, Hawkins, I hope
you are not that sort. I never could look my mother in the face if I
should consent to that. Haven't you something to show that you are a
paroled prisoner?"

"Not the first thing. One of my officers signed for me."

"All right. Then you stand by me till we capture and tie Hanson, and I
will take him down the river myself. I have something in my pocket that
will bring me home all right. And while I am gone you will deliver a
couple of letters for me, will you not?"

Oh, yes; Hawkins was perfectly willing to do that, and when he delivered
the warning letters he would add a few words of his own that would
perhaps emphasize what Marcy wrote. Being satisfied with his promise the
boy hastened to hunt up the portfolio he had been thoughtful enough to
bring with him, and while he wrote the letters which he hoped would
forever relieve the community of the meanest men in it, his Confederate
friend busied himself in telling all the rest of the refugees what he
was writing about. Marcy's energy was contagious; and by the time he and
Hawkins and Julius were ready to start on their mission, half the men in
camp were writing similar notes, to be delivered to certain obnoxious
persons by other paroled prisoners. Every one of them would have been
glad to "see Marcy through," as they expressed it, if he would agree
that Hanson should be bushwhacked instead of being turned over to the
Yankees. Although they were strong Union men, they might not be able to
prove it to the satisfaction of the Federals, and for that reason they
did not care to put themselves in their power.

"And I don't blame you for it," said Marcy. "I wouldn't dare go among
them myself if I wasn't sure they would let me come home again. I don't
need any help, except such as Hawkins is willing to give me. If I once
get Hanson afloat, I shall take him to Plymouth, unless he throws
himself into the river; and I know he isn't the man to do that."

Everything being ready for the start, Marcy and his two companions
crossed to the main land in one of the canoes which they concealed among
the bushes when they reached the bank, and set out for Mrs. Gray's
house, holding such a course that they would pass one of Beardsley's
fields on the way. They expected to find him at work there with his
negroes, and they were not disappointed. When they discovered him, Marcy
drew his letters from his pocket and handed one of them to Hawkins, who,
after telling him where h