The Littlest Rebel Page #4

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She's going to sleep, darling.

And if there are dreams

in that... sleep...

oh, my darlings...

how I'll dream of you.

Oh, Daddy,

I had a dream last night.

I dreamed Mommy and you

were putting me to bed.

And do you remember how you

used to tell me fairy tales?

- Come on, honey child.

- First Mother-

What is it, Uncle Billy?

What's the matter, Uncle Billy?

Why does everybody act so funny?

Is something wrong?

No, honey child.

There is something wrong.

Is it about my mommy?

Daddy, what is it?

Did something happen to my mommy?

Something very beautiful, darling.

That's how you must

always think of it-

that Mama'll never be ill again...

or frightened or discouraged.

She'll never suffer anymore.

Just-Just think of it...

as beautiful.

- Daddy?

- Yes, honey.

You won't ever leave me, will you?

No, I'll never let you

out of my arms again.

- Uncle Billy.

- Yes, Massa Cary?

There hasn't been a Yankee patrol

through here since morning.

There's bound to be one soon.

Get Miss Virgie's things ready.

- You mean, you're gonna take

Miss Virgie with you, Massa Cary?

- Yes.

- Through the Yankee line?

- I've got to get her to my sister in Richmond.

- But, Captain, it's dangerous. You can't do it, sir.

- Yankees, Daddy!

All of you go back to your cabins,

but don't hurry.

Rosabelle, you go with them

and see that they don't talk.

- Uncle Billy, you wait outside and watch.

- Yes, sir.

- Come, honey.

- Don't talk now.

Well, I didn't know-

I didn't know that hole was there.

Honey, do you remember how Mama

always taught you never to tell a lie?

- Oh, I never have, Daddy.

- I know, and Mama's proud of you for it.

But if those Yankees should come in here,

you've got to tell them a lie.

- You want me to tell a lie?

-Just this once, honey, for Daddy's sake.

And in a case like this,

it really isn't a lie.

If they should stop here

and they ask you...

tell them I was here but I left an hour ago,

and you saw me cross the river.

Now be a brave little Confederate, darling.

Do this for me.

- Daddy.

- Hmm?

- Would General Lee want me to tell that lie?

- Yes, dear, this once.

All right, then

I'll tell a whopper.

They's comin', Massa Cary!

Here, help me with this.

Don't be frightened.

Act as though you didn't know they were here.

All right, Massa Cary.

Put that table back up

against the wall.

Remember now, act as though nothing

had occurred. Dance or play or something.

We will, Daddy.

- What you all doin'?

- You got your mouth organ?

- Yeah.

- Well, get ready to use it.

Sergeant, take your men

and search that wood.

Cary's around here, and this time we've got to

get him. He's given us the slip long enough.

- Hurry now. Move fast.

- Yes, sir.

All right, men, let's go.

Well, that was quite a concert.

And how is the littlest rebel of them all?

Fine, Yankee.Just fine.

Do you mind if I warm

my hands at your fire?

No, sir.

- You two all alone here?

- Yes, sir.

Yes, sir. My daddy was here,

but he left an hour ago.

- Is that so?

- Yes, sir. He was here.. .

but he left an hour ago,

and I saw him cross the river.

Well, now, that's very interesting.

I know another dance.

Oh, yes, sir.

She know a lot of dances.

Now, dance for the gentlemen,

honey child.

What was your father doing here?

My mommy was very sick,

and she kept asking for Daddy.

So yesterday Uncle Billy brought him...

and this morning

my mommy went away.

- Is that true?

- Yes, sir.

I'm sorry.

But my daddy says I must always

think of it as beautiful.

Your daddy's right. You see,

I have a little girl, too,just about your age...

and I'd feel awful sorry

if her mommy went away.

- Has your little girl got a pony?

- And a cart.

Does she get enough

to eat and everything?

You had the table out

in the center of the room, eh?

- No, sir.

- No, sir.

- What are those tracks?

- I made them with my foot.

Is that a trapdoor

in the ceiling there?

No, sir. There ain't nothing up there.

Nothing at all, sir.

- You've been lying to me.

- No, sir, I haven't.

- Your father's here now!

- No, sir, he isn't!

- You know he is!

- He was here, but he left an hour ago.

- I saw him cross the river.

- You tell me the truth, or I'll give you the worst-

-Just a minute!

- Drop your pistol.

Now, come down

and keep your hands up.

Back over against that door.

Turn around and keep those hands up.

Daddy.

All right, you can drop them now,

but no funny business.

Oh, Daddy, I didn't do it right, did I?

Yes, you did, darling.

Daddy's proud of you.

I said just what you told me to.

You were perfect,

and I was only fooling about the whipping.

I really wasn't going to.

Run outside, darling.

Daddy'll call you.

Come on, Uncle Billy.

Can you arrange so that

my arrest won't frighten her?

- I'll try.

- Thanks.

- Any papers on you?

- No, I'm not scouting this trip, Colonel.

I came home to bury my dead...

and take my little girl to

Richmond, where my sister is.

I see.

Well, come on.

Let's get it over with.

I'm afraid I won't be able to-

to bid my little girl good-bye.

I understand.

Will you tell her

I've gone back to General Lee?

I'll return soon.

- Yes, it would just about fit.

- What?

- The Yankee uniform.

- What do you mean?

- You know the Cartwright plantation?

- Well.

I left a uniform there

to be mended by the slaves.

If you stole that uniform,

I don't know how I could stop you.

- You mean-

- If you were wearing a Union uniform...

and had a pass through the lines...

you'd stand a mighty good chance

of making Richmond.

- Where would I get a pass?

- From me.

I don't think my country expects me

to make war on babies.

I don't know what to say.

Of course, you realize what it means

if you're caught in my uniform.

Aren't you taking an awful

chance yourself, Colonel?

War's full of chances.

I won't forget this.

I hope you get through.

- God bless you.

- There's just one thing I ask.

In passing through our lines,

whatever you see or hear, forget.

My word of honor.

Daddy, Daddy!

The soldiers are coming back!

Get out the back way.

Follow the woods to the Cartwrights'.

Daddy, is the Yankee man

gonna be nice?

A man couldn't be nicer

than he's been.

You see, you've made me

think of my little girl.

- I knew all the time you weren't gonna whip me.

- Come on. We've got to hurry.

Good luck.

You're nice enough

to be a Confederate.

Good-bye, Uncle Billy.

- Any sign of him?

- Not a thing, Colonel.

Well, you men better come in and warm up.

There's a fire in here.

Yes, sir.

- No trace at all, eh?

- No.

But I'm sure he's still around here.

They buried his wife just an hour ago.

Look! There goes somebody.

- A man and a child?

- Yes. They're headed for the woods.

That's a slave and his pickaninny.

They just left here. They're all right.

- Do you hear anything?

- Horses. Listen.

We've got to go back.

Didn't the man give you

a paper to show them, Daddy?

Yes, but the Yanks around here

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