Jr. Horatio Alger

“ On they went through the darkness, Old Ben following the trail with the keenness of a sleuth-hound. But it was far from a pleasant journey, as Jack soon discovered, as he stumbled along over dirt and rocks and through the dripping bushes. He was soaked to the skin, and the rawness of the air caused him to shiver. ”

“ Ruthven grew indignant.
"You are prejudiced!" she cried. "I will not discuss the matter farther with you. I wish no one to speak to me against Jack. He is as dear to me as Marion herself."
The young man drew a deep breath. "I am silenced, Aunt Alice. But I wish to speak to you about Marion. She is no longer a child, but a young lady." ”

“ If he deplores the evils of war, why does he not end it at once, and order his hordes of Yankee invaders to throw down their arms?"
"Because the life of the nation is at stake. I do not wish to speak severely of your leaders. They are actuated by a mistaken sense of right. Amid the clash of arms, Reason is silent. We are fighting, not against the South, but for its best good."
"You plead well, Colonel Stanton, but I am not convinced," answered the lady of the house.
At that moment Jack came up again, bringing Marion.
"Marion!" cried Harry Powell, and ran up to her. ”

“ Mrs. Ruthven was glad to meet her nephew once more, and made him tell the story of his service in detail. Not only the lady of the house, but also Marion and Jack, hung upon the young surgeon's words, and Jack's eyes glistened when he heard about the hard fighting which had been witnessed.
"Oh, how I wish I had been there! I would have helped to beat the Yankee troops back!" he cried.
"You're a born soldier, Jack!" answered Harry Powell. "And I must say I like you the better for it. I can't stand such stay-at-homes as St. John." ”

“ Marion's face flushed, and she bit her lip. Harry Powell set his teeth and then smiled coldly.
"I perceive you wear no uniform at all, St. John," he remarked pointedly.
"No. My duty to my mother keeps me at home," stammered St. John.
"If all who have mothers were to remain at home we would have few soldiers."
"It is a very great trial to me to have to remain at home," went on the hypocrite smoothly. "Yet, to my notion, a man is far better off at home than to be wearing a Yankee uniform."
"That is for each man to decide for himself."
St. John turned to Marion. ”

“ Ruthven would not listen to it.
"No, no, Jack! I cannot spare you!" had been her words. "One gone out of the family is enough."
And Marion, too, had clung to him, so that going away became almost an impossibility, although he longed for the glories of a soldier's life, with never a thought of all the hardships and sufferings such a life entails.
The meeting with the Confederate surgeon had filled Jack's head once more with visions of army life, and as he continued to fish he forgot all about the unpleasant encounter, although he remembered that repulsive face well. ”

“ He walked slowly toward the plantation. When he came within sight of the garden he saw Marion in a summerhouse, arranging a bouquet of flowers which she had just cut.
The sight of his cousin put his heart in a flutter and made him think of the talk he had had with his mother. Why should he not propose to her at once? The sooner the better, to his way of thinking. That Marion might refuse him hardly entered his head. Was he not the best "catch" in that neighborhood?
"How do you do, Marion?" he said, as he strode up to the summerhouse.
"Why, St. John, is that you?" returned the girl. ”

“ John?"
"Afraid? I am not afraid exactly," he stammered. "I was thinking of dear Marion. It would be horrible for her to put up with the hardships, and such sights!"
"But somebody must bear such sights and sounds. War is war, and our beloved country must be sustained, even in her darkest hour."
He trembled and turned pale, but quickly recovered.
"What you say is true, Aunt Alice. I have wanted to go to the front, but my mother positively refuses her permission. She is in mortal terror that the Yankees will come to our plantation and loot the place in my absence." ”

“ The tears came into Mrs. Ruthven's eyes, but she hastily brushed them away. "Jack does not look much like you," she declared.
"That is true, but he bears a strong resemblance to my dead brother Walter, and that is what made me certain he is my son. I saw him in town a day or two ago, although he did not see me."
"This is very strange." The lady hardly knew how to go on. The thought that she might have to give up Jack was a bitter one. "Have you spoken to Jack yet?"
"No. Isn't he here?"
"No, he went for a boat race, against his cousin, St. John Ruthven—I mean my nephew," she stammered. ”

“ John walked to the veranda of the homestead. He gazed down the road and saw a body of soldiers approaching, in a cloud of dust and smoke. Then a cannon boomed out, and a ball hit the corner of the house, sending a shower of splinters in all directions.
"They have struck the house!" shrieked Mrs. Ruthven. "We shall all be murdered!"
"Spare us! spare us!" gasped St. John, as a company of soldiers came up to the mansion on the double-quick. "We have harmed nobody! Spare us!"
"You big calf!" cried one of the soldiers. "We aint going to hurt you. Git up from yer knees!" ”

“ Alarming news reached the Ruthven plantation that night. A large force of Federal soldiers had loomed up in the vicinity, and the Confederate army had been compelled to fall back to the mountains and to the valley beyond.
"Our victory is swallowed up in defeat," said Marion, but even as she spoke a soft look came into her eyes. Perhaps, if the Yankees were coming again, she would see Harry Powell once more. Even though she did not wish to acknowledge it to herself, Marion thought much of her dashing cousin.
"What a man he is, compared with cowardly St. John!" she said to herself. ”

“ John Ruthvens," whispered one of the young soldiers, but loud enough for a dozen or more to hear.
"That's so," answered another. And then he continued, "What a difference between our Jack and his cowardly cousin!"
"We are here to defend property more than to take part in any battle," said Jack. "Do not let the guerrillas steal, no matter what side they pretend to be on. A thief is a thief, whether he says he is a Confederate or a Yankee." ”

“ Mackey appeared, carrying a knapsack filled with provisions, and a canteen of water.
"Sorry I had to keep you waiting. Jack," he said, as he set the articles down and proceeded to liberate our hero. "But I had the whole affair to smooth over, and I had also to get Gendron out of the muss," and he smiled grimly.
"Dr. Mackey, why do you treat me in this fashion?" demanded Jack.
"Because I want you to come to your senses and understand that I am your father."
"Do you think you are treating me as a father should?"
"A son who will not obey must be made to obey. ”

“ The tide of battle had swept off in the direction of Jack's home, and anxious to know how Marion and his foster mother were faring, our hero soon after left Mrs. Mary Ruthven's plantation, and with him went Larry Wilson and three others of the Guard.
From a distance came the constant cracking of rifles and the booming of cannon.
"Let us take the short cut," suggested Jack, as he pushed across the fields. "There can be no time to spare."
"It is hard to tell who is winning to-day," returned Larry. "At first I thought the Yankees were in retreat." ”

“ Mackey! He has been here."
"Here?"
"Exactly, and he claims Jack as his son!"
"The vile impostor!" cried the wounded officer wrathfully. "He is a villain to his very finger tips. It is to him that I owe my long term in the insane asylum. Where is he now?"
"That I cannot tell you. I refused to give Jack up, for I did not like the looks of the man, and moreover Jack did not wish to go with him. I told him he would have to prove his claim at court." ”

“ The tide of battle grew fiercer, and presently, just as Marion had gone to the kitchen to get something for the invalid soldiers, a heavy shot passed through the sitting room of the house, tearing down the plaster of two walls and damaging much of the furniture.
Of course all in the mansion were much alarmed. The negroes, especially, were panic-stricken, and ran forth in all directions.
"We is gwine ter be murdered," shrieked one. "Da is gwine ter shoot us all ter pieces!"
"Marion, are you hurt?" came from Mrs. Ruthven, who was in the front hallway at the time. ”

“ The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home. For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them.
"Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times.
"They had better not," was the sturdy reply. "If they do, they will find that even a boy can fight." ”

“ Soon after this Jack and Marion were on their way to Oldville, a sleepy town containing two general stores, a tavern, and a blacksmith shop.
In front of the tavern was a large green, and here a number of boys were playing various games.
"Hurrah, here comes Captain Jack!" was the cry, when our hero appeared.
"Are we to drill to-day?" questioned Darcy Gilbert, as he ran up and nodded to Marion. ”

“ Mackey."
"Well, there is no love lost between us, when it comes to that, boy."
"Then you are willing to admit that you care more for the fortune than you do for me?"
"Why shouldn't I—after the way you have acted toward me? No father wishes a son who hates him."
"I will agree with you there," answered Jack slowly.
"If you don't wish to live with me, well and good—after we have our money. You can take your share and I'll take mine—and that will be the end of it."
"And you will let me return to the Ruthven plantation, if I wish?" ”

“ The four oars dropped into the water and off went the two boats, side by side.
St. John, eager to win for the sake of finding favor in Marion's eyes, exerted himself to the utmost, and soon forged ahead.
"Oh, Jack! he is going to beat," cried the girl, in disappointment. "I am too much of a load for you."
"The race has but started," he replied. "Wait until we turn the rocks and then see who is ahead."
On and on went the two boats, St. John pulling strongly, but somewhat wildly—a pace he could not keep up. Jack rowed strongly, too, but kept himself somewhat in reserve. ”

“ Hark! the cannon are at it again!"
"But the sounds are closer," persisted Marion.
"That is true. They must be—hullo! there come our men, along the bottom of the woods—they are retreating!"
"Do you mean to say they are coming this way, Jack?"
"Yes, Marion. See for yourself!" And he handed the girl the spyglass.
Marion took a long look, and gave a sigh. "You are right, our brave soldiers are suffering another defeat. Perhaps they will come to our plantation!"
"If they do, we ought to do all we can for the wounded," answered Jack quickly. ”

“ After that Marion and George Walden became quite intimate, and the soldier told much about himself and the battles through which he had passed.
"Some of them are nothing but nightmares," he said. "I never wish to see the like of them again."
"And yet you saw only the fighting, I presume," said Marion. "Think of what those in the hospital corps must behold."
"I was attached to the hospital corps," returned George Walden. "I have helped to carry in hundreds who were wounded."
"If you were in the hospital service, did you ever meet a doctor named Mackey?" ”

“ Soon the soldiers filled the road and the whole of the green. They had been fighting hard and were almost exhausted. Others followed until the streets of the old town were crowded. Then began a systematic retreat northward.
"We've got the Yanks on the run!" was the cry. "Give it to 'em, boys!"
The rattle of musketry was incessant, and ever and anon came the dull booming of cannon. Soon more Federal troops appeared, and those who had come first moved toward the mountain road.
It was a thrilling scene, and Jack longed to take part. ”

“ He ran on deck, and Jack followed him, with Marion on the bottom of the companion way, not knowing whether to go up or remain below.
The bolt had struck the wreck near the stern, ripping off a large part of the woodwork, and had passed along to one side. Just below the deck line a lively fire was starting up.
"De wrack am gwine to be burnt up at las'!" ejaculated Old Ben. "We has got to git out, Massah Jack!"
"Come, Marion!" called back the boy. "It's too bad we've got to go out in the rain, but I reckon we can be thankful that our lives have been spared." ”

“ Ruthven kissed Jack tenderly and hurried off, and then with all speed our hero set to work to summon together the lads composing the Home Guard.
The task was not difficult, for the firing in the distance—which was gradually coming closer—had aroused everybody. In less than an hour the Home Guard was out in force on the town green, with Jack in command.
"Boys, we may have some hot work to do," said the young captain. "I expect everybody to do his best. I trust there is no coward among us." ”

“ He felt certain he could defeat St. John, but he wished to make the defeat as large as possible. "He'll find even a nobody can row," he told himself, with grim satisfaction.
To have Jack go ahead of him drove St. John frantic, and as he drew closer to the rocks he became wildly excited.
"He must not win this race—he a mere nobody," he muttered. "What will Marion think if he wins?" ”

“ The horse was taken, and the cannon moved on at a swifter pace than ever.
"That was grand of you, Marion!" cried Jack. He knew just how much she thought of the steed she had sacrificed, her pet saddle horse.
And now came several of the hospital corps, carrying the wounded on stretchers, and also several ambulances. In the meantime the shooting came closer and closer, and several shells sped over the plantation, to burst with a crash in the woods beyond.
"The battle is at hand! God defend us!" murmured Mrs. Ruthven. ”

“ Slowly the day wore away, and no tidings came to the plantation. Toward evening St. John put in an appearance.
"The soldiers have cleared out," he said. "There isn't a regiment of any sort within a dozen miles."
"I am glad of it," answered Mrs. Ruthven, and then continued quickly, "Have you seen anything of Jack?"
"Do you mean to-day?"
"Yes."
"No, I haven't seen him since he made such a mess of it up at our house, putting out the fire," growled the spendthrift.
"It's a wonder you didn't put out the fire yourself," put in Marion sharply. She did not like talk against her brother. ”

“ The youth grows up as a member of the family, knowing little or nothing of his past. This is at the time of the Civil War, when the locality is in constant agitation, fearing that a battle will be fought in the immediate vicinity. During this time there appears upon the scene a Confederate surgeon who, for reasons of his own, claims Jack as his son. The youth has had trouble with this man and despises him. He cannot make himself believe that the surgeon is his parent and he refuses to leave his foster mother, who thinks the world of him. ”