l game of
cards in the cabin of the _Warrior_, the sudden death of the Judge, the
mob anger I sought to curb, the struggle on deck, my being thrown
overboard, and the danger threatening the two innocent daughters of
Beaucaire. And I had actually been lying in this negro hut, burning up
with fever, helplessly delirious, for ten days. What had already
occurred in that space of time? What villainy had been concocted and
carried out? What more did the negro know?--something surely, for now
I remembered he had addressed me by name.

"Now see here, Pete," I began earnestly. "How did you learn what my
name was?"

"De docthar he foun' dat out, sah. I reckon' he thought maybe he ought
ter know; fearin' as how ye might die. He done looked through yer
pockets, sah, an' he took two papers whut he foun' dar away wid him.
He done tol' me as how yer wus an offercer in de army--a leftenant, er
sumthin'--an' thet dem papers ought fer ter be sint ter de Gov'ner et
onct. De las' time he wus yere he tol' me thet he wint down ter Saint
Louee hisself, an' done gif bof dem papers ter Gov'ner Clark. So yer
don't need worry none 'bout dem no mor'."

I sank back onto the hard pillow, greatly relieved by this information.
The burden of official duty had been taken from me. I was now on
furlough, and free to act as I pleased. I suddenly became conscious
that I was hungry. I expressed this desire for food, and the negro
instantly busied himself over the fire. I watched his movements with
interest, although my thoughts quickly drifted to other matters.

"Have you picked up any news lately from the Beaucaire plantation?" I
asked, at last.

He twisted his head about at sound of my voice.

"I heerd said dey done brought de body ob de ol' Jedge home, sah--he
died mighty sudden sumwhar up de ribber. Thet's 'bout all I know."

"When was this?"

"'Bout a week maybe mor'n dat ago. De _Warrior_ brought de body down,
sah."

"The _Warrior_? Did anyone go ashore with it?"

"Pears like thar wus two men stopped off at de Landin'. I disremember
de names, but one ob 'em wus an ol' friend ob de Jedge's."

I turned my head away silently, but only for a moment. The two men
were in all probability Kirby and his satellite, Carver. Evidently
they intended to lose no time. The accident, the period of my
unconsciousness, had left the villains ample opportunity in which to
carry out the details of their devilish plot. The silence had
conv