. He will load the cart and drive it up here to the entrance of the
thicket."

"But that cart, Pendleton?"

"Yes! you will wonder how I got it there without exciting suspicion. It
was done in this way. I ordered Joe to bring it boldly up in front of
the house, and to put in it the boxes containing my own and my sister's
masquerade dresses, and to take them over to our place. Joe understood
and obeyed me, and drove the cart to Blackville, and crossed the river
at the ferry, under the very eyes of the constable stationed there to
watch. He brought the cart down this bank, and left it concealed in a
clearing of the wood. He will watch his opportunity, as soon as it is
dark enough to swim across the river, and launch the boat and fill it
with the necessaries that he will secretly obtain from Black Hall. It is
a business that will require considerable tact and discretion; or at
least, great secretiveness and cautiousness," added Captain Pendleton.

"And these, Joe, like all his race, possesses in excess," observed Lyon
Berners.

"Are the guests all gone away from the house?" inquired Sybil.

"Nearly all. My sister remains there for the present to watch your
interests, Mrs. Berners. The old Judge also, to superintend legal
processes; but even he will go away in the morning, I think."

While they spoke, a loud sneeze and then a cough was heard outside, and
then Joe walked in, with a doubled up mattress on his head.

"This here is moving under difficulties, Master," he panted, as he laid
the mattress down on the stone floor.

"How ever did you get that along the narrow path through the thicket,
Joe?" inquired Sybil.

"You may well ax that, Missis. I had to lay it down endways, and drag
it. Howsever, I has got all the things through the worst part of the way
now, and they's all out in the church-yard," answered Joe, recovering
his breath, and starting for the remaining goods.

He soon returned, bringing in a small assortment of bedding, clothing,
and so forth. And in another trip he brought in a small supply of food
and a few cooking utensils.

"That's all. And now, Miss Sybil, if you would only let me live here
along o' you and Marse Lyon, and wait on to you bofe, I could make
myself very much satisfied into my own mind," he said, as he laid down
the last articles, and stood to rest himself.

"But you know, Joe, that you can serve us better by remaining at Black
Hall," said Sybil, kindly.

"Now, Marser Capping P