cuss the subject. The question is, will you go along
peacefully with me?"

"I will not. You have no right to abduct me in this fashion."

"I have a right to do as I please with my own son."

"Again I say I am not your son. Do you know what I think? I think you
are nothing but a swindler--a rascal who wishes to use me as a tool, in
order to get hold of some fortune coming to me or to somebody else."

Dr. Mackey glared at Jack for a moment, then leaped forward and struck
our hero a cruel blow in the face.

"That for your impudence!" he cried wrathfully. "After this, keep a
civil tongue in your head."

The blow made Jack's blood boil, but he was helpless to resent it. "You
are a coward, to hit me when I am tied like this," he said. "But some
day, Dr. Mackey, I may be able to square accounts, and then you had
better beware."

One of the guerrillas now came forward to consult with the surgeon, and
Jack was left with the other prisoners, to meditate over what had been
said and done.

"He's de wust rascal wot I eber seen," whispered Old Ben
sympathetically. "Wot a pity he wasn't shot down in de fust battle wot
he eber got into!"

"He wants to take us both out of the country, Ben."

"Wot, away from ole South Carolina?"

"Yes--on a trip on the ocean."

"I don't want to go, Massah Jack."

"No more do I; but how can we help ourselves?"

"I wish dis niggah could git free, Massah Jack."

"We must try our best to escape to-night. If we don't do it to-night, I
reckon our last chance will be gone."

"Ise willin' ter do all I kin," answered Old Ben, and the other negro
said the same.

With the setting of the sun over the mountains a strong breeze sprang
up, and presently the sky was obscured by heavy clouds. Dr. Mackey had
gone off half an hour before.

"We're in fer a heavy storm," Jack heard one of the guerrillas say.
"It's a good thing we can crawl into the cave when it comes."

"If they come in here our chances of escape will be slim," thought our
hero.

The approaching storm made it very dark in the cave, and during this
time he worked with energy at his bonds.

At last he was free, and without making any noise he rolled over and
released Old Ben and Columbus Washington.

Suddenly there was a shout from outside.

A guerrilla on guard had discovered a man on the trail, with two horses
loaded with store goods.

"Here's a chance fer a haul!" was the cry.

The guerrillas ran outside, and soon the major