out again with a great armful of hay, which he
spread for the horses' feet to muffle their tread, led them into the
stable, removed the hay again, and closed and locked the door.

"Make yourself small," he whispered, "and walk fast." They passed by a
garden path up to the back porch and door of a small unpainted cottage.
He knocked, three soft, measured taps.

"Day's breakin'," he whispered again, as he stood with Alice asleep in
his arms, while somebody was heard stirring within.

"Sam?" said a low, wary voice just within the unopened door.

"Sister," softly responded the spy, and the door swung inward, and
revealed a tall woman, with an austere but good face, that could just be
made out by the dim light of a tallow candle shining from the next room.
The travellers entered and the door was shut.

"Well," said the spy, standing and smiling foolishly, and bending
playfully in the shoulders, "well, Mrs. Richlin',"--he gave his hand a
limp wave abroad and smirked,--"'In Dixie's land you take yo' stand.'
This is it. You're in it!--Mrs. Richlin', my sister; sister, Mrs.
Richlin'."

"Pleased to know ye," said the woman, without the faintest ray of
emotion. "Take a seat and sit down." She produced a chair bottomed with
raw-hide.

"Thank you," was all Mary could think of to reply as she accepted the
seat, and "Thank you" again when the woman brought a glass of water. The
spy laid Alice on a bed in sight of Mary in another chamber. He came
back on tiptoe.

"Now, the next thing is to git you furder south. Wust of it is that,
seein' as you got sich a weakness fur tellin' the truth, we'll jess have
to sort o' slide you along fum one Union man to another; sort o' hole
fass what I give ye, as you used to say yourself, I reckon. But you've
got one strong holt." His eye went to his sister's, and he started away
without a word, and was presently heard making a fire, while the woman
went about spreading a small table with cold meats and corn-bread, milk
and butter. Her brother came back once more.

"Yes," he said to Mary, "you've got one mighty good card, and that's it
in yonder on the bed. 'Humph!' folks'll say; 'didn't come fur with that
there baby, sho!'"

"I wouldn't go far without her," said Mary, brightly.

"_I_ say," responded the hostess, with her back turned, and said no
more.

"Sister," said the spy, "we'll want the buggy."

"All right," responded the sister.

"I'll go feed the hosses," said he, and went out.