“I got back to my lof’ mighty sudden, an’ I was jis’ a-shakin’ wid fear, for I beliebe dat Missy Roberta would a’ killed me wid her own hands ef she’d knowed.  She was like de ole mass’r, mighty haughty an’ despit-like, when she angry.  I wasn’t in de lof’ none too soon, fer Missy Roberta was ‘spicious and uneasy-like, an’ she come to de head ob de gerret starway an’ call my name.  At fust I ain’t sayin’ suffin’, an’ she call louder.  Den I say, ’Dat you, Missy Roberta?’ Den she seem to tink dat I was all right.  I slipped arter her down de starway an’ listen, an’ I know she gwine ter put de light in de winder.  Den she go to her room again.

“A long time pass, an’ I hear no soun’.  De house was so still dat I done got afeard, knowin’ dere was mischief up.  Dere was a little winder in my lof lookin’ toward de creek-road, an’ on de leabes ob some trees I could see a little glimmer ob de light dat Missy Roberta had put dar as a signal.  Dat glimmer was jes’ awful, fer I knowed it mean woun’s and death to de sogers, an’ liberty or no liberty fer me.  Bimeby I heared steps off toward de creek-road, but dey soon die away.  I watched an’ waited ter’ble long time, an’ de house an’ all was still, ‘cept de tread ob de guards.  Mus’ a’ been about tree in de mawnin’ when I heared a stir.  It was very quiet-like, an’ I hear no words, but now an’ den dere was a jingle like a sabre make when a man walk.  I stole down de starway an’ look outen a winder in de d’rection whar Cap’n Lane was, an’ I see dat de Linkum men had let all dere fires go out.  It was bery dark.  Den I hear Missy Roberta open her doah, an’ I whip back ter my lof.  She come soon an’ had a mighty hard time wakin’ me up. an’ den she say:  ‘Zeb, dere’s sumpen goin’ on ‘mong de Yankee sogers.  Listen.’  I says, ‘I doesn’t hear nuffin’.’  She says:  ‘Dere is; dey’s a-saddlin’ up, an’ movin’ roun’.  I want you ter steal outen an’ see what dey is doin’, an’ tell me.’  I says, ‘Yes, missy.’  I tought de bole plan would be de bes’ plan now, an’ I put on my shoes an’ went out.  Putty soon I comes back and says to her, ‘I axed a man, an’ he tole me dey was changin’ de guard.’—­’Did de res’ seem quiet?’—­’Yes, missy, dey is sleepin’ ‘round under de trees.’  She seemed greatly ‘lieved, an’ says, ‘You watch aroun’ an’ tell me ef dere’s any news.’  I stole out again an’ crep’ up ‘hind some bushes, an’ den I sho’ dat de Linkum men was a-slippin’ away toward de creek-road, but de guards kep’ walkin’ ‘roun de pris’ners, jes’ de same.  On a sudden dere was a man right ‘longside ob me, an’ he say, ’Make a noise or move, an’ you are dead.  What are you doin’ here?’ I gasp out, ‘White-rose, Cap’n Lane.’—­’Oh, it’s you,’ he say, wid a low larf.  Fo’ I could speak dere come a scream, sich as I neber heared, den anoder an’ anoder.  ‘Dey comes from de missus’ room.’  Den he say, ‘Run down dar an’ ask de sergeant ob de guard to send tree men wid you, an’ come quick!’ Now moder kin tell yer what happened.  I had lef de back hall doah unlocked, an’ de cap’n went in like a flash.”