About five we reached Colonel K.’s house, right where Steele’s Bayou empties into the Yazoo.  We had both to be fairly dragged out of the boat, so cramped and weighted were we by wet skirts.  The family were absent, and the house was headquarters for a squad of Confederate cavalry, which was also absent.  The old colored housekeeper received us kindly and lighted fires in our rooms to dry the clothing.  My trunk had got cracked on top, and all the clothing to be got at was wet.  H. had dropped his in the river while lifting it out, and his clothes were wet.  A spoonful of brandy apiece was left in the little flask, and I felt that mine saved me from being ill.  Warm blankets and the brandy revived us, and by supper-time we got into some dry clothes.

Just then the squad of cavalry returned; they were only a dozen, but they made much, uproar, being in great excitement.  Some of them were known to Max and H., who learned from them that a gunboat was coming to shell them out of this house.  Then ensued a clatter such as twelve men surely never made before—­rattling about the halls and galleries in heavy boots and spurs, feeding horses, calling for supper, clanking swords, buckling and unbuckling belts and pistols.  At last supper was dispatched, and they mounted and were gone like the wind.  We had a quiet supper and good night’s rest in spite of the expected shells, and did not wake till ten to-day to realize we were not killed.  About eleven breakfast was furnished.  Now we are waiting till the rest of our things are dried to start on our last day of travel by water.

Sunday, July 20, 1862.—­A little way down the Yazoo on Friday we ran into McNutt’s Lake, thence into Chickasaw Bayou, and at dark landed at Mrs. C.’s farm, the nearest neighbors of H.’s uncle.  The house was full of Confederate sick, friends from Vicksburg, and while we ate supper all present poured out the story of the shelling and all that was to be done at Vicksburg.  Then our stuff was taken from the boat, and we finally abandoned the stanch little craft that had carried us for over one hundred and twenty-five miles in a trip occupying nine days.  The luggage in a wagon, and ourselves packed in a buggy, were driven for four or five miles, over the roughest road I ever traveled, to the farm of Mr. B., H.’s uncle, where we arrived at midnight and hastened to hide in bed the utter exhaustion of mind and body.  Yesterday we were too tired to think, or to do anything but to eat peaches.

FOOTNOTES: 
[32] More likely twelve yards.—­G.W.C.

XI.

WILD TIMES IN MISSISSIPPI.