University of Virginia Library

XII.
CAPTAIN RATCLIFFE.

In the new-comer I recognized the officer whom
Landon had attacked and defeated near Millwood —
Captain Ratcliffe, U.S.A.

He was about twenty-six, tall, imposing, and
exceedingly handsome. A magnificent beard and
moustache covered half of his face; his eyes
were large and brilliant; and his splendid blue uniform
set off the powerful figure to very great advantage.
Captain Ratcliffe was evidently proud of his
person, and, if he had left his sword and pistols
behind, might have passed for a military beau on
a visit.

But he came fully armed, and the sound of
voices and horses' hoofs on the lawn without indicated
that he had not come alone.

From my hiding-place I witnessed what followed.

The young lady remained quiet and did not
respond to the bow of the officer.

“Good-evening, Miss Adair,” he said; “my
visit does not seem to be agreeable to you.”

The young lady did not reply.

“You doubtless regard me as an intruder?”

No response.

“Ah! my uniform is hateful to you; or is it I,
madam, that enjoy that privilege?”

A growl accompanied the words. Captain Ratcliffe
was evidently losing his temper rapidly.

“Speak, I beg, madam!” he exclaimed, “unless
you are dumb, or you think me unworthy of your
ladyship's notice!”

Miss Adair's eye flashed at the scornful tone of
the speaker.

“I do not reply to you,” she said, “because this
visit is an intrusion, sir! If I was not alone and
helpless here, you would not come and force your
presence upon me!”

Ratcliffe flashed a dark look at her. Then, with
a sarcastic laugh, he said: —

“I have only dropped in to enjoy the smiles of
Venus after the frowns of Mars, madam. We have
had a little affair to-night down yonder at the Chapel,
— and by the by, we defeated and put to flight
your dear friend Landon, of the Night-Hawks. He
had the imprudence to attack us with about two
hundred men; we had only about a hundred;
and in half an hour we had the valiant jayhawker
running.”

“I was near,” said Miss Adair, with extreme
scorn in her voice, “and saw all.”

“You!” exclaimed the Federal captain.

“Yes, at the Chapel, sir, and I witnessed the whole
engagement which you speak of. Captain Landon
had about twenty-five men; your picket alone was
double that number; he drove your picket, defeated
you, and did not retire until you brought up a regiment
or a brigade!”

The calm voice, full of pride and defiance, made
Ratcliffe flush with rage.

“Then we are babies! cowards!” he exclaimed,
“and your friend is a hero!”

In the intonation of these words, I recognized a
hatred toward Landon as profound as his own for
Ratcliffe.

“I am a coward! afraid of him! Come, acknowledge,
madam, that you regard me as a poltroon!”

She glanced through the window.

“Do you always go guarded in visiting ladies,
sir?” she said, quietly.

Ratcliffe started with rage.

“Curse the guard!” he exclaimed, rudely. “I
can take care of myself.”

The young lady's lip moved slightly.

“And yet you Federal gentlemen always come
attended thus, sir.”

Ratcliffe scowled at the speaker, and said: —

“Do you think I am afraid?”

“You are the best judge of that, sir,” was the
young lady's reply.

Ratcliffe uttered a species of growl, and, turning
abruptly, called: —

“Orderly!”

A boy of eighteen appeared at the door and
saluted. He was elegantly clad, and his countenance
was one of extraordinary beauty.

“Order the men to retire to camp!” exclaimed
Ratcliffe.

The boy saluted, but stood still, his eyes fixed
upon Miss Adair. A strange expression had come
to them; they seemed to blaze.

“What are you staying for?” growled the officer.

“Shall I go too?” said the boy in a voice full of
music.

“You? — certainly!”

“I thought as I was your orderly, Captain —”

He paused; they exchanged a glance; and Ratcliffe
said: —

“Well, remain; but send the company back to
camp.”

The boy disappeared, and in five minutes I heard
the tramp of hoofs, which gradually receded and
died away.

Then the young orderly again made his appearance,
and said in the same musical voice: —

“The men are gone, captain.”

As he spoke, I observed again the strange expression
of his eyes, as he gazed at Miss Adair.

“Good!” said Ratcliffe; “wait outside.”

And he made an imperious gesture. In spite of
it the boy lingered, and it was only when Ratcliffe
directed toward him a look full of menace that he
sullenly obeyed.

The officer turned to Miss Adair.

“I am alone now, madam,” he said, frowning.

“With a young girl only,” she replied.

“A young girl and a gentleman!”

I laid my hand upon my pistol.

“Your beloved Landon,” Ratcliffe sneered, “and
his jayhawkers — the cowardly scoundrels! — may
be away; but where is your father?”

“Here!” a voice said.

And, limping forward on his crutch, the old cavalier,
with fiery eyes, and gray hair streaming over
his shoulders, entered the apartment.

He advanced straight toward Ratcliffe, who
gazed at him sullenly.

“Call St. Leger Landon a coward in my presence
again!” exclaimed the old gentleman, “and I will
cram the words down your dastardly throat!”

Ratcliffe recoiled, and made a movement to draw
his pistol.

Before he could grasp it, I reached his side at one

bound, placed my own weapon close to his breast,
and ordered: —

“Surrender, or you are dead!”

Never shall I forget the expression of his countenance,
the sudden pallor, the profound surprise, and
his unnerved look, as he staggered back.

“Unbuckle your belt,” I said.

He ground his teeth and obeyed.

“Throw your arms on that floor.”

Without a word he threw down sabre and pistol,
and they fell with a clatter upon the carpet at his
feet.

Suddenly, as the sound echoed through the house,
the young orderly appeared at the door.

“Surrender!” I said, pointing my pistol at his
head.

His reply was a military one. He drew his pistol
and fired at me. I returned the shot with equal
non-success; and, seeing that he had missed me, the
orderly disappeared at one bound, leaped on his
horse, and vanished in the darkness.

There was now but one course left me, — to get
away before the arrival of the men to whom the
orderly would give the alarm. I intended, for the
rest, to have Captain Ratcliffe for a travelling companion,
and I found little difficulty in persuading
him of the prudence of obeying.

My horse was quickly brought. I directed Ratcliffe

to mount; and, saluting Judge Adair and his
daughter, set out rapidly on the White Post road.

I held Ratcliffe's bridle in my left hand; with the
right I directed a pistol at his breast.

He made no sort of resistance, and we went on at
full speed through the moonlight.