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taking her away； caused old Jackson to fly from the country；
getting less than a quarter of the sum his estate would have fetched
two or three years ago。 That was what made him and his son turn
Unionists。 So； you see； Jackson was heavily punished for his
conduct to you； and it did not need for you to revenge yourself。〃
So he was； sah； so he was；〃 Tony said thoughtfully。 〃Yes； it does
seem as if all des tings came on kinder one after de oder just out
ob dat flogging ho gabo me； and now he has got killed for just de
same cause； for if he hadn't been obliged to turn Unionist he
wouldn't have been in dat dar battery at de time you came dere。
Yes； I sees dat is so； sab； and I'se glad now I didn't hab a chance ob
shooting him down； for I should have done so for suah of I had。〃
They had now reached the river。 The sun was just showing above
the horizon； and the broad sheet of water was already astir。
Steamers were making their way up from the mouth of the river
laden with stores for the army。 Little tugs were hurrying to and fro。
Vessels that had discharged their cargo wore dropping down with
the tide； while many sailing…vessels lay at anchor waiting for the
turn of tide to make their way higher up。 Norfolk was； however；
the base from which the Federal army drew the larger portion of its
stores； as there were great conveniences for landing here； and a
railway thence ran up to the rear of their lines。 But temporary
wharfs and stages had been erected at the point of the river nearest
to their camps in front of Petersburg； and here the cattle and much
of the stores required for the army were landed。 At the point at
which Vincent and Tony had struck the river the banks wore
somewhat low。 Here and there were snug farms； with the ground
cultivated down to the river。 The whole country was open and free
from trees； except where small patches had been loft。 It was in
front of one of these that Vincent and Tony wore now standing。
〃I do not think there is any risk of pursuit now； Tony。
This is not the fine on which they will be hunting us。 The question
is…how are we to get across？〃
〃It's too far to swim； sah。〃
〃I should think it was；〃 Vincent said with a laugh。 〃It's three or four
miles； I should say； if it's a foot。 The first question is…where are we
to get a boat？ I should think that some of these farmhouses are
sure to have boats； but the chances are they have been seized by
the Yankees long ago。 Still they may have some laid up。 The
Yanks would not have made much search for those； though they
would no doubt take all the larger boats for the use of the troops or
for getting stores ashore。 Anyhow； I will go to the next farmhouse
and ask。〃
〃Shall I go； sah？〃
〃No； Tony； they would probably take you for a runaway。 No； I will
go。 There can be no danger。 The men are all away； and the
women are sure to be loyal。 I fancy the few who were the other
way before will have changed their minds since the Yanks landed。〃
They followed the bank of the river for a quarter of a mile； and
thou Vincent walked on to a sma＇l farmhouse standing on the
slope fifty yards from the water。 Two or three children who were
playing about outside at once ran in upon seeing a stranger； and a
moment later two women came out。 They were somewhat
reassured when they saw Vincent approaching alone。
〃What is it； stranger？〃 one of them asked。 〃Do you want a meal？
We have got little enough to offer you； but what there is you are
welcome to； the Yanks have driven off our cows and pigs and the
two horses； and have emptied the barns； and pulled up all the
garden stuff； and stole the fowls； and carried off the bacon from
the beams； so we have got but an empty larder。 But as far as bread
and molasses go； you are welcome。〃
〃Thank you；〃 Vincent said； 〃 I am not in want of food。 What I am
in want of is a boat。〃
〃Boat！〃 the women repeated in surprise。
〃Yes； I want to got across to the other side； or else to get up the
river and land between Petersburg and Bermuda。〃
〃Sakes alive！〃 the woman exclaimed； 〃what do you want to do that
for？〃
〃I will tell you；〃 Vincent replied。 〃I know I can trust my life to any
woman in the Confederacy。 I am one of General Wade Hampton's
officers； and I have come through their lines to find out what they
are doing。 I have been caught once； but managed to slip through
their hands； but there is no possibility of making my way back
across the country； for the Yankee cavalry are patrolling every
road； and the only chance I have is of getting away by boat。〃
〃Step right in； sir；〃 the woman said。 〃It's a real pleasure to us to
have one of our officers under our roof。〃
〃I have a friend with me；〃 Vincent said； 〃a faithful negro； who has
helped me to escape； and who would be hung like a dog if they
could lay hands on him。〃
〃Bring him in； sir； the woman said hospitably。 〃I had four or five
niggers till the Yanks came； but they all ran away 'cause they knew
they would either be set to work or made to fight； so they went。
They said they would come back again when the trouble is over；
maybe they will and maybe they won't。 At first the niggers about
here used to look for the Yanks coming； but as the news got about
of what happened to those they took from their masters； they
concluded they were better off where they were。 Call your boy in；
sir； call him in。〃
Vincent gave a shout； and Tony at once came up。
〃Thank you； we don't want anything to eat；〃 Vincent went on as the
woman began to put some plates on the table。 〃We have just had a
hearty meal； and have got enough food for three or four days in
that bundle。 But we want a boat； or； if we can't find that； some
sailors' clothes。 If I had them I would keep along the river down to
Norfolk。 The place will be full of sailors。 We should not be likely
to be noticed there。〃
〃I can't help you in that；〃 the woman said； 〃but there are certainly
some boats laid up along the shore。 Now； Maria； who has got
boats that haven't been taken？〃
〃I expect the Johnsons have got one；〃 the other woman replied。
〃They had a small boat the boys and girls used to go out fishing in。
I don't think the Yanks have got that。 I expect they hid it away
somewhere； but I don't know as they would let you have it。 She is
a close…fisted woman is Sarah Johnson。〃
〃I could pay her for its value；〃 Vincent said。
〃Oh； well； if you could pay her she would let you have it。
I don't say she wouldn't； anyhow； seeing as you are an officer； and
the Yanks are after you。 Still； she is close is Sarah Johnson； and I
don't know as she is so set on the Confederacy as most people。 I
tell you what I will do； sir。 I will go down and say as a stranger
wants to buy her boat； and no questions asked。 She is just to show
where the boat is hidden； and you are to pay for it and take it away
when you want it。〃
〃That wou