按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Now；〃 Lucy said； 〃we must make our way about ten yards through
these bushes to the right。〃
With some difficulty they passed through the thick screen of
bushes； the girl still leading the way。
〃Here it is；〃 she said； 〃I have my hand upon it。〃 Vincent was soon
beside her； and the negroes quickly joined them。
〃There are no oars in the boat；〃 Vincent said； feeling along the
seat。
〃Oh！ I forgot！ They are stowed away behind the bushes on the
right； they were taken out； so that if the Yankees found the boat it
would be of no use to them。〃
Dan made his way through the bushes； and soon found the oars。
Then uniting their strength they pushed the boat through the high
rushes that screened it from the river。
〃It is afloat；〃 Vincent said。 〃Now； Dan； take your place in the
bow。〃
I will row； Mr。 Wingfleld。 I am a very good hand at it。 So please
take your seat with Chloe in the stern。〃
〃Dan can take one oar； anyhow；〃 Vincent replied； 〃but I will let
you row instead of me。 I am afraid I should make a poor hand of it
with only one arm。〃
The boat pushed quietly out。 The river was about a hundred yards
wide at this point。 They had taken but a few strokes when Vincent
said：
〃You must row hard； Miss Kingston； or we shall have to swim for
it。 The water is coming through the seams fast。〃
The girl and Dan exerted themselves to the utmost； but； short as
was the passage； the boat was full almost to the gunwale before
they reached the opposite bank； the heat of the sun having caused
the planks to open during the months it had been lying ashore。
〃This is a wet beginning；〃 Lucy Kingston said laugh as she tried to
wring the water out of the lower part of her dress。 〃Here； Chloe；
you wring me and I will wring you。〃
〃Now； Dan； get hold of that head…rope；〃 Vincent said； 〃haul her up
little by little as the water runs out over the stern。〃
〃I should not trouble about the boat； Mr。 Wingfield； it is not likely
we shall ever want it again。〃
〃I was not thinking of the boat； I was thinking of ourselves。 If it
should happen to be noticed at the next bridge as it drifted down； it
would at once suggest to any one on the lookout for us that we had
crossed the river； whereas； if we get it among the bushes here； they
will believe that we are hidden in the woods or have headed back
to the north； and we shall be a long way across the line； I hope；
before they give up searching for us in the woods on the other
side。〃
〃Yes； I didn't think of that。 We will help you with the rope。〃
The boat was very heavy； now that it was full of water。 Inch by
inch it was pulled up； until the water was all out except near the
stern。 Dan and Vincent then turned it bottom upward； and it was
soon hauled up among the bushes。
〃Now； Miss Kingston； which do you think is our best course？ I
know nothing whatever of the geography here。〃
〃The next town is Mount Pleasant； that is where the Williamsport
road passes the railway。 If we keep south we shall strike the
railway； and that will take us to Mount Pleasant。 After that the
road goes on to Florence； on the Tennessee River。 The only place
that I know of on the road is Lawrenceburg。 That is about forty
miles from here； and I have heard that the Yankees are on the line
from there right and left。 I believe our troops are at Florence； but I
am not sure about that； because both parties are constantly shifting
their position； and I hear very little； as you may suppose； of what is
being done。 Anyhow； I think we cannot do better than go on until
we strike the railway； keep along by that till we get within a short
distance of Mount Pleasant； and then cross it。 After that we can
decide whether we will travel by the road or keep on through the
woods。 But we cannot find our way through the woods at night；
we should lose ourselves before we had gone twenty yards。〃
〃I am afraid we should； Miss Kingston。〃
〃Please call me Lucy；〃 the girl interrupted。 〃I am never called
anything else； and I am sure this is not a time for ceremony。〃
〃I think that it will be better； and will you please call me Vin。 It is
much shorter and pleasanter using our first names； and as we must
pass for brother and sister if we get among the Yankees； it is better
to get accustomed to it。 I quite agree with you that it will be too
dark to find our way through the woods unless we can discover a
path。
Dan and I will see if we can find one。 If we can； I think it will be
better to go on a little way at any rate； so as to get our feet warm
and let our clothes dry a little。〃
〃They will not dry to…night；〃 Lucy said。 〃It is so damp in the
woods that even if our clothes were dry now they would be wet
before morning。〃
〃I did not thihk of that。 Yes； in that case I do not see that we
should gain anything by going farther； we will push on for two or
three hundred yards； if we can； and then we can light a fire without
there being any chance of it being seen from the other side。〃
〃That would be comfortable； Mr。…I mean Vin；〃 the girl agreed。
〃That is； if you are quite sure that it would be safe。 I would rather
be wet all night than that we should run any risks。〃
〃I am sure if we can get a couple of hundred yards into this thick
wood the fire would not be seen through it；〃 Vincent said； 〃of
course I do not mean to make a great bonfire which would light up
the forest。〃
For half an hour they forced their way through the bushes； and then
Vincent said he was sure that they had come far enough。 Finding a
small open space； Dan； and Lucy； and the negress set to work
collecting leaves and dry sticks。 Vincent had still in his pocket the
newspaper he had bought in the streets of Nashville； and he always
carried lights。 A piece of the paper was crumpled up and lighted； a
few of the driest leaves they could find dropped upon it； then a few
twigs； until at last a good fire was burning。
〃I think that is enough for the present；〃 Vincent said。 we will keep
on adding wood as fast as it burns down； so as to get a great pile of
embers； and keep two or three good big logs burning all night。〃
He then gave directions to Dan； who out a long stick and fastened
it to two saplings； one of which grew just in front of the fire。 Then
he set to work and cut off branches； and laid them sloping against
it； and soon had an arbor constructed of sufficient thickness to
keep off the night dews。
〃I think you will be snug in there；〃 Vincent said when he bad
finished。 〃The heat of the fire will keep you dry and warm； and if
you lie with your heads the other way I think your things will he
dry by the morning。 Dan and I will lie down by the other side of
the fire。 We are both accustomed to sleep in the open air； and
have done so for months。〃
〃Thank you very much；〃 she said。 〃Our things are drying already；
and I am as warm as a toast； but； in