d show you the way," she said; and, pressing before, she once
more led them along the passage.

"Mind yo' steps; ken you see?" she asked.

They went down stairs, while Lucy Ann gave them minute directions as
to how they might catch "Marse Hugh an' the Gen'l" at a certain place
a half-mile from the house (an unoccupied quarter), which she
carefully described.

A further investigation ensued downstairs, but in a little while the
searchers went out of the house. Their tone had changed since their
disappointment, and loud threats floated up the dark stairway to the
prisoners still crouching in the little recess.

In a few minutes the boys' Cousin Belle came rushing up stairs.

"Now's your time! Come quick," she called; "they will be back
directly. Isn't she an angel!" The whole party sprang to their feet,
and ran down to the lower floor.

"Oh, we were so frightened!" "Don't let them see you." "Make haste,"
were the exclamations that greeted them as the two soldiers said their
good-byes and prepared to leave the house.

"Go out by the side-door; that's your only chance. It's pitch-dark,
and the bushes will hide you. But where are you going?"

"We are going to the boys' cave," said the General, buckling on his
pistol; "I know the way, and we'll get away as soon as these fellows
leave, if we cannot before."

"God bless you!" said the ladies, pushing them away in dread of the
enemy's return.

"Come on, General," called Hugh in an undertone. The General was
lagging behind a minute to say good-bye once more. He stooped suddenly
and kissed the boys' Cousin Belle before them all.

"Good-bye. God bless you!" and he followed Hugh out of the window into
the darkness. The girl burst into tears and ran up to her room.

A few seconds afterward the house was once more filled with the enemy,
growling at their ill-luck in having so narrowly missed the prize.

"We'll catch 'em yet," said the leader.

CHAPTER XV.

The raiders were up early next morning scouring the woods and country
around. They knew that the fugitive soldiers could not have gone far,
for the Federals had every road picketed, and their main body was not
far away. As the morning wore on, it became a grave question at
Oakland how the two soldiers were to subsist. They had no provisions
with them, and the roads were so closely watched that there was no
chance of their obtaining any. The matter was talked over, and the
boys' mother and Cousin Belle were