Earth as one explosion followed another in earsplitting succession Torrents of sparks shot to the sky and

ascended slowly. Lazily. through blood-colored clouds of smoke she thought she heard a feeble call from the
next room but she paid it no heed she had no time for Melanie now no time for anything expect a fear that
licked through her veins as swiftly as the flames she saw she was a child and made with a fright and she wanted
to burry her head in mother’s lap and shut out his sight if she were only home! Home with mother Through
the nerve-shivering sounds. She heard another sound that of fear-sped feet coming p the stairs three at a
time. heard a voice yelping like a lost hound prissy broke into the room and flying to scarlett. Clutched her arm
in a grip that seemed to pinch out pieces of flesh “The Yankees--“ cried Scarlett “No’m. its our gempmms’”
yelled Prissy between breaths. Digging her nails deeper into scarlett. Dey done set off aem sebenty freight cahs of
cannon bails an ‘gunpowder an. Jesus. We’s all gwine ter buhn up” she began yelping again shrilly and pinched
scarlett so hard she cried out in pain and fury and shook off her hand the Yankees hadn’t come yet’ there
was still time to get away’ she nailed her frightened forces together “if I don’t get a hold on myself’. She
thought. “I’ill be squalling like a scaled cat” and the sight of prissy”s object terror helped steady her she took
her by the soulders and shook her “shut p that racket and talk sense the yankees haven’t come. Yo fooll
did you see captain butler? What did he say? Is he coming?” prissy ceasea her yelling t her teeth chattered
“yas’m. ah finely foun’ him in a bahroom. Lak you told me He—“ “never mind where you found him is he coming?
Did you tell him to bring his horse?” “lawa. Miss scarlett he say our gempmums done tuck his hawse an cahige
fer a amberlance" "Dear God in Heaven!” “But he comin'—” "What did he say?’ Prissy had recovered her breath
and a small measure of control but her eyes stil rolled “Wellm. lak you tole me. Ah foun’ him in a bahroom An.
Stood outside an yell fer him an he come out terreckly he see me an starts tell him. Ae sojers tech off
A sto’ hose down Decatur street an it flame up an he say some on an he grab me an we runs ter fibe
Points an’ he say den What now? Talk fas' An’ Ah say you say. Cap'n Butler. come quick an’ bring yo! hawse an!
Gahige Miss Melly done had a chile an’ you is bustin’ ter get outer town An’ he say Where all she studyin’ ‘bout
goin’? An’ Ah say Ah daan know. suh. but you is boun’ ter go fo’ de Yankees gits hyah an’ wants him ter go with
you An’ he laugh an say dey done tuck his hawse” Scarlett's heart went leaden as the last hope left her Fool
that she was. why hadn't she thought that the retreating army would noturally take every vehicle and animal left
in the city? For a moment she was too stunned to hear what Prissy Was saying but she pulled herself together
to hear the rest of the story “An’ den he say. Tell Miss Scarlett terres easy Ahi steal her a hawse outer de
ahmy crall effen dey's ary one lef An’ he say. Ah done stole hawses befo dis night Tell her Ah git her a
hawse effen Ah gits shot fer it Den he laugh agn an’ say. Cur an! run home An’ befo' Ah gits started Ker-
boom! Off goes a noise an! Ah lak ter drop in mah tracks an’ he tell me twaih't nuthin’ but de ammernition our
gempmums blown’ up so's de Yankees don't git it an'—” "He is coming? He's going to bring a horse?” “So he say”
She drew a long breath of relief If there Was any Way of getting a horse. Rhett Butler would get one A smart
man. Rhett She would forgive him anything if he got three out of this mess Escape! And with Rhett she would
have no fear Rhett would protect them Thank God for Rhett! With safety in yew she turned practical “Wake
Wade up and dress him and Pack some clothes for all of usPut them in the small trunk And don't tell Miss Melle
were going Not yet But wrap the baby in q couple of thick towels and be sure and pack his clothes” Prissy stil
clung to her skirts and hardly anything showed in her eyes except the whites Scarlett gave her a shove and
loosened her gfip “Hurry.” she cried. and Prissy went off Ike a rabbit Scarlett knew she should go in and quiet
Melanie's fear. knew Melanie must be frightened out of her senses by the thunderous noises that continued
unabated and the glare that lighted the sky tt looked and sounded lke the end of the world But she could not
bring herself to go back wto that room just yet She ran down the stairs with same idea of Packing up Miss
PittyPat's china and the little siver she had left when she refugeed to Macon But when she reached the dining
foam. her hands were shaking so badly she dropped three Plates and shattered ther She ran aut onto the
Porch to \isten and back again to the dining room and dropped the silver clattering to the floor Everything she
touched she dropped In her hurry she sipped on the rag rug and fell to the floor with a Jolt aut leaped up so
quickly she Was not even aware of the pain Upstars she could hear Prissy galloping about Ike a wild animal and
the sound maddened her. for she was galloping just as alessly For the dezenth time. she ran out onto the
Porch but this time she did not go back to her futle Packing She sat down It Was just impossible to pack
anything |mpossible to do anything but sit with hammering heart and wait for Rhett It seemed hours before he
Came At last. far up the read. she heard the protesting screech of unallied axles and the slow uncertain
Plodding of hooves Why didn’t he hurry? Why didn't he make the horse trot? The sounds came nearer and she
leaped to her feet and colled Riett's name Then. she saw him dimly as he climbed down from the seat of a
small wagon, heard the clicking of the gate as he came toward her He came into view and the light of the
lamp showed him Plainly His dress Was as debonair as if he were going to a bal. well-tailored white linen coat
and trousers. embroidered gray watered-silk waistcoat and a hint of ruffle on his shirt bosom His wide Panama
hat was set dashingly on one side of his head and in the belt of his trousers were thrust two Worry-handled.
long- barreled dueling Pistols The Pockets of his Coat sagged heavily with arnmunition HE Came up the walk with
the springy stride of a savage and his fine head was carried like a Pagan Prince The dangers of the night
which had driven Scarlett into panic had affected him like an intoxicant There was a carefully restrained
ferocity in his dark face. a ruthlessness which would have frightened her had she the wits to see it His black
eyes danced as though amused by the whole affair. as though the earth-spitting sounds and the horrid glare