"How do you feel in such an hour as this?" he asked.

"The God of Daniel lives at this hour," I answered, "and in him I
trust."

"I see, you take it coolly," he replied, and looked surprised. I told
him I pitied those card-players, for it was a hard play for them,
while standing face to face with danger. "You see it is an effort," he
replied, "to keep danger out of mind as much as possible."

"But see their pale faces and trembling hands. O, what a poor
substitute they have for substantial trust in an Almighty Power! You
see that gentleman and his wife sitting on the other side of the
cabin. They are calm and perfectly composed; they, too, have their
pocket Bible in hand. They are trusting children of the Most High, no
doubt." He thoughtfully looked over that crowded cabin a moment, and
walked away.

Very few retired before 12 o'clock, and those men and women were all
that time making an effort to quiet their nerves at their card-table.
The next morning our colonel called again with a little joke: "You
meet danger so coolly, I think we had better take you with us to Texas
for a general."

I was thankful for the improvement in sister Backus's health by a good
night's rest, and that we had escaped. Without further trouble we
reached Vicksburg, but learned that the loudest cry for aid was in
Natchez, and we hastened there with our supplies. We were offered a
home with Lieutenant Thirds and family, who had been invited to occupy