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"Then what shall I do!" the poor wretch exclaimed, in tones that made the heart of the old man thrill for nature and pathos were in them. "Now that I am trying in earnest to do better, no one will give me a word of encouragement, nor a helping hand. Heaven help me! for I am forsaken of man." Mr. Lankford stood thoughtful and irresolute for some moments. At length, he said
But the night was coming down, and suddenly the long, lean figure of a man on the long, lean figure of a horse shot from the trees on their right and drew up by the side of Sherburne and Harry. "Lankford, sir, Jim Lankford is my name," he said to Sherburne, touching one finger to his forehead in a queer kind of salute.
The certificate was, of course, obtained. "And you have joined, sure enough, John," Mr. Lankford said, in a changed tone, as he glanced over the certificate. "Indeed I have, Mr. Lankford." "And you seem in earnest." "If I was ever in earnest about any thing in my life, I am in earnest now." "Keep to your pledge, then, John, and all will be well.
But the whole was a mystery to his poor wife, who dared not even to hope for any real change for the better. On Saturday, towards night, he laid by his work, put on his coat and hat, and went into the front shop. "So you have really worked a week, a sober man, John?" Mr. Lankford said. "Indeed, I have. Since last Sunday morning, no kind of intoxicating liquor has passed my lips."
"The horses are all right now and I think we'd better be moving, Mr. Lankford." They started, but did not go faster than a walk while they were in the gorge. Harry's eyes had grown somewhat used to the darkness, and he could make out the rocky walls, crested with trees, the higher branches of which seemed almost to meet over the chasm.
He could not hear the slightest sound of pursuit, and he was convinced that the Union cavalry had lost their trail. So was Sherburne. "We owe you a big debt, Mr. Lankford," said the captain. "I've tried to serve my side," said Lankford, "though, as I told you, I'm not goin' on the firin' line. It's not worth while for all of us to get killed.
They urged their horses now to the uttermost, and Harry soon saw the waters of the creek shining through the darkness. Everything was falling out as Lankford had said. The pursuit was unseen and unheard behind them, but they knew it was there. "Slow now, boys," said Sherburne, as they rode into the stream. "We don't want to make too much noise splashing the water.
Harry saw that the man had a thin, clean-shaven face with a strong nose and chin. "I 'low you're runnin' away from the Yankees," said Lankford to Sherburne. Sherburne flushed, but no anger showed in his voice as he replied: "You're right, but we run for two reasons. They're five to our one, and we have business elsewhere that mustn't be interrupted by fighting." "First reason is enough.
Are there many boulders in here, Mr. Lankford?" "Not enough to hurt." "Then you lead the way. The men can come four abreast." The water was about a foot deep, and despite their care eight hundred hoofs made a considerable splashing, but the creek soon turned around a hill and led on through dense forest.
At first they made a show of resistance, but upon being informed that if they did not immediately surrender, they would be shot down, they yielded themselves prisoners. They were brought back to Stanford, and there examined. Among their effects were found some fine linen shirts, marked with the initials of Lankford. One had been pierced by a bullet and was stained with blood.
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