78. CHAPTER LXXVIII.
NOCTURNAL EXPEDITION.
During the fortnight which succeeded the arrival of General
Maller before the Castle, several unsuccessful attempts
to take it had been made. Breaches had been effected in
the outer walls in several places, and the enemy had twice
rushed in and filled the area in the centre of which the
Castle was situated; but they had not been able to make
any serious lodgment in the immense structure itself. They
were driven out on these occasions by a destructive fire of
grape and musketry, and were forced to return, foiled and
bleeding, to their own camp.
It was night, clear and silent, but dark, for the moon had
not risen. The two young ladies, the aged Senator, Dr.
Love, and Major Bim, were seated on the eastern balcony.
Though exposed to the aim of the cannoniers without,
hitherto it had been observed that not one ball had struck
that portion of the Castle where Cuté had been introduced
into the presence of Alice. The exemption of that location
from the missiles of the enemy, was owing to the interposition
of Lord Slysir; and that fact had been made known by
subsequent messengers from the hostile camp, who came
with flags to adjust the terms of an exchange of prisoners
taken by either party in the skirmishes which daily ensued.
And it was quite obvious to Maller that nothing more
than the destruction of furniture could have resulted from
firing in that direction; for the balcony would have been
instantly abandoned.
While gazing at the distant camp-fires with various emotions,
for they were uncertain of the events transpiring at a
distance, the party were startled by a full, manly voice beneath,
in the Castle yard.
“Colonel Bim! Colonel Bim!” was repeated several times.
“He must be a stranger,” said Bim; “and yet it seems
like a familiar voice to me. But I have never heard of
Colonel Bim, although I hope some day to make his acquaintance.
What the deuce does he mean? And what is he
doing there? How did he get there without being seen by
the sentinels? I will go and unravel the mystery.”
He descended the winding stairway hastily, and soon
emerged in the yard before the stranger.
“Who are you?” he demanded, confronting the visitor,
who was quite as tall as himself.
“You are Colonel Bim himself! How are you?”
“I am not Col. Bim!” said Bim, hesitating to take the
hand held out. “But who the d—l are you?”
“I'm Major Fink.”
“Major Fink? I don't know him. I used to be acquainted
with one Captain Fink, and I also knew one Major
Bim. Yes!” he continued; “it must be so! I understand
now! We've been promoted. Give me your hand, Major!”
A mighty shake ensued, for they were both giants in stature
and strength.
“I'm the bearer of tidings from the President,” said Fink.
“Then come with me, Major,” said Bim, leading him by
the arm. “But how the d—l did you pass the sentinels?”
asked Bim, as they proceeded up the stairway.
“How, Colonel? Do you ask me that question? Why,
I have just passed through the enemy's camp, and a more
disorderly one I never beheld. I could put them to rout
with half their number of men.”
“I forgot your western skill, Major,” said Bim; “but,” he
added, despondently, “we have not one fourth their number
of men.”
“Where's General Toler?”
“He's some fifty miles off yet; but he is hard pressed
by General Fell and his negroes in the Shenandoah valley.
Here we are,” he continued, as they entered the large illuminated
apartment, where they were met by the whole party,
who had heard the words “from the President,” and were
impatient to receive their letters. “Ladies and gentlemen,”
said Bim, “permit me to introduce Major Fink.”
Alice and Edith and the rest surrounded the Major with
alacrity, regardless of the formal introduction; and after
brief but hearty salutations, almost seized the sealed packets
the faithful messenger produced. During the silence that
ensued, the brave Scout, who had been really half famished,
helped himself to the cold beef, and bread and wine he happened
to espy on a side table.
“I have the great pleasure,” said Alice to Bim, “of delivering
the Colonel's commission. Here it is!” And she
drew it forth from its envelope, and placed it in the hands
of the delighted officer.
“I thank you—I thank him!” said Bim, with moistened
eyes; “but there is one thing I must regret. There has
been a great battle, and I had no hand in it!”
“A great victory!” said the aged Senator, lifting his eyes
from his letter.
“And almost a bloodless one!” added Dr. Love, having
perused his own letter from the President. “I thank heaven
for it!”
“My father writes from the field of victory,” said Alice.
“And does not doubt that the war is near its termination?”
“Yes,” said Fink, joining them after his lunch, “they
have taken the back-track, as we used to say in the backwoods,
and it will soon be a run.”
“And,” said Edith, blushing and smiling, “our friends
will probably be here at the expiration of ten days.”
“Be here?” asked Alice. “The armies—”
“No; I don't mean that; but—but General—”
“Ah! I understand! The chapel! Yes; it must be
so! God wills it!”
The little party were made very happy by the news from
the Federal camp, and by the turn affairs had taken; and
the only drawback to their felicity was the dark cloud in
the West, directed by General Fell, who proclaimed everywhere
his defiance of the Federal authority.
“It might be surprised!” said Colonel Bim, after a brief
conversation in a low tone with Major Fink.
“What might be surprised?” asked Alice.
“The country house to the left of the enemy's encampment.
Major Fink says he peeped in as he came—”
“Did you venture so near the enemy, Major?” asked
Alice, in surprise.
“Oh, it was no venturing at all,” said Fink. “I was
merely acting the Scout, which is my second nature, and
ran no risk at all. I even got near enough to see General
Maller in his nightcap going to bed. But in the farm-house
they were playing cards, and the sentinels were
asleep.”
“Playing cards? Who were they?”
“They were very high officers, I think, from the number
of champagne bottles I saw on the table.”
“And these officers, you think,” continued Alice, “might
be captured without risk to the assailants? If so, you have
my permission to make the attempt. And they can resume
their whist here, by way of divertisement.”
“Away, then,” said Bim, rising.
“And I'll guarantee that not a drop of blood shall be
shed, if I may lead the expedition. And I want only twelve
men,” said Fink.
“You shall lead,” said Bim, “and select your men, so I
be one of them. I'll put off my officer's trappings, and go
incog.”
They set out immediately.
