The General told me so this morning." "I am afraid you couldn't make your father believe it." "Perhaps not, but if I knew where to find him I should try." It was David Evans who spoke last.

He and his mother were talking over the strange incidents that had happened in the settlement during the last few days, and which we have attempted to describe in the preceding volume of this series.

The events were brought about by a very foolish notion which Godfrey Evans, David's father, suddenly got into his head.
During our late war it was the custom of the people living in the South to conceal their valuables when they heard of the approach of the Union army.

They were also careful to take the same precautions to save their property when it became known that the rebel guerillas were near at hand; for these worthies were oftentimes but little better than organized bands of robbers, and the people stood as much in fear of them as they did of the Federals.

These valuables, consisting for the most part of money, jewelry and silverware, were sometimes hidden in cellars, in hollow logs in the woods and in barns; but more frequently they were buried in the ground.