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〃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 full
and of considerable width； still； I think I can get across。 But my
boy cannot swim a stroke。〃
〃I know where there is a boat hid in the wood near the river；〃 the
girl said。 〃It belongs to a neighbor of ours； and when the Yankees
seized the boats he had his hauled up and hidden in the woods。 He
was a Southerner； heart and soul； and thought that he might be able
sometimes to take useful information across the river to our
people； but a few weeks afterward his house was attacked by one
of these bands…it was always said it was that of Mullens…and he
was killed defending it to the last。 He killed several of the band
before he fell； and they were so enraged that after plundering it
they set it on fire and fastened the door； and his wife and two
maid…servants were burned to death。〃
〃I wish instead of throwing his pistol out of the window I had
blown his brains out with it；〃 Vincent said； 〃and I would have done
so if I had known what sort of fellow he was。 However； as to the
boat； can you give me instructions where to find it； and is it light
enough for two men to carry？〃
〃Not to carry； perhaps； but to push along。 It is a light boat he had
for pleasure。 He had a large one； but that was carried away with
the others。 I cannot give you directions； but I can lead you to the
place。〃
〃I should not like you to do that；〃 Vincent said。 〃We might he
caught； and your share in the affair might be suspected。〃
〃Oh！ there is no fear of that；〃 the girl said； 〃besides； I am not afraid
of danger。〃
〃I don't think it is right； Miss Kingston； for a young lady like you to
be living here alone with an old servant in such times as these。
You ought to go into a town until it's all over。〃
〃I have no one to go to；〃 the girl said stmply。 〃My father bought
this place and moved here from Georgia only six years ago； and all
my friends are in that State。 Except our neighbors round here I do
not know a soul in Tennessee。 Besides； what can I do in a town？
We can manage here； because we have a few fowls； and some of
our neighbors last spring plowed an acre or two of ground and
planted corn for us； and I have a little money left for buying other
things； but it would not last us a month if we went into a town。
No； I have nothing to do but to stay here until you drive the
Yankees back。 I will willingly take you down to the boat to…night。
Chloe can come with us and keep me company on the way back。
Of course it would not be safe to cross in the daytime。〃
〃I thank you greatly； Miss Kingston； and shall always remember
your kindness。 Now； when I finish my meal I will go out and join
my boy； and will come for you at eight o'clock； it will be quite
dark then。〃
〃Why should you not stay here till then； Mr。 Wingfield？ It is very
unlikely that any one will come along。〃
〃It is unlikely； but it is quite possible；〃 Vincent replied； 〃and were I
caught here by Mullens； the consequence would be very serious to
you as well as to myself。 No； I could not think of doing that。 I will
go out； and come back at eight o'clock。 I shall not be far away； but
if any one should come and inquire； you can honestly say that you
do not know where I am。〃
〃I have two revolvers here； sir； in fact I have three。 I always keep
one loaded； for there is never any saying whether it may not be
wanted； the other two I picked up last spring。 There was a fight
about a quarter of a mile from here and after it was over and they
had moved away； for the Confederates won that time and chased
them back toward Nashville； I went out with Chloe with some
water and bandages to see if we could do anything for the
wounded。 We were at work there till evening； and I think we did
some good。 As we were coming back I saw something in a low
bush； and going there found a Yankee officer and his horse both
lying dead； they had been killed by a shell； I should think。
Stooping over to see if he was quite dead I saw a revolver in his
belt and another in the holster of his saddle； so I took them out and
brought them home； thinking I might give them to some of our
men； for we were then； as we have always been； very short of
arms； but I never had an opportunity of giving them away； and I
am very glad now that I have not。 Here they are； sir； and two
packets of cartridges； for they are of the same size as those of the
pistol my father gave me when he went away。 You are heartily
welcome to them。〃
〃Thank you extremely；〃 Vincent said； as he took the pistols and
placed the packets of ammunition in his pocket。 〃We cut two
heavy sticks the night we left Nashville so as to be able to make
something of a fight； but with these weapons we shall feel a match
for any small parties we may meet。 Then at eight o'clock I will
come back again。〃
〃I shall be ready；〃 the girl said； 〃but I wish you would have
stopped； there are so many things I want to ask you about； and
these Yankee papers； which are all we see now； are full of lies。〃
〃They exaggerate their successes and to some extent conceal their
defeats；〃 Vinceuf said； 〃but I do not think it is the fault of the
newspapers； whose correspondents do seem to me to try and tell
the truth to their readers； but of the official despatches of the
generals。 The newspapers tone matters down； no doubt； because
they consider it necessary to keep up the public spirit； but at times
they speak out pretty strongly too。 I am quite as sorry to leave as
you can be that I should go； Miss Kingston； but I am quite sure that
it is very much the wisest thing for me to do。 By the way； if I
should not be here by half…past eight I shall not come at all； and
you will know that something has occurred to alter our plans。 I
trust there is no chance of anything doing so； but it is as well to
arrange so that you should not sit up expecting me。 Should I not
come back you will know that I shall be always grateful to you for
your kindness； and that when this war is over； if I am alive； I will
come back and thank you personally。〃
〃Good…by till this evening！〃 the girl said。 〃I will not even let
myself think that anything can occur to prevent your return。〃
〃Golly； Massa Vincent； what a time you hab been！〃 Dan said when
Vincent rejoined him。 〃Dis child began to tink dat somefing had
gone wrong； and was going in anoder five minutes to knock at do
door to ask what dey had done to you。〃
〃It is all right； Dan； I have had breakfast； and have brought some
for you； here is some bread and bacon and a bottle of coffee。〃
〃Dat good； massa； my teeth go chatter chatter wid sleeping in dese
damp woods； dat coffee do me good； sah。 After dat I shall feel fit
for anyting。〃
CHAPTER XIL THE BUSHWHACKERS。
〃BY THE way； Dan；〃 Vincent said when the negro had finished his
meal； 〃we have not talked ove