OFF FOR DIXIE. 89 



entered a figure muffled in a large cloak, the stiff and 

 heavy folds of which showed that it was saturated. 

 Raising the candle to his face for the man never 

 spoke I found to my surprise that it was Boyle. 



' After following me into the sitting-room, he 

 said, " I require to be cautious, and I can only re- 

 main an hour or so ; but your servant, I presume, has 

 gone to bed?" 



< What does that matter ? if the black rascal 

 dared, I'd ." 



' Here he stopped me. 



' " Much better as it is," he continued ; " safer for 

 both." 



6 Taking off his outer garment, I saw he was 

 armed to the teeth ; how many revolvers he had stuck 

 in his belt, really it would be impossible to say. His 

 appearance recalled most vividly to my recollection 

 the representations of pirates I had seen on the 

 stage. Of course I offered him refreshment, and 

 when he had eaten and drunk till the inward man 

 was perfectly satisfied, but not till then, did he ex- 

 plain to me the object of his unexpected visit. 



'"I'm off for Dixie," he said; "at daybreak 

 to-morrow I must be over the Southern lines. Thank 

 God, no telegraphs run north and south in this 

 part of the State, for there are at this moment a 

 troop of dragoons on my track, and not over two 

 hours have I the start of them, while my horse is 

 clean beat. But I Ve got my plans all cut and dry. 

 Uncle Sam don't catch me this hop, you bet, and 



