for our opinions. They think they are right, and
they are willing to fight, too."

"But who is right?"

Mr. Blackwood shrugged his shoulders. "Let us trust that God will bring
this difficulty to a satisfactory conclusion. If we lose in this war, my
one hope is that the South will not lose everything--that the North will
be generous."

"But they say Grant is a stubborn general. That he will demand
everything of General Lee."

"I cannot believe it. I have a cousin who knew Grant, and he said Grant
was not so hard-hearted as painted."

"Some say the South, if defeated, will be held in virtual slavery by the
North."

"Yes, some hot-heads say everything. I had such a fellow in here
yesterday; a surgeon in our army, who gave his name as Dr. Mackey. He
was ranting around, declaring that, if we lost, the Northern soldiers
would march clear through to New Orleans and loot and burn every
village, town, and city, and that neither life nor property would be
safe. His talk was enough to scare a timid person most to death."

"A surgeon in our army," said Marion. She had been told by Jack of the
meeting on the bridge. "What kind of a looking man was he?"

As well as he could Mr. Blackwood described the individual.

"Did he seem to have a finger on one hand doubled up and stiff?"

"Yes. Do you know him, Marion?"

"I know of him. He met Jack on a bridge some days ago and ordered him
off as if Jack were a slave."

"He appeared to be as headstrong as he was unreasonable. I have seen him
around here several times, but I cannot make out what he is doing here.
He asked me about the wreck on Hemlock Bluff rocks."

"What!" and Marion showed her surprise.

"Yes. He said he had heard of the wreck and was curious to visit it."

"That was strange."

"I asked him why he wished to visit the wreck, but he did not answer the
question."

At this point some other customers came in and the conversation was
changed. Marion bought what she wanted and went out, and presently
joined Jack on the way home.

"It was odd that surgeon should want to visit the wreck," was our hero's
comment, after he had heard what the girl had to say. "I wonder if he
knows anything of the ship and her passengers? If he does, I would like
to interview him, uncivil as he is."

CHAPTER IX.

DR. MACKEY INVESTIGATES.

A few days later Old Ben was just preparing to go out in his boat when a
visitor appeared at the boathouse. The man was clad in the