"The coffee is ready, Marse Lyon; but how about the Missis?" inquired the man, as he stirred down the grounds from the top of the pot. "She is still sleeping, and must not be disturbed," answered Mr. Berners. "Well, Marse Lyon, I reckon as how you can relish a cup of coffee as well as she; so please to let me wait on you, sir." Mr. Berners thanked Joe, and threw himself down upon the ground, and made such a breakfast as a hungry man _can_ make, even under the most deplorable circumstances. "Now you know, sir, when the Missus wakes up, be it longer or shorter, I can make fresh coffee for her in ten minutes," said Joe, cheerfully. "But you cannot stay here very long. You'll be missed from the house," objected Mr. Berners. "Please, sir, I have so well provided for all that, that I can stay till night. Bless you, sir, I told my fellow-servants as I was going to take some corn to the mill to be ground, and was agoin' to wait all day to fetch it home; and so I really did take the corn, and told the miller I should come arter it this evening, and so I shall, and take it home all right, accordin' to my word." "That was a very politic proceeding, Joe; but how could you account to them for the hamper you brought away, and which must have excited suspicion, if not inquiry?" "Bless you, sir, I wasn't fool enough to let them see the hamper. All they saw was the two bags of corn as I rode out of the gate with. I had filled the hamper on the sly, and hid it in the bushes by the road, until I went by and picked it up." "Still better, Joe! But your horse? what horse did you ride, and what have you done with him?" "I rode Dick, which I have tied him fast in the deep woods on the other side of the river. I crossed over the rapids with the help of a pole," explained Joe. While they were speaking, a step was heard crushing through the dried brushwood, and in another moment Captain Pendleton, pale, sad, and weary, stood before them. CHAPTER XXIV. THE VERDICT AND THE VISITOR. Can such things be, And overcome us like a summer cloud Without our special wonder?--Shakespeare. "Pendleton! oh! Heaven, Pendleton! What news?" exclaimed Lyon Berners, starting up to greet him. "Good heaven! Berners! How is this? Another--a servant taken into your confidence, and trusted with the secret of your retreat!" cried Captain Pendleton in dismay. "He is trustworthy! I will vouch for his fidelity! But oh! Pendleton! What news? what news?" exclaimed Lyon Berners in an agony of impatience. "The worst that you can anticipate!" cried Captain Pendleton in a voice full of sorrow. "Oh! my unhappy wife! The coroner's jury have found their verdict then?" groaned Lyon. Captain Pendleton bowed his head. He was unable to reply in words. "And that verdict is--Oh! speak I let me hear the worst!--that verdict is--"