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Worried indeed that she was returning so much later than usual, she hastened homeward. Half-way up the path to the house she met a tall, slender negro girl, who exclaimed, "Hi, Miss Lou, ole miss des gettin' 'stracted 'bout you, en mars'r sez ef you ain' at supper in five minits he's gwine down to Aun' Jinkey en know what she mean, meckin' sech' sturbence in de fambly."
He was wonderfully agile, for his arms were nearly as long as his legs. In an instant he descended, drawing a trap-door after him. Then he sauntered to the door, which he opened wide. A troop of horsemen were coming single file by a path which led near the cabin, and the foremost asked in a voice which the negro recognized as that of Lieutenant Whately, "Is that you, Chunk?" "Dat's me, mars'r.
"I will see that our men are well cared for. I am not responsible for the others." "But I am, and all must fare alike. Cook, prepare a nice light breakfast for all the wounded men before you do anything else." "Yes, mars'r, I 'bey you, I sut'ny will." Scoville strode away to attend to other duties. Mrs. Baron glared after him and then at Aun' Suke, who at once began her work.
"Dat's de mansion ob Cun'l Hickman, my ole mars'r," replied Cuffy. "He owns all de land 'bout here, mor'n tousand acres. He let me live on dis corner when he want me to run de ferry, and I stops here eber since." "Then he must be very rich." "Rich! Dat ain't no name for't. He's got more money'n de Bank ob London, 'n I reckon he could buy out de State of Kaintuck. He's pow'ful rich, Mars'r."
"De army don't come dis way, dey foller de road by de Souf Forks." "Where do they go then?" "Dunno, Mars'r; dey don't tell whar de go," replied the mulatto, shaking his head. This man seemed to be intelligent, and know more about the region than most of the negroes. Deck bade them good-by, and resumed his march. "I dunno's we need go any furder," said Life, after they had gone a few rods.
"Well, now, honey, you hab 'lieve yo' min', en I specs you feel bettah. You mus' des promis yo' ole mammy dat you be keerful en not rile up ole mars'r, kase hit'll ony be harder fer you. I'se ole, en I knows tings do hap'n dough dey of'un come slowlike. You des gwine troo de woods now, en kyant see fur; bimeby you come ter a clearin'. Dat boy ob mine be comin' soon fer his pone en bacon.
"It will be cast ashore by the current, or be drawn into some eddy. When the river gets quiet again, you can go down stream and find it in some place where the logs gather on the shoal places." "I dunno, Mars'r; how kin I go down de riber when I done lose my boat?" demanded Cuffy. "Come with me," said Deck, as he led the way to the rock behind which they had left the steamer's tender.
Ef he gone, he ain' say neber a word ter me, not eben good-by." "No use of your lying. You knew the rascal's purpose. Why didn't you tell Mr. Baron? Which way did he go?" "I des declar, mars'r, I dunno." "You DO know," cried Whately, driven almost to frenzy, "and I'll cut the truth out of you." His whip fell before he could arrest it, but it struck the arm and shoulder of Miss Lou.
"Marse cap'n, you gwine on a journey. Wa't yo' wife wish mo'n dat you git ready fer de journey? She tek dat journey too, bime by soon, en you bof be at de same deah home." "Ah, uncle, if that could be true, the sting of death would be gone." "Sut'ny, marse cap'n. Didn't I know dat ar w'en I mek bole ter speak? Now des tink on hit, mars'r. De worl' full ob poor folks lak me.
In the field were plainly to be seen two companies of cavalry, dressed in United States uniform; but they were not the Riverlawn Squadron. "That is not our battalion, Captain Woodbine," said he, amazed at the appearance of this strange force. "It certainly is not," answered the staff-officer. "Two more companies of cavalry comin' down de road, Mars'r," Cuffy volunteered to inform them.
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