nne forward, "has brought messages, papers, or
something of that nature for him from New York City: I thought that
perhaps you could arrange a meeting with him for her. After that she has
an uncle in the city whom she wishes to find."

"This girl?" General Butler eyed Jeanne keenly. "Rather young for a
messenger, isn't she?"

"In years, perhaps; but she ran the fire of the Vicksburg batteries in
order to reach here."

"Indeed!" General Butler looked at her more closely. "Do you know John
Archer, child?"

"No, sir."

"Orderly, bring in the man Archer," commanded the General.

A look of surprise passed over Farragut's face, but he made no remark.
Presently the orderly returned with a man.

"Archer," said the General quietly, "this girl has brought some papers
for you."

There was a startled expression on the man's face, and he looked at Jeanne
with something like apprehension. General Butler turned his attention to
Admiral Farragut, and Jeanne was left face to face with the man whom she
had come so far to see.

CHAPTER X

AN UNFORESEEN RESULT

He was not an agreeable looking man and Jeanne felt an instinctive
distrust of him instantly. For a few moments she hesitated, and the
thought came to her that she would not give him the papers. But was it
not for this very thing that she had come to New Orleans? What would her
father say if she did not fulfil her trust?

"You wished to see me?" said John Archer, and it seemed to Jeanne that
he was trying to make signs to her.

"If you are Mr. John Archer?" and Jeanne looked at him steadily. "I came
from Mr. Richard Vance."

"Vance? Richard Vance?" repeated the other as if the name conveyed nothing
of importance to his mind. "What Vance?"

"Why Richard Vance of New York City," answered Jeanne in astonishment.
She had inferred from what her father had said that John Archer would be
well acquainted with the name. "He is my father, and he has sent me to you
with some papers. If you are Mr. John Archer?"

"I am he," answered the man, "but I know nothing about any papers."

"I thought that you would," murmured Jeanne. There seemed something
strange to her in the way the man was acting. "My mother sewed them into
my petticoat," she continued with a growing reluctance against parting
with them. "If there is any place where I could go I would get them. It
seemed the best way to carry them."

"Orderly," interposed General Butler turning to them, "take the youn