oad
could hardly have been any worse. At the end of about two hours more,
the vehicle halted near a sheet of water which looked as though it might
be a river, or an arm of Mobile Bay.

The road appeared to end at a rude sort of wharf; but there was no
person in the vicinity, no house, and no craft of any kind in the water,
so far as Christy could see when he was helped out of the wagon. Percy
was assisted to the ground also; and the two soldiers at the rear of the
wagon, who had gone to sleep, were waked, and ordered to get out.

"We shall not want the wagon any more," said the major. "You can send
Boyce back to the house with it."

"It is five miles from here, and he will not get back till nearly
morning."

"We can wait for him. The Leopard will not be here for some time."

"I think we ought to send two men, major," suggested the sergeant.

"Why two?"

"For company: one of them may get asleep, and two will get back sooner
than one."

"They might as well all of them go, for they can do nothing here," added
the major with a terrific yawn.

Two men were sent away with the wagon. The most of the hay in it was
taken out; and with it the superior officer made a bed for himself, and
was soon asleep again. The sergeant and the remaining soldier took their
knapsacks from a tree where they had put them before, and it was decided
that one of them might sleep while the other kept guard over the
prisoners. Spottswood was the first to take his turn, and his companion
stretched himself on the planks of the wharf.

The sergeant brought out the knapsacks of the two absent soldiers, and
gave the blankets to Christy and Percy, both of whom were sleepy enough
to follow the example of the others. Spottswood assisted them very
kindly, spreading out the blankets for them, and covering them
afterwards; for, as their hands were tied behind them, they were almost
helpless.

The two prisoners soon dropped asleep; and they knew nothing more till
after daylight, when Christy was waked by the hissing of steam at the
rude wharf. The two soldiers who had been sent away with the wagon were
asleep on the planks, though neither had a blanket. The major had not
been disturbed by the noise, for he was farther from it than the others.

With some difficulty Christy got upon his feet, and looked about him.
A tug-boat lay at the wharf, with the steam escaping from her pipe.
There was nothing else to be seen in the vicinity. The sheet of water,