Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11 Captain Campbell studied the doll. Thomas could see the dread in the eyes of the men gathered around them. "I fear they took her, son," Captain Campbell said. "The rebel cavalry has been kidnapping escaped slaves. Free Negroes, too, all over these parts. They're rounding them up and taking them south to be sold." Thomas's mind spun. He swayed, and Henry grabbed his elbow to steady him. "We must do something, sir," said Henry. Other men murmured in agreement.

"I'm sorry," the captain said. "But there's a battle just ahead. Our orders are to double step it, to get to Gettysburg tonight." "It won't take us long to find her…." said Henry. A chorus rose up. "I'm in!" "Let's go!" "Attention!" Captain Campbell shouted. The men fell silent. "There is a battle just ahead! We have our orders!" "Sir," Henry said, glancing at Thomas, "what does this war mean if we turn our backs and let those men carry that little girl away? What are we fighting for, anyway?" The men seemed to hold their breath, waiting for Captain Campbell to speak. The captain shook his head. And that was it for Thomas.

He took off into the woods, ignoring the voices of the men calling after him. He smashed through bushes, following the trampled path that the horses had made through the brush. His mind kept flashing back to Clem, to the moment when those men put the chain around his neck. That could not happen to Birdie! Thomas heard voices coming from deeper into the woods. He slowed his steps, and as he came over a small hill he could see them: at least ten men. They were standing around as their horses drank from a rushing stream. His eyes fell on a sack of flour tied to the saddle of one of the horses. But then the package lifted its head. Birdie! She was looking around. She moved her legs and arms.

Thomas could see no blood on her. He almost called out but caught himself. He squinted. They had tied a rope around her neck. Anger boiled up inside him. He wanted to charge at the men. But he stopped himself. He stood very still. And then his fury turned to hopelessness. The men would shoot him before he got anywhere near Birdie. And even if by some miracle he managed to sneak down and free her, how far could they get? There was only one choice. Thomas stood and walked toward the men. "Thomas!" Birdie shouted, smiling through her tears, as though Thomas could really save her. Somehow he managed to smile back. Thomas put his hands up. "You can take me, too," he said, struggling to keep his voice from breaking, to be strong for Birdie.

He felt the men's hands on him, and he had a strange wilting feeling, as if he was a plant suddenly withering away in the sun. It was how he'd felt when he was with Mr. Knox — weak and helpless. A tall rebel soldier strode up to him. Recognition grabbed Thomas by the throat.

The straggly beard. The cruel glint in his eye. It was him — the same man who'd beaten Henry, who'd put the pistol to his head, ready to pull the trigger. He sneered at Thomas. "Well, look here," he said, grabbing Thomas roughly by the arm, squeezing so hard Thomas thought his bone would snap. A burly man hustled up behind the tall soldier. He had a chest like a barrel and muscles that bulged through his tattered gray jacket. "This is the one I told you about," sneered the tall man. He put his face close to Thomas's. His teeth were stained yellow and brown. His breath stunk worse than a dog's. "Thought you were so smart!" he growled. "I'll show you how smart you are!" He reached around and took his pistol from his belt.