ping bushes. He was soaked to the skin, and the rawness
of the air caused him to shiver.

The downpour was now extra heavy, and they had to come to a halt under
some trees, in order to get their breath again. The wind was blowing
strongly and it was directly in their faces.

"How many miles have we made, Ben?" asked Jack.

"Not more dan t'ree, Massah Jack?"

"Then we have nearly four still to cover."

"Yes, Massah Jack, an' wery hard roads, too, ober Hallack's hill."

"If there was a cabin handy, I would go in for a rest of an hour or two.
The storm may let up."

"Da is a cabin down de trail, on de bend."

"Then let us stop there."

So it was arranged, and soon they gained the cabin, which was deserted,
the owner having joined the soldiers a year before, and his wife and
children being with some relatives in the town.

It was easy to get into the cabin, and once inside they started to make
themselves as comfortable as possible.

But they had not been in the place over half an hour when voices outside
filled them with fresh alarm.

CHAPTER XXX.

BROUGHT TO BAY.

"Somebody is coming!" whispered Jack excitedly. "I wonder if it is the
guerrillas?"

"If da come, de jig am up!" groaned Old Ben.

"Let us hide upstairs," returned our hero. "Quick!"

There was no time to say more, and all three ran for the ladder leading
to the loft of the cabin, which was but a story and a half high. Jack
was the first up, and the negroes quickly followed, and then all lay low
on the flooring, hardly daring to breathe.

In a moment more two men entered the cabin, shaking the water from their
rubber cloaks as they did so. The two men were Dr. Mackey and St. John
Ruthven.

"What a beastly night!" exclaimed St. John with a shiver. "When I left
home to meet you I never expected such a storm as this. If I had, I
shouldn't have come."

"I didn't look for such a rain myself," returned Dr. Mackey, throwing
off his cloak. "Anybody around?"

"Don't seem to be, although there are muddy footprints on the floor."

The two gazed around, but Jack and his companions were wise enough to
keep out of sight, and apparently satisfied that the cabin was deserted,
Dr. Mackey flung himself on a bench and St. John did likewise.

"You said you wished to see me on important business," observed the
spendthrift.

"I do," was the reply. "I wish to help both you and myself."

"In what way."

"In several ways, Mr. Ruthven. In the fir