icer below, after he had politely informed "Jenny" of the early
movement, seemed to be in no hurry to get into the saddle. He went out at
the door of the stable, and all was silent again, except the voice of
Jenny, who seemed to be protesting against any movement before she had
received her customary feed of corn.

"Peters!" shouted the officer from the door, "hurry up! The Yankees will
get to the James River before you get the saddle on my horse. Where have
you been?"

"I was looking for my boots."

"An orderly ought to wear his boots to bed with him, if he can't put them
where he can find them," replied the officer, as the heavy step of
another man was heard in the stable below.

"What news did you hear?" asked the officer, as the orderly led the horse
from the stall.

"The sergeant said some officer that had been took as a deserter done
runned away," replied Peters, as the fugitives heard the rattle of the
saddle-gear.

"Hurry up, then!"

"He done took a Yankee prisoner from the depot with him," added Peters,
who, if he had not been called an orderly, the listeners would have taken
for a negro.

"You may take a peck of corn in a bag for Jenny, Peters. We may have a
long ride of it," added the officer, as he left the stable.

A peck of corn! De Banyan and Somers were sitting on the grain chest! It
was impossible to avoid discovery; and De Banyan threw off his cloak,
ready for the emergency.

"Somers, my boy, we must change our tactics. They have heard the whole
story, and we can't blind them. We must make the best of it. Have you a
pistol?" whispered the captain.

"No; all I had was taken from me," replied Somers.

"I have only one. No matter; it would never do to fire up here," added De
Banyan, as he picked up a short pitch-fork which lay near him.

"Are you going to kill him?" asked Somers.

"It's life or death for you and me! We can't stop for trifles," answered
the captain in hurried tones, but still in a whisper.

They listened for a moment longer to the quick movements of Peters in the
stable below. It was evident that Jenny was duly caparisoned for service;
and then another horse was led out, which belonged to the orderly. He was
prepared for service in less time than Jenny had required; and, a moment
later, the step of Peters was heard on the stairs. With the bag in his
hand, he was coming up for the corn, as he had been ordered by the
officer. He did not see the fugitives till he had reache