up an’ sits on de verandy, an’ Missy Roberta goes out, and dey talk in low tones, an’ I couldn’t hear what dey say.  I was a-helpin’ Missy S’wanee, an’ she say to me, ’Zeb, could you eber tink dat a Yankee cap’n could be such a gemlin?’ I didn’t say nuffin’, fer I didn’t want anybody ter’spect what was in my min’, but eb’ry chance I git I keep my eye on Cap’n Lane, fer I believed he could gib us our liberty.  He was aroun’ ‘mong de woun’ed, an’ seein’ ter buryin’ de dead, an’ postin’ an’ arrangin’ his men; deed, an’ was all ober eberywhar.

“By dis time de ebenin’ was growin’ dark, de woun’ed and been cared for, an’ our ossifers an’ de Linkum ossifers sat down to supper; an’ dey talk an’ larf as if dey was good fren’s.  Yer’d tink it was a supper-party, ef dere hadn’t been a strappin’ big soger walkin’ up an’ down de verandy whar he could see in de winders.  I help waits on de table, an’ Missy Roberta, she was rudder still an’ glum-like, but Missy S’wanee, she smiles on all alike, an’ she say to de Linkum ossifers, ’I ‘predate de court’sy ob your cap’n, eben do’ he doesn’t grace our board.  I shall take de liberty, howsemeber, ob sendin’ him some supper;’ an’ she put a san’wich an’ some cake an’ a cup ob coffee on a waiter an’ sen’ me out to him whar he was sittin’ by de fire in de edge ob de woods on de lawn.  He smile an’ say, ‘Tell de young lady dat I drink to her health an’ happier times.’  Den I gits up my co’age an’ says, ’Cap’n Lane, I wants ter see yer when my work’s done in de house.’  He say, ’All right, come ter me here.’  Den he look at me sharp an’ say, ‘Can I trus’ yer?’ An’ I say, ‘Yes, Mass’r Cap’n; I’se Linkum, troo an’ troo.’  Den he whisper in my ear de password, ‘White-rose.’”

Marian remembered that she had given him a white rose when he had asked for her colors.  He had made it his countersign on the evening of his victory.

“Arter supper our ossifers were taken down ter de oder pris’ners, an’ guards walk aroun dem all night.  I help clar up de tings, an’ watch my chance ter steal away.  At las’ de house seem quiet.  I tought de ladies had gone ter dere rooms, an’ I put out de light in de pantry, an’ was watchin’ an’ waitin’ an’ listenin’ to be sho’ dat no one was ’roun, when I heared a step in de hall.  De pantry doah was on a crack, an’ I peeps out, an’ my bref was nigh took away when I sees a rebel ossifer, de one dat got away in de fight.  He give a long, low whistle, an’ den dere was a rustle in de hall above, an’ Missy Roberta came flyin’ down de starway.  I know den dat dere was mischief up, an’ I listen wid all my ears.  She say to him, ‘How awfully imprudent!’ An’ she put de light out in de hall, les’ somebody see in.  Den she say, ‘Shell we go in de parlor?’ He say, ‘No, dere’s two doahs here, each end de hall, an’ a chance ter go out de winders, too.  I mus’ keep open ebery line ob retreat.  Are dere any Yanks in de house?’ She say, ’No,’—­dat de Union cap’n very ’sid’rate.  ‘Curse him!’ sed de reb; ‘he spoil