WE CAPTURE A KEEL-BOAT I followed her closely, a mere shadow, as she silently led the way along the edge of the wood and back of the negro quarters.

The path was narrow and apparently little used, extremely rough at first until we finally came out upon what was seemingly a well-built road descending to a lower level in the general direction of the river.

The girl, however, was sufficiently familiar with her surroundings to advance rapidly even in the dark, and I managed to stumble blindly along after her at a pace which kept her in sight, comprehending the urgent need of haste.

We crossed the front of the house, but at a distance enabling us to gain no glimpse of the two men who guarded the porch, or to even hear their voices.

The only evidence of their presence there still was the dim glow of a pipe.