the things as soon as possible."

"I'll go over to my aunt's plantation the first thing in the morning.
But she may not want to listen to me just now. She is extra busy, you
know."

"With those wounded Confederate soldiers?"

"Not only with those, but she also has a Federal officer there--brought
in a few days ago."

"A Federal officer? Does she sympathize with the North?"

"She does to some extent."

"Who is the fellow?"

"A Colonel Stanton."

At the mention of that name Dr. Mackey leaped up in alarm.

"What! that man--in her house!" he gasped.

"Do you know Colonel Stanton?"

"I--that is--I know of him. Is he badly wounded?"

"I think he is."

"I hope he dies then. He is--a--a--very bad customer to meet."

"I can't understand why my aunt makes so much of him."

"Tell me, has this Colonel Stanton met Jack?"

"Yes, they met some time ago, when the Yankees first came to this
neighborhood."

"Ah!" Dr. Mackey drew a long breath. "I wonder what Jack thought of the
colonel?"

"He likes the Yankee very much."

"Humph! Well, there is no accounting for tastes." Dr. Mackey pulled
himself together with an effort. "If you see this Colonel Stanton don't
tell him about me, or repeat anything I have said, will you?"

"I don't want to see the Yankee. I haven't any use for any of them."

"Colonel Stanton ought to be arrested as a spy. I know for a fact that
he once entered our lines and reported our movements to his superiors.
It would be a feather in your cap if you could have him arrested by the
Confederate authorities."

"By Jove! do you really think that?" asked St. John, with renewed
interest.

"I do."

"Then I'll report the case without delay. I thought he was something of
a sneak the first time I saw him."

"If the South would hang him as a spy it would be a good job done."

"Would you be willing to appear against him?" asked St. John anxiously.

"Well--er--no, but I can bring two other men to appear."

"Then I'll surely have him arrested."

"And what about those things?"

"I will get them, if I possibly can."

A loud clap of thunder interrupted the conversation at this point, and
when it was renewed the topic was not of special interest to Jack.

But our hero had heard enough to make him very thoughtful. Why had Dr.
Mackey been so startled to learn that Colonel Stanton was at the Ruthven
plantation, and why had he been so anxious to know if he and the colonel
had met?

"Here's a fres