"What was his object in taking the guns out?" inquired the captain; and the negro went on to explain what the reader already knows--that Beardsley had disarmed and disguised his little vessel in order to deceive the cruisers along the coast. If he had been captured with nothing but cotton on board, the Federal authorities would not be likely to hang him and his men as pirates, which they might have done if they had caught him while he had two howitzers on his gun-deck and a supply of small-arms and ammunition in his cabin. The gunboat captain listened attentively, and seemed very much impressed by what the negro had to say; and when the latter ceased speaking he turned his back upon him, and said to his executive officer: "Mr. Watkins, I have wanted to meet that man for--for an age, it seems to me now. He is the villain who robbed me of the _Mary Hollins_, and ironed my crew like felons--like felons, sir, and in spite of my earnest protest." Then turning once more to the negro, he inquired, "Can you guide a squad of my men to Beardsley's house and Gray's to-night? You told me, I believe, that they live twenty miles or more inland." "Dat's about de distance of de journey you will have to travel, sar," answered Jonas. "I kin go da', kase I know de house whar dey resides. But de cap'n don't live da' no more sense de Union men riz up in de night an' burn him out." "I don't care how many times he has been burned out, nor who did it. What I want to know is if you can take my officers where they can put their hands on him to-night." Yes; Jonas was quite positive he could do that. "All right; but look here, boy," said the captain, shaking his finger at Jonas. "Tell me the truth now, or you will never see another sunrise. Are there any rebels ashore between here and the place where those two pilots live?" "Oh, yes, sar; dere's plenty of dem at Plymouth, moster." "I am as well aware of that fact as you are," interrupted the captain. "What I want particularly to know is if there are any cavalry scouting around who would be likely to pick up the men I shall probably send ashore to-night." "Not now, dey aint, sar; but a while ago dey was piles of dem. Dey go round to all de plantations an' tooken away de black ones en' make 'em wuk on de forts. I wuk on dem myself." "Consequently there may be some cavalry out there now," said the captain. "But I warn you, boy, that if you lead my men among them----" "Who? Me?" exclaimed the negro, in accents of alarm. "'Fore de Lawd, moster, you don't think Jonas would do dat? Why, sar, Ise been prayin' fur you uns to come, an' so has all de black ones. Dem rebels kill me suah, if dey see me wid de Yankees."