r Chipoak Creek, where they had
abandoned their horses, and taken the boat. Alick had chosen this
direction to avoid the pickets which were on the lookout for them in the
vicinity of the City Point Railroad. His calculations had been well made,
and he was rewarded for his zeal and skill by the priceless boon of
freedom, which he preferred even to the life of comfort and ease he had
enjoyed beneath the roof of his kind but eccentric master.

How Dr. Scoville ever made his peace with the provost-marshal of
Petersburg we are not informed; but we will venture to say that his whims
were not respected after the events we have narrated. He was a wilful
man; but his guests were very sorry to be compelled to make him such an
ungenerous return for his noble hospitality. When the war is ended, and
he is enabled fully to understand the meaning of treason to our
beneficent Government, no doubt he will be very thankful that his
prisoner guests escaped as they did.

At nine o'clock on the following morning, the gunboat dropped her anchor
off Harrison's Landing. Somers, who had slept for several hours, was more
comfortable, though he was still in a deplorable condition. With the
kindly assistance of his friends, he was landed at the pier, and conveyed
in an ambulance to the headquarters of the division. Leaning on the arm
of De Banyan, he entered the tent of the general.

"Captain Somers!" exclaimed the general. "I had given you up for lost.
Why, you have grown ten years older in five days!"

"I have the honor to make my report, general," said Somers with a faint
smile.

"Your report? Good! After losing you, I did not dare to send another
officer upon such a perilous errand. But, Captain Somers, you are all
used up," added the general, with a glance filled with sympathy--a look
which Somers regarded as an adequate reward for all he had suffered; for
to have _that_ man feel an interest in him was better in his estimation
than the plaudits of the multitude. "What is the matter with your arm?"

"I was shot at Petersburg," replied Somers.

"Well, well, captain, you must go to the hospital: and
Captain--what's-his-name----"

"Captain de Banyan, at your service," promptly responded Somers's
faithful friend.

"Captain de Banyan shall report for you, and tell me all about this
scrape," added the general. "Get into your carriage, Captain Somers, and
go to the hospital. I will call and see you to-day or to-morrow."

"Thank you, gener