Flashman and the Angel of the Lord: From the Flashman Papers, 1858-59 by George MacDonald Fraser

Author:George MacDonald Fraser [Fraser, George MacDonald]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical, Humor, Adventure, Military
ISBN: 000721720X
Amazon: 0452274400
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2006-02-02T00:00:00+00:00

. “Be silent, all of you! I come from Kansas to this State of slavery! I mean to free every negro slave, and to that end I have taken your armoury! If the citizens interfere with me I must only burn the town and have blood! Now, sit down upon the ground, and be quiet all.”

They sat, too, scared and staring, all except one old codger who faced up to J.B.

“You're crazy, mister! What d'ye mean, scarin' folks half to death? Now, you put down that gun - why, you're as old as I am, and ought to know better!”

“Hold your tongue, friend, and do as you are bid!” growls J.B., but I heard no more, for at that moment came whooping and laughter behind me, and it was those noisy idiots, Cook and Tidd, to tell me proudly that the wires were cut, both sides. I shut them up fast enough, and then Dauphin was back with the guard from the Potomac bridge, pushing him into the yard. A moment later Leeman came striding across from the trees, flourishing his pistol at a terrified watchman and two fellows whom Oliver had picked up on the Shenandoah bridge.

“All's well!” cries Leeman. “Say, this is a lark, ain't it —”

“Shut up and put those men in the yard! And send Kagi to me - jump to it, man!” There was still the rifle works to attend to, six hundred yards up the Shenandoah shore - a matter which J.B. seemed to have forgotten; he was still hectoring the captives, now about a dozen strong, who were watching him like so many rabbits before a snake. Kagi came running, and I told him to take two blacks to the rifle works, send one of 'em back with the watchman, and sit tight until he heard from me.

He jerked a thumb in J.B.'s direction. “What about the captain? I've been telling him that our first task must be to clear the arsenal, and find wagons to carry off the arms, but all he talks about is his damned hostages! You must tell him, Josh - we ought to be loading up right soon, 'fore we have the town about our ears!”

“I'll talk to him when he's got his bearings. Stevens can collect his precious hostages and wagons together, and I'll get J.B. to go through the arsenal in the meantime.”

“All right,” says he, worried. “But, Josh - don't let him delay, will you? You know what he's like! We must be out of here by daybreak!”

“We will be, never fear!” I knew one who was going to be. “Off with you, John! Good luck!”

He went, with another doubtful look towards J.B., and I strode across to the arsenal, where Hazlett was standing in the doorway, rifle in hand, and took a quick survey around - I could just see Watson Brown under the Potomac bridge lantern; all was quiet towards Galt's saloon, its lights blinking through the trees, and there wasn't a sound

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