a poltroon, who will desert his country in the hour of her greatest
need? I do not so understand myself."

"Of course I meant any needless exposure," added Mrs. Passford,
impressed by the patriotic bearing of her husband.

"You may be assured, Julia, that I will incur no needless peril, and I
think I am even more careful than the average of men. But, when I have
a duty to perform, I feel that I ought to do it without regard to the
danger which may surround it."

"I know you well enough to understand that, Horatio," said the lady.

"I believe there will be danger in my undertaking, though to what extent
I am unable to say."

"But you do not tell me how you intend to recover Florry."

"I intend to go for her and my brother's family in the Bellevite."

"In the Bellevite!" exclaimed the lady.

"Of course; there is no other possible way to reach Glenfield," which
was the name that Homer Passford had given to his plantation.

"But Fort Morgan, at the entrance of Mobile Bay, is in the hands of the
Confederates, and has been for three or four months," said Christy, who
had kept himself as thoroughly posted in regard to events at home as the
sources of information would permit.