“I des done beat.  I kyant lif my han’ no mo’.”

“Granny,” said Chunk, sauntering in, “you des watch at de do’,” and without waiting for a word he went up the ladder, lifted the door and closed it.

“Ah, Chunk, I wanted you badly,” said Scoville.  “Do you think it possible for me to get away at once?”

“Dat des w’at I come ter see ’bout, mars’r, en I’se gwine wid you.  Marse Whately and he men all done gone till eb’nin’.”

“Well, there’s no need of further words.  See what you can do about getting horses and a good start.  I will explain on the way.  Hoot like an owl when the coast is clear and you are ready.”

A few moments later Chunk emerged from the cabin, with careless mien, eating a pone of hoecake.

“Go back to yer work,” shouted Perkins, who was passing in the distance.

This Chunk did, his eyes following the overseer until the hated form was lost to sight in a distant field where a squad of hands were at work.  Perkins was simply trying to be ubiquitous that day.  Chunk’s next step was to steal to the rear of the stables.  To his delight he found that Whately had left his horse in order that it might rest for further hard service, and had borrowed one of his uncle’s animals for the afternoon ride.  As Chunk was stealthily putting on a bridle, a gruff voice asked, “What yer doin’ thar?”

The negro’s heart stood still.  Turning quickly, he saw, to his dismay, one of the Confederate soldiers lying on a pile of straw.  A closer scrutiny revealed that the man was drowsy from partial intoxication, and Chunk, feeling that he was in for it now, said boldly:  “Marse Whately tole me at dinner ter tek his hoss ter de run fer a drink en ter limber his jints ’bout dis time in de eb’nin’.”

“Very well; bring ’im back safe en sud’n or I’ll make you a head shorter’n you air.”

“Ob co’se, mars’r, I do ez I tol’.  I des ride ole bay down, too.  Mout ez well took ’im ter water de same time.”

The soldier making no response Chunk slipped away with the horses, trembling as if in an ague fit.  Nothing was left for him now but to get away and take his chances.  Fortune in this instance, as it often does, favored the bolder course.  The Confederate soldier was familiar with Chunk, since he had been the waiter at the troopers’ mess; moreover, his faculties were confused and blunted and he was soon asleep again.  Perkins’ back was turned and every one at the mansion deeply preoccupied.  Even Zany, who had been charged not to leave the dining-room, was not on the watch.

Chunk hastened the horses down the lane toward the run, which having reached, he looked cautiously around, then hooted in fairly successful imitation of the ominous bird of night.  Aun’ Jinkey dropped into her chair again with an ejaculation of terror.

“Look out of the door and tell me if you see any one,” said Scoville, quickly.

Mechanically she obeyed, saying, “No, mars’r, but dat squinch-owl des shook me like a ghos’.”