
 house with his sword. He then withdrew 
 his men a short distance, and appeared to 
 hold a consultation with some iof them. 
 
 Shortly one of the number issued from 
 their disorderly ranks, mounted 1, and carry- 
 ing a white handkerchief or .rag upon a 
 stick. Major Mercer moimted upon a box, 
 and put his head through a trap in the roof, 
 which had been arranged for the purpose 
 of reconnoitering. When tho rebels had 
 approached within speaking distance, he 
 hailed him : 
 
 " Don't come any nearer 1 'Who are you, 
 and what do you want ?" 
 
 The man halted his horse, and an- 
 swered : 
 
 " I come from Captain Woolson, of the 
 Kentucky Rangers, to demand the surren- 
 der of Major Henry Mercer, his son, 
 Charles, and a Yankee spy, naime unknown, 
 and satisfaction for firing on the flag of the 
 Confederacy." 
 
 " Tell Captain Woolson, if he is a Cap- 
 tain, that I, Henry Mercer, rrefuse to ac- 
 knowledge his authority, or that of any 
 traitor. Tell him, also, that I fired upon 
 him, and struck his horse, and will be 
 pleased to have him come a little nearer, 
 so that I can manage to put a ball through 
 him." 
 
 " Captain Woolson also instructed me to 
 say that if you do not surrender immedi- 
 ately, he will burn down your house, and 
 then smoke you out of this den." 
 
 "Let him burn I He will suffer for it" 
 
 The Major then let down the trap, and 
 the man returned to his comrades. 
 
 The rebels were seen to divide, and 
 shortly advanced against the building upon 
 three sides. As they came, Charley Mercer 
 quickly ran up, through an aperture in the 
 roof, near which a light pole was fastened, 
 the beautiful Union flag which his mother 
 and sister had made. They could not see 
 it floating from the pole, but knew, by the 
 yells of the rebels, that it was plainly visi- 
 ble. Then arose from the smoke-house the 
 sound of the manly voices of Brant and 
 Charley Mercer, singing : 
 
 "'Tia the star-spangled banner, oh, long may it 
 
 wave, 
 O'er the land of the free and the home of the 
 
 braTe." 
 
 The answer was a yell of rage, and a 
 volley of musket and rifle balls, that rattled 
 harmlessly against the stqjit sides of the 
 building. The reply from the smoke-house 
 was as speedy, and far more effective. The 
 Major, with his cartridges, and Brant and 
 Charley with their breech-loading rifles, 
 loaded and fired rapidly, but with careful 
 aim ; while old Pharaoh and Harvey rammed 
 down their bullets, and worked with a will 
 that showed they were deserving of life, if 
 not of freedom. 
 
 The dismounted rebels soon sought what 
 cover they could, but continued their fire, 
 showing a contempt of danger that would 
 have been admirable in a better cause. 
 Three of their bullets had entered the loop- 
 holes, but no harm had been done, except 
 the clipping off of a piece of old Pharaoh's 
 ear. The main body, however, soon with- 
 drew out of range, and then the flames 
 were seen to issue from the house. As the 
 smoke and fire ascended, the Major jumped 
 up and down in an ecstacy. 
 
 " Let it burn !" he cried, " let it burn ! 
 I am glad of it. They have paid for it 
 already, if their miserable lives are worth 
 any thing." 
 
 While the house was burning, there was 
 a temporary lull in the attack, interrupted 
 only by a few dropping shots from the rebel 
 marksmen. As Charley Mercer was peer- 
 ing through a loophole, he perceived a man 
 crawling over the ground near them, and 
 occasionally leaping on under cover of the 
 smoke. 
 
 " There is a skulking scoundrel," said he. 
 " I will soon fix his flint for him." 
 
 " No, Massa Charles ; don't shoot I" cried 
 Jake, who was also on the lookout." "It's 
 Massa Bill ! it's Massa Bill !" 
 
 The crawler suddenly bounded up, and 
 
14 
 
 BOB BRANT, PATRIOT AND SPY. 
 
 sprung toward the building. He was in- 
 stantly discovered by the rebels, and several 
 voices cried : 
 
 "It's old Woodworth ! Shoot him down." 
 
 They then appeared from their places of 
 concealment, and twenty bullets whistled 
 around the old scout, but he was unharmed, 
 while the guerillas paid dearly for their te- 
 merity. Brant and Charley speedily opened 
 the door for him, and barred it behind him. 
 
 " Hope ye're all alive and safe," said the 
 old man, as he entered. " I was kinder 
 'feared I couldn't git to ye 'thout losin' old 
 Bess," — showing his long rifle — but I 
 brought her safe through. Te can't tell 
 what a splendid guide that flag o' yourn 
 was to me, through the smoke !" 
 
 The old man was heartily welcomed, and 
 consented to eat something, his voracity 
 showing that he needed refreshment. Major 
 Mercer then served out rations of brandy, 
 and the defenders of the fort rested from 
 their labors, with the exception of watchers 
 at the loopholes at each angle, who occa- 
 sionally took a shot at the skulking guerilla. 
 
 " Te've fit 'em off right well, Major," said 
 Woodworth, " an' I reckon ye ken keep on 
 doin' it, as ye're well fixed. I don't think 
 they'll be apt to trouble us agin afore night." 
 . " I am of the same opinion," said Brant. 
 " I think they are preparing for a night at- 
 tack. I wish we had some hand-grenades." 
 
 " The best thing ye ken do is to git all 
 the rest ye ken, till they come on agin. 
 One o' these yere niggers an' I ken keep 
 good enough watch onto 'em." 
 
 The garrison then made themselves as 
 easy and comfortable as circumstances would 
 permit ; and the day wore away into the 
 night, without any special molestation. The 
 night was cloudy and dark, and "Woodworth 
 at last told them that they had better hold 
 themselves in readiness for any emergency. 
 
 " Hev yer pistols ready," said he, " an' 
 knives ef ye've got 'em, fur it may come to 
 close work. Hark I I hear somethin', but 
 can't see nothin'." 
 
 The words were hardly out of his mouth, 
 when there was a great crash against the 
 door, and it was nearly burst from its 
 hinges. The little garrison was taken by 
 surprise, but had their wits about them 
 when the next crash came, and the door 
 fell. Brant sprung at the opening, pistol in 
 hand, but his foot slipped, and he had nearly 
 fallen. A stalwart guerilla raised a huge 
 bowie-knife, and that moment would have 
 been the last of Bob Brant's life, had not the 
 
 boy Jake suddenly leaped up before him, 
 and the heavy knife sunk into the black 
 boy's brain with a dull, sickening crash. 
 The next instant the rifle of old Bill sung 
 death to tho guerilla ; and then the negro 
 Pete proved himself the man for the emer- 
 gency, by discharging both barrels of his 
 shot-gun into the crowd that was pressing 
 into the dootway. The effect was terrible, 
 resembling that of a charge of canister, and 
 driving them back with shrieks and yells. 
 Old Bill sprting through the doorway, with 
 brandished knife, followed by the rest, and 
 a fierce hand-to-hand fight ensued, in which 
 the rebels, who had not yet recovered from 
 the dose givea. them by Pete, became panic 
 stricken, and fled in dismay. The victori- 
 ous garrison then hastily reentered the 
 building, canying in their dead and wound- 
 ed. The dead proved to be Harvey and the 
 boy Jake. Pete was severely wounded, and 
 the rest had', not escaped. Charley Mercer 
 had an ugly gash on his arm, and Brant 
 had been momentarily stunned by a blow 
 on the head. The body of Harvey was 
 then placed 'within the small addition, and 
 the door was more securely barricaded. 
 When Jake ivas examined, he was found to 
 be still alive 1 , but was senseless, and soon 
 breathed his Jast. 
 
 " Thar, now," said old Bill, " lies a little 
 nigger as I must confess I was disapp'inted 
 into. I didn't reckon he'd got so much 
 grit. He's free now, poor feller, but it's 
 sartin he arat Jiis freedom in this life, 
 though he didn't git to see much of it." 
 
 Brant bent ovsr the black face, and tears 
 came in his eyes. 
 
 "He died to save my life, and he did 
 save it. Do yon think he needed taking 
 care of, Pharaoh ? He has gone now where 
 he will be well taken of forever." 
 
 "Now, Mussa Brant, donty say that! 
 Donty say it jest now. I wish I hadn't 
 never said nathin' agin that poor boy, but I 
 was kinder sot agin that stock o' niggers." 
 
 " We're well outer that scrape" said old 
 Bill, "But 'twas hot work. They'll be 
 keerful not to come near us agin to-night, 
 arter that scrimmage. Let's take a drop o' 
 suthin' all round, an' be ready fur 'em in 
 the mornin'." 
 
 The fort was then " put to rights," though 
 not in the female sense of the phrase, and 
 the ladies, with Aunt Jule and the girl, 
 were invited up to breathe such air as the 
 inside of the house afforded. 
 
 Charley Mercer's arm was bound up and 
 
THE BATTLE CONTINUED. 
 
 45 
 
 placed in a sling, but he laughed at the 
 hurt, and said that he would show them in 
 the morning, if he had a chance, that he 
 could use his rifle yet. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 The Siege Raised. 
 
 As "Woodworth had predicted, the garri- 
 son was not again disturbed during the 
 night. At the first dliwn of day, all eyes 
 were strained to obtaiu a view of the ene- 
 my. Charley Mercer at first exclaimed 
 that they had all gone, but he was soon 
 undeceived by the old scout, whose practiced 
 eye perceived men still lurking around, and 
 he knew that the main body could not be 
 far off. They had taken advantage of the 
 night to carry off their (lead and wounded, 
 so that those in the smoke-house had no 
 means of ascertaining the amount of damage 
 they had inflicted. 
 
 " Thar's some deviltry goin' on now, 
 'mong them chaps," said Woodworth, after 
 a careful survey of the situation, an' it won't 
 be long afore they let us know what they're 
 up to, neither." 
 
 He was right, for they had hardly had 
 time to eat a hasty breakfast, when the 
 rebels were again seen defiling up the road. 
 They had evidently been reinforced, for 
 more men in uniform were among them, 
 and this time, to the dismay of the party in 
 the smoke-house, they brought a small braes 
 cannon on wheels. 
 
 " I'm 'feared it's all up with us now, Mr. 
 Brant," said the old scout, with a sigh, " ef 
 that thing '11 shoot any ways far ; but we 
 ken jest die like men." 
 
 " I am not so sure of that," answered 
 Bob. " That gun does not seem to be more 
 than a four-pounder, and they can hardly 
 hurt us much without shell, which they are 
 not likely to have. We can give them 
 trouble yet." 
 
 " That's true, sir, but a four-pound ball 
 mought smash even these yere logs, and I've 
 beam that splinters are awful things." 
 
 The rebels soon placed their gun in posi- 
 tion in the road, and the marksmen scattered 
 around the building and commenced to fire 
 at the loopholes. 
 
 "Now, Mr. Brant," said the old scout, 
 "do you an' old Pharaoh 'tend to them 
 chaps 'round the house as well as ye ken, 
 
 an' the Major an' Til jest bother that pop- 
 gun a bit. Major, you mark that man with 
 the rammer, an' I'll take him with the fire." 
 
 The Major took a long aim, and as the 
 rebel with the rammer stood in front of the 
 gun, he fired, and the man fell. Another 
 seized the rammer, but another shot was 
 heard, and the other dropped the rammer 
 and limped off. The last shot came from 
 Charley Mercer, who had thrown aside his 
 sling, and proved that he could use his rifle 
 yet. Another man approached the gun 
 with the rammer, and the Major fired again, 
 but missed, and the shot was rammed home. 
 As the man with the match stepped up, old 
 Bill's rifle cracked, and he fell in his tracks. 
 
 "Ef I don't mistake," said the scout, 
 " that feller with the fire ^ as old Mike Cur- 
 Win. Ef so it be, thar's one cussed sinner 
 gone to his account, an' a hard account 
 'twill be fur him, I reckon." 
 
 The rebels hastily withdrew their piece, 
 and fired, but the shot fell short, eliciting a 
 laugh of derision from the garrison, who 
 now directed their attention to the scattered 
 marksmen. 
 
 But those in charge of the artillery were 
 not to be foiled so easily. They soon found 
 a partial cover for the gun, much nearer 
 the smoke-house than the place of their first 
 attempt. 
 
 " We've got to ketch it now," said old 
 Bill, as he sighted^ his long rifle, ready to 
 drop the first man who showed himself. 
 
 Two men fell under the close aim of the 
 scout and Major Mercer, before the piece 
 was loaded ; but when it was fired, the 
 party saw cause to despair. It struck the 
 building with a force that made it tremble, 
 and passed through the wall. It was a 
 spent shot when it entered, but a splinter 
 struck the Major on the head and laid him 
 senseless. There was no time to think of 
 him then, for their foes were pressing them 
 on all sides, and another ball from tbe gun 
 passed clear through the logs, scattering the 
 splinters fearfully. For a few moments the 
 fire of the gun ceased, as some person of 
 importance appeared to have fallen before 
 Woodworth' s unerring rifle. 
 
 " Mr. Mercer," said the old man, " you 
 may as well look to yer father. We'll do 
 what we ken, but that thar cussed gun is 
 killin' us." 
 
 " As we can not go out and take it," said 
 Bob, with a mournful smile, " we will have 
 to stay in here and take it." 
 
 "Hark!" exclaimed the scout, eagerly 
 
46 
 
 BOB BRANT, PATRIOT AKD SPY. 
 
 placing his ear to the ground. " I hear a 
 tramplin', like horses. Yes ! it's horses, 
 sure as yer born, an' plenty of 'em too." 
 
 " More rebels, perhaps." 
 
 " I don't believe it. They ain't apt to 
 ride that reg'lar." 
 
 "Is it Blucher or Grouchy ? We will 
 soon see." As Bob spoke, he fired at a 
 rebel who was loading the gun, and more 
 by good luck than aim, brought him down. 
 
 Just then there came a roaring cheer 
 down the road, followed by a rattling volley, 
 and the rebels left their gun, threw down 
 their arms, and stampeded in all directions, 
 as a squadron of Union cavalry came in sight. 
 The cavalrymen scattered after them, cut- 
 ting them down and capturing them right 
 and left. 
 
 " Did you know Fort Henry was taken, 
 you rebel wretches?" shouted a Union 
 officer as he galloped after the retreating 
 guerillas. 
 
 The door of the smoke-house was thrown 
 open ; the women were brought up from the 
 cellar, and the remainder of the garrison 
 emerged and greeted their deliverers. Major 
 Mercer was brought out into the open air, 
 where he soon revived, but there was an 
 ugly woimd in his head. 
 
 Woodworth was recognized by the officer 
 in command of the squadron, who informed 
 him that Fort Henry had fallen, and the 
 victorious army of Grant and the victorious 
 gunboats of Foote were on their way to 
 Donelson. The news seemed too good to 
 be true. The officer said that he was on a 
 reconnoitering expedition, when he was at- 
 tracted to the spot by the firing of the can- 
 non. Thus, that which seemed about to 
 prove their ruin, had in reality proved their 
 salvation. 
 
 It only remained to gather up the frag- 
 ments, and seek a place of safety. The 
 bodies of Harvey and the boy Jake were 
 buried near where they fell, and the graves 
 were properly marked. The wounded Ma- 
 jor and Pete were p] aced in litters and car- 
 ried by a detail of the soldiers to the resi- 
 dence of Mrs. Mercor's brother, where the 
 rest of the family followed them. 
 
 Bob Brant accompanied them to the 
 house, but did not remain, as he considered 
 it his duty now, more than ever, to be with 
 the army. Accordingly he bid them fare- 
 well, and made a second visit to Donelson. 
 In the bloody battLe which ensued, he dis- 
 tinguished himself, and rendered efficient 
 services, as a volunteer aid. He entered the 
 fort in triumph thfo time, but with the loss 
 of his left arm, which was taken off by a 
 shell. It was more than a month before he 
 coidd go to Mabel, to be nursed again, but 
 when he did, he was happy to find that her 
 love was not at all diminished, but rather 
 increased, by the loss of his arm. In due 
 time, with the glad concurrence of all parties ; 
 they were married, and have not as yet seen 
 any reason whatever to secede from that 
 Union. 
 
 Major Mercer recovered a large portion 
 of his property, upon the Federal occupation 
 of Jackson. Charley Mercer entered the 
 Union army, and, of course, distinguished 
 himself. 
 
 Old Bill Woodworth lived to serve his 
 country to some purpose. With that pu- 
 rity and earnestness of nature which dis- 
 tinguish the true patriot, he labored, in his 
 humble but important position, steadily and 
 nobly. Let us hope to make our readers 
 better acquainted with him and his achieve- 
 ments. 
 
 \ 
 
ADVERTISEMENTS. 
 
 NEW 
 
 ARMY WATCHES, 
 
 $15 
 
 $25 
 
 $35 
 
 $45 
 $11 
 
 $16 
 
 $85 
 $92 
 
 $38 
 
 THE GREAT NEW ARMY 
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 in very heavy solid silver hunting 
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 GOLD COMPOSITE, same as above 
 exact imitation of the English Army 
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 FINE DOUBLE BOTTOM silver 
 English Hunting Watch, full Jew- 
 eled, CfLSONOUETEE BALANCE, $'25. 
 
 OFFICER'S WATCH, GENUINE 
 AMERICAN LEVER WATCH in 4 
 
 oz. sterling silver cases, full jeweled 
 jold joints, and double bottom cases, 
 
 gold 
 
 $35. 
 
 AMERICAN LEVER, same as above 
 with Chbonometeb Balance, $45. 
 
 Selves Hunting Watch, fine move- 
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 Ladies very small Hunting Gold 
 Composite Watch, beautifully engrav- 
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 scarcely be detected from gold, $16. 
 
 Splendid 18 Carat BLeavt Gold 
 American Watch, in 40 pennyweight 
 cases, $S5. 
 
 Same as above, with Chbonome- 
 teb Balance. $92. 
 
 Gold Hunting English Levee 
 Watch, bubt jeweled, screw balance 
 M. J. Tobias, $38. 
 
 $15 
 
 $15 
 
 $25 
 
 $35 
 
 $45 
 $11 
 
 $92 
 $38 
 
 LADIES' SETS, CORAL, OPAL, EMER- 
 ALDS, MOSAIC, PEARLS, &c, 
 
 IN GOLD PLATED SETTINGS, 
 
 VERY CHEAP. 
 LADIES' AND GENTLEMENS', 
 
 GOLD PLATED CHAINS, RINGS, 
 SCARF PINS, SLEEVE BUT- 
 TONS, STUDS, LOCKETS, 
 &c. 
 
 Constantly on hand Watches and Jewelry of 
 every description. 
 
 We will send any of the above Watches, on 
 receipt of price, free of expense, to any address. 
 Registered letters come at our risk if properly 
 sealed. All Watches registered 20 cts. extra. 
 Great inducements to Agents. Send for our 
 Circular. 
 
 Parties ordering will give their address plain. 
 All orders promptly and carefully filled. 
 
 GEORGE A. ELY & CO., 
 
 No. 181 BROADWAY, N. Y. 
 
 O-. 1863. IB. 
 
 GOLDEN BITTERS 
 
 BANISH THE CAUSE OF HUMAN MISERY. 
 
 We have advised, and do at this time, all 
 those who may be suffering with that terrible 
 disease DrsrEPSiA, which makes the days 
 wretched and the nights sleepless, and those 
 who are suffering from that dreadful condition 
 Nervous Debility, to try one, two, or three 
 bottles of our justly celebrated GOLDEN 
 BITTERS. We only ask a trial for the bene- 
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 been declared in our favor, and we are able to 
 produce the evidence. We justly claim oui 
 Bitters to be the best, purest, and safest tonic 
 in the world, and believe them to be such. 
 They are composed of the purest bitters to be 
 found in the vegetable kingdom, and are pre- 
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 For sale by all respectable Druggists, Gro- 
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 world. 
 
 GEO. C. HUBBEL & CO., 
 
 Proprietors. 
 
 Central Depot, American Express Building, 55 Hud- 
 son Street, New- York, 
 
 DEDICATED TO MESSRS. GEO. C. HUBBELL & CO. 
 
 Go where you will, in any clime, 
 
 On mountain top, — in flowery vale sublime, 
 
 Look up on every crag, in every nook, 
 
 Drawn on each stone beside the running brook — 
 
 Enter the forest depth, within, without, all round, 
 
 No spot where the name of Hubbell is not found, 
 
 Be wise, the published warning heed, 
 
 In health, in sickness, at any time, you need 
 
 The cordial he prepares. 
 
 Try his Bitters, a quaff fit for the Gods. 
 
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 WHOLESALE AGENTS 
 
 FOB 
 
 $to mthvzM Mi\m gittew. 
 
 COB.NWELL & JOHNSON, Washington, D. C. 
 ELLIS & CAIRNS. Baltimore, Mi 
 JAMES H LOB.ING- & CO.. Elmira, N. T. 
 D. J. H. CHtTBBTJCK, Binghamton, N. T. 
 FARRING-TON & TJTLET, Syracuse, N. T. 
 A. C. LLOTTD, Broadway, Albany, N. T. 
 S. O. GLEASON, Troy, N. Y. 
 
 18 6 3. I 
 
ADVERTISEMENTS. 
 
 BEADLE'S 
 
 D I 
 
 SONG- BOOK, 
 
 No. 12. 
 SIXTY NEW AND POPULAR SONGS. 
 
 THE LATEST PKODUCTIONS OF 
 
 S. C FOSTER, 
 F. BUCKLEY, 
 H. S. THOMSON, 
 
 J. R. THOMAS, 
 S. GLOVER, 
 G. F. ROOT, &c. 
 
 The simple announcement that this song book 
 contains the latest and best things of the lamented 
 Foster, would be enough to insure for it an exten- 
 ded sale. Besides this rich treat, Beadle & Com- 
 pany have been enabled, by exclusive arrangements 
 with the music publishers of New-York, Boston, 
 Philadelphia, Chicago and other cities, to reproduce 
 in Dime Song Book, No. 12, some of the most pop- 
 ular songs and ballads of the day, which are now 
 having an extended sale in sheet form, and can be 
 obtained in no other book. Among them will be 
 found the last piece published from the inimitable 
 pen of Stephen C. Foster, besides a choice selec- 
 tion from the hands of Thomas, Glover, Buckley, 
 Root, Lover, Work, and many others famed in 
 chorus and song. We have space only for the fol- 
 lowing : 
 
 THE VACANT CHAIR, 
 
 JUST BEFORE THE BATTLE. MOTHER, 
 
 YES, I WOULD THE WAR WERE OVER, 
 
 BROTHERS FAINTING AT THE DOOR, 
 
 JACK ON THE GKEEN, 
 
 JOHNNY SCHMOKER, 
 
 HE'S GONE TO THE ARMS OF ABRAHAM, 
 
 FOOTSTEPS ON THE STAIRS, 
 
 THE RING MY MOTHER WORE, 
 
 UNCLE JOE'S HAIL COLUMBIA, 
 
 ELLA CLAY, 
 
 COUSIN JEDEDIAH, 
 
 THE HAM FAT MAN, 
 
 BABYLON IS FALLEN, 
 
 WHEN OLD FRIENDS WERE HERE, 
 
 KATY'S LETTER, 
 
 BREAD AND CHEESE AND KISSES, 
 
 THOU WILT COM E NEVERMORE to the STREAM, 
 
 WE'LL GO DOWN OL'RSELVES, 
 
 THE BLUE JAY'S MELODY, 
 
 THREE ROGUISH CHAPS, 
 
 CUM ALONG, JOHN, THE PIPER'S SON, 
 
 OUR CAPTAIN'S LAST WORDS, 
 
 AH, HE KISSED ME WHEN HE LEFT ME, 
 
 ALL'S WELL. 
 
 THE OLD CHURCH BELL, 
 
 BLEEPING FOR THE FLAG, AND 33 OTHERS. 
 
 dp Price 10 cents. Sent post-paid on receipt of 
 
 BEADLE & 00,, Publishers, 
 
 118 William St., JT. F 
 
 50.000 AGENTS WANTED ! 
 
 RARE OPPORTUNITY. 
 
 75,000 WATCHES 
 
 Gi-OLZD FEISTS Sz PENCILS, 
 
 YEST, GUARD, AND NECK CHAINS, 
 
 CHATELAI1VE CHAINS AND FINS, 
 
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 California Diamond Pins, Califor- 
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 BEAUTIFUL SETS OF 
 
 JEWELRY, 
 
 STUDS AND BUTTONS, &c. 
 
 Worth $400,000, to be sold for One Dollar eaoh, 
 
 without regard to value, and not to be paid for till 
 
 you know what you are to get. 
 
 In all transactions by mall we shall charge for doing 
 the business twenty-five cents each, which must be en- 
 closed when the request is made to know what you con 
 have. After knowing what you can have then it will be 
 at your option to send One Dollar, take the article or not. 
 
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 Ten Dollars, and one hundred for Fifteen Dollars. 
 
 With the information of what you can have will bo 
 sent a Circular giving full instructions to Agents, and a 
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 Also, for One Dollar and Fifty Cents we will send you 
 either a new Artillery or Battery Pin, or a Naval or 
 Pontoneer'a Pin, or the new Battle Pin, with the likenee* 
 of either General in the Army and the principal battles 
 he has been engaged in. 
 
 Also, for One Dollar, we will eend a Solid Silver Shield, 
 or either Army Corps, Division, or Company Pin, with 
 your Name, Kegiment, and Company handsomely en- 
 graved thereon. 
 
 S. M. WARD & CO., 
 
 Manufacturing Jewellers, 
 Box 4976. 208 BROADWAY, N. Y.