第12章

McClellanfoughtadrawnbattleagainstusatAntietamandshowedhimselfareallyablegeneralintheoperationsinfrontofRichmond。Thearmyhaveconfidenceinhim，andheisbyfarthebestmantheyhavegotsofar，butthefoolsatWashingtonhavenowforthesecondtimedisplacedhimbecausetheyarejealousofhim。Burnsidehasshownhimselfagoodmaninminorcommands，butIdon"tthinkheisequaltocommandsuchavastarmyasthis；andbesides，weknowfromourfriendsatWashingtonthathehasprotestedagainstthisadvanceacrosstheriver，buthasbeenoverruled。YouwillseeFredericksburgwilladdanothertothelonglistofourvictories。"

VincentsharedatentwithanotherofficerofthesamerankinGeneralStuart"sstaff。Theysatchattingtilllate，anditwasstilldarkwhentheyweresuddenlyarousedbyanoutbreakofmusketrydownattheriver。

"Thegeneralwasright，"CaptainLongmore，Vincent"scompanion，exclaimed。"Theyareevidentlythrowingabridgeacrosstheriver，andthefirewehearcomesfromtworegimentsofMississippianswhoareposteddowninthetownunderBarksdale。"

Itwasbuttheworkofaminutetothrowontheirclothesandhurryout。Thenightwasdarkandaheavyfoghungovertheriver。A

perfectroarofmusketrycameupfromthevalley。Drumsandbuglesweresoundingallalongthecrest。AtthesamemomenttheyissuedoutGeneralStuartcameoutfromhistent，whichwascloseby。

"Isthatyou，Longmore？Jumponyourhorseandridedowntothetown。Bringbacknewsofwhatisgoingon。"

Afewminuteslateranofficerrodeup。Somewoodhadbeenthrownonthefire，andbyitslightVincentrecognizedStonewallJackson。

"Haveyouanynewsforus？"heasked。

"Notyet，Ihavesentanofficerdowntoinquire。Theenemyhavebeentryingtobridgetheriver。

"Isupposeso，"Jacksonreplied。"Ihaveorderedoneofmybrigadestocometotheheadofthebankassoonastheycanbeformedup，tohelpBarksdaleifneedbe，butIdon"twanttotakethemdownintothetown。Itiscommandedbyallthehillsontheoppositeside，andweknowtheyhavebroughtupalsoalltheirartillerythere。"

InafewminutesCaptainLougmorereturned。

"Theenemyhavethrowntwopontoonbridgesacross，oneaboveandonebelowtheoldrailwaybridge。TheMississippianshavedriventhembackonce，buttheyarepushingontheworkandwillsoongetitfinished；butGeneralBarksdalebidsmereportthatwiththeforceathiscommandhecanrepulseanyattempttocross。"

Thelightwasnowbreakingintheeast，buttheroarofmusketrycontinuedunderthecanopyoffog。GeneralLee，Longstreet，andothershadnowarriveduponthespot，andVincentwassurprisedthatnoorderswereissuedfortroopstoreinforcethoseunderGeneralBarksdale。Presentlythesunrose，andasitgainedinpowerthefogslowlylifted，anditwasseenthatthetwopontoonbridgeswerecomplete；butthefireoftheMississippianswassoheavythatalthoughtheenemyseveraltimesattemptedtocrosstheyrecoiledbeforeit。Suddenlyagunwasfiredfromtheoppositeheight，andatthesignalmorethanahundredpiecesofartilleryopenedfireuponthetown。Manyoftheinhabitantshadleftassoonasthemusketryfirebegan，buttheslopesbehinditsoonpresentedasadspectacle。Men，women，andchihlrenpouredoutfromthetown，bewilderedwiththedinandterrifiedbythestormofshotandshellthatcrashedintoit。Higherandhigherthecrowdoffugitivesmadetheirwayuntiltheyreachedthecrest；

amongthemwereweepingwomenandcryingchildren，manyoftheminthescantiestattireandcarryingsucharticlesofdressandvaluablesastheyhadcaughtupwhenstartledbytheterriblerainofmissiles。Inaveryfewminutessmokebegantoriseoverthetown，followedbytonguesofflame，andinhalfanhourtheplacewasonfireinascoreofplaces。

AlldaythebombardmentwentonwithoutcessationandFredericksburgcrumbledintoruins。Still，inspiteofthisterriblefiretheMississippiansclungtotheburningtownamidcrashingwalls，fallingchimneys，andshellsexplodingineverydirection。

Asnightfelltheenemypouredacrossthebridges，andBarksdale，contestingeveryfootofground，fellbackthroughtheburningcityandtookupapositionbehindastonewallinitsrear。

ThroughoutthedaynotasingleshothadbeenfiredbytheConfederateartillery，whichwasveryinferiorinpowertothatoftheenemy。AsGeneralLeehadnowishfinallytohinderthepassageoftheFederals，thestubbornresistanceofBarksdale"sforcebeingonlyintendedtogivehimtimetoconcentrateallhisarmyassoonasheknewforcertainthepointatwhichtheenemywasgoingtocross；andhedidnotwish，therefore，toriskthedestructionofanyofhisbatteriesbycallingdowntheFederalfireuponthem。

Duringthedaythetroopswereallbroughtupintoposition。

LongstreetwasontheleftandJacksonontheright，whiletheguns，forty-seveninnumber，wereinreadinesstotakeuptheirpostinthemorningontheslopesinfrontofthem。OntheextremerightGeneralStuartwaspostedwithhiscavalryandhorseartillery。Thenightpassedquietlyandbydaybreakthetroopswerealldrawnupintheirpositions。

Assoonasthesunroseitwasseenthatduringthenighttheenemyhadthrownmorebridgesacrossandthatthegreaterportionofthearmywasalreadyover。Theywere，indeed，alreadyinmovementagainsttheConfederateposition，theirattackbeingdirectedtowardtheportionofthelineheldbyJackson"sdivision。GeneralStuartgaveorderstoMajorPelham，whocommandedhishorseartillery，andwhoimmediatelybroughtupthegunsandbeganthebattlebyopeningfireontheflankoftheenemy。ThegunsoftheNorthernbatteriesatoncereplied，andforsomehourstheartilleryduelcontinued，theFederalgunsdoingheavyexecution。Foratimeattackswerethreatenedfromvariouspoints，butaboutteno"clock，whenthefoglifted，amassofsome55，000troopsadvancedagainstJackson。Theyweresufferedtocomewithin800yardsbeforeagunwasfired，andthenfourteengunsopeneduponthenwithsucheffectthattheyfellbackinconfusion。

Atoneo"clockanotherattemptwasmade，coveredbyatremendousfireofartillery。ForatimethecolumnsofattackwerekeptatbaybythefireoftheConfederatebatteries，buttheyadvancedwithgreatresolution，pushedtheirwaythroughJackson"sfirstline，andforcedthemtofallback。JacksonbroughtuphissecondlineanddrovetheenemybackwithgreatslaughteruntilhisadvancewascheckedbythefireoftheNorthernartillery。

Alldaythefightwenton，theFederalsattemptingtocrushtheConfederateartillerybytheweightoftheirfireinorderthattheirinfantrycolumnsmightagainadvance。ButalthoughoutnumberedbymorethantwotoonetheConfederategunswereworkedwithgreatresolution，andthedaypassedanddarknessbeguntofallwithouttheirretiringfromthepositionstheyhadtakenup。"JustatsunsetGeneralStuartorderedallthebatteriesontherighttoadvance。ThistheydidandopenedtheirfireontheNortherninfantrywithsucheffectthatthesefellbacktothepositionnearthetownthattheyhadoccupiedinthemorning。

Ontheleftanequallyterriblebattlehadragedallday，butheretheNortherntroopswerecompelledtocrossopengroundbetweenthetownandthebaseofthehill，andsufferedsoterriblyfromthefirethattheyneversucceededinreachingtheConfederatefront。

ThroughoutthedaytheConfederatesheldtheirpositionwithsucheasethatGeneralLeeconsideredtheaffairasnothingmorethanademonstrationofforcetofeelhisposition，andexpectedanevensternerbattleonthefollowingday。Jackson"sfirstandsecondlines，composedoflessthan15，000men，hadrepulsedwithoutdifficultythedivisionsofFranklinandHooker，55，000strong；

whileLongstreetwithaboutthesameforcehadneverbeenreallypressedbytheenemy，althoughonthatsidetheyhadaforceofover50，000men。

InthemorningtheNorthernarmywasseendrawnupinbattlearrayasiftoadvanceforfreshassault，butnomovementwasmade。GeneralBurnsidewasinfavorofafreshattack，butthegeneralscommandingthevariousdivisionsfeltthattheirtroops，aftertherepulsethedaybefore，werenotequaltothework，andwereunanimouslyofopinionthatasecondassaultshouldnotbeattempted。AfterremainingforsomehoursinorderofbattletheyfellbackintothetownandtwodayslaterthewholearmyrecrossedtheRappahannookRiver。ThelossoftheConfederateswas1，800men，whowereforthemostpartkilledorwoundedbytheenemy"sartillery，whiletheFederallosswasnolessthan13，771。GeneralBurnsidesoonafterwardresignedhiscommand，andGeneralHooker，anofficerofthesamepoliticsasthepresidentandhisadvisers，wasappointedtosucceedhim。

Thecavalryhadnotbeencalledupontoactduringtheday，andVincent"sdutieswereconfinedtocarryingorderstothecommandersofthevariousbatteriesofartillerypostedinthatpartofthefield，asthesehadallbeenplacedunderGeneralStuart"sorders。Hehadmanynarrowescapesbyshotandfragmentsofshells，butpassedthroughthedayuninjured。

GeneralLeehasbeenblamedfornottakingadvantageofhisvictoryandfallingupontheFederalsonthemorningafterthebattle；butalthoughsuchanassaultmightpossiblyhavebeensuccessfulhewasconsciousofhisimmenseinferiorityinforce，andhistroopswouldhavebeencompelledtohaveadvancedtotheattackacrossgroundcompletelysweptbythefireofthemagnificentlyservedNorthernartillerypostedupontheircommandingheights。Hewasmoreoverignorantofthefullextentofthelosshehadinflictedupontheenemy，andexpectedarenewedattackbythem。Hewastherefore，doubtless，unwillingtorisktheresultsofthevictoryhehadgainedandofthevictoryheexpectedtogainshouldtheenemyrenewtheirattack，byamovementwhichmightnotbesuccessful，andwhichwouldatanyratehavecosthimatremendouslossofmen，andmenwerealreadybecomingscarceintheConfederacy。

Assoonastheenemyhadfonbackacrosstheriveranditwascertainthattherewaslittlechanceofanotherforwardmovementontheirpartforaconsiderabletime，VincentshowedtoGeneralStuartthepermithehadreceivedtoreturnhomeuntilthespringonleave，andatoncereceivedthegeneral"spermissiontoretirefromthestaffforatime。

HehadnotbeenaccompaniedbyDanonhisrailwayjourneytothefront，havinglefthimbehindwithinstructionstoendeavorbyeverymeanstofindsomeclewastothedirectioninwhichDinahhadbeencarriedoff。Hetelegraphedonhiswayhomethenewsofhiscoming，andfoundDanatthestationwaitingforhim。

"Well，Dan，haveyouobtainedanynews？"heaskedassoonashishorsehadbeenremovedfromitsbox，andhehadmountedandatafoot-paceleftthestation，withDanwalkingbesidehim。

"No，sah；Ihabdonemybest，butIcannotfindoutanyting。TheniggersatJackson"sallsaydatnostrangershabbeentherewiddooldmanforalongtimebeforededaydatDinahwascarriedoff。I

havebeenoverdar，massa，andhabtalkedwidthehandsatdohouse。Deyallsaydatnoonebeendereforamonth。Mesuredatdoynotellalieaboutit，becausedoyallhateMassaJacksonlikepison。Dendelawyer，heamputdoadvertisementyoutoldhiminthepapers:FivehundreddollarstowhoeverwouldgiveinformationaboutdocarryingoffofafemaleslavefromMissyWingfiold，ordatwouldleadtodediscoveryofherhiding-place。

Butnoanswercome。MeheardMissyWingfieldsaysolastnight。"

"That"sbad，Dan；butIhardlyexpectedanythingbetter。Ifeltsuretheoldfoxwouldhavetakeneveryprecaution，knowingwhataseriousbusinessitwouldbeforhimifitwerefoundout。NowI

ambackIwilltakethematterupmyself，andwewillseewhatwecando。IwishIcouldhavesetaboutitthedayaftershewascarriedaway。Itismorethanafortnightagonow，andthatwillmakeitmuchmoredifficultthanitwouldhavebeenbaditbeenbegunatonce。"

"Well，Vincent，soyouhavecomebacktousundamagedthistime，"hismothersaidafterthefirstgreeting。"WeworeveryanxiouswhenthenewscamethatagreatbattlehadbeenfoughtlastFriday；butwhenweheardthenextmorningtheenemyhadbeenrepulsedsoeasilyweworenotsoanxious，althoughitwasnotuntilthismorningthatthelistofkilledandwoundedwaspublished，andourmindssetatrest"

"No，mother；itwasatremendousartillerybattle，butitwasalittlemorethanthat-atleastonourside。ButIhaveneverheardanythingatalllikeitfromsunrisetosunset。But，afterall，anartilleryfireismorefrighteningthandangerous，exceptatcomparativelyclosequarters。Theenemymusthavefiredatleastfiftyshotsforeverymanthatwashit。Icountedseveraltimes，andthereworefullyahundredshotsaminute，andIdon"tthinkitlessenedmuchthewholeday。Ishouldthinktheymusthavefiredtwoorthreehundredroundsatleastfromeachgun。Theroarwasincessant，andwhatwiththedintheymade，andtherepliesofourownartillery，andtheburstingofshells，andtherattleofmusketry，thedinattimeswasalmostbewildering。Wildfirewashitwithapieceofshell，butfortunatelyitwasnotaverylargeone，andheisnotmuchtheworseforit，buttheshockknockedhimoffhislegs；

ofcourseIwentdownwithhim，andthoughtforamomentIhadbeenhitmyselfNo；itwasbyfarthemosthollowaffairwehavehad。Theenemyfoughtobstinatelyenough，butwithouttheslightestspiritordash，andonlyoncedidtheygetupanywherenearourline，andthentheywontbackagooddealquickerthantheycame。"

"Andnowyouaregoingtobewithusforthreemonths，Vincent？"

Ihopeso，mother；atleastiftheydonotadvanceagain。Ishallbehereoffandon。ImeantofindDinahMorrisifitispossible，andifIcanobtaintheslightestclewIshallfollowitupandgowhereveritmayleadme。"

"Well，wewillspareyouforthat，Vincent。Asyouknow，Ididnotlikeyourmixingyourselfupinthatbusinesstwoyearsago，butitisaltogetherdifferentnow。Thewomanwasverywillingandwellconducted，andIhadgottobereallyfondofher。Butputtingthataside，itisintolerablethatsuchapieceofinsolenceasthestealingofoneofourslavesshouldgounpunished。Thereforeifyoudofindanyclewtotheaffairwewillnotgrumbleatyourfollowingitup，evenifitdoestakeyouawayfromhomeforashorttime。Bytheby，wehadlettersthismorningfromacertainyoungladyinGeorgiainclosingherphotograph，andIratherfancythereisoneforyousomewhere。"

"Whereisit，mother？"Vincentasked，jumpingfromhisseat。

"Letmethink，"Mrs。Wingfieldreplied。"Dideitherofyougirlsputitaway，orwherecanithavebeenstowed？"Thegirlsbothlaughed。

"Now，Vincent，whatofferdoyoumakefortheletter？Well，wewon"tteaseyou，"AnniewentonasVincentgaveanimpatientexclamation。"Anothertimewemightdoso，butasyouhavejustcomesafelybacktousIdon"tthinkitwillbefair，especiallyasthisistheveryfirstletter。Hereitisit"andshetookoutoftheworkboxbeforeherthemissiveVincentwassoeagertoreceive。

CHAPTERXVI。THESEARCHFORDINAH。

"BYTHEBY，Vincent，"Mrs。Wingfieldremarkednextmorningatbreakfast，"IhavepartedwithPearson。"

"Iamgladtohearit，mother。What!didyoudiscoveratlastthathewasascamp？"

"Severalthingsthatoccurredshookmyconfidenceinhim，Vincent。Theaccountswerenotatallsatisfactory，andithappenedquiteaccidentallythatwhenIwastalkingonedaywithMr。

Robertson，who，asyouknow，isagreatspeculatorintobacco，I

saidthatIshouldgrownomoretobacco，asitreallyfetchednothing。Herepliedthatitwouldbeapitytogiveitup，forsolittlewasnowcultivatedthatthepricewasrising，andtheOrangerytobaccoalwaysfetchedtopprices。"IthinkthepriceI

paidforyourcropthisyearmustatanyratehavepaidforthelaborthatistosay，paidforthekeepoftheslavesandsomethingover。"

Hethenmentionedthepricehehadgiven，whichwascertainlyagooddealhigherthanIhadimagined。Ilookedtomyaccountsnextmorning，andfoundthatPearsonhadonlycreditedmewithone-thirdoftheamounthemusthavereceived，soIatoncedismissedhim。Indeed，Ihadbeenthinkingofdoingsosomelittletimebefore，formoneyissoscarceandthepriceofproducesolowthatIfeltIcouldnotaffordtopayasmuchasIhavebeengivinghim。"

"IamafraidIhavebeendrawingratherheavily，mother，"Vincentputin。

"Ihaveplentyofmoney，Vincent。Sinceyourfather"sdeathwehavehadmuchlesscompanythanbefore，andIhavenotspentmyincome。Besides，Ihaveaconsiderablesuminvestedinhousepropertyandothersecurities。ButIhave，ofcourse，sincethewarbeganbeensubscribingtowardtheexpensesofthewar-forthesupportofhospitalsandsoon。IthoughtatatimelikethisIoughttokeepmyexpensesdownatthelowestpoint，andtogivethebalanceofmyincometotheState。"

"HowdidJonastakehisdismissal，mother？"

"Notverypleasantly，"Mrs。Wingfieldreplied；"especiallywhenI

toldhimthatIhaddiscoveredhewasrobbingme。However，heknewbetterthantosaymuch，forhehasnotbeeningoododorabouthereforsometime。AfterthefightingnearheretherewerereportsthathehadbeenincommunicationwiththeYankees。Hespoketomeaboutitatthetime，butasitwasamerematterofrumor，originating，nodoubt，fromthefactthathewasaNorthernmanbybirth，Ipaidnoattentiontothem。"

"Itislikelyenoughtobetrue，"Vincentsaid。"IalwaysdistrustedthevehemencewithwhichhetooktheConfederateside。Howlongagodidthishappen？"

"ItisaboutamonthsinceIdismissedhim。"

"Solatelyasthat!ThenIshouldnotbeatallsurprisedifhehadsomehandincarryingoffDinah。IknowhewasincommunicationwithJackson，forIoncesawthemtogetherinthestreet，andIfanciedatthetimethatitwasthroughhimthatJacksonlearnedthatDinahwashere。Itisanadditionalclewtoinquireinto，anyhow。Doyouknowwhathasbecomeofhimsinceheleftyou？"

"No；Ihaveheardnothingatallabouthim，Vincent，fromthedayI

gavehimacheckforhispayinthisroom。Farrell，whowasunderhim，isnowinchargeoftheOrangery。Hemaypossiblyknowsomethingofhismovements。"

"IthinkFarrellisanhonestfellow，"Vincentsaid"Hewasalwaysaboutdoinghisworkquietlyneverbullyingorshoutingatthehands，andyetseeingthattheydidtheirworkproperly。Iwillrideoutandseehimatonce。"

AssoonasbreakfastwasoverVincentstarted，andfoundFarrellinthefieldswiththehands。

"Iamgladtoseeyouback，sir，"themansaidheartily。

"Thankyou，Farrell。Iamgladtobeback，andIamgladtofindyouinPearson"splace。Ineverlikedthefellow，andnevertrustedhim。"

"Ididnotlikehimmyself，sir，thoughwealwaysgotonwellenoughtogether。Heknewhiswork，andgotasmuchoutofthehandsasanyonecoulddo；butIdidnotlikehiswaywiththem。

Theyhatedhim。"

"Haveyouanyideawherehewentwhenhelefthere？"

"No，sir；hedidnotcomebackafterhegothisdismissal。Hesentamaninabuggywithanotetome，askingmetosendallhisthingsovertoRichmond。Iexpecthewasafraidthenewsmightgethereassoonashedid，andthatthehandswouldgivehimanunpleasantreception，asindeedIexpecttheywouldhavedone。"

"Youdon"tknowwhetherhehasanyfriendsanywhereintheConfederacytowhomhewouldbelikelytogo？"

"Idon"tknowaboutfriends，sir；butIknowhehastoldmehewasoverseer，orpartner，orsomethingofthatsort，inasmallstationdownintheswampsofSouthCarolina。Ishouldthink，fromthingshehasletdrop，thattheslavesmusthavehadabadtimeofit。Iratherfancyhemadetheplacetoohotforhim，andhadtoleave；butthatwasonlymyimpression。"

"Inthatcasehemaypossiblyhavemadehiswaybackthere，"

Vincentsaid。"Ihaveparticularreasonsforwishingtofindout。

Youdon"tknowanythingaboutthenameoftheplace？"Themanshookhishead。

"Henevermentionedthenameinmyhearing。"

"Well，Imusttrytofindout，butIdon"tquiteseehowtosetaboutit，"Vincentsaid。"Bytheway，doyouknowwherehisclothesweresentto？"

"Yes；themansaidthathewastotakethemtoHarker"sHotel。It"sasecond-ratehotelnotfarfromtherailwaystation。"

"Thankyou。Thatwillhelpme。Iknowthehouse。ItwasformerlyusedbyNortherndrummersandpeopleofthatsort。"

AfterridingbacktoRichmondandputtinguphishorse，Vincentwenttothehotelthere。Althoughbutasecondaryhotelitwaswellfilled，forpeoplefromallpartsoftheConfederacyresortedtoRichmond，audhowevermuchtradesuffered，thehotelsofthetowndidagoodbusiness。Hefirstwentuptotheclerkinalittleofficeattheentrance。

"YouhadamannamedPearson，"hesaid，"stayinghereaboutamonthago。Willyoubegoodenoughtotellmeonwhatdayheleft？"

Theclerkturnedtotheregister，andsaidafteraminute"sexamination:

"Hecameonthe14thofNovember，andheleftonthe20th。"

ThiswastwodaysafterthedateonwhichDinahhadbeencarriedoff。

InAmericanhotelsthehallsarelargeandprovidedwithseats，andaregenerallyusedassmokingandreading-roomsbythemalevisitorstothehotel。AtHarker"sHoteltherewasasmallbarattheendofthehall，andablackwaitersuppliedthewantsoftheguestsseatedatthevariouslittletables。Vincentseatedhimselfatoneoftheseandorderedsomethingtodrink。Asthenegroplaceditonthetablehesaid:

"Iwillgiveyouadollarifyouwillanswerafewquestions。"

"Verygood，sah。Datamamightyeasywaytoearnadollar。"

"Doyouremember，aboutamonthago，amannamedPearsonbeinghere？"

Thenegroshookhishead。

"Menotknowdenamesofdegentlemen，sah。Whatwasdemanlike？"

"Hewastallandthin，withshorthairandagraygoatee-aregularYankee。"

"Merememberhim，sah。Darusedtoheplentyobdatsorthere。

Don"tseedemmuchnow。Merememberdeman，sah，quitewell。

Usedtopassmostofdedayhere。Didn"tseemtohavenuffintodo。"

"Washealwaysalone，ordidhehavemanypeopleheretoseehim？"

"Oncedarwartwomenherewidhim，sab，sittingatdattableoberindocorner。Rough-lookingfellowsdeywar。Inoldtimespeoplelikedatwouldn"tcometoa"spectablehotel，butnowmosteberyonegotroughclothes，can"tgetnoothers，soonedon"ttinknuffinaboutit；butdosefellowswasrough-lookingbesidesdarclothes。

Didn"tlikedarlooksnohow。Deyonlycamehereonce。Deywasdoonlystrangersthatcametoseehim。ButonceMassaJackson-meknowhimbysighthecamehereandtalkwidhimforalongtime。Earnestsortoftalkdatseemedtobe。Deytalkinlowvoice，andInoticeddeystoppedtalkingwhenanyonesatdownneardem。"

"Youdon"tknowwherehewenttofromhere，Isuppose？"

"No，sah，datnotmycompartment。Perhapsdeoutsideporterwillknow。Likeenoughhetakehistingsinhand-trucktostation。Youliketoseehim，sab？"

"Yes，Ishouldliketohaveaminute"stalkwithhim。Hereisyourdollar。"

Thewaiterrangabell，andaminutelatertheoutdoorporterpresentedhimself。

"Yourecomembertakingsometingstostationforatallmanwidgraygoatee，Pomp？"thewaiterasked。"Itwasmoredantreeweeksago。Itinkhewentbeforeitwaslightindemorning。Meseemtorememberdat。"

Thenegronodded。

"Merememberhimberywell，sah。Treeheavyboxesandonebag，andheonlygivemequarterdollarfortakingdemtodestation。

Mightymeanmandat。"

"Doyouknowwhattrainhewentby？"

"Yes，sah，itwasdesixo"clocktrainfordesouf。"

"Youcan"tfindoutwherhisluggagewascheckedfor？"

"Icangodowntostation，sab，andseeifIcanfindout。Someofdementharmayremember。"

"Hereisadollarforyourself，"Vincentsaid，"andanothertogivetoanyofthemenwhocangiveyouthenews。Whenyouhavefoundoutcomeandtellme。Hereismycardandaddress。"

"Berywell，sah。Nexttimemegouptostationmefindaboutit，forsure，ifanyonerememberdatfellow。"

IntheeveningthenegrocalledatthehouseandtoldVincentthathehadascertainedthatamanansweringtohisdescriptionandhavingluggagesimilartothatofPearsonhadhaditcheckedtoFlorenceinSouthCarolina。

VincentnowcalledDanintohiscounselandtoldhimwhathehaddiscovered。Theyoungnegrohadalreadygivenproofofsuchintelligencethathefeltsurehisopinionwouldbeofvalue。

"Datallberyplain，sah，"DansaidwhenVincentfinishedhisstory。

"MedodoubtdatoldrascalJacksongivemoneytoPearsontocarryoffdogal。OhcoursehediditjusttotakerevengeuponTony。Pearsonhegointodeplot，because，indefustplace，itvexMissyWingfieldandyouberymuch；indosecondplace，becauseJacksongibhimmoney；indothirdplace，becausehegetholdofnegroslaveworfathousanddollar。Datallquiteclear。Henotdoithimself，butarrangewidoderfellows，andhestopquietatdehotelfortwodaysaftershegonesodatnoonecan"specthishavinghandindoaffair。"

"ThatisjusthowImakeitout，Dan；andnowhehasgoneofftojointhem。"

Danthoughtforsometime。

"Perhapsdeyjoinhimthar，sab，perhapsnot；perhapshimsendhimbaggageonthereandgetoutsomewhereondoroadandmeetthem。"

"Thatislikelyenough，Dan。NodoubtDinahwastakenawayinacartorbuggy。Asshelefttwodaysbeforehedid，theymayhavegonefromfortytosixtymilesalongtheroad，tosomeplacewherehemayhavejoinedthem。Themenwhocarriedheroffmayeitherhavecomebackorgoneonwithhim。Iftheywantedtogosouththeywouldgoon；iftheydidnot，hewouldprobablyhaveonlyhiredthemtocarryheroffandhandherovertohimwhenheovertookthem。Iwilllookatthetime。tableandseewherethattrainstops。Itisafasttrain，Isee，"hesaid，afterconsultingit；itstopsatPetersburg，fifteenmileson，andatHicksFord，whichisaboutfiftymiles。Ishouldthinkthesecondplacewasmostlikely，asthecartcouldeasilyhavegotthereintwodays。Now，Dan，youhadbetterstarttomorrowmorning，andspendtwodaysthereifnecessary；findoutifyoucanifonthetwentiethoflastmonthanyonenoticedavehicleofanykind，withtworoughmeninit，andwith，perhaps，anegrowoman。Shemightnothavebeennoticed，forshemayhavebeenlyingtiedupinthebottomofthecart，althoughitismorelikelytheyfrightenedherbythreatsintosittingupquietwiththem。Theyaresurenottohavestoppedatanydecouthotel，butwillhavegonetosomesmallplace，probablyjustoutsidethetown。

"IwillgowithyoutoMr。Renfrewthefirstthinginthemorningandgethimtodrawupapapertestifyingthatyouareengagedinlawfulbusiness，andaremakinginquirieswithaviewtodiscoveringacrimewhichhasbeencommitted，andrecommendingyoutotheassistanceofthepoliceinanytownyoumaygoto。ThenifyougowiththattotheheadconstableatHicksFordhewilltellyouwhicharetheplacesatwhichsuchfellowsasthesewouldhavebeenlikelytoputupforthenight，andperhapssendapolicemanwithyoutomakeinquiries。Ifyougetanynewstelegraphtomeatonce。Iwillstartbythesixo"clocktrainonthefollowingmorning。Doyoubeontheplatformtomeetme，andwecantheneithergostraightontoFlorence，or，shouldtherebeanyoccasion，Iwillgetoutthere；butIdon"tthinkthatislikely。

Pearsonhimselfwill，toacertainty，soonerorlater，gotoFlorencetogethisluggage，andtheonlyrealadvantageweshallgetifyourinquiriesaresuccessfulwillbetofindoutforcertainwhetherheisconcernedintheaffair。WeshallthenonlyhavetofollowhistracesfromFlorence。"

TwodayslaterMr。RenfrewreceivedatelegramfromtheheadconstableatHicksFord:"Thetwomenwithcartspentdayhere，20thult。Werejoinedthatmorningbyanotherman-negrosaysPearson。Onemanreturnedafternoon，Richmond。Pearsonandtheotherdroveoffinbuggy。Ayoungnegressandchildwerewiththem。IsthereanythingIcando？"

Mr。Renfrewtelegraphedbacktorequestthatthemen，whowerekidnapingthefemaleslave，shouldifpossiblebetracedandthedirectiontheytookascertained。HethensentthemessageacrosstoVincent，whoatoncewenttohisoffice。

"Now，"thelawyersaid，"youmustdonothingrashlyinthisbusiness，Vincent。TheyareatthebestoftimeaprettyroughlotattheedgeoftheseCarolinaswamps，andatpresentthingsarelikelytobeworsethanusual。Ifyouweretogoaloneonsuchanerrandyouwouldalmostcertainlybeshot。Inthefirstplace，thesefellowswouldnotgiveupavaluableslavewithoutastruggle；andinthenextplace，theyhavecommittedaveryseriouscrime。

Thereforeitisabsolutelynecessarythatyoushouldgoarmedwithlegalpowersandbackedbytheforceofthelaw。Inthefirstplace，Iwilldrawupanaffidavitandsignitmyself，totheeffectthatafemaleslave，thepropertyofVincentWingfield，has，withhermalechild，beenkidnapedandstolenbyJonasPearsonandothersactinginassociationwithhim，andthatwehavereasontoknowthatshehasbeenconveyedintoSouthCarolina。ThisIwillgetwitnessedbyajusticeofthepeace，andwillthentakeituptoGovernmentHouse。ThereIwiflgettheusualofficialrequesttothegovernorofSouthCarolinatoissueordersthattheaidofthelawshallbegiventoyouinrecoveringthesaidDinahMorrisandherchildandarrestingherabductors。Youwillobtainanordertothiseffectfromthegovernor，andarmedwithityouwill，assoonasyouhavediscoveredwherethewomanis，calluponthesheriffofthecountytoaidyouinrecoveringher，andinarrestingPearsonandhisassociates。"

"Thankyou，sir。Thatwillcertainlybethebestway。Irunplentyofriskindoingmydutyasanofficerofthestate，andIhavenodesirewhatevertothrowmylifeawayatthehandsofruffianssuchasPearsonandhisallies。"

TwohourslaterVincentreceivedfromMr。RenfrewtheofficiallettertothegovernorofSouthCarolina，andatsixo"clocknextmorningstartedforFlorence。OntheplatformofthestationatHicksFordDanwaswaitingforhim。

"Jumpintothecarattheend，Dan；Iwillcometoyouthere，andyoucantellmeallthenews。WearegoingstraightontoColumbia。Now，Dan，"Vincentwentonwhenhejoinedhim-forinnopartoftheUnitedStateswerenegroesallowedtotravelinanybutthecarssetapartforthem-"whatisyournews？Thechiefconstabletelegraphedthattheyhad，asweexpected，beenjoinedbyPearsonhere。"

"Yes，sah，deywarhereforsure。WhenIgethereIgostraighttodeconstableandtellhimdatIwasinsearchoftwomenwhohadkidnapedCaptainWingfield"sslave。DeheadconstableheRichmondman，andohcourseknewallaboutdefamily；sohetakedematterupatonceandsendconstablewidmetoseberalplaceswhereitlikelydatthefellowshadputup，butwecouldn"tfindnuffinaboutdem。Dennextmorningwegooutagaintovillagefourmileoutofdetownondenorthroad，andderewefoundsure"noughdattwomen，widnegrowenchandchile，hadstoppeddere。Sheseemberyunhappyandcryalldotime。DemensaydeyboughtheratRichmond，andshowdoconstableofdevillagedopaperdatdeyhadboughtafemaleslabeSallyMooreandherchile。Doconstablespeaktowoman，butsheseemfrightcuedoutofherlifeandnosayanything。Deydriveoffwidherearlyindomorning。Denwemakeinquiriesagainatdotownandatdostation。WefinddatamanlikePearsongetout。Hehadonlylittlehand-bagwithhim。Heaskoneofdomenatdostationwhichwasdowaytodonorfroad。Denwefinddatoneofdoconstableshabseenahorseandcartwidtwomeninit，withnegrowomanandchild。OneofdomenlooklikeYankee-datwhatmakehimtakenoticeofit。Wes"posedatodormanwentbacktoRichmondagain。"

"Thatisallright，Dan，andyouhavedonecapitally。NowatFlorencewewilltakeupthehunt。Itisalongwaydownthere；

andiftheydrivealltheway，asIhopetheywill，itwilltakethemafortnight，sothatweshallhavegainedagooddealoftimeonthem。Thepeopleatthestationaresuretorememberthethreeboxesthatlaythereforsolongwithoutbeingclaimed。Ofcoursetheymayhavedrivenonlytilltheygotfairlyoutofreach。Thentheymayeitherhavesoldthehorseandtrap，orthefellowPearsonhaswithhimmayhavedrivenitback。ButIshouldthinktheywouldmostlikelysellit。InthatcasetheywouldnotbemorethanaweekfromthetimetheyleftRichmondtothetimetheytooktrainagainforthesouth。However，whethertheyhavegotafort-nightorthreeweeks"startofuswillnotmakemuchdifference。WiththedescriptionwecangiveofPearson，andthefactthattherewasanegressandchild，andthosethreeboxes，weoughttobeabletotracehim。"

ItwastwelveatnightwhenthetrainarrivedatFlorence。AsnothingcouldbedoneuntilnextmorningVincentwenttoanhotel。Assoonastherailwayofficialswerelikelytobeattheirofficeshewasatthestationagain。Thetipofadollarsecuredtheattentionofthemaninthebaggage-room。

"Threeboxesandablackbagcameonhereamonthago，yousay，andlayherecertainlyfourorfivedays——perhapsagooddeallonger。OfcourseIrememberthem。Stoodupinthatcornerthere。

Theyhadbeencheckedrightthrough。Iwilllookatthehooksandseewhatdaytheywent。Idon"trememberwhatsortofmenfetchedthemaway。MaybeIwasbusyatthetime，andmymategavethemout。However，Iwilllookfirstandseewhentheywent。

Whatdaydoyousaytheygothere？"

"TheycamebythetrainthatleftRichmondatsixo"clockonthemorningofthe20th。"

"Thentheygotinlatethatnightorearlynextmorning。Ah，thetrainwasontimethatday，andgotinathalf-pastnineatnight。

Heretheyare-threeboxesandabag，numbers15020，wentoutonthe28th。Yes，that"srightenough。NowIwilljustaskmymateifheremembersabouttheirgoingout。"

Theothermanwascalled。Oh，yes，herememberedquitewellthethreeboxesstandinginthecorner。Theywentoutsometimeintheafternoon。ItwasjustafterthetraincameinfromRichmond。

Henoticedthemanthataskedforthem。Hegothimtohelpcarryouttheboxesandputthemintoacart。Yes，herememberedtherewasanothermanwithhim，andanegresswithachild。Hewonderedatthetimewhattheywereupto，butsupposeditwasallright。Yes，hedidn"tmindtryingtofindoutwhohadhiredoutacartforthejob。Dessayhecouldfindoutbyto-morrow-atanyratehewouldtry。Fivedollarsareworthearninganyway。

Havingputthismatterintrain，Vincent，leavingDanatFlorence，wentdownatoncetoCharleston。Here，aftertwenty-fourhours"

delay，heobtainedawarrantforthearrestofJonasPearsonandothersonthechargeofkidnaping，andthenreturnedtoFlorence。

Hefoundthattherailwaymanhadfailedinobtaininganyinformationastothecart，andconcludeditmusthavecomeinfromthecountryonpurposetomeetthetrain。

"Atanyrate，"Vincentsaid，"itmustbewithinaprettylimitedrangeofcountry。TherailwaymakesabendfromWilmingtontothisplaceandthendowntoCharleston，sothisisreallytheneareststationtoonlyasmallextentofcountry。"

"That"sso，"therailwaymansaid。HehadheardfromDanagooddealaboutthecase，andhadgotthoroughlyinterestedinit。"EitherMarionorKingstreewouldhenearer，onewayortheother，tomostoftheswampcountry。Soitcan"tbeasfarasConwayhoroughonthenorthorGeorgetownonthesouth，anditmustliesomewherebetweenJeifries"CreekandLynch"sCreek；anyhowitwouldbeinMarionCounty-that"sprettynighsure。SoifIwereyouIwouldtakerailbacktoMarionCourthouse，andseethesheriffthereandhaveatalkoverthematterwithhim。Youhaven"tgotmuchtogoupon，becausethismanyouareafterhasbeenawayfromhereagoodmanyyearsandwon"tbeknown；

besides，likelyenoughhewentbysomeothernamedownhere。

Anyhow，thesheriffcanputyouuptotheroads，andthebestwayofgoingaboutthejob。"

"Ithinkthatwouldbethebestway，"Vincentsaid。"Weshallbeabletoseethecountymaptooandtolearnallthegeographyoftheplace。"

"Youhavegotyoursix-shooterswithyou，Isuppose，becanseyouareaslikelyasnottohavetousethem？"

"Yes，wehaveeachgotaColt；andasIhavehadagooddealofpractice，itwouldbeawkwardforPearsonifhegivesmeoccasiontouseit。"

"AfterwhatIhearofthematter，"themansaid，"Ishouldsayyourbestplanisjusttoshoothimatsight。It"swhatwouldservehimright。Youbettherewillbenofussoverit。Itwillsaveyoualotoftroubleanyway。"

Vincentlaughed。

"Myadviceisgood，"themanwentonearnestly。"Theyarearoughlotdownthere，andhangtogether。Youwillhavetodoitsudden，whateveryoudo，oryouwillgetthehullneighborhoodupaginyou。"

OnreachingMarionCourthousetheysoughtoutthesheriff，producedthewarrantsignedbytheStates"authority，andexplainedthewholecircumstances。

"IamreadytoaidyouinanywayIcan，"thesheriffsaidwhenheconcluded；"butthequestionis，wherehasthefellowgotto？Youseehemaybeanywhereinthistract；"andhepointedoutacircleonthemapofthecountythathungagainstthewall。"Thatisaboutfiftymileacross，andaprettynastyspot，Icantellyou。Therearewideswampsonbothsidesofthecreek，andricegroundsandallsorts。Thereain"tabovethreeorfourvillagesaltogether，buttheremaybetwoorthreehundredlittleplantationsscatteredabout，somebigandsomelittle。Wehaven"tgotanythingtoguideusintheslightest，notathing，asIcansee。"

"ThemanwhowasworkingunderPearson，whenhewaswithus，toldmehehadgotthenotionthathehadhadtoleaveonaccountofsometroublehere。Possiblythatmightaffordaclew。"

"Itmightdoso，"thesheriffsaid。"Whendidhecometoyou？"

"IthinkitwaswhenIwassixorsevenyearsold。Thatwouldbeabouttwelveorthirteenyearsago；but，ofcourse，hemaynothavecomedirecttousafterleavinghere。"

"Wecanlookanyway，"thesheriffsaid，and，openingachest，hetookoutanumberofvolumescontainingtherecordsofhispredecessors。"Twelveyearsago!Well，thisisthevolume。Now，CaptainWingfield，Ihavegotsomeotherbusinessinhandthatwilltakemeacoupleofhours。Iwillleaveyououtthisvolumeandtheonebeforeitandtheoneafterit，andifyouliketogothroughthemyoumaycomeacrossthedescriptionofsomemanwantedthatagreeswiththatofthemanyouareinsearchof。"

IttookVincenttwohoursandahalftogothroughthevolume，buthemetwithnodescriptionansweringtothatofPearson。

"Iwillgothroughthefirstsixmonthsofthenextyear，"hesaidtohimself，takingupthatvolume，"andthelastsixmonthsoftheyearbefore。"

Thesecondvolumeyieldednobetterresult，andhethenturnedbacktothefirstofthethreebooks。BeginninginJuly，hereadsteadilyonuntilhecametoDecember。Scarcelyhadhebeguntherecordofthatmonththanheutteredanexclamationofsatisfaction。

"December2nd-InformationlaidagainstgangatPorter"sStation，nearLynch"sCreek。Chargedwithseveralrobberiesandmurdersindifferentpartsofthecounty。Longbeensuspectedofhavingstillsintheswamps。GangconsistsoffourbesidesPorterhimself。

Namesofgang，JackHaverley，JimCorben，andJohnandJamesPorter。Orderedoutpossetostartto-morrow"December5th-ReturnedfromPorter"sStakon。Surprisedthegang。Theyresisted。Ilaverley，Carbon，andJamesPortershot。

JohnPorterescaped，andtooktoswamp。Fourofpossewounded；

one，WilliamHannay，killed。CirculateddescriptionofJohnPorterthroughthecounty。Tallandlean；whenfifteenyearsoldshotamaninabrawl，andwentnorth。Hasbeenabsentthirteenyears。

AssumedtheappearanceofanorthernmanandspeakswithYankeetwang。Fatherwasabsentatthetimeofattsck。Capturedthreehoursafter。Declaresheknowsnothingaboutdoingsofthegang。HaverleyandCorbenwerefriendsofhissons。Cameandwentwhentheyliked。Willbetriedonthe15th。"

Onthe16ththerewasanotherentry: