"Yes," replied Mr. Vance unthinkingly. "If you were a boy, Jeanne, with the same amount of brightness and common sense that you now have, I would be strongly tempted to send you forth on some private business." "Oh, father!" Jeanne sat bolt upright. "Send me anyway. I am sure that I could do it just as well as a boy." "But this would necessitate a journey into the enemy's country. A bright boy could go through all right if he would exercise his wits, but a tender, delicate girl like you! Why, I couldn't think of it!" "I could do just as well as a boy," declared Jeanne with conviction. "I am sure that I could. Please let me try, father." "I am sorry that I spoke of it, child. I will tell you just what the service is, and you will see the impossibility of any girl undertaking it. In the cities both North and South there are men whose duty it is to look after certain private matters for the government. In our communications with each other we must be very guarded. We do not dare to risk even the mails, because in almost every department of the service there are traitors. In some mysterious manner the enemy becomes aware of all our plans. Therefore we have tried and trusted men who are our go betweens. On some occasions we have employed boys because they could pass through the lines of the armies without being suspected of carrying important information. But as it is a hazardous business we use the boys only when there is no one else to send. Just at present our men are all out, and even the few boys who are ordinarily available are not on hand. That is why I spoke as I did." "Where would the boy have to go?" queried Jeanne, who had listened attentively. "To New Orleans, dear. It is a long distance, and would be a perilous journey. You see, Jeanne, how I am trusting you. You will be careful not to repeat anything I say." "I understand perfectly, father. You need not fear when you tell me anything. You could not be useful if others knew of your affairs." "That is it precisely, my daughter." "Is the errand important, father?" "Very." Mr. Vance thought she saw the impossibility of going and therefore spoke more freely than he otherwise would have done. "I ought to send a messenger not later than day after to-morrow with the documents, but I fear that I shall have to let the matter rest until some of the men come in, and then it may be too late." "Father, doesn't Uncle Ben live in New Orleans?" "Yes, Jeanne; why?" "Why couldn't I go down to see him, and carry these papers hidden about me? The trains are still running, aren't they?" "Yes," said her father thoughtfully; "but those in the Southern States are under Confederate control, you know." "Well, suppose I were to take the train from here to St. Louis," mapping the route on her lap, "then from there I could go down the Mississippi on a steamboat. St. Louis is for the Union, and New Orleans belongs to us now too. I don't see much danger in that, father."