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where the boat is hidden； and you are to pay for it and take it away
when you want it。〃
〃That would be a very good plan；〃 Vincent said； 〃if you wouldn't
mind the trouble。〃
〃The trouble is nothing；〃 she said。 〃Johnson's place ain't above a
mile along the shore。〃
〃I will go with you until you get close to the house；〃 Vincent said；
〃then； when you hear what she wants for the boat； I will give you
the money for it； and you can show me where it is hidden。〃
This was accordingly done。 Mrs。 Johnson； after a con sidorable
amount of bargaining with Vincent's guide； agreed to take twenty
dollars for the boat； and upon receiving the money sent down one
of her boys with her to show her where it was hidden。 It was in a
hole that had been scooped out in the steep bank some ten foot
above the water's edge； and was completely hidden from the sight
of any one rowing past by a small clump of bushes。 When the boys
had returned to the farmhouse the woman took Vincent to the spot；
and they then went back together。
Here he and Tony had a long talk as to whether it would be better
to put out at once or to wait till nightfall。 It was finally determined
that it was best to make an immediate start。 A boat rowed by two
men would attract little attention。 It might belong to any of the
ships at anchor in the river； and might be supposed to have gone on
shore to fetch eggs or chickens； or with a letter or a message。
〃You see； both shores are in the hands of the Yankees；〃 Vincent
said； 〃and there will not be any suspicion of a boat in the daytime。
At night we might be hailed； and if we gave no answer fired upon；
and that night bring a gunboat along to see what was the matter。
No； I think it will be far best to go on boldly。 There are not likely
to be any bodies of Federal troops on the opposite shore except at
Fortress Monroe； and perhaps opposite the point where they have
got their landing below Petersburg。 Once ashore we shall be safe。
The peninsula opposite is covered with forest and swamp； and we
shall have no difficulty in getting through however many troops
they may have across it。 You know the place pretty well； don't you；
Tony？〃
Tony nodded。 〃Once across； sah； all de Yank army wouldn't catch
us。 Me know ob lots ob hiding…places。〃
〃Them broad hats will never do；〃 the woman said； 〃but I have got
some blue nightcaps I knitted for my husband。 They are something
like the caps I have soon some sailors wear； anyhow； they will pass
at a distance； and when you take your coats and vests off； them
colored flannel shirts will be just the right thing。〃
〃That will do capitally； and the sooner we are off the bettor；〃
Vincent said； and after heartily thanking the two women； and
bestowing a present upon each of the children； they started along
the shore。
The boat was soon got into the water； the oars put out； and they
started。 The tide was just low now； and they agreed to pull along
at a short distance from the shore until it turned。 As soon as it did
so the vessels at anchor would be getting up sail to make up to the
landing…place； and even had any one on board noticed the boat put
out； and had been watching it； they would have other things to
think about。
〃It is some time since we last rowed in a boat together； Tony。〃
〃About three years； sah； dat time when you got me safe away。 I
had a bad fright dat day you left me； sah。 It came on to blow bery
hard； and some oh de men told me dat dey did not tink you would
ever get back to shore。 Dat made me awful bad； sah； and me wish
ober and ober again dat me hab died in de forest instead oh your
taking me off in a boat and trowing away your life。 I neber felt
happy again； sah； till I got your letter up in Canady； and knew you
had got back safe dat day。〃
〃We had a narrow squeak of it； Tony； and were blown some
distance up。 We were nearly swamped a score of times； and Dan
quite made up his mind that it was all up with us。 However； we
got through safe； and I don't think a soul； except perhaps Jackson
and that rascally overseer of ours； who afterward had a hand in
carrying off your wife； and lost his life in consequence； ever had a
suspicion we had been doing more than a long fishing expedition。 I
will tell you all about it when we are going through the woods。
Now I think it's pretty nearly dead water； and we will begin to edge
across。〃
CHAPTER XX。 THE END OF THE STRUGGLE。
VINCENT directed his course so that while the boat's head was
still pointing up the stream； and she was apparently moving in the
same direction as the ships； she was gradua＇ly getting out to the
middle of the river。 Had he tried to row straight across suspicion
might at once have been excited。 In half an hour they were in the
middle of the stream。 A vessel passing under full sail swept along
at a distance of a hundred yards； and they were hailed。 Vincent
merely waved his hand and continued his course。
〃I dare say those fellows wonder what we are up to； Tony； but they
are not likely to stop to inquire。 In another quarter of an hour we
shall be pretty safe。 Ah！ there's a fellow who might interfere with
us；〃 he added looking round。 〃Do you see that little black thing
two miles ahead of us？ that's a steam launch。 If she sees us
making over she's likely enough to come and ask us some
questions。 We had better head a little more toward the shore now。
If it comes to a race every foot is of importance
Up to now they had been rowing in an easy and leisurely manner；
avoiding all appearance of haste。 They now bent to their oars； and
the boat began to travel a good deal faster through the water。
Vincent glanced over his shoulder frequently at the steam launch。
〃She is keeping straight on in the middle of the channel； Tony；
evidently she hasn't noticed us yet。〃
Ten minutes after passing the ship he exclaimed sharply：
〃Row； Tony； as hard as you can； the launch has just passed that
ship； and has changed her course。 I expect the captain has called
their attention to us。 It's a race now。〃
The boat； at the moment the launch changed her course； was rather
more than halfway between the center of the channel and the
shore。 The launch was in the center of the channel； and
three…quarters of a mile higher up。 She had evidently put on steam
as she started to cut off the boat； for there was now a white wave at
her bow。
〃I think we shall do it； Tony；〃 Vincent said。 〃I don't suppose she
can go above eight miles an hour and we are certainly going four；
and she has more than twice as far to travel as we have。〃
Those on board the launch were evidently conscious that they were
likely to lose the race； for in a few minutes they began to open fire
with their rifles。
〃Fire away；〃 Vincent said。 〃You ain't likely to hit us a thousand
yards off； and we haven't another three hundred to row。〃
The bullets whistled overhead； but none