CHAPTER XV. - STARTLING SURPRISES.

Mara ran quickly to the window to see whether Mrs. Gray had not been mistaken.

The same squad of soldiers that had captured the Wizard Scout was indeed approaching at a smart canter.

"What does it mean?" exclaimed Mrs. Gray, nervously, beginning to wring her hands as was her wont when excited.

" We shall soon know," replied Mara, who was more calm.

"Is it Confederate soldiery?" asked Logan, rising upon one elbow that he might get a sight of the coming horsemen.

"Yes."

"Oh well, have no fear. It will be all right."

" They are here! they are surrounding the house!" gasped Mrs. Gray. "Oh, we shall all be killed?"

"Be calm," said Logan. "Are they dismounting?"

" One of them is, and he fs coming toward the door."

"Better not let him come in. You speak to him, Miss Morland, but leave the door open so if you need my assistance I shall know. Remember you can count upon me for all I am worth."

Encouraged by his words she opened the door to find the Confederate leader within a few feet.

He stopped at sight of her without speaking.

" What do you want here ?" she asked.

"We want you!" he blurted out. You and that other woman. Will you surrender ?"

"I—I do not understand you," she stammered, "We are not——"

" Don't bother with you palaver. We're in a hurry. That chap we took from here slipped us and we believe you are in league with him."

He started forward as he spoke when she cried out, sharply:
"Stop! we are honest women, who are true to the cause of the south. You cannot enter here."

He paused in his course, surprised by her bold command.

"But he was one of Abe Lincoln's spies! How came he her^ if you are not in league with him?"

" I do not know yet that he was a northern spy. He came home with a message for Mrs. Gray who has sons in our army."

" Yes—yes," said Mrs. Gray joining her. " He was a poor, inoffensive Negro."

"An inoffensive nigger!" exclaimed the officer. "You think you can make me believe that when you know he was a white man."

"A white man? Oh lord! no; he was as black as Pete!"

"You lie. and you know it!" retorted the other, fiercely. " He was a Yankee spy and you are in league with him. Come. I can't dally with you longer. Here, boys! help me capture the she-devils at once."

"No—no! keep back!" cried Mara excitedly.

But unheeding her frantic words half a dozen of the soldiers sprang forward to do their leader's bidding.

An unexpected actor appeared upon the scene, however, at that moment.

Brick Logan, who had overheard the foregoing conversation could hear no more. Forgetful of his wounds and the risk he was incurring he quickly reached the door.

"Hold!" he thundered, in a tone that rang out with a startling effect upon the surprised men. "Another step at the peril of your lives; be you friend or foe!"

A cocked revolver was in either hand and they covered the foremost of the squad.

His long, tawny hair falling about his shoulders, his flashing eyes and stalwart figure made him seem a veritable lion.

"Who are you ?" gasped the officer, pausing with dismay.

"One who will defend these ladies to the last," replied Logan, firmly.

"Another spy !" cried one of those in the rear. " 1 told you that there was a regular nest bf them here."

To the insulting words the impetuous southerner made no reply though they cut like a two-edged sword.

With all his mistakes Brick Logan was faithful to the cause he had espoused.

"What means this warring upon defenseless women?" he cried. "Hasn't Johnston's soldiers enough to do that they must make war upon women?"

""They are traitors!" blurted out the officer. "We found the Wizard Scout here and captured him, but he afterward escaped us, so we returned to git these women, who are no better than he."

"You do not know what you are saying now. One of these ladies is a stranger to me, but the other I have known to be true to our cause."

"Pray who are you?" exclaimed the other.

"A rebel of the deepest dye!"

" A rebel!" sneered the officer. "Me-thinks you might have been found in better company than hiding with Yankee spies!"

Logan trembled from head to foot as he listened to the cutting words.

You need not carry so high a head; the less trouble you make us the better it will be for you. We shall have to ask your surrender along with the women."

"You may find it easier asking than petting. I have but just escaped from a Yankee prison and to exchange it for a Confederate pen—never!"

"Ho! the cloven-foot begins to show! You——"

"Cloven-foot or no—a rebel or one of Abe Lincoln's hirelings—I am here to defend this girl with my life."

" Then it will be with your life for——"

"Hold! I'll not listen to another word! Speak again and I will put a bullet through your heart as true as my name is Brick Logau! I never eat my words!"

There was a deadly earnestness in his tone which sent a chill through the other's frame, while the ominous muzzles of the revolvers stared him in the face.

Just how this startling scene would have ended we cannot tell, had not an unlocked for denouement taken place.

Since early morning the firing of the foes had been plainly heard, growing more and more distinctly each hour, until now it seemed near at hand.

In truth it was so. Hardee, the commander of the Confederate left wing, bad been steadily retreating before Schofield's persistent opposition, until falling back to Woodsville, where he thought to make a final stand.

Schofleld was the first to recover from the shock, and throwing his troops upon the other before he could rally the Confederates were routed.

Woodsville was won, and Johnston was obliged to take another backward step.

Meanwhile the Confederate squad surrounding Mrs. Gray's house had been aroused to the sense of their situation.

Thinking more of their own preservation than the capture of the others, they hastened to join the main forces and were with them in their disastrous retreat.

" We can do no better than to remain here," declared Brick Logan. " If the Union troops capture the place we shall be taken prisoners. It is inevitable. Oh, that 1 were able now to shoulder a musket."

Chafing thus like a lion, bearded in his den, he watched and waited with Mara and Mrs. Gray for the result of the battle.

They knew that a fearful fight was being waged and Logan soon saw that the Confederate lines were weakening.

"We are beaten!" he exclaimed, hoarsely. "Johnston is going to be driven from Marietta as true as fate."

24
UNDER TWO FLAGS

"And then?"

" Defeat—defeat in the end! Ha! the boys are routed! The firing on one side has almost ceased. The Yanks have won the day! We are lost!"

Poor Mrs. Gray wrung her hands more wildly than ever; Mara was more calrn though she shuddered as she thought of the possible fate awaiting them.

" Here they come!" said Logan with a forced calmness. "Be hopeful for they will at least treat you well, ladies. As for myself, of course a soldier expects to meet with the fortunes of war."

Foremost among Schofleld troops was the division in which Colonel Warson led his regiment.

Though still carrying his arm in a sling the latter had persisted in leading his regiment and no one did better service than he.

Riding at the head of his troops he it was, who came sweeping down upon that portion of Woodsville where stood Mrs. Gray's cottage.

As he dashed up he caught sight of Logan, who had defiantly stationed himself in the doorway.

"Halt!" he cried reining in his horse abruptly. "Here——"

Whatever command was to follow never left his lips.

A second glance at the burly southerner brought him a startling discovery.

"Brick Logan, is that you?"

The surprise of the other allowed him to simply say: "Harry Morland!"

The sound of that name reaching Mara's ears, she rushed to the door.

Before he could recover from his surprise, she cried: "Harry, my brother! safe!"

He could only murmur: "Mara!"

A moment later they were locked in each other's arms.