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train again for the south。 However； whether they have got a
fort…night or three weeks' start of us will not make much
difference。 With the description we can give of Pearson； and the
fact that there was a negress and child； and those three boxes； we
ought to be able to trace him。〃
It was twelve at night when the train arrived at Florence。 As
nothing could be done until next morning Vincent went to an
hotel。 As soon as the railway officials were likely to be at their
offices he was at the station again。 The tip of a dollar secured the
attention of the man in the baggage…room。
〃Three boxes and a black bag came on here a month ago； you say；
and lay here certainly four or five days perhaps a good deal
longer。 Of course I remember them。 Stood up in that corner there。
They had been checked right through。 I will look at the hooks and
see what day they went。 I don't remember what sort of men
fetched them away。 Maybe I was busy at the time； and my mate
gave them out。 However； I will look first and see when they went。
What day do you say they got here？〃
〃They came by the train that left Richmond at six o'clock on the
morning of the 20th。〃
〃Then they got in late that night or early next morning。 Ah； the
train was on time that day； and got in at half…past nine at night。
Here they are…three boxes and a bag； numbers 15020； went out on
the 28th。 Yes； that's right enough。 Now I will just ask my mate if
he remembers about their going out。〃
The other man was called。 Oh； yes； he remembered quite well the
three boxes standing in the corner。 They went out some time in
the afternoon。 It was just after the train came in from Richmond。
He noticed the man that asked for them。 He got him to help carry
out the boxes and put them into a cart。 Yes； he remembered there
was another man with him； and a negress with a child。 He
wondered at the time what they were up to； but supposed it was all
right。 Yes； he didn't mind trying to find out who had hired out a
cart for the job。 Dessay he could find out by to…morrow…at any rate
he would try。 Five dollars are worth earning anyway。
Having put this matter in train； Vincent； leaving Dan at Florence；
went down at once to Charleston。 Here； after twenty…four hours'
delay； he obtained a warrant for the arrest of Jonas Pearson and
others on the charge of kidnaping； and then returned to Florence。
He found that the railway man had failed in obtaining any
information as to the cart； and concluded it must have come in
from the country on purpose to meet the train。
〃At any rate；〃 Vincent said； 〃it must be within a pretty limited
range of country。 The railway makes a bend from Wilmington to
this place and then down to Charleston； so this is really the nearest
station to only a small extent of country。〃
〃That's so；〃 the railway man said。 He had heard from Dan a good
deal about the case； and had got thoroughly interested in it。 〃Either
Marion or Kingstree would he nearer； one way or the other； to
most of the swamp country。 So it can't be as far as Conwayhorough
on the north or Georgetown on the south； and it must lie
somewhere between Jeifries' Creek and Lynch's Creek； anyhow it
would be in Marion County…that's pretty nigh sure。 So if I were
you I would take rail back to Marion Court house； and see the
sheriff there and have a talk over the matter with him。 You
haven't got much to go upon； because this man you are after has
been away from here a good many years and won't be known；
besides； likely enough he went by some other name down here。
Anyhow； the sheriff can put you up to the roads； and the best way
of going about the job。〃
〃I think that would be the best way；〃 Vincent said。 〃We shall be
able to see the county map too and to learn all the geography of the
place。〃
〃You have got your six…shooters with you； I suppose； becanse you
are as likely as not to have to use them？〃
〃Yes； we have each got a Colt； and as I have had a good deal of
practice； it would be awkward for Pearson if he gives me occasion
to use it。〃
〃After what I hear of the matter；〃 the man said； 〃I should say your
best plan is just to shoot him at sight。 It's what would serve him
right。 You bet there will be no fuss over it。 It will save you a lot
of trouble anyway。〃
Vincent laughed。
〃My advice is good；〃 the man went on earnestly。 〃They are a rough
lot down there； and hang together。 You will have to do it sudden；
whatever you do； or you will get the hull neighborhood up agin
you。〃
On reaching Marion Courthouse they sought out the sheriff；
produced the warrant signed by the States' authority； and explained
the whole circumstances。
〃I am ready to aid you in any way I can；〃 the sheriff said when he
concluded； 〃but the question is； where has the fellow got to？ You
see he may be anywhere in this tract；〃 and he pointed out a circle
on the map of the county that hung against the wall。 〃That is about
fifty mile across； and a pretty nasty spot； I can tell you。 There are
wide swamps on both sides of the creek； and rice grounds and all
sorts。 There ain't above three or four villages altogether； but there
may be two or three hundred little plantations scattered about；
some big and some little。 We haven't got anything to guide us in
the slightest； not a thing； as I can see。〃
〃The man who was working under Pearson； when he was with us；
told me he had got the notion that he had had to leave on account
of some trouble here。 Possibly that might afford a clew。〃
〃It might do so；〃 the sheriff said。 〃When did he come to you？〃
〃I think it was when I was six or seven years old。 That would be
about twelve or thirteen years ago； but； of course； he may not have
come direct to us after leaving here。〃
〃We can look anyway；〃 the sheriff said； and； opening a chest； he
took out a number of volumes containing the records of his
predecessors。 〃Twelve years ago！ Well； this is the volume。 Now；
Captain Wingfield； I have got some other business in hand that
will take me a couple of hours。 I will leave you out this volume
and the one before it and the one after it； and if you like to go
through them you may come across the description of some man
wanted that agrees with that of the man you are in search of。〃
It took Vincent two hours and a half to go through the volume； but
he met with no description answering to that of Pearson。
〃I will go through the first six months of the next year；〃 he said to
himself； taking up that volume； 〃and the last six months of the
year before。〃
The second volume yielded no better result； and he then turned
back to the first of the three books。 Beginning in July； he read
steadily on until he came to December。 Scarcely had he begun the
record of that month than he uttered an exclamation of
satisfaction。
〃December 2nd。…Information laid against gang at Porter's Station；
near Lynch's Creek。 Charg