Darke wheeled not from, but toward them, as though to charge them. The
stern courage of the Davenant blood burned in his cheeks and eyes.
Then, with a harsh and bitter laugh, he turned and pushed his horse
close up beside that of his father.
"I would call this meeting and parting strange, if any thing were
strange in this world!" he said, "but nothing astonishes me, or moves
me, as of old! The devil has brought it about! he put a knife in my
hands once! to-night he brings me face to face with you and my
boy-brother--and makes you curse and renounce me! Well, so be it! have
your will! Henceforth I am really lost--my father!"
And drawing his pistol, he coolly discharged barrel after barrel in the
faces of the men rushing upon him; wheeled his horse, and dug the spurs
into him; an instant afterward, with his sneering face turned over his
shoulder, he had disappeared in the woods.
Two hours afterward I was on my way to Petersburg.
The enemy were already falling back from their adventurous attempt to
seize the Southside road.
In the morning they had retired across the Rowanty, and disappeared.
So ended that heavy blow at Lee's great war-artery.
[Illustration: THE FLIGHT]
BOOK IV.
THE PHANTOMS.
I.
RICHMOND BY THE THROAT.
Pages:
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