262
XXII. NOT A TRUE BILL. 269
XXIII. THE FATAL CIPHER. 278
XXIV. THE MIDNIGHT DEPARTURE. 286
XXV. HEROINE AND HERO. 297
XXVI. OUT OF THE NET INTO THE TRAP. 312
XXVII. FLIGHT AND SURRENDER. 326
XXVIII. WHAT BECAME OF THEM. 333

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A DREAM OF EMPIRE.

I. AN ECCENTRIC VISITOR.

It was the first of May, and the sun had passed the noon line in a
bright sky, causing the shadow of Peter Taylor to fall east of north
and infusing his substance with the delightful languor called Spring
Fever. Leaning upon an idle spade, Peter watched the lazy motions of a
negro slave whom he had directed to trim a level lawn ornamented with
flowerbeds. The English origin of the overseer was revealed by his
looks and in his speech.

"Scipio, 'ave you 'oed the corn?"

"No, boss, but I's jes' gwine to ten' to it right away."

"Well, make 'aste. Daniel and Ransom can 'elp you, and tell Honest
Moses to get the south patch ready for the watermelon seed."

Scipio received his orders submissively, and, shouldering a hoe,
sauntered toward the cornfield, and was soon hidden by a clump of
young weeping-willows, the sunny green branches of which trailed to
the darker verdure of the sward. Screened by the drooping foliage, the
shirking menial cast his body on the grass to store up energy for
anticipated toil.

Meanwhile, the taskmaster, having issued commands to his black
subordinates, felt justified in neglecting his own duties, in a
dignified way, by seeking a shady retreat in which he lingered
contemplating the charms of Nature and the pleasing results of his own
skill as a landscape-gardener. The prevailing aspect of the
surroundings was wild, though several acres of cultivated land,
including a fine lawn with gravelled walks and drives, attested that
much labor had been expended in reclaiming a portion of savage Nature
from its primeval condition. The plantation occupied the upper end of
Blennerhassett Island. Standing on a knoll, with his back to the
"improved" grounds, Peter took in at a sweeping glance a reach of
gleaming water which flowed between woody hills overhung by a serene
sky. He saw the silver flood of the Ohio River which, coursi