The Littlest Rebel

heat. The 'pike was ankle deep with dust and the fine, white powder, churned into floury softness by artillery and the myriad iron heels of war, had settled down

maller truck farms which fed the capitol, but of late months nearly all this traffic had disap

dan, with that lately developed arm of the Federals, the cavalry, raided right and left and struck hard blows at the crumbling cause where they were least expected. Yet in this same dark hour there had been a ray of light. Once the Confederacy had come within hairbreadth of overwhelming succ

gan to scourge it with his hosts and threaten a raid into Pennsylvania, Sheridan broke loose from the restriction of tele

fense,-for all the world like two fighting dogs hunting for an opening in the fence. And all the time the grim, quiet man in blue kept contracting his lines around th

life on the 'pike was a small cloud of dust which drifted lazi

stared up the long, hot road ahead of him with eyes in which there was

d gingham dress who limped painfully along beside the man, her sun

iness and hunger. The turning point in Herbert Cary's life had come. Thanks to a generous enemy; Virgie and he were now reasonably sure of food if once they could reac

ce yet to be covered and their chances of gaining friendly lines before encountering scouting parties of Federals. Behind him, a few miles south on the other bank of the James at Light House Point Sheridan was in camp with two brigades and Cary knew this fast riding, har

for a while because he was consumed with thirst and

houlder. The child stood up on the broad, flat stones and then gave a little cry of pain. She raised o

ere it is," he cried, as he caught sight of a big rock behind a stone wall with a seepage of water under it among some trees at one side. "Just sit still a minute-till

for a moment and then put a so

o tired, D

ed his eyes. "I had to catch my breath, but I'm really

in her hand, rocking to and fro, but bravely saying nothing unt

you much, de

hief," answered Virgie in a small vo

at on the head which seemed to take most of the pain away.

off his campaign hat of felt and

ed her leg with a resounding whack. "There are 'skeeters r

ere are much worse things in this world than those little fellows and if you don't

the little tot, wi

e on his feet and the hat threatened to slip through his fingers, but his daughter's great, dark

o get the grime off first. Just d

protested Virgie with a littl

eased at her daintiness. "That hat's an old ve

threatened to capsize this

oken skin and made her twitch involuntarily, "but bathing wil

t jumps up and down harder than ever. But o

I tell you? Now

expect you'd been willing to walk all the way to Richmond on a foot that would make a whole regiment straggle. Just see where you've cut it-right

ear a strip from his shirt from which to make a bandage. But

the willful destruction of his garment. "Don't d

petticoat wouldn't make an arm bandage for Susan Jemima. Now-up with your hoofie and let's play I'm a surgeon

irl gave herself up to thought, emerging from her st

ad

es

the war is over, we could

own bald in the service? And hasn't she almost lost an arm-or is it a leg I see dangling so terribl

r a pass just like mine. Do you hear that, Cap'n Susan," she crooned to the doll, unconscious of the convulsion o

er with a little sigh, for

o Richmon', Dadd

her answered. "But they're real ol

et to it

ightfoot! Anything-even one of the old plantation mules would do if he could only perch her up on its back and take her

g out. And then-in the morning, when the old sun comes sneaking up through the trees, we'll fool him! We won't wait till he can make it hot, but we'll get right up with the birds and the

ugh her face brightened at the thought of any kin

r father gravely. "See-t

to chew it as it went down. "You take a big drink of nice cold wate

small daughter onl

ay than that. Susan an' me used to do

had forgotten that more than half the childi

answered, with simple na?veté. "

he had picked up an old tin can from ne

n't green," she cried as he looked down in serious doubt. "You

ng but snowy linen of the finest

mented his hostess. And

t at supper time. Pass your plate an' al

g for," her guest replied, thankfully ex

ry best I've tasted for a yea

r, no-th

ray pardon me, I

. "Take plenty of butter. 'Cause bat

d-goodness gracious! What is this I see

"And there's the ham. I smoked it myself

in front of her and held daintily in her

y lumps? And do

a little cream.

d added a little moue of concern

id this surprising young hostess. "That but

tered old tin can. "Permit me, Miss Cary, to offer you a glass of fine old blackberry wine which I

denly sat back with a look of p

pathetically, "don't let's

d he took the small face between his hands and kiss

nd him with a frown and spoke with g

such terribly reminiscent stuf

e's too shiftless. And now, fair lady, will you honor me

fted the can of water in both hands. "Your he

her father, who already had his finger at his lips. Voices had come to them from do

be friends, although he knew only too well that such a possibility was full of doubt. There were too many scouting parties of Federals ready to pounce on Rebel patrols in these pe

up his finger again, as she seem

to him and whispered hotly in

with him behind the large ledge of rock from under which the spring flowed out. Looking behind them he saw that with good luck they could reach the shelter of the woods and get up over the hill with

ked along, their caps thrust back, their coats open and their Sharps' carbines carried in the variety

l on the spring. "We can get some decent water, now. That James

rning while he hid in the attic of the overseer's cabin

he whispered. "We'll

tested in low tones,

the rest of the world could not trust so faithfully to human

g it between them and the troopers, managed to cover most of the open space between the spring an

d for a while. As soon as we make the coffee we'll b

t was well the sight of the cool water held their eyes for if they had only looked up they might have seen Virgie wresting her ha

he rock. Fill up the canteens. He

et, cold water in all its purity. Another opened the knapsacks and took out a can of coffee, biscuits and some scraps of meat-not much with which to make a meal but still so much more than many

he tossed his firewood into a heap. "A man and his friends ca

paused. Then, with a grin on his face, he jabbed his saber int

ma till her arms and legs wiggled spasmodically and he

but this outrageous insult combined with the terrible sight of poor Susan Jemima impaled on a Yankee sword was too mu

at the astonished troopers, who caught up thei

ise and then the four broke

ing," shouted Dudley, without, however, stopping the tortur

Virgie with her dark eyes like twin stars of hate. "You'r

delay and searching questions and more of the old insults which always made his blood boil-which always made the increasing burden of despair still harder to bear. But there was no use in putting off the trial-Virgie had

ches crackling underfoot. "A Johnnie Reb, eh-walking r

head to foot with a sneer

he asked, "

t reply, "acting as escort for this c

breast of his coat and h

ring your lines-a pass signed

y a keen look which, to the Confederate officer, did not bode well for the prospect of immediate release. It see

the pass and studied it carefully, while the troopers gather

onnell, who had covered Cary with his carbine. "'Tis a p

all Federal lines, and assist them as far as po

is mouth fell open and he uttered a shout of surprise. His eyes brightened and he stepped back from the group an

d Bob' on the other" he excla

so-a

e officer whose name was on the pass looked at the questioner with an ugly glitter in his eyes. He was beginning to taste already the swe

he said he wasn't there-you remember, he was the only one who looked-he lied and as soon as he got us out of the way he let him come down and he

e value of Virgie's pass grew too strong to warrant this agony of

, isn't the pas

y answered with baleful readines

hen I would like to have

buttoned the pass up in his coat. "Oh, no, you don't," he said, with

do you

isoner, Mister Johnnie Re

inside him and his lips twitched. Richmond-and foo

el spy, that's why,"

p at the Corporal. "I guess you know what's good for you, with three gu

cut the supper and take this man to camp. There'll be a sunrise ha

Sure I've something to say to ye," and he le

san Jemima and she had got them Virgie looked up at he

n a small, puzzled voice,

ight, honey, I'm sure." But he had caught enough of the Corporal's altercation with Trooper O

udley. "Ye know well that if the pass is all righ

uble," Dudley answered, with gr

n, who?" wa

udley, with an ominou

olonel

hy. He killed my brother, shot him. Shot him

the trooper's nose and c

e this," he chortled, "and now I'm

," the trooper counseled.

have the man and this," and he slapped the paper, "it'll m

e over the wall, but Troop

e may get i

pt on towards the stone wall and the road.

nted to the rear. "Don't forgit that the Colonel's out yonde

d be held for disobeying orders and how quickly all his plans for vengeance could be smashed. He stood s

said. "I'll cut through the woods-make my rep

ome along with me. Never mind

pass here, get out of sight at once and give Harry warning. Now, boys-come along with me-we'll take it on the trot," and climbing quickly over the wall th

he sentry paced back and forth. Behind them Trooper O'Connel

gently at her

they-are they goin' to carr

seen either by Virgie or O'Connell he picked up a jagged stone the size of his fist and hid it under his knee against the rock. It would be a poor weapon at best, but Cary h

ce. All that Virgie could see was a knapsack open on the ground and food-real food displaye

leeve, "while we are waitin' do you recko

impatience. It would be too much, even in those bitter ti

, "I don't see why they shouldn't be polite to us. We were

ok on Virgie's face and the hunger appeal in her big dark eyes. At once a broad s

in' to eat,

d. The jagged stone

you, just the same." He dropped down on the rock again and hid his face in his hands. Another moment and the kindhearted trooper might have

ly. "Sure an' I'd like to see ye get through, though

knapsack over towards Virgie with the muzzle of his c

swooped down on the knapsack and exp

ck from her eyes and looked thankfully up at this curious person who had so much food tha

ell, at your

her searching hands found something wonderful in the knaps

biscuits! Take on

eyes gr

e allowed him to eat soup, let alone a rather hard biscuit, but he looked up w

vered food, and with a happy sigh she raised the biscuit to her lip

nd he clambered quickly over the wall an

demanded the

of cavalry.

it, man. Can

ture which commanded them to stay where they

fter a quick look, and he dr

iscuit all untasted, sprang up from the ground as if she would run out on the roa

r in the woods. No argymint, sir," he said decisively, as he s

want to speak to Colonel Morrison. I must speak to h

ck with the carbine across his breast. "Don't make me use forc

e trooper eye to eye-then turned with hanging

guess we won't get to see

her father step by step back into the woods, Virgie was running madly towards the stone wall and before either of the soldiers co

rison! Colon