Harry answered. "He was determined to escape, and had told me that he
would rather be shot than be re-captured, after once leaving the
prison. I shall never cease to regret the misfortune should he have
fallen in our attempt to escape. His kindness to me at Fort Donelson
had caused a warm friendship to spring up between us. Besides which,
he has a wife and two small children in New Orleans, who were the sole
cause of his attempting to escape. He informed me that they were not
in very good circumstances, and should Alfred Wentworth have been
killed at Camp Douglas, God help his poor widow and orphans!"

"Did you say his name was Alfred Wentworth," inquired Emma, for the
first time joining in the conversation.

"Yes, and do you know anything about him?" he asked.

"No," she replied, "I know nothing of the gentleman, but father bought
a slave on yesterday, who stated that she has belonged to a gentleman
of New Orleans, of the name you mentioned just now."

"By what means did you purchase her?" asked Harry addressing himself
to Dr. Humphries.

The Doctor related to him the circumstances which occasioned the
purchase, as well as the statement of Elsy. Harry listened
attentively, for the friendship he felt for his friend naturally made
him interested in all that concerned Alfred, or his family.

"Is there no way by which I can discover where Mrs. Wentworth is
residing at present?" he enquired, after a moment of thought.