ell's designs. The confederates began to fear he had
some knowledge of their contemplated project. Yet how could this be? The
plan had been arranged in the hold of the steamer. It was impossible
that any one, even the men they had hired to row the boat, could know
their intentions. Vernon, who had seen the stolen bag of money
miraculously restored to its owner, who had seen two balls pass
harmlessly through him, was perfectly willing to believe that Henry
Carroll was the devil! But, devil or not, it was all the same to him.

It was already time to commence operations. Vernon was impatient to
begin; for, as he averred, he did not like to lose a whole night's sleep
in so small an affair. But nothing could be done while Henry retained
his present position, unless they silenced him by force; and he seemed
an ugly customer.

The Chalmetta pursued her way, stemming with difficulty, as it would
seem by her lazy pace, the current of the mighty river. She had just
passed Vicksburg. The night was dark and gloomy. Those bright, beautiful
moons, with which the panorama-mongers are wont to gild the eddying
current, and solemnize the scenery with a pale loveliness, were not in
the ascendant. Even the bright stars were hid by the thick clouds. The
darkness cast a sad gloom over the scene, which a few hours before had
been "leaping in light, and alive with its own beauty." The yellow bank
rose high on either side of the river, and formed a sombre wall, which
seemed to keep the sojourner on the tide a prisoner from the world
above.

Yet, deep as was the darkness, and perilous as was the navigation of the
river, the Chalmetta sluggishly pursued her upward course, shunning
sand-bars and snags which the eye could not see, and which the stranger
knew not of. Now she crept, like a thief at night, so closely beneath
the high bank that her tall chimneys almost swept the overhanging
branches; then, stealing from the treacherous shoal, she sped her way
through the middle of the vast waters, as if ashamed of her former
timidity. Here she shot through the narrow cut-off, and there left her
foaming surge in the centre of the broad expanse.

On board all was still, save the puffing blasts of steam, which, at each
stroke of the pistons, echoed through the woods and over the plains. The
cabin lights had long been extinguished, and, from a distance, nothing
could be seen of her but the huge blazing furnaces, and the red signal
lantern, which was su