iends. He then gave a whistle, and for a moment held his breath.
Just as the faithful black was about to repeat the signal, he heard the
response; and in a moment the lady alighted, and with dripping garments,
limbs chilled to numbness, followed her new guide to a place of
concealment, near the village of Taitsville.

"You is jes as wet as a drownded rat," said the mulatto woman, who met
Clotelle as she entered the negro's cabin.

"Yes," replied the latter, "this is a stormy night for one to be out."

"Yes mam, dese is hard times for eberybody dat 'bleves in de Union. I
'spose deys cotched your husband, an' put him in de army, ain't dey?"

"No: my husband died at Port Hudson, fighting for the Union," said
Clotelle.

"Oh, mam, dats de place whar de black people fight de rebels so, wasn't
it?" remarked Dinah, for such was her name.

"Yes, that was the place," replied the former. "I see that your husband
has lost one of his hands: did he lose it in the war?"

"Oh no, missus," said Dinah. "When dey was taken all de men, black an
white, to put in de army, dey cotched my ole man too, and took him long
wid 'em. So you see, he said he'd die afore he'd shoot at de Yanks. So
you see, missus, Jimmy jes took and lay his left han' on a log, and chop
it off wid de hatchet. Den, you see, dey let him go, an' he come home.
You see, missus, my Jimmy is a free man: he was born free, an' he bought
me, an' pay fifteen hundred dollars for me."

It was true that Jim had purchased his wife; nor had he forgotten the
fact, as was shown a day or two after, while in conversation with her.
The woman, like many of her sex, was an inveterate scold, and Jim had
but one way to govern her tongue. "Shet your mouf, madam, an' hole your
tongue," said Jim, after his wife had scolded and sputtered away for
some minutes. "Shet your mouf dis minit, I say: you shan't stan' dar,
an' talk ter me in dat way. I bought you, an' paid my money fer you,
an' I ain't a gwine ter let you sase me in dat way. Shet your mouf dis
minit: ef you don't I'll sell you; 'fore God I will. Shet up, I say, or
I'll sell you." This had the desired effect, and settled Dinah for the
day.

After a week spent in this place of concealment, Jim conveyed Clotelle
to Leaksville, Mississippi, through the Federal lines, and from thence
she proceeded to New Orleans.

The Rebellion was now drawing to a close. The valley of the Mississippi
was in full possession of the Federal government.