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it； it don't much matter what you put in besides； only it wouldn't do
to take spirits up alone。 You can call it plantation drink； and I don't
suppose any one would ask too closely what it's made of。〃
〃Thank you； that will do capitally。〃
The next morning Vincent again set out； turning big steps this time
toward the right flank of the Federal position。 He had in the
course of the evening made a sketch of the ground he had soon；
marking in all the principal batteries； with notes as to the number
of guns for which they seemed to be intended。
〃Look here；〃 he said to the woman before leaving。 〃I may not be
as lucky to…day as I was yesterday。 If I do not come back to…night；
can you find any one you can trust to take this piece of paper round
to Richmond？ Of course he would have to make his way first up
to Burksville junction； and then take train to Richmond。 When he
gets there he must go down to Petersburg； and ask for General Lee。
I have written a line to go with it； saying what I have done this for；
and asking the general to give the bearer a hundred dollars。〃
〃I will take it myself；〃 the woman said； 〃not for the sake of the
hundred dollars； though I ain't saying as it wouldn't please the old
man when he conies back to find I had a hundred dollars stored
away； but for the cause。 My men are all doing their duty； and I will
do mine。 So trust me； and if you don't come back by daybreak
to…morrow morning； I will start right away with these letters。 I will
go out at once and hide them somewhere in case the Yanks should
come and make a search。 If you are caught they might； like
enough； trace you here； and then they would search the place all
over and maybe set it alight。 If you ain't here by nightfall I shall
sleep out in the wood； so if they come they won't find me here。 If
anything detains you； and you ain't back till after dark； you will
find me somewhere near the tree where your horse is tied up。〃
Provided with a large can full of a liquor that the woman
compounded； and which Vincent； on tasting； found to be by no
means bad； he started from the cottage。 Again he made his way
safely through the camps； and without hindrance lounged up to a
spot where a large number of men belonging to one of the negro
regiments were at work。
〃Plantation liquor？〃 he said； again assuming a stupid air； to a black
sergeant who was with them。 〃First…rate stuff； and only fifteen
cents a glass。〃
〃What plantation liquor like？〃 the negro asked。 〃Me not know
him。〃
〃First…rate stuff；〃 Vincent repeated。 〃Mother makes it of spirit and
molasses and all sorts。 Fifteen cents a glass。〃
〃Well； I will take a glass；〃 the sergeant said。 〃Mighty hot work dis
in de sun； but don't you say nuffin about the spirit。 Ef dey ask you；
just you say molasses and all sorts； dat's quite enough。 De white
officer won't let spirits be sold in de camp。
〃Dat bery good stuff；〃 be said； smacking his lips as he handed back
the little tin measure。 〃You sell him all in no time。〃 Several of the
negroes now came round； and Vincent disposed of a considerable
quantity of his plantation liquor。 Then he turned to go away； for
he did not want to empty his can at one place。 He had not gone
many paces when a party of three or four officers came along。
〃Hallo； you sir； what the deuce are you doing here？〃 one asked
angrily。 〃Don't you know nobody is allowed to pass through the
lines？〃
〃I didn't see no lines。 What sort of lines are they？ No one told me
nothing about lines。 My mother sent me out to sell plantation
liquor； fifteen cents a glass。〃
〃What's it like？〃 one of the officers said laughing。 〃Spirits； I will
bet a dollar； in some shape or other。 Pour me out a glass。 I will try
it； anyhow。〃
Vincent filled the little tin mug； and handed it to the officer。 As he
lifted his face to do so there was a sudden exclamation。
〃Vincent Wingfield！〃 and another officer drawing his sword
attacked him furiously； shouting； 〃A spy！ Seize him！ A
Confederate spy！〃
Vincent recognized with astonishment in the Federal officer
rushing at him with uplifted sword his old antagonist； Jackson。
Almost instinctively he whirled the can； which was still half full of
liquor； round his head and dashed it full in the face of his
antagonist； who was knocked off his feet by the blow。 With a yell
of rage he started up again and rushed at Vincent。 The latter
snatched up a shovel that was lying close by and stood his ground。
The officers were so surprised at the suddenness of the incident
and the overthrow of their companion； and for the moment so
amused at the latter's appearance； covered as he was from head to
foot with the sticky liquor and bleeding from a cut inflicted by the
edge of the can； that they were incapable of interference。
Blinded with rage； and with the liquid streaming into his eyes；
Jackson rushed at Vincent。 The latter caught the blow aimed at
him on the edge of the shovel； and then swinging his weapon
round smote his antagonist with all his strength； the edge of the
shovel falling fairly upon his head。 Without a cry the traitor fell
dead in his tracks。 The other officers now drew their swords and
rushed for…ward。 Vincent； seeing the futility of resistance； threw
down his shovel。 He was instantly seized。
〃Halloo there！〃 the senior officer called to the men； who had
stopped in their work and were gazing at the sudden fray that had
arisen； 〃a sergeant and four men。〃 Four of the negro soldiers and a
sergeant at once stepped forward。 〃Take this man and conduct
him to the village。 Put him in a room； and stay there with him。 Do
you； sergeant； station yourself at the door； so that I shall know
where to find you。 Put on your uniforms and take your guns。〃 The
men put on their coats； which they had removed while at work；
shouldered their muskets； and took their places； two on each side
of the prisoner。 The officers then turned to examine their prostrate
comrade。
〃It's all over with him；〃 one said； stooping down； 〃the shovel has
cut his skull nearly in half。 Well； I fancy he was a bad lot。 I don't
believe in Southerners who come over to fight in our ranks；
besides he was at one time in the rebel army。〃
〃Yes； he was taken prisoner；〃 another said。 〃Then his father； who
had to bolt from the South； because； he said； of his Northern
sympathies； but likely enough for something else； came round；
made interest somehow and got his son released； and then some
one else got him a commission with us。 He always said he had
been obliged to fight on the other side； but that he had always been
heart and soul for the North； anyhow； he was always
blackguarding his old friends。 I always doubted the fellow。 Well；
there's an end of him； and anyhow he has done useful service at
last by recognizing this spy。 Fine…looking young fellow that。 He
called him Vincent Wingfield。 I seem to remember the nanie；