The Border Spy; or, The Beautiful Captive of the Rebel Camp / A Story of the War

to Fight-The Sleeping Indian-Price Sus

ear the spray t

eps-I'll cross t

may disturb

ne! Yes, safety, honor, fam

rge form rose above the mountain oaks, standing as he was upon its most elevated point. But a close observer could not fail to notice that he was ill at ease. His eyes were restless, and as they wandered from moun

rn an elegant sword, which could be seen beneath a large, dark cloak, thrown carelessly over his

me upon the surrounding

is a land worth fight

proach of the person who had interrupted his s

you want,

ame, rough a

? rev

st speaker, as he graspe

eneral Price;

Price, "I fear

clutch your swo

you are treachero

ha! ha! Can I be e

aithful to me

nson. "Why I thought it

replied Price. "Again I ask

es

have I that you

his head, and

d Price, sternly

regions had offered me a position on his staff, to escape servitude, and for promotion's sake, not knowing him or his service, I might have accepted. In doing so, I should have lost heaven, and in no case could have r

not dece

You have

d flashed in the morning light, "no

led his rifle at his breast, "you had better spa

he added, speaking aloud, "you must not speak thus. It is true I have as yet been unable to fulfil my promises; but consider. We are here facing a powerful army-an army of fanatics-of devotees-

swer, but

wer for y

ave no confi

erve me, ne

forced t

ed-by who

eneral Price,

tiful country. Our enemies come to rob us of it. Shall we, like dogs, submit? No!

tle beauty her

nd-on eve

e bright spot

zed, the tear-drops started to his eyes, and he bent his head upon

?" asked Price, as he regarde

eturned Johnson,

ollection of the p

of the future! But tell me what you see here, that you sho

ly its

cannot see it

escribe wh

ested to know what yo

side, and for a moment falters. It will turn aside defeated! Will it? No! It is no coward, and the mountain yields-the mountain falls-the Osage breaks the barrier, and rushes on. And now, all conscious of its victory, it pauses for awhile, or gliding gently onward murmurs its own song of glory. And listen to the strain. How it rises on the air, and

Johnson. "What

e we can defy the world.

d tried soldiers. Those who have shared your victori

Better the enemy should over-estimate

idate!

oldiers of the army,

bot

es

urg

es

nte

es

and F

and Fremont can

ing of the word fear. Sturgis-you have met him once-do you wish to meet him again? Hunter-there is lightn

remont-wh

you dare remain; and his so

onstructing a bridge at that point across the Osage, and you will have sufficient time to visit their

hall I

ow

our inst

ber seventy-five thousand fighting men, well armed and disciplined. That we are strongly fortified, and for them to advance would be

wil

icers, and we resolved to make a stand here. To retreat farther will be to bring shame upon us, and to stamp us as cowards. And I believe there

your appeal. S

ont is dead, and you shall be richly rewarded. Tell me Sigel is

Fremont s

swear

r they shall

tion of the sente

gh

se of the rock upon which he was standing,

d devil?" asked Pric

me

the rock, and for some time re

Osage tribe, I believe. But you will find little good in him, altho

g," shou

gh

r colors, or I will send a bullet t

fle, but the Indian had risen, and fixing

ight for you-me kill for

m to follow. In a few moments he reached cam

the rebel camp was

upon a high bluff, and almost concealed from view by a thick growth of oaks. Around this tent were others, less grand in appearance, which were occupied by the leaders of his army. Stretching for some distance below, was an open field, over which were

d in their patterns. Some of them bore the appearance of the regular United States army rifle, while others were the ordinary hun

d carelessly over the scene. When Price reached his ten

ral and ten m

g to Johnso

t beyond our lines. I shall question this

lied Johnson, and t

ation of the Indian, who they evidently supposed to be a spy from the Union army. Unconscious of their prese

re the Indian. Their eyes met, and for some time they

is you

dian-b

an Indi

no c

riors and fight with me, your hunting grounds will be safe, and your fathers' graves sacred. If these invading robbers should conquer us, you wil

gh

mean by that?

sk ch

is you

d-w

ribe do yo

sa

t to deceive me. I can

wewu

ing at the foot of yonder rock, that you might hear all my conversation and report it. You have heard

of the men, stepping forward. "He is called F

ken through the crowd which encircled him, and with

him!" shr

s darting among the tents in such a manner, tha

all of you, mount and follow. I must have that red devil, dead or

ashed forward in pursuit. He was s

d Price, as he approached the outer line

to the river below, the detail ordered by Price as a pretended escort, were starting for headquart

ze h

concealment, and, as two of the guard sprang forward, it fell with crushi

evelled a terrible blow at the head of

ozen bayonets were instantly pointed at his heart, but,

live! I will question him

e Indian was bou

ll-leaf to arise. The Indian was only partially stunne

id Price, "you

ss!" answere

from very rage. Turni

d upon the fire betwe

the objects by which he was surrounded. The guard we

tell

w of the federal army, and of

e fight you. You ste

rning pale as dea

to the fire t

the order into execution, when a man bearing the

ral!" were his delib

he drew his knife and severed the cord

ou?" asked Pri

f course, general,"

oubt

elieve I li

es

The reason I called myself your friend was,

what is this

m the main body of your troops with so

mean?" asked

come on, quick," he shouted, turning toward

back!" shrieked Price,

but were already rapidly retreating toward

y mounted a cliff which overlooked th

cowards run!

he laugh of derision. He com

them. There is but one path leading down the mountain, and one along the ridge. Take the lo

and the different detachments ga

ut four miles from his camp. "There is a path to the right of that ledge, wh

er of Fall-leaf spring from the rock and commence his rapid descent do

"He is not with that fellow, and I saw him

of the crevices in the ledg

ade. In a few moments

round the rock-h

roots, had gradually settled down until its tops were some thirty or forty feet below its roots. It hung over a frightful precipice of o

ate an instant. On one side was the precipice-on all othe

Down its body and branches he ran, lik

shoute

en discharged at the ot

or he will escape.

hes of the declining oak. He paused an i

e could grasp another, it had broken, and his form went whirling through the air. But his form was checked by striking one of

ase of the ledge, h

e meet y