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that for？〃
〃Not from choice； I can assure you； mother； but you know the old
saying； 'Needs must when the devil drives；' and in the present case
you must read 'Yankee' instead of 'the gentleman in black。'
〃But has Petersburg fallen？〃 Mrs。 Wingfield asked in alarm。
〃No； Petersburg is safe； and is likely to continue so。 But you must
really be patient； mother； until I have had some tea； then you can
hear the story in full。〃
When the servant came in with the tea Vincent told her that she
was to tell Dinah； whom she would find on the veranda； to bring
her husband into the kitchen； and to give him everything he
wanted。 Then； as soon as he had finished tea； he told his mother
and sister the adventures he had gone through。 Both were crying
when he had finished。
〃I am proud of you； Vincent；〃 his mother said。 〃It is hard on us
that you should run such risks； still I do not blame you； my boy； for
if I had ten sons I would give them all for my country。〃
Vincent had but just finished his story when the servant came in
and said that the buggy was at the door。
〃I will go in my slippers； mother； but I will run up and change my
other things。 It's lucky I have got a spare suit here。 Any of our
fellows who happened to be going down to…night in the train
would think that I was mad were I to go like this。〃
It was one o'clock in the morning when Vincent reached
Petersburg。 He went straight to his quarters； as it would be no use
waking General Lee at that hour。 A light was burning in his room；
and Dan was asleep at the table with his head on his arms。 He
leaped up with a cry of joy as his master entered。
〃Well； Dan； here I am safe again；〃 Vincent said cheerily。 〃I hope
you had not begun to give me up。〃
〃I began to be terribly frightened； sir…terribly frightened。 I went dis
afternoon and asked Captain Burley if he had any news oh you。
He said 'No；' and asked me ef I knew where you were。 I said 'No；
sah；' that I knew nuffin about it except that you had gone on some
dangerous job。 He said he hoped that you would be back soon；
and certainly； as far as dey had heard； nuffin had happened to you。
Still I was bery anzious； and tought I would sit up till de last train
came in from Richmond。 Den I tink I dropped off to sleep。〃
〃I think you did； Dan。 Well； I am too tired to tell you anything
about it now； but I have one piece of news for you； Tony has come
back to his wife。〃
〃Dat's good news； sah； bery good news。 I had begun to be afraid
dat Tony had been shot or hung or someting。 I know Dinah hab
been fretting about him though she never said much； but when I
am at home she allus asks me all sorts of questions 'bout him。 She
bery glad woman now。〃
The next morning Vincent went to General Lee's quarters。
〃I am heartily glad to see you back；〃 the general said warmly as he
entered。 〃I have blamed myself for letting you go。 Well； what
success have you had？〃
〃Here is a rough plan of the works； general。 I have not had time to
do it out fairly； but it shows the positions of all their principal
batteries； with a rough estimate as to the number of guns that each
is intended to carry。〃
〃Excellent！〃 the general said； glancing over the plan。 〃This will
give us exactly the information we want。 We must set to with our
counter…works at once。 The country is indeed indebted to you； sir。
So you managed to cheat the Yankees altogether？〃
〃I should have cheated them； sir； but 'unfortunately I came across
an old acquaintance who denounced me； and I had a narrow escape
of being shot。〃
〃Well； Captain Wingfield； I must see about this business； and give
orders at once。 Will you come and breakfast with me at half…past
eight？ Then you can give me an account of your adventures。〃
Vincent returned to his quarters； and spent the next two hours in
making a detailed drawing of the enemy's positions and batteries；
and then at half…past eight walked over to General Lee's quarters。
The general returned in a few minutes with General Wade
Hampton and several other officers； and they at once sat down to
breakfast。 As the meal was proceeding an orderly entered with a
telegram for the general。 General Lee glanced through it。
〃This； gentlemen； is from the minister of war。 I acquainted him by
telegraph this morning that Captain Wingfield； who had
volunteered for the dangerous service； had just returned from the
Federal lines with a plan of the positions and strength of all the
works that they are erecting。 I said that I trusted that such
distinguished service as he had rendered would be at once
rewarded with promotion； and the minister telegraphs to me now
that he baa this morning signed this young officer's commission as
major。 I heartily congratulate you； sir； on your well…earned step。
And now； as I see you have finished your breakfast； perhaps； you
will give 'us an account of your proceedings。〃
Vincent gave a detailed account of his adventures； which were
heard with surprise and interest。
〃That was a narrow escape； indeed；〃 the general said； as he
finished。 〃It was a marvelous thing your lighting upon this negro；
whom you say you had once had an opportunity of serving； just at
that moment； and although you do not tell us what was the nature
of the service you had rendered him； it must have been a very
considerable service or he would never have risked his life in that
way to save yours。 When these negroes do feel attachment for
their masters there are no more faithful and devoted fellows。 Well；
in your case certainly a good action has met with its reward； if it
had not been for him there could be no question that your doom
was sealed。 It is a strange thing too your meeting that traitor。 I
remember reading about that escape of yours from the Yankee
prison。 He must have been an ungrateful villain； after your taking
him with you。〃
〃He was a bad fellow altogether； I am afraid；〃 Vincent said； 〃and
the quarrel between us was a long…standing one。〃
〃Whatever your quarrel was；〃 the general said hotly； 〃a man who
would betray even an enemy to death in that way is a villain。
However； he has gone to his account； and the country can forgive
his treachery to her； as I have no doubt you have already done his
conduct toward your…self。〃
A short time afterward Vincent had leave for a week； as things
were quiet at Petersburg。
〃Mother；〃 he said on the morning after he got home9 〃I fear that
there is no doubt whatever now how this struggle will end。 I think
we might keep Grant at bay here； but Sherman is too strong for us
down in Georgia。 We are already cut off from most of the
Southern States； and in time Sherman will sweep round here； and
then it will be all over。 You see it yourself； don't you； mother？〃
〃Yes； I am afraid it cannot continue much longer； Vincent。 Well；
of course； we shall fight to the end。〃
〃I am not talking of giving