In a few minutes the slave was "knocked down" to the doctor for eleven
hundred dollars, and after the proper form was gone through and the
money paid, he ordered her to follow him, and retraced his steps
homeward.

As our readers must have recognized already, Elsy was no other than
the slave who was left at New Orleans by Mrs. Wentworth, and who
declared that she would follow her mistress into the Confederate
lines. After making several ineffectual attempts she had succeeded in
reaching Baton Rouge, the capital of Louisiana, at which place she
eluded the Federal pickets, and made her way to Jackson. The first
part of her journey being through the country she passed unnoticed,
until on her arrival at Jackson she was stopped by the police, who
demanded her papers. Not having any she was confined in the county
jail, and after due notice in the papers, calling for the owner to
come and take her away, she was sold at auction according to law. The
girl was very much grieved at her failure to find her mistress, but
being of a good disposition soon became contented with her lot.
Accordingly, when Dr. Humphries purchased her, she followed him home
with a cheerful step.

On entering his house the doctor presented the negro to Emma.

"Here, Emma," he observed, "is a girl I have bought for you to-day."

"Thank you," she answered, looking at Elsy. "This is really a nice
looking girl. Who did you buy her from?"

"She says she is from New Orleans. Her master is a prisoner in the
hands of the Yankees, and her mistress being turned out of her home by