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〃I would gib my life for him twenty times over；〃 Tony replied。
〃He got me away from a brutal master and bought my wife out ob
slavery for me。 What does he say； ma'am？ For do Lord sake tell
me。 Perhaps he tell me how to get him clar。〃
The woman read out the contents of the note。
〃Dat's it； missus； sure enough； dat's the way；〃 he exclaimed in
delight。 〃Me tink and tink all day； and no manage to tink of
anything except to shoot de sentry and fight wid do oders and get
him out； but den all do odor sojers come running down； and no
chance to escape。 If me can get do spirits dat's easy enough。 Me
make dem all drunk as hogs。〃
〃I can give you that；〃 the woman said。 〃Is there anything else you
will want？ What are you going to do with him if yen get him free？
They will hunt you down like vermin。〃
〃I tought we might get down to de river and get ober somehow。
Dere will he no getting tree der cavalry。 Dey will hab dem on
every read。〃
〃Well； you want some clothes； anyhow； you can't go about in these
soldier clothes。 The first Yank yen came across would shoot you
for a deserter； and the first of our men as a traitor。 Well； by the
time you get back to…night； that is if you do come back； I will get
up a chest I've get buried with my men's clothes in it。 They didn't
want to take them away to the war with them； so I hid them up。〃
She had by this time dug up the keg from its hiding…place； and now
filled Tony's canteen。
〃Tank yen； missus； de Lord bress yen for what you've done；
wheder I get Massa Wingfield off or wheder we bofe get killed
ober de job。 But I must get back as fast as I can。 Ef it was dark
before I got to camp dey would wonder whar I had been。〃
〃Oh； you have plenty of time；〃 the woman said； 〃it won't be dark
till eight o'clock； and it's not seven yet。 I will set to and boil a
good chunk of pork and bake some cakes。 It's no use getting out of
the hands of the Yanks and then going and getting starved in the
swamps。
Directly Tony got back to his regiment he strolled over to the shed
where Vincent was confined。 Two sentinels were on duty； the
sergeant and the two other men were lying at full length en the
ground some twenty yards away。 Their muskets were beside them；
and it was evident to Tony by the vigilant watch that they kept up
en the shed that their responsibility weighed heavily upon them
and that Captain Pearce had impressed upon them that if the
pnsoner escaped they would certainly be shot。
〃Well； Sergeant John Newson；〃 Tony began； 〃I hab just walked
ober to see how you getting on。 It am a mighty 'sponsible business
dis。 I had six hours of him； and it make de perspiration run down
my back to tink what a job it would be for me if dat fellow was to
run away。〃
〃Dat's just what dis chile feel； Sergeant Tony Morris； I am zactly
like dat； and dat's what dese men feel too。 We am all on guard。 De
captain say； put two on guard at de shed and let do odors relieb
dem ebery hour。 So dey shall； but dose off duty must watch just
the same。 When it gets dark we get close up； so as to be ready to
jump in directly we hear a stir。 Dis fellow no fool us。〃
〃Dat's the way； Sergeant Newson； dat am do way。 Nober close your
eye； but keep a sharp look on dem。 It's a pity dat you not in camp
to…night。〃
〃How am dat； bow am dat？〃 the sergeant asked。
〃To tell you do truf； sergeant； tree or four ob us hab smuggled in
some spirits； and you are one of dose who would hab come in for a
share of it if you had been dere。〃
〃Golly！〃 the sergeant exclaimed； 〃but dat is bery unfortunate。
Can't you manage to bring me a little here？〃
〃Well； you know； it's difficult to get out ob camp。
〃Oh； you could get through。 Dere is no fear about you being
caught。〃
〃I don't know；〃 Tony replied with an air of reluctance。 〃Well； I will
see about it。 Ef I can crawl troo de sentries； and bring some for
you and de oders； I will。 It will help keep you awake and keep out
de damp。
〃Dat's right down good ob you；〃 the other said cordially。 〃You
good man； Tony Morris； and if I can do as much for you anoder
time； I do it。〃
Having settled this； Tony went round to the hospital tent in rear of
the regiment； having tied up his face with a handkerchief。
〃Well； what is it； sergeant？〃 the negro； who acted as an orderly and
sometimes helped the surgeon mix his drugs； asked。 〃De doctor
am gone away； and I don't 'spect he come back again to…night。〃
〃Dat am bery bad ting；〃 Tony said dolefully。 〃Can't you do
something for me； Sam Smith？ I tink you know quite as much
about do medicines as do doctor himself。〃
〃Not quite so much； sergeant； not quite so much； but I'se no fool；
and my old mother she 'used to make medicine for de plantation
and knew a heap about herbs； so it am natural dat I should take to
it。 What can I gib you？〃
〃Well； Sam； you see sometimes I'se 'flicted dre'fful wid do
faceache him just go jump； jump； jump； as ef he bust right up。
Mose times I find de best ting am to put a little laudabun in my
mouf； and a little on bit of rag and put him outside。 De best ting
would be for you to gib me little bottle of him； den when de pain
come on I could jess take him； and not be troubling you ebery day。
And Sam； jus you whisper…I got hold of a little good stuff。 You gib
me tin mug； me share what I hab got wid you。〃
The negro grinned with delight； and going into the tent brought out
a tin mug。
〃Dat's all right； Sam； but you hab no brought de bottle of laudabun
too。 You just fetch dat； and I gib you do spirit。〃
The negro went in again； and in two minutes returned with a small
bottle of laudanum。
〃Dat's a fair exchange；〃 Tony said； taking it； and handing to the
man his mug half full of spirit。
〃Dat am someting like；〃 the black said； looking with delight at the
liberal allowance。 〃Me drink him do last ting at night； don me go
to sloop and no one 'spect nuffin'。 Whereber you get dat spirit？〃
〃Never you mind； Sam；〃 Tony said with a grin。 〃Dar's more where
dat comes from； and maybe you will get anoder taste ob it。〃
Then after leaving the hospital tent he poured half the spirits away；
for he had not now to depend upon the effect of that alone； and it
wore bettor not to give it too strong； for that might arouse the
suspicion of the guard。 Then ho uncorked the bottle of laudanum。
〃I don't know how much to gib；〃 he said to himself。 〃No good to
kill dem。 Me don't 'spect die stuff bery strong。 Dose rogues sell
all sorts of stuff to do government。 Anyting good enough for do
soldier。 Dey gib him rotten boots； and rotten cloth； and bad
powder； and all sorts of tings。 I spect dey gib him bad drugs too。
However； me must risk it。 Dis bottle not bery big； anyhow…won't
hold more dan two or three teaspoon。 Must risk him。〃
So saying ho poured the contents of the vial into the canteen； and
then going to a wate