The respite and quiet could not last very long in these culminating months of the war.  Without much warning even to the negroes, who appeared to have a sort of telegraphic communication throughout the region, a Union column forced its way down the distant railroad and made it a temporary line of communication.  Mr. Baron suddenly woke up to the fact that the nearest town was occupied by the Federals and that his human property was in a ferment.  A foraging party soon appeared in the neighborhood and even visited him, but his statement of what he had suffered and the evident impoverishment of the place led the Union officer to seek more inviting fields.

Partly to satisfy her own mind as well as that of her niece, Mrs. Whately asked after Scoville, but could obtain no information.  The troops in the vicinity were of a different organization, the leader of the party a curt, grizzled veteran, bent only on obtaining supplies.  Miss Lou, sitting helplessly in her room, felt instinctively that she did not wish even to speak to him.

To Chunk, this Union advance was a godsend.  He immediately took his horse to the railroad town, sold it for a small sum, and found employment at the station, where his great strength secured him good wages.  He could handle with ease a barrel akin to himself in shape and size.

Uncle Lusthah suddenly found immense responsibility thrust upon him.  In the opinion of the slaves the time and seasons he had predicted and asked his flock to wait for had come.  Negroes from other and nearer plantations were thronging to the town, and those at The Oaks were rapidly forming the purpose to do likewise.  They only waited the sanction of their religious teacher to go almost in a body.  The old preacher was satisfied they would soon go any way, unless inducements and virtual freedom were offered.  He therefore sought Mr. Baron and stated the case to him.

The old planter would listen to nothing.  He was too honorable to temporize and make false promises.  “Bah!” he said, irritably, “the Yanks will soon be driven off as they were before.  I can’t say you are free!  I can’t give you a share in the crops!  It’s contrary to the law of the State and the whole proper order of things.  I wouldn’t do it if I could.  What would my neighbors think?  What would I think of myself?  What a fine condition I’d be in after the Yanks are all driven from the country!  No, I shall stand or fall with the South and maintain the institutions of my fathers.  If you people leave me now and let the crops go to waste you will soon find yourselves starving.  When you come whining back I’ll have nothing to feed you with.”

Uncle Lusthah cast an imploring look on Miss Lou where she sat in her chair, with more interest expressed in her wan face than she had shown for a long time.

“Uncle Lusthah,” she said earnestly, “don’t you leave me.  As soon as I am able I’ll buy you of uncle and set you free.  Then you can always work for me.”