go?"

"Across the river--to the Chesterfield side."

"But the Yankees came that way, too!"

"I'll circle around them. If they've left a guard at the crossing I'll
swim the river higher up." He slapped his holster with his open hand.
"Listen for three shots. If they come in quick succession--then I've
crossed--I'm safe. If I only had a few men I'd stay, but alone, I
can't--you know I can't. Good-by! God bless you." And in another moment
he was in the saddle--had waved his hand--was gone.

Straining their eyes after him, as if they would somehow pierce the dark
woods which hid his flight, mother and daughter stood as if turned to
stone. Only Virgie, after a moment, waved her hand and sent her soft,
childish prayer winging after him to save him from all harm. "Good-by,
Daddy-man, good-by!"

Sally Ann, however, having seen the approaching danger with her own
eyes, began to wring her hands and cry hysterically. "Aw, Miss Hallie, I
so skeered! I so skeered!"

"Sally," cried Mrs. Cary, as the sound of hoofbeats thudding through the
woods came unmistakably to her ears, "take Virgie with you instantly
and run down through the grove to the old ice house. Hide there under
the pine tags. Understand?"

But the negro girl, ashen with terror, seemed incapable of flight.