But this could not last forever; and upon the third of October Valentine was arrested under the following suspicious circumstances: A police officer, stationed in concealment behind a hedge of Spanish daggers that bordered a lane crossing the highway at right angles, and running midway between the pine ridge and cypress swamp, saw what seemed a young negro woman coming down the lane. She was poorly and plainly clothed, and wore a long sunbonnet. There was nothing whatever in her manner or appearance to attract attention. Yet this police officer watched her closely. Presently, coming up the lane from an opposite direction, appeared the figure of an old negro. The policeman favored him also with a share of notice. Meeting the seeming woman, the old man laughed, held out his hand, and exclaimed, in a clear voice: "Ha! Brudder Walley! Good-morning! Walking out to take a little air, eh?" "Hush! for Heaven's sake, don't speak so loud or call me by name. Yes, I have stolen forth for a breath of fresh air." "Glad to hear it. Which way is you walking, Brudder Walley?" inquired the other, raising his voice. "For the Lord's sake, I beg you will not call me by my name, or speak so loud!" "No danger at all, Brudder Walley; no one in sight!" exclaimed the old man, louder than ever. "Which way did you say you wer' goin', Brudder Walley?" "I am going home." "Well, Brudder Walley, let me go long wid you dis time. I'd like to see Sister Phædra," pleaded the old negro. "Come along, then; but be careful." They walked up the lane together, and then struck into the pines. The policeman followed them, and, himself unseen, keeping them in sight, traced them into the cabin of Phædra. Then having, as it were, pointed his game, he ran back as fast as possible, sprang over the hedge, ran down the lane, crossed the highway, sprang over a second hedge dividing the road from Major Hewitt's plantation, hastened up to that gentleman's house, gave the alarm, procured the assistance of the overseer and the gardener, both Irishmen, and with this reinforcement hastened back to the scene of action. They found Phædra's cabin quiet enough. To the knock of the policeman the old woman's voice responded, "Come in." They entered, and found no one within except Phædra and the old negro preacher, Portiphar--no sign of Valentine. As the cabin contained but one room, with but one door and window, and no loft or outbuildings, the premises were easily searched. The little room was also very scantily furnished; a rag carpet concealed the rough floor, a rude bed stood in one corner, a cupboard in another, an oak chest in a third, a pine table in the fourth; a couple of chairs, a few stools, etc., completed the appointments. The cupboard was opened, the big chest ransacked, the bed and bedstead pulled to pieces, the chimney inspected, but no trace of the fugitive could be found. Phædra was questioned; but she sadly shook her head and remained dumb.