way, further ferret
out what was being done by this organization in the West and post him by
reports in writing as often as I could conveniently do so.

"I responded that I could not go into the lodges myself, but I would, in
every way that I could consistently, through others, obtain information
and send him.

"'This,' he said, 'was all that he could ask me to do, situated as I
was.'

"This being all that was desired, the Secretary of War made out a pass
authorizing me to enter any and all of our lines or camps of prisoners,
to visit any and all hospitals--in fact, to go to and pass through all
places under military control in the United States. With this pass in my
pocket I bade good-by to the President and Secretary and left for home.

"When I returned I found that Col. Tom Anderson, his wife, and old
Aunt Martha had arrived. The family had a joyful meeting and had become
settled down. All were glad to see me. Col. Tom, his wife, and Aunt
Martha had many pleasant things to relate--how Tom recovered so rapidly;
how kind Col. Harden had been; what a good man Surg. Long was; how a
band of rebels came down the river to old George's farm, where Tom
had been so long; how they were surprised and captured by one of Col.
Harden's reconnoitering parties, and that they said they were sent to
take Mr. George's property away and to bring with them old Ham and Aunt
Martha.

"Old Ham, being present, broke out in one of his characteristic laughs.

"'Ah! He-ogh. Fo' de good Laud, dat's de time dey miss der cotch. Dis
darky was done gone when dey comed. I know'd dey'd be dar sometime for
dis cat, and Marfa, too. I tells you, dey want her, dey do. She know how
to cook and do things, she do. Be a cole day when dey gits dis cat agin,
sho's you born'd.'

"Aunt Martha came in and said to Ham:

"'What you doin' heah, Ham?'

"'I's sympensizen wid dem "Sesh" what comed down to ole Massa George's
place back yonder for to fotch me and you back to de Missip. De cat done
gone. He-ah! he-ah!'

"'Yes; but you ole fool, dey'd got you if it had not bin for me. I beg
you afore you goes to go wid Massa Daniel, you knows I did.'

"'Yes, Marfa, dat's so. I tole dem all de time dat you knows de bes'.
Don't I, Massa Daniel?'

"'Oh, yes, Ham,' I said. 'You always speak well of Martha, and what she
knows.'

"'Deed I do, Marfa; dat's so; I does, all de time.'

"'Dat's all right den, Ham. I forgib you all what you do, so you jes'
git out in