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the wood。
The next morning； after walking a mile or two； they saw a house at
which Vincent determined to try their fortune。 It was small； but
seemed to have belonged to people above the class of farmer。 It
stood in a little plantation； and was surrounded by a veranda。 Most
of the blinds were down； and Vincent judged that the inmates
could not be numerous。
〃You remain here； Dan； and I will go and knock at the door。 It is
better that we should not be seen together。〃 Vincent accordingly
went forward and knocked at the door。 An old negress opened it。
〃We have nothing for tramps；〃 she said。 〃De house am pretty well
cleared out oh eberyting。〃 She was about to shut the door when
Vincent put his foot forward and prevented it closing。 〃Massa
Charles；〃 the negress called out； 〃bring yo' shot…gun quick； here am
tief want to break into the house。〃
〃I am neither a thief nor a tramp；〃 Vincent said； 〃and I do not want
anything； except that I should be glad to buy a loaf of bread if you
have one that you could spare。 I have lost my way； and I want to
ask directions。〃
〃Dat am pretty likely story；〃 the old woman said。 〃Bring up dat
shot…gun quick； Massa Charles。〃
〃What is it； Chloe？〃 another female voice asked。
〃Here am a man pretend he hab lost his way and wants to buy a
loaf。 You stand back； Miss Lucy； and let your broder shoot de
villain dead。〃
〃I can assure you that I am not a robber； madam；〃 Vincent said
through the partly opened door。 〃I am alone； and only beg some
information； which I doubt not you can give me。〃
〃Open the door； Chloe；〃 the second voice said inside； 〃that is not
the voice of a robber。〃
The old woman reluctantly obeyed the order and opened the door；
and Vincent saw in the passage a young girl of some sixteen years
old。 He took off his hat。
〃I am very sorry to disturb you；〃 he said； 〃but I am an entire
stranger here； and am most desirous of crossing the river； but can
find no boat with which to do so。〃
〃Why did you not cross by the bridge？〃 the girl asked。 〃How did
you miss the straight road？〃
〃Frankly； because there were Northern troops there；〃 Vincent said；
〃and I wish to avoid them if possible。〃
〃You are a Confederate？〃 the girl asked； when the old negress
interrupted her：
〃Hush！ Miss Lucy； don't you talk about dem tings； der plenty of
mischief done already。 What hab you to do wid one side or do
oder？〃
The girl paid no attention to her words； but stood awaiting
Vincent's answer。 He did not hesitate。 There was something in
her face that told him that； friend or foe； she was not likely to
betray a fugitive； and he answered：
〃I am a Confederate officer； madam。 I have made my escape from
Elmira prison； and am trying to find my way back into our lines。〃
〃Come in； sir；〃 the girl said； holding out her hand。 〃We are
Secessionists； heart and soul。 My father and my brother are with
our troops…that is； if they are both alive。 I have little to offer you；
for the Yankee bands have been here several times； have driven off
our cattle； emptied our barns； and oven robbed our hen…nests； and
taken everything in the house they thought worth carrying away。
But whatever there is； sir； you are heartily welcome to。 I had a
paper yesterday…it is not often I get one…and I saw there that three
of our officers had escaped from Elmira。 Are you one of them？〃
〃Yes； madam。 I am Lieutenant Wingfield。〃
〃Ah！ then you are in the cavalry。 You have fought under Stuart；〃
the girl said。 〃The paper said so。 Oh； how I wish we had Stuart
and Stonewall Jackson on this side！ we should soon drive the
Yankees out of Tennessee。〃
〃They would try to； anyhow；〃 Vincent said； smiling； 〃and if it were
possible they would assuredly do it。 I was in Ashley's horse with
the Stonewall division through the first campaign in the
Shenandoah Valley and up to Bull Run； and after that under Stuart。
But is not your brother here？ Your servant called to him。〃
〃There is no one here but ourselves；〃 the girl replied。 〃That was a
fiction of Chloe's； and it has succeeded sometimes when we have
had rough visitors。 And now what can I do for you； sir？ You said
you wanted to buy a loaf of bread； and therefore； I suppose； you
are hungry。 Chloe； put the bacon and bread on the table； and make
some coffee。 I am afraid that is all we can do； sir； but such as it is
you are heartily welcome to it。〃
〃I thank you greatly；〃 Vincent replied； 〃and will； if you will allow
me； take half my breakfast out to my boy who is waiting over
there。〃
〃Why did you not bring him in？〃 the girl asked。 〃Of course he will
be welcome too。〃
〃I did not bring him in before because two men in these days are
likely to alarm a lonely household； and I would rather not bring
him in now； because； if by any possibility the searchers； who are
no doubt after me； should call and ask you whether two men； one a
white and the other a negro； had been here； vou could answer no。〃
〃But they cannot be troubling much about prisoners；〃 the girl said。
〃Why； in the fighting here and in Missouri they have taken many
thousands of prisoners； and you have taken still more of them in
Virginia； surely they cannot trouble themselves much about one
getting away。〃
〃I am not afraid of a search of that kind； Vincent said； 〃but；
unfortunately； on my way down I had a row in the train with a
ruffian named Mullens； who is； I understand； connected with one
of these bands of brigands； and I feel sure that he will hunt me
down if he can。〃
The girl turned pale。
〃Oh！〃 she said； 〃I saw that in the paper too； but it said that it was a
minister。 And it was you who heat that man and threw his revolver
out of the window？ Oh； then； you are in danger indeed； sir。 He is
one of the worst ruffians in the State； and is the leader of the party
who stripped this house and threatened to burn it to the ground。
Luckily I was not at home； having gone away to spend the night
with a neighbor。 His band have committed murders all over the
country； hanging up defenseless people on pretense that they were
Secessionists。 They will show you no mercy if they catch you。〃
〃No。 I should not expect any great mercy if I fell into their hands；
Miss Lucy。 I don't know your other name。〃
〃My name is Kingston。 I ought to have introduced myself to you at
once。〃
〃Now you understand； Miss Kingston； how anxious I am to get
across the river； and that brings me to the question of the
information I want you to give me。 How far is it from the next
bridge on the south； and are there any Federal troops there？〃
〃It is about seven miles to the hridge at William sport； we are just
halfway between that and the railway bridge at Columbus。 Yes；
there are certainly troops there…〃
〃Then I see no way for it but to make a small raft to carry us
across； Miss Kingston。 I am a good swimmer； but the river is