er than operators usually take in such things, named the price
and gazed curiously at Rodney as the latter brought out his purse and
looked for the money.

"That's the fellow Drummond wants us to watch," said he to his
assistant, when Rodney and his father were out of hearing. "I wonder
what's up? Do you suppose he has been stealing anything? He's got a
handful of gold--big pieces, too."

"So far so good," said Rodney, as he and his father went out upon the
street. "Now let that Yankee cotton-factor watch the St. Louis
wharf-boats if he wants to, and see how much he will make by it. I knew
I could throw them off the scent."

"You may not have done it as completely as you think," replied Mr. Gray,
"I shall not draw an easy breath until I hear that you are safe under
Mr. Graham's roof. When you get aboard the steamer be careful what
acquaintances you make. Take warning by what Griffin told you last night
and take nobody into your confidence."

That afternoon their host learned, through business channels, that the
steamer _Mollie Able_ was in New Orleans loading for St. Louis, and
might be expected to arrive at Baton Rouge bright and early on the
following morning, provided she was not impressed by the Confederate
quarter-master. She came on time, and Rodney afterward learned that he
was fortunate in securing passage on her, far she was one of the last
boats that went up the river. Navigation was closed soon after she
reached St. Louis, and all communication between the North and South was
cut off by the Confederate batteries that were erected along the
Mississippi. The telegraph lines, which up to this time had been used by
both Union men and rebels alike, were seized by the Government; and if
Rodney had been a week later, he would not have been able to get that
dispatch through to St. Louis. But that would not have interfered with
his arrangements, for he did not now expect to meet Dick's father in St.
Louis. He had used the telegram simply to deceive Tom Randolph and the
Baton Rouge operators.

Rodney Gray and his father, as well as the roan colt and a goodly supply
of hay and grain that had been provided for him, were on the levee
waiting for the _Mollie Able_ when she turned in for the landing, and
Rodney did not fail to notice that in the crowd of lookers-on there was
one young fellow who made it a point to keep pretty close to him,
although he did not appear to do so intentionally.

"It's one of the operators