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sometimes。〃
In two hours they came upon the railway； whose course lay
diagonally across that they were taking。 They followed it until
they caught sight of the houses of Mount Pleasant； some two miles
away； and then crossed it。 After walking some distance farther
they came upon a small clearing with a log…hut； containing
apparently three or four rooms； in the center。
〃We had better skirt round this；〃 Vincent suggested。
〃No；〃 Lucy said in a determined voice。 〃I have made up my mind I
would go to the first place we came to and see whether anything
can be done for you。 I can see you are in such pain you can hardly
walk； and it will be quite impossible for you to go much further。
They are sure to be Confederates at heart here； and even if they
will not take us in； there is no fear of their betraying us； at any rate
we must risk it。〃
Vincent began to remonstrate； but without paying any attention to
him the girl left the shelter of the trees and walked straight toward
the hon so。 The others followed her。 Vincent had opposed her
suggestion； but he had for some time acknowledged to himself that
he could not go much further。 lie had been trying to think what
had best be done； and had concluded that it would be safest to
arrange with some farmer to board Lucy and her nurse for a time；
while he himself with Dan went a bit further； and then； if they
could get no one to take them in； would camp up in the woods and
rest。 He decided that in a day or two if no improvement took place
in his wound he would give himself up to the Federals at Mount
Pleasant； as he would there be able to get his wound attended to。
〃I don't think there is any one in the house；〃 Lucy said； looking
back over her shoulder； 〃there is no smoke coming from the
chimney； and the shutters are closed； and besides the whole place
looks neglected。〃
Upon reaching the door of the house it was evident that it had been
deserted。 Lucy had now assumed the command。
〃Dan；〃 she said； 〃there is no shutter to the window of that upper
room。 You must manage to climb up there and get in at that
window； and then open the door to us。〃
〃All right； missie； me manage dat；〃 Dan said cheerfully。 Looking
about he soon found a long pole which would answer his purpose；
placed the end of this against the window； and climbed up。 It was
not more than twelve feet above the ground。 He broke one of the
windows； and inserting his hand undid the fastening and climbed
in at the window。 A minute later they heard a grating sound； and
then the lock shot back under the application of his knife； and the
door swung open。
〃That will do nicely；〃 Lucy said； entering。 〃We will take
possession。 If the owners happen to come back we can pay them
for the use of the place。〃
The furniture had been removed with the exception of a few of the
heavy articles； arid Chloe and Lucy at once set to work； and with
bunches of long grass swept out one of the rooms。 Dan cut a
quantity of grass and piled it upon an old bedstead that stood in the
corner； and Lucy smoothed it down。
〃Now； sir；〃 she said peremptorily to Vincent； 〃you will lie down
and keep yourself quiet； but first of all I will cut your coat off。〃
One of the table…knives soon effected the work； and the coat was
rolled up as a pillow。 Dan removed his boots； and Vincent； who
was now beyond even remonstrating； laid himself down on his
cool bed。
〃Now； Chloe；〃 Miss Kingston said when they had left Vincent's
room； 〃I will leave him to your care。 I am sure that you must be
thoroughly tired； for I don't suppose you have walked so many
miles since you were a girl。〃
〃I is tired； missie； but I am ready to do anyting you want。〃
〃I only want you to attend to him； Chloe。 First of all you had
better make some tea。 You know what is a good thing to give for a
fever； and if you can find anything in the garden to make a drink of
that sort； do； but I hope he will doze off for some time。 When you
have done； you had better get this place tidy a little； it is in a
terrible litter。 Evidently no one has been in since they moved out。〃
The room； indeed； was strewed with litter of all sorts； rubbish not
worth taking away； old newspapers； and odds and ends of every
description。 Lucy looked about among these for some time； and
with an exclamation of satisfaction at last picked up two crumpled
envelopes。 They were both addressed 〃William Jenkins；
Woodford； near Mount Pleasant。〃
〃That is just what I wanted；〃 she said。
〃What am you going to do； Miss Lucy？〃
〃I am going to Mount Pleasant；〃 she said。
〃Lor' a marcy； dearie； you are not going to walk that distance！ You
must have walked twelves miles already。〃
〃I should if it were twice as far； Chloe。 There are some things we
must get。 Don't look alarmed； I shall take Dan with me。 Now； let
me see。 In the first place there are lemons for making drink and
linseed for poultices； some meat for making broth； and some flour；
and other things for ourselves； we may have to stay here for some
time。 Tell me just what you want and I will get it。〃
Clilce made out a list of necessaries。
〃I sha'n't be gone long；〃 the girl said。 〃If he asks after me or Dan；
make out we are looking about the place to see what is useful。
Don't let him know I have gone to Mount Pleasant； it might worry
him。〃
Dan at once agreed to accompany the girl to Mount Pleasant when
he heard that she was going to get things for his master。
Looking about he found an old basket among the litter； and they
started without delay by the one road from the clearing； which led；
they had no doubt； to the town。 It was about two miles distant； and
was really but a large village。 A few Federal soldiers from the
camp hard by were lounging about the streets but these paid no
attention to them。 Lucy soon made her purchases； and then went
to the house that had been pointed out to her as being inhabited by
the doctor who attended to the needs of the people of Mount
Pleasant and the surrounding district。 Fortunately he was at home。
Lucy looked at him closely as he entered the room and took his
seat。 He was a middle…aged man with a shrewd face； and she at
once felt that she might have confidence in it。
〃Doctor；〃 she said； 〃I want you to come out to see some one who is
very ill。〃
〃What is the matter with him？ Or is it him or her？〃
〃It is…it's…〃 and Lucy hesitated； 〃a hurt he has got。〃
〃A wound； I suppose？〃 the doctor said quietly。 〃You may as well
tell me at once； as for me to find out when I get there； then I can
take whatever is required with me。〃
〃Yes； sir。 It is a wound；〃 Lucy said。 〃His shoulder is broken； I
believe； by a pistol bullet。〃
〃Urnph！〃 the doctor said。 〃It might have been worse。 Do not
hesitate to tell me all about it； young lady。 I have had a vast
number of cases on hand since these troubles began。 By the way； I