However, the war continued. And General Hood was again in the thick of the battle. He led his soldiers into battle, knowing neither fear nor doubt. But bullets have no mercy, and in one difficult battle he was wounded twice. The second time - in the leg.
Things weren't going very well for the Americans. General Greene had arrived in North Carolina and was now leading American soldiers. General Hood felt unhappy because he had to sit at home and be inactive because of his wound.
One day a soldier came to Hood's plantation. He came from General Elijah Clarke of Georgia with reports to General Greene. As luck would have it, there wasn’t a soul on Hood’s plantation. And General Hood himself could not move yet. He was simply desperate. Not a single man remained in his possessions; everyone went to war.
Hood's plantation was adjacent to the Hobson plantation. Mrs. Hobson herself did this; in the South it was a common thing for a woman. Agnes Hobson was a fine woman. She knew a lot about horses and loved animals very much. She was a strong, courageous woman and a true patriot.
When she found out what difficulties General Hood was having, she immediately came to him and offered to take a report.
“Only for this I will need the Swallow,” she said.
“No, no, Mrs. Hobson,” said General Hood, “the journey ahead is long and very dangerous.” Even a strong man can't stand it.
“I’m not afraid of anything,” said Mrs. Hobson, “and I can stay off my horse for several days in a row.” And Swallow, I know, can be trusted. This is the fastest horse in all of Georgia.
- But you are a lady! - said the general.
- The lady is a southerner, don’t forget! So, so much the better. And more reliable. As a woman, I will be more likely to be allowed into places where a man is not allowed to appear. I’ll say on the way that I’m going to visit relatives in Carolina...
- Yes, but...
“And it doesn’t cost me anything to hide the report in my hair.” No one would even think of looking for him there. I just ask you, let me take your Swallow. Together we can handle this!
There was no one else to send, and the general, having conveyed the report to Mrs. Hobson, said goodbye to her and his beloved Swallow with a heavy heart.
The path ahead was difficult, especially for women.
All day in the saddle, with enemies all around. During the day, Agnes Hobson rode on horseback, and at night she stayed with friends or enemies. No one dared to refuse the lady a place to stay for the night.
On the third night she had to stay in some suspicious house. When she knocked on the door, a dog barked loudly. The owner came out and she asked him about lodging for the night.
Well, there's one spare room in the house with a clean bed in the annex next to the living room, he suggested. Lady Hobson happily agreed, she was so tired. The owner first invited her into the living room, where several men who had just dismounted were already sitting. She refreshed herself a little and, excusing herself, got ready to go to her room to lie down.
The owner pointed her to the side door from the living room, lit a lantern and told her that a clean bed was waiting for her there. She thanked him, but, taking the lantern, decided to go first to see how her horse was arranged. Soon she returned with the saddle in her hands.
“I’m used to keeping the saddle next to the bed, just to be sure,” she noted casually.
Then, wishing everyone good night, she went to the room assigned to her for the night. Using a flashlight to illuminate all the corners, she looked around. There was only one window in the room with closed shutters. There was a narrow bed in the corner. She blew out the lantern and, without taking off her clothes, lay down. And she placed the saddle next to the bed on the floor. For some reason she felt uneasy, but she didn’t understand why. Muffled voices came from the living room. She listened to them.
Soon she heard new guests enter. And suddenly she completely woke up. One of the male voices said:
— I recognized the horse that was standing in the stable. This is the horse of a dangerous rebel. The fastest in the entire state. I bet the horseman is carrying important military reports for the king's enemy.
“Yes, this is a lady,” someone remarked. “She said she was going to see friends in Carolina.”
— I know all the local residents well. Let me look at her, and I will tell you right away who she is for, the king or the rebels.
- Looks like you're right. Most likely, she is for the rebels.
“Then let’s go and have a look.” The voices fell silent.
Agnes Hobson closed her eyes tightly and tried to breathe evenly and deeply.
She heard shuffling feet and footsteps very close to her door. Then there was silence again. They were apparently listening. And then the door began to slowly open. She lay motionless. The door opened and three men entered cautiously. The first had a lantern, which he covered with his hand. He tiptoed to the bed, picked up the lantern and carefully examined Mrs. Hobson. Then he turned and left the room. The others followed him. They quietly closed the door. Agnes Hobson immediately jumped up and put her ear to the keyhole.
“I know her,” said the man holding the lantern. - This is Agnes Hobson. Who, who, she’s a real rebel! Surely she is carrying some reports to the enemy. She needs to be searched.
“Let’s take her to the camp,” another suggested. A British army camp was located nearby.
“It’s late,” said the owner of the house. “I’ll watch her here until the morning, don’t worry.” I'll lock the door and let the dog through the window. No one will pass by my dog, unless he turns into a small ant.
The others seemed to agree with him, as she then heard the lock click on the front door. Then a dog growled outside her window, and she realized that she was being tied up. Mrs. Hobson thought quickly. It is clear that she cannot open the door. To get out there is only a window. But there's a dog! Actually, she loved animals, and animals perfectly sense who loves them and do not touch them. She knew it.
She waited a little longer until everyone had gone and gone to bed.
sleep. When everything was quiet, she carefully removed the shutters from the window. A dog was heard purring. In the darkness she spotted a huge black dog and called out to him quietly. Then she started talking to him. The dog continued to growl, and she spoke quietly, affectionately to him. The dog slowly approached the window. She opened the window and extended her hand to the dog. The dog wagged his tail. She stroked him. Then, grabbing the saddle, she began to carefully climb out of the window, continuing to talk to the dog.
Finally she got out and untied the dog. The first thing she did was go to the stables, the dog behind her. She opened the door and whistled faintly. The swallow immediately appeared at her whistle. She slowly saddled her, jumped up and led her slowly, quietly. The dog followed them just as quietly.
Deciding that they had already gone to a safe distance, Mrs. Hobson lightly touched the horse’s sides with her heels, and she rushed off like a whirlwind!
The dog was left behind.
Agnes Hobson reached General Greene safely and gave him a message.
Since then, a story has been circulating in Georgia and throughout the South about two brave women, one black and one white. And about two horses - the Silver Horseshoe and the Swallow.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru