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I was hidden。 I arrived at the window just as the scoundrel was
pointing his pistol toward you； and then there was no time to give
myself up； and I had nothing to do for it but to put a bullet through
his head in order to save you。 Then I opened fire upon the rest；
and my boy drove off their horses。 They were seized with a panic
and bolted； thinking they were surrounded。 Of course I kept up my
fire； and there are four of them in the next room besides their
captain。 And now； if you please； I will get you； in the first place；
to bind my arm tightly across my chest； for one of their bullets hit
me the left shoulder； and has； I fancy； broken it。〃
The girl gave an exclamation of dismay。
Do not be alarmed； Miss Kingston； a broken shoulder is not a very
serious matter； only I would rather it had not happened just at the
present moment； there are more important affairs in hand。 The
question is； What is to become of you？ It is quite impossible that
you should stay here after what has happened。 Those scoundrels
are sure to come back again。〃
〃What am I to do； Chloe？〃 The girl asked in perplexity。 〃I am sure
we cannot stay here。 We must find our way through the woods to
Nashville； and I must try and get something to do there。〃
〃There is another way； Miss Kingston； if you like to try it；〃 Vincent
said。 〃Of course it would be toilsome and unpleasant； but I do not
think it would be dangerous； for even if we got caught there would
be no fear of your receiving any injury from the Federal troops。
My proposal is that you and Chloe should go with us。 If we get
safely through the Federal lines I will escort you to Georgia and
place you with your friends there。〃
The girl looked doubtful for a moment； and then she shook her
bead。
〃I could not think of that； sir。 It would be difficult enough for you
to get through the enemy by yourselves It would add terribly to
your danger to have us with you。〃
〃I do not think so；〃 Vincent replied。 〃Two men would be sure to
be questioned and suspected； but a party like ours would be far less
likely to excite suspicion。 Every foot we get south we shall find
ourselves more and more among people who are friendly to us； and
although they might he afraid to give shelter to men； they would
not refuse to take women in。 I really think； Miss Kingston； that
this plan is the best。 In the first place it would be a dangerous
journey for you through the woods to Nashville and if you fall into
the hands of any of those ruffians who have been here you may
expect no mercy。 At Nashville you will have great difficulty in
obtaining employment of any kind aud even suppose you went
further north your position as a friendless girl would be a most
painful one。 As to your staying here that is plainly out of the
question。 I think that there is no time to lose in making a decision。
Those fellows may go to the camp at the bridge； give their account
of the atlair； declare they have been attacked by a party of
Confederate sympathizers； and return here with a troop of horse。〃
〃What do you say； Chloe？〃 Lucy asked。
〃I'se ready to go wid you whereber you like； Miss Lucy； hut I do
tiuk dat in times like dis dat a young gal is best wid her own folk。
It may be hard work getting across； but as to danger dar can't he
much more danger than dar has been in stopping along here； so it
seems to me best to do as dis young officer says。〃
〃Very well； then； I will； sir。 We will go under your protection； and
will give you as little trouble as we can。 We will be ready in five
minutes。 Now； Chloe； let us put a few things together。 The fewer
the better。 Just a small bundle which we can carrv in our hands。〃
In a few minutes they returned to the room； Chloe carrying a large
basket； and looking somewhat ruffled。
Chloe is a little upset；〃 the girl said； smiling； 〃 because I won't put
my best things on； and the leaving her Sun…day gown behind is a
sore trouble to her。〃
〃No wonder； sah；〃 Chloo said； 〃why dey say dat thar am no pretty
dresses in de 'Federacy； and dat blue gown wid red spots is just as
good as new； and it am downright awful to tink dat dose fellows
will come back and take it。〃
〃Never mind； CliIe；〃 Vincent said； smiling。 〃No doubt we are
short of pretty dresses in the South； but I dare say we shall be able
to find you something that will be almost as good。 But we must
not stand talking。 You are sure you have got everything of value；
Miss Kingston？〃
〃I have got my purse；〃 she said； 〃and Chloe has got some food。 I
don't think there is anything else worth taking in the house。〃
〃Very well； we will be off；〃 Vincent said； leading the way to the
door。
A minute later Dan rode past； and Vincent called him and told him
they were going to start。
〃Shall we take do horses； sah？〃
〃No； Dan。 We are going to carry out our original plan of crossing
the river in a boat； and I think the horses would be rather in our
way than not。 But you had better not leave them here。 Take them
to the farther side of the clearing and get them through the fence
into the forest； then strike across as quickly as you can and join us
where we were stopping to…day。 Miss Kingston and her servant are
going with us。 They cannot stay here after what has taken place。〃
Dan at once rode off with the two horses； and the others walked
across to the edge of the clearing and waited until he rejoined
them。
〃Now； Miss Kingston； you must be our guide at present。〃
〃We must cross the road first；〃 the girl said。 〃Nearly opposite to
where we are there is a little path through the wood leading
straight down to the river。 The boat lies only a short distance from
it。〃
The path was a narrow one； and it was very dark under the trees。
〃Mind how you go；〃 Vincent said as the girl stepped lightly on
ahead。 〃You might get a heavy fall if you caught your foot on a
root。〃
She instantly moderated her pace。 〃I know the path well； but it
was thoughtless of me to walk so fast。 I forgot you did not know
it； and if you were to stumble you might hurt your arm terribly。
How does it feel now？〃
〃It certainly hurts a bit；〃 Vincent replied in a cheerful tone； 〃but
now it is strapped tightly to me it cannot move much。 Please do
not worry about me。〃
〃Ah！〃 she said； 〃I cannot forget how you got it…how you attacked
twelve men to save me！〃
〃Still less can I forget； Miss Kingston； how you； a young girl；
confronted death rather than say a word that would place me in
their power。〃
〃That was quite different； Mr。 Wingfield。 My own honor was
pledged not to betray you； who had trusted me。〃
〃Well； we will cry quits for the present； Miss Kingston； or； rather；
we will be content to remain for the present in each other's debt。〃
A quarter of an hour's walking brought them to the river。
〃Now；〃 Lucy said； 〃we must make our way about ten yards through
these