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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
do not know your face； and I thought I knew every one within
fifteen miles around。〃
〃I come from the other side of the Duck river。 But at present he is
lying at a place called Woodford； but two miles from here。〃
〃Oh； yes！ I know it。 But I thought it was empty。 Let me see； a man
named Jenkins lived there。 He was killed at the beginning of the
troubles in a fight near Murfreesboro。 His widow moved in here；
and she has married again and gone five miles on the other side。 I
know she was trying to sell the old place。〃
〃We have not purchased it； sir； we have just squatted there。 My
friend was taken so had that we could go no further。 We were
trying； doctor； to make our way down south。〃
〃Your friend； whoever he is； did a very foolish thing to bring a
young lady like yourself on such a long journey。 You are not a pair
of runaway lovers； are you？〃
〃No； indeed；〃 Lucy said； flushing scarlet； 〃we have no idea of such
a thing。 I was living alone； and the house was attacked by
bushwhackers； the band of a villain named Mullens。〃
〃Oh！ I saw all about that in the Nashville paper this morning。
They were attacked by a band of Confederate plunderers； it said。〃
〃They were attacked by one man；〃 the girl replied。 〃They were on
the point of murdering me when he arrived。 He shot Mullens and
four of his band and the rest made off； but he got this wound。 And
as 1 knew the villains would return again and burn the house and
kill me； I and my old nurse determined to go southward to join my
friends in Georgia。〃
〃Well； you can tell me more about it as we go；〃 the doctor said。 〃I
will order my buggy round to the door； and drive you back。 I will
take my instruments and things with me。 It is no business of mine
whether a sick man is a Confederate or a Federal； all my business
is to heal them。〃
〃Thank you very much； doctor。 While the horse is being put in I
will go down and tell the negro boy with me to go straight on with
a basket of things I have been buying。〃
〃Where is he now？〃 the doctor asked。
〃I think he is sitting down outside the door； sir。
〃Then you needn't go down；〃 the doctor said。 〃He can jump up
behind and go with us。 He will get there all the quicker。〃
In five minutes they were driving down the village； with Dan in the
back seat。 On the way the doctor obtained from Lucy a more
detailed account of their adventures。
〃So he is one of those Confederate officers who broke prison at
Elmira；〃 he said。 〃I saw yesterday that one of his companions was
captured。〃
〃Was he； sir？ How was that？〃
〃It seems that he had made his way down to Washington； and was
staying at one of the hotels there as a Mr。 James of Baltimore。 As
he was going through the street he was suddenly attacked by a
negro； who assaulted him with such fury that he would have killed
him had he not been dragged off by passers…by。 The black would
hare been very roughly treated； but he denounced the man he had
attacked as one of the Confederate officers who had escaped from
the prison。 It seems that the negro had been a slave of his who had
been barbarously treated； and finally succeeded in making his
escape and reaching England； after which he went to Canada； and
now that it is safe for an escaped slave to live in the Northern
States without fear of arrest or ill…treatment he had come down to
Washington with the intention of engaging as a teamster with one
of the Northern armies； in the hope when he made his way to
Richmond of being able to gain some news of his wife； whom his
master had sold before he ran away from him。〃
〃It served the man right！〃 Lucy said indignantly。 〃It's a good thing
that the slaves should turn the tables sometimes upon masters who
ill…treat them。〃
〃You don't think my patient would ill…treat his slaves？〃 the doctor
asked with a little smile。
〃I am sure he wouldn't；〃 the girl said indignantly。 〃Why； the boy
behind you is one of his slaves； and I am sure be would give his
life for his master。〃
Dan had overheard the doctor's story； and now exclaimed：
〃No； sah。 Massa Vincent do kindest of masters。 If all like him； do
slaves eberywbere contented and happy。
What was de name of dat man； sah； you was speaking of？〃
〃His name was Jackson；〃 the doctor answered。
〃I tought so；〃 Dan exclaimed in excitement。 〃Massa never
mentioned de names of de two officers who got out wid him； and it
war too dark for me to see their faces； but dat story made me tink
it must be him。 Berry bad man that； he libs close to us； and Massa
Vincent one day pretty nigh kill him because he beat dat bery man
who has catched him now on de street of Washington。 When dat
man sell him wife Massa Vincent buy her so as to prevent her
falling into bad hands。 She safe now wid his mother at de
Orangery…dat's the name of her plantation。〃
〃My patient must be quite an interesting fellow； young lady；〃 the
doctor said； with a rather slight twinkle of his eye。 〃A very
knight…errant。 But there is the house now； we shall soon see all
about him。〃
Taking with him the case of instruments and medicines he had
brought； the doctor entered Vincent's room。 Lucy entered first；
and although surprised to see a stranger with her； Vincent saw by
her face that there was no cause for alarm。
〃I have brought you a doctor；〃 she said。 〃You could not go on as
you were； you know。 So Dan and I have been to fetch one。〃
The doctor now advanced and took Vincent's hand。
〃Fererish；〃 he said； looking at his cheeks； which were now flushed。
〃You have been doing too much； I fancy。 Now let us look at this
wound of yours。 Has your servant got any warm water？〃 he asked
Lucy。
Lucy left the room； and returned in a minute with a kettleful of
warm water and a basin； which was among the purchases she had
made at Mount Pleasant。
〃That is right；〃 the doctor said； taking it from her。 〃Now we will
cut open the shirt sleeve。 I think； young lady； you had better leave
us； unless you are accustomed to the sight of wounds。〃
〃I am not accustomed to them； sir； but as thousands of women
have been nursing the wounded in the hospitals； I suppose I can do
so now。〃
Taking a knife from the case； the doctor cut open the shirt from the
neck to the elbow。 The shoulder was terribly swollen and
inflamed； and a little exclamation of pain broke from Lucy。
〃That is the effect of walking and inattention；〃 the doctor said。 〃If
I could have taken him in hand within an hour of his being hit the
matter would have been simple enough； but I cannot search for the
ball； or in fact do anything； till we have reduced the swelling。 You
must put warm poultices on every half…hour； and by to…morrow I
hope the inflammation will have subsided； and I can then see
about