say, but has any one seen you on
the road this morning?"

"No one, John," cried Ware, panting between each word. There was a
moment's pause and Ware spoke again. "What are they doing at Belle
Plain?" he demanded in a whisper. Murrell's lips curled.

"I understand there is talk of suicide," he said.

"Good!" cried Ware.

"They are dragging the bayou down below the house. It looks as though
you were going to reap the rewards of the excellent management you have
given her estate. They have been trying to find you in Memphis, so the
sooner you show yourself the better," he concluded significantly.

"You are sure you have her safe, John, no chance of discovery? For God's
sake, get her away from here as soon as you can, it's an awful risk you
run!"

"She'll be sent down river to-night," said Murrell.

"Captain," began Slosson who up to this had taken no part in the
conversation. "When are you going to cross to t'other side of the
bayou?"

"Soon," replied Murrell. Slosson laughed.

"I didn't know but you'd clean forgot the Clan's business. I want to ask
another question--but first I want to say that no one thinks higher or
more frequent of the ladies than just me, I'm genuinely fond of 'em and
I've never lifted my hand ag'in' 'em except in kindness." Mr. Slosson
looked at Ware with an exceedingly virtuous expression of countenance.
He continued. "Yo' orders are that we're to slip out of this a little
afore midnight, but suppose there's a hitch--here's the lady knowing
what she knows and here's the boy knowing what he knows."

"There can be no hitch," rasped out Murrell arrogantly.

"I never knew a speculation that couldn't go wrong; and by rights we
should have got away last night."

"Well, whose fault is it you didn't?" demanded Murrell.

"In a manner it were mine, but the ark got on a sandbank as we were
fetching it in and it took us the whole damn night to get clear."

"Well?" prompted Murrell, with a sullen frown.

"Suppose they get shut of that notion of theirs that the lady's done
drowned herself, suppose they take to watching the river? Or suppose the
whole damn bottom drops out of this deal? What then? Why, I'll tell you
what then--the lady, good looking as she is, knows enough to make west
Tennessee mighty onhealthy for some of us. I say suppose it's a flash in
the pan and you have to crowd the distance in between you and this
part of the world, you can't tell me you'll have any use for her then."