The Southern Cross Part 23

Soldier. There, across the river. Hark!

[The distant sound of horses galloping is heard.

Winth. Under cover! Load! Make ready!

[They all crouch behind bushes with guns in readiness.

The horses' hoofs are plainly heard, and then the sound of voices singing "Spur On." The sound comes nearer, then the hoofs cease.

Winth. They're in the river. Ready! Aim! Fire!

[A volley of shots.

Hop. They're stopped--some down. Charge! Capture!

[Exit soldiers.

Evans. Watch the kid in baby blue.

[He rises higher than the others and fires. There's a feeble return of the fire (off Right).

Winth. (springs to his feet). G.o.d! No! Bev!

Hop. Down, man!

[Winthrop staggers; is about to fall; Hopkins catches him; eases him to the ground.

Where?

Winth. Here in the side.

[Hopkins presses his handkerchief to wound.

It was little Bev.

Hop. No; you are wounded.

Winth. I'm all right. See to the boy.

[Re-enter soldiers with four Confederate soldiers wounded.

They place them on the blankets.

Hop. Come; look for the little boy who had the flag.

[He exits with two men.

A Wounded Soldier. Was little Stuart--killed?

Winth. (raising himself with an effort). I do not know.

The Soldier (barely able to speak). He joined us not a half hour ago--first venture in army--last one of boys--had the flag.

Winth. Are they coming?

Soldier (raising himself, painfully). Yes. Good G.o.d!

[He quickly hides his face on his arm.

[Enter Hopkins, bearing Bev's body in his arms. Bev wears the little blue uniform Fair made in Act I. There is a great blood stain over his heart. He is strangely young and childish looking--a faint smile on his lips. One of the soldiers is carrying a Confederate battle-flag, torn from its staff, very ragged and muddy.

Winth. (trying to rise). Dead!

Hop. Dead! (Looks down at Bev). Where?

Winth. Over there--on my coat. (Points to where his overcoat is lying under one of the trees, back to the right). Put the flag near him.

[The soldier does so, after they lay Bev's body gently down.

Hopkins comes to Winthrop, lifts head, giving him water from a tin cup.

Winth. Give some to them.

[Indicates prisoners.

Soldier (in a broken, gasping voice). I reckon some one--told her by this time--few of them got away--pa.s.sed by home. I'd rather be here, though--than to be the one to tell her. She'll come for him, I reckon.

[Hopkins begins to pace up and down at the back, looking anxiously off across the river.

Winth. She--will come--here.

Soldier. Young Stuart--never fought before--plucky young 'un, too. Would ride in front with flag--no keepin' him back. Might have saved him--bad.

Hop. (stops, gazing off across stream through the falling snow).

She's coming.

Winth. The boat!

Hop. Yes.

Winth. Alone?

Hop. No, an old negro is with her; she has a white flag up. They are very near.

[The snow begins to fall more heavily. At the back an old boat comes slowly into view through the trees. Fair, dressed in her little black dress, stands in the bow, with a handkerchief tied on a long wooden staff. She is without her hat, her hair blowing about her face, her eyes straining through the thickly falling snow; she is deadly pale; she stands erect and very still. Old Cupid, also without his hat, is at the other end of the boat rowing.

They move across stage from (Right) to (Left), disappearing (Left).

Hop. They are at the landing.

[All the men stand looking after the boat until it has disappeared.